Recently, i ended up in a video shop, with the intent to look for an educational DVD for the Nut, but ... I came away laden with a bunch of other stuff. With some of the DVDs going for such affordable prices, I could not resist.


Now, I already own a copy of 'And I Hate You So 小親親' in VCD (which will now be given to the first person who wants it!), yet I could not resist it. Who could? Try as I may, but I can't find another Cantonese romantic comedy that I love more than this. Given that this is Aaron and Kelly's second time, playing a couple, you can feel how comfortable they are with each other. (Their first collaboration was Kelly's debut, Whatever Will Be, Will Be 仙樂飄飄) 


Don't get the wrong idea - I'm not an actual fan of either. But somehow, their chemistry in this movie makes you love them. 


The gist is: Kelly plays Luna Ng, a columnist for a Chinese daily who woke up one day with her electricity cut. Losing her previous day's work, because she forgot to save it, she resorts to write about her bad luck that day. As she could not write at home, she's out on the streets, exploring the local neighbourhood. She strolls into an antique/junk shop, and while browsing around finds a stash of vinyl records. Picking one up, she comments to the shop owner that she gave her first boyfriend one like that. 


As she flips it, she realises that her precious gift to her first love is the one and the same as the one she now held. Determined to buy it back at all costs, she asks the shop lady to sell it to her. The shop lady (Teresa Mo) tells her that it was being kept for someone else. After some persuading, she calls the other customer, who while sympathetic to her woes, turns the shop lady's offer down, insisting on picking the record up the same day. Luna leaves the store, makes her way home and drops into a bubbly bath. 


The other customer turns out to be Cheung Yung, a DJ who hosts a show which he plays vinyls.He briefly mentions his encounter, claiming that she should have thanked him for giving her a chance to experience the beauty of regret. Luna is annoyed by what she deems as his callous comments, and sets out to start a war of words with this outspoken guy. The rest ... you should watch it.


I love their timing. I love the soundtrack. I love the cinematography. The art direction. Their supporting cast. Their messy rooms, reflecting how similar they are - his is full of vinyl and music, hers are books and books. What is there to find fault with?


As i watched, I tried to recall if there are other films which I would rank higher than this. Well, He's A Woman, She's A Man 金枝玉葉 would have been chosen, except I find this film somehow, more enjoyable and fun. It remains my all time favourite Cantonese rom-com film.

As i type, the Korean drama 'Love in the Vineyard' is playing. (DVD) In fact, it has been my habit to either play a CD or any drama when i'm awake at times like this. Adds a little bit of life to the dead of the night.

okok, not trying to be romantic. Being the otaku that i am, something is always playing in the background.

Well, i've been spending X'mas day with the family (a bit) and had an enjoyable hour or so - wrapping gifts. yes, i love doing that. It's fun and i think it makes gift-giving and gift-receiving much more personal. (but i digress) Anyway, i wanted to borrow a drama called Love in the Aegean Sea from my mom, and ended up coming away with it! Madam Mother is giving away stuff because she's inspired by her friend. That's nice, thanks Mom! So here i am with another set of VCDs, which although i appreciate the gesture and i want to watch the drama, is totally against my new 'collection' policy of ... DVDs only from now on.

Why so? i'm bitter over the fact that i have huge boxed sets of The Gift (Sung-mool) and All About Eve and a whole bunch of other stuff in VCD. The colours are starting to fade; the sound is going AND there are no English subs! There is even this tiny idea, pushing its way to the front, convincing me to give some of my favourites away (read: Sung-mool and AAE) and replace them with DVDs. That way, they should keep for a longer stretch - although one never knows. Maybe i should wait.

And why is that, you dare ask? I would have loved to own the OST 'I have a Date with Spring' in CD, i'm telling you. And the humongous 6 CD collection of Lo-Dayou's best songs, one of Harlem Yu's earlier albums (forgot which), most of my Jacky Cheung collection, Eason's first album and some other indie albums. All this i happen to own - in cassettes. What use are three cartons of cassettes to one who does not own a cassette player? Was i to know that cassettes would now be practically obsolete? Talking of obsolete, i've been trying to replace my discman which a friend borrowed but has not returned (for around 3 years!) and discovered that there aren't any being sold in the shops. (okay, maybe if i really hunt for it i will find one but right now i need to do some shopping around if any) Does this mean that CD players are going the way of cassette players? Ha? Oh dear, i would still want to own a CD player even if i rip music into my mp3 because eventhough mp3s may be handy and can carry entire albums, i would still buy CDs that produce clearer, louder and sharper sound. (not forgetting how much i love owning a nicely made album with lyrics and all that)

Sure, you can download them - lyrics, photos and music. You may even pay for them. I'd rather you call me old-fashioned then, because my CD collection is growing. ;-p

On another level, e-books are bound to become the rage since it would be way-too-cool to carry entire libraries with you without breaking your back. i can imagine wanting to own one!

However, i'm not at all worried that i'll have to replace my entire collection of literature as i may have to with the music and moving pictures. Because, this technology that plays the paper book ain't gonna get obsolete so soon. Good old pencil and paper. Good old paperbacks, hardcovers and tradepaperbacks. Good old use your fingers to turn the page.

And if you need batteries - eat, sleep, love.

It's been nearly a month since i've updated this blog. In between, i've been to Penang (1); watched Gary in concert (2); wrote loads of reviews (3); did a 'not-too-bad-compilation' of book capsules (4); read many books (5); watched some TV dramas (6); gotten into hot soup and out (7) ... and made a few decisions about my life (8) and lifestyle (9).

(1) went with Eri-chan. had fun.
(2) wow! Mr Cao-Ge is too cool. He won Best Male Vocal in 19th Golden Melody Awards, which is decided by industry peers
(3) yes, i'll be rolling in money soon ;-p
(4) errr, i like some of the stuff i wrote for August issue
(5) The Color of Magic - Terry Pratchett, Twilight - Stephenie Meyer (halfway), A Hatfull of Sky - Terry Pratchett, Good Omens - Pratchett & Neil Gaiman, Penelope - Marilyn Kaye ... and i forgot what else
(6) worse, i think it was SP (with Junichi Okada), half way through Romantic Princess (Angela Zhang & Wu Zun), Galileo (the very cool Masaharu Fukuyama & Kou Shibasaki), Yukan Club (also halfway), It Started with A Kiss (ISWAK, the first part), Hana Zakari no Kimitachi e (Taiwanese version, also halfway and charmed by Ella's delightful performance), Forensic Heroes II (TVB one, with Kevin Cheng ...) AND i'm so taken by the movie Penelope (with the quirky Christina Ricci and James McAvoy and i forgot what else, too
(7) We will not talk about this :-(
(8) Don't go there either ... but there is one thing - i would like to fall deeply in love with paper again
(9) Went jogging

As you can see, i really have been busy. Most of all, i wanna remember that feeling in Gangnam without having to fly 6 long, uncomfortable hours on the fabled national carrier of ours.

i’m a great skeptic about books being made into movies. i suppose its because there is always some rumor or other about a book being adapted for a movie, some may finally reach the silver screen albeit quite poorly (the Dark Is Rising movie has earned fans' scorn, i've heard), while others are become blatant marketing ploys to get the bookstores to stock more. (Spiderwick is doomed for the big screen, it seems. Check out the ridiculous new covers on ALL the books!)