"Sometimes in life it seems like there's no way out. Like a sheep trapped in a maze designed by wolves. And you know that if you're ever in that situation, there are always two doors to choose from. And through the first door — oh, it's easy to get through that door and on the other side waiting for you are all the nummiest treats you can imagine. Fanta, Doritos, L&P, burger rings, Coke zero. But you know what? There's also another door. Not the burger ring door, not the Fanta door. Another door that's harder to get through. Guess what's on the other side? Anyone want to take a guess?"

Boogie Nights 20th anniversary

20 years ago this month. give some filmmakers a glorious subject matter and they can screw it up. give a 27-year-old PTA one as difficult as this and he produces what remains one of the most engaging films i've seen. not to mention Heather Graham, Philip Seymour Hoffman, Julianne Moore, Burt Reynolds, Don Cheadle, John C Reilly, William H Macy, Luis Guzman and Alfred Molina!

i like motion pictures

went to 追龙 only for its re-creation of Kowloon Walled City. turned out better than expected. didn't expect 王晶 to write characters as complex and grey as the two leads. his overall editing and screenplay however can do with more - pardon the cliché - "breathing space".

life is an endless series of trainwrecks with only brief commercial-like breaks of happiness.

old age and treachery will always beat youth and exuberance.

the overrated Ryan Gosling

"Gosling, meanwhile, takes his lack of facial expression to Mount Rushmore levels." (John Lui)

so at least one critic agrees with me on Ryan's acting.

stop, think, observe, plan.

色，戒 10th anniversary

10 years ago this month. a great film that would have a greater legacy if not for those scenes.

"he was, in a way, my discovery. I did not invent him. like other great men, he invented himself."

There Will Be Blood 10th anniversary

10 years ago this month. when DDL and PTA unite, genius happens. a masterclass in characterisation, manipulation and desperation. one of the most intense films i've seen.

Financial planning & stand-up comedy 傻傻分不清楚

True story: sometimes I meet cold-calling financial agents just to ask them questions and see how they react to me. Today in 90 minutes this dude argued how much better it is to suffer Total Permanent Disability with his company than with others, that their advice a few months ago turned out wrong because it's "just advice", how dishonest OCBC 360 is, how my current portfolio is the reason his industry has a bad name, how apocalyptic the world and markets are right now, and who knows where our CPF money is.

Anja Chong

the most successful winter-sport athlete at the recent SEA Games was born in Singapore and is the daughter of Singapore Ice Skating Association's president -- yet represented Malaysia. can any of my MSM friends explain why it wasn't covered?

A friend should always underestimate your virtues and an enemy overestimate your faults.

unspoken

when I dress up for CBD or events, I detect servers, cleaners and expats treat me better.

when I wear a hoodie to work (a tech company), I detect a difference.

when I do lion dance or drive Grab, I get clients and passengers talking down to me.

yet, when I'm delivering food or in lion dance attire, hawkers treat me better and give me extras, like I'm one of their own.

I've always been fascinated and wondered if other people experience such things?

Face/Off 20th anniversary

20 years ago this month. probably the film that hooked me to films. introduced me to the style whiz that's John Woo. and planted the scam that Nicholas Cage is an actor.