Sup3rnality

Or maybe it was hormones or the depression of being homeless soon and not being able to find a house yet.

I just watched the episode of F.R.I.E.N.D.S when Rachel gives birth to baby Emma. Started crying and just could not stop. My eyes are all puffy and my nose is getting all runny.

Still hard to rein myself in. *sob*

I'm watching Hachiko, and it's pulling on the heartstring that broke the day my cat Sawadikap died. I'm not ashamed for saying a cat broke part of my heart which will never heal. I'm more ashamed that I grew up and put aside his stalwart friendship, his bond with me. I just hope that he knows that I'm sorry for making him wait for me to return. I'm sorry that he waited for me for so long, and waited through his sickness before he finally let go. I'm sorry it took me so long. I'm sorry I let you down. I'm sorry I wasn't there for you, Kap. I hope you forgive me. I love you, baby.

• Had a very good morning, the way all mornings should start ;)
• Had a good brunch with Sayang at Tropicana City Mall at a restaurant called Otak-otak Place. It has an ol'skool, classroom concept which is pretty endearing. The food was served in them good ol' mangkuk sia or mangkuk tingkat which is pretty neat. And the restaurant was decorated with toys from the yesteryears, ie those khaki green toy soldiers, marbles, pick-up stix, boardgames like ludo, and their notice boards were of course the those blackboards (or green, rather) like in school. The table itself had bottle caps and a deck of Happy Family cards to play with while waiting for our food. At their cashier counter, there were glass jars of Tora, lollipops and other childhood favourite snacks. And their menu was like school exercise books. Niceness! Oh, and did I mention the food was good, too? I had nasi lemak and rendang ayam. The rice was really lemak and the rendang so yummy. Check out these reviews for more info and pictures:

1. You get what you give
2. KYSpeaks
3. ShoppingSalesQueen
4. KLue, or
5. visit their site itself to know what I mean: Otak-otak Place 

• Lepaked at Badass Coffee for a cuppa while waiting for the time to push off to Section 16, PJ for my appointment. The appointment itself had me sigh a sigh of relief...a new chapter is beginning, and I'm scared but excited. I cannot wait. I'm sad, but also happy. I can't wait.
• Went back to Tropicana City Mall to wait out the rain and jam time. Decided to go watch a movie. I picked How to Train Your Dragon and it was simply awesome. Hands down the best movie I've seen this year and the most fun animation I've watched in a while. I've gotten tired of the run-of-the-mill animation movies but I decided to give this one a try. Definitely worth it :) Sayang and I had a good time laughing and  being at the edge of our seats at the more scary bits.
• Went to the game arcade for two rounds of Daytona USA. Highlight was when I smashed into Ash's car from behind to slow him down...nevermind that I lost :p
•  Drove back to Cyber -- one of the best times spent with Ash would be when we are in the car, driving somewhere and just talking.
• Had a good dinner at Rahim's and my chapati was yummy. Abit weird for chapati texture, but was good nonetheless...very buttery and soft. Yum.

And now I'm home and reliving the best parts of the day...which is all of it. I'm content, and no words anyone could say could change that.

Love,
Linzy

Like any child of the 80s who grew up on a steady diet of cartoons and movies from the era that was, I am dreading all the "remakes" and the "modern twists" many film makers insist on doing year after year. For example, I've seen a childhood favourite, Alvin and the Chipmunks, get mutilated. I felt like [this] when I saw the trailer. I refused to watch the movie.

Thing is, Hollywood sees that it is their right and duty to give us old timers a bit of nostalgia by remaking them old cartoons and movies so we would remember them again. And, they also think that they're doing the young'uns a favour by reintroducing the ol' skool stuff. Wrong, Hollywood.

I like my nostalgia as it was, thank you very much. I would like to remember all them cartoons and movies I loved as they were, in their original form and not the sad excuse of a remake you keep churning out and pushing into our faces. And kids nowadays, well, they couldn't care less. Not most of them anyway. In this fickle world today, everything lasts as long as a flavour of the week, and sometimes, day even. Interests change at the click of a mouse, and voila, you have something new.

Twenty years ago, you had to wait til next week to see the next episode of your favourite show. You had to wait forever for a movie you watched today to be available in the video shop, or even get in line to borrow it from the video rental place and they were not cheap. Cinemas were quite far and uncomfortable (we used to have to sit on benches). You bought books to read more about that movie/series, or cut it out  of magazines and kept them in folders so you can have a look at them again and again.

And now, there are cinemas everywhere. They are somewhat affordable an comfortable. Series' episodes have up to 4 repeats a day, and if you can't wait for next week's episode, you can always go download it or watch in on Youtube. DVDs are sold at dirt-cheap prices. If you wanted to research the movie more, you can just go online and it's all there. No need to print and keep, they'll be there anytime you want.

So you see, some kids I know don't get invested in these things anymore. They don't need to. They live fast-paced, never stopping to enjoy the simpler things. It's one thing at this moment, and they forget it the next, and are in search for something new the very next moment. Hence, there is no need to put much substance in things, as what the masses want is a quick fix til they can get their hands on the next best things that comes their way.

What I'm saying is that, movies/series nowadays, for the most part, don't have that much a substance in them. It's all flash and bash, and bits and bobs, and colour and light, and pretty pretty illusions. But substance is sorely lacking.

The flavour of the week now is 3D movies. Of course, it's not like they didn't have it before, but now it's ever the more rampant. Everywhere I turn, it's 3D. But when you watch it, you realize that that's all it is, some 3D crap that doesn't amount to anything. If you are easily distracted, you won't have time to blink as you take in all the visually-pleasing aesthetics, that you don't realize that at the very core, you are left hollow.

I love Clash of the Titans (1981). It was the ultimate movie for me at the age of 3-5 years. I suppose it was my love for that story that paved the way for my love of Greek mythology and epic movies. My mother taped it off TV2 long long time ago, and as soon as I learned how to operate the VCR, I was popping the video in to watch the movie again and again.

It was the stuff of fantasies and dreams. I loved Bubo, Athena's owl. I had dreams of owning the owl cos it was just so cute, and it made sounds like R2D2. The inferior special effects left a lot to be desired, but I loved it, and thinking about it now, despite it's obvious "fake-ness", carried more weight and was much more memorable. I remembered being scared as hell of Medusa (when I downloaded the movie last year in my doomed laptop, I still couldn't watch the Medusa scene alone).

What I'm saying is, I'm afraid the remake that is coming out this April 1st would just turn out to be another CGI-3D fest with not much of story told. I have a good mind not to go see this movie, afraid it'll shatter my last memory of it. But at the same time, I'm curious to see as to whether they did the movie justice. But from experience, nothing good ever comes out from the likes of remakes.

Love,
Linzy

In the absence of words, the loudness of gestures and expression is amplified almost deafeningly. And often, the crease of a brow, the furrow of a frown and the quirk of the lips could say a million more things than an exchange of words ever could.

If there is one thing that could make me love a movie or series or love it more, other than an engaging plot, is when they find it to emphasize and/or punctuate a scene with the right degree of facial expressions.

Another reason as to why Joss' creations have such a hold on me is that he takes the time to focus on the characters face and gestures, and it makes a scene that more powerful in my eyes. I mean, just look at Hush. No, I did not started liking this aspect in movies/series because of Joss; I liked him more because he fed my need for not just plot and words, but the most natural reaction a person has before words take over.

In BtVS, Joss has many a time moved me to tears by scenes that has simply been wordless, but so strong. Or it can be an exchange between two people without a word being uttered, but the eyes communicate so much.

So below are my favourites, in no particular order.

1. Wild at Heart, Season 4
   
   Easily one of the saddest episodes of the lot, WaH saw Oz "cheating" on Willow with Veruca, and him deciding to leave Willow to find himself and hopefully rein in the wolf inside. The last few minutes of the episode, when Oz walks out of the room and out of Willow's life and into his van, there is that shot of him behind the wheel and the run of emotions on his face. The play of emotions that ranged from determination, sadness, regret and just being torn was too heartbreaking to bear. Not a word uttered, just his emotions fighting one another for dominance. And determination wins over, and he drives away.
    
2. Becoming 2, Season 2
   
   Like WaH, Becoming 2 had Angel leaving Buffy, but now by his choice, but at her realization that she has no other option but to sacrifice him for the rest of the world. And her expression one too painful to watch. As he held her, oblivious to what's happening, we see her face changing from happiness and gladness, then to realization, to horror, to sadness and to heartbreak. In those brief moments she had Angel back, she had to push away happiness to make way for conscience and the knowledge that the world she was entrusted to protect could only survive if she killed the person she loved. And in those few moments she had to make a decision that had no options. At the last moment, we see her steel herself, stabs him, then watch her breakdown. I never fail to be moved to tears.
   
   
3. Fool for Love, Season 5
   
   
   
   
   One of my favourite episodes, as it chronicles Spike's history, and how he became the man, or should I say vampire, he currently is. At the very last scene before the episodes ends, we see Buffy sitting on the porch in the backyard, crying after finding out that her mother is sick. Spike, who was determined to finish Buffy off once and for all, came charging to end her with a blow from a shotgun. But he stopped as he saw the distraught Slayer, with tear-streaked cheeks in all vulnerability. We see him soften, goes to sit next to her, pats her reassuringly (if not a bit awkwardly) on her shoulder and volunteers his company, without saying a single word. On her face we see a sort of gratefulness, as the two natural enemies sit side by side; worlds apart but sharing the same space to help the other cry. (Sometimes when you need to cry, all you really need is someone to hold you and not say anything.)
   
   
4. The Body, Season 5
   This one needs no explanation. What words can you possibly utter when your mother dies?
   
   
5. Hell's Bells, Season 6
   
   The part when Xander cannot put into words why he cannot marry Anya, and Anya's face just crumples and she pulls her hand away from his hold, and it drops to her side, dejected and rejected. Her face when she walks down the aisle alone puts a lump in my throat, unable to look at her as she feels all the dreams she had seeping away from her. She didn't need to cry, it was all there on her face.
   
   
6. Helpless, Season 3
   
   
   
   This episode is when Buffy had to go through a centuries-old test that every Slayer is put through by the Watcher's Council when and if she turns 16. It is a sadistic and draconian test that hardly serves much of a purpose other than the Watcher's (metaphorically representing the sexist patriarchs) exerting their power over the Slayers. Giles, who has grown to love Buffy as a daughter and not merely his charge and job, had no choice but to put her through this test, which included having him to inject her with doses that would incapacitate her. Realizing the mistake he was making, he told her about this test (Slayers aren't supposed to know), but by then, the damage was done. Buffy felt betrayed, and flinched from him. But in a different moment later, when all is forgiven, there is the tender moment between them as he tends to her wounds, in all the silence he begs for her forgiveness, and he gets it, as she lets him clean her cuts.
   
   
7. Grave, Season 6
   
   
   
   
   A broken Willow gone dark because of Tara's death is filled with so much pain that she just wants to end the world and all its suffering. She conjures everything in her power to bring down the world that is so full of hate and pain so that no one has to feel anymore. Then comes Xander, who tells her "You've been my best friend my whole life...world's gonna end, where else would I wanna be", and then holds her while she comes back down to earth. His simple gesture spoke a thousand words and communicated all the love he had for his dearest friend, whom in all her scorn and anger, was merely a girl who lost the love of her life and didn't know how to grieve.

To illustrate these scenes I've chosen the art of Anne from Obsesssion of the Moment, my favourite wallpaper artist whose art make up most of my collection (I am an avid wallpaper collector). Click on the thumbnails to have a closer look at these scenes.

Truthfully, there are many more scenes that I can think of, just not right now. And with Season 8 in comic form, there are so many more that should be listed down but I cannot. Unless I scan them pages, of course. So I'll leave you with these few for now.

And as always, Joss is boss :p

JWIMMN,
Linzy

Disclaimer: All works are from Obsession of the Moment.

I think anyone who has known me for a good long while knows that I am picky when it comes to music and movies and books. I would often say that having loved language and words eversince I could remember, I do not settle for any run of the mill use of words and recycled phrases.

Many people who would have come to know me long enough would have had that awkward moment when they ask "Can I have a look at your song list/movie collection?" only to find out they can find hardly anything that they would like to hear or have heard of/have seen or would like to see more than once. I get that often! Haha.

So if you have been through my DVD album, you'd notice I have a special stack which consists of war movies. Particularly movies about the Holocaust. I have Imagining Argentina, The Last Samurai, Braveheart, The Patriot, Saving Private Ryan, The Pianist, The Wind that Shakes the Barley...you get my drift.

Besides the beauty of the movie itself, the sacrifice, the power of love and pride, strength and all that depicted in the movie, I love battle scenes, in particular when it comes to the battle speech...which is the point of this entry in the first place.

Battle speeches gives me that lump in my throat and sets my heart racing, as if I am in battle and the words are setting me for the rage of the battle. Often I'd shed a tear or two at the words, feeling my spirit rise to face the impending battle, even if that fight is for naught.

So here are my top three battle speeches. The ones that made my heart stop. The ones that gave me chills. The ones I can still hear playing over and over in my mind. (Click on the quotes/character/movie for more info).

Aye, fight and you may die, run and you'll live. At least a while. And dying in your beds many years from now, would you be willing to trade all the days from this day to that for one chance, just one chance to come back here and tell our enemies that they may take our lives, but they'll never take our freedom!

- William Wallace, Braveheart

Good morning. In less than an hour, aircraft from here will join others from around the world, and you will be launching the largest aerial battle in the history of mankind. Mankind. That word should have new meaning for all of us today. We can't be consumed by our petty differences anymore. We will be united in our common interests. Perhaps it's fate that today is the Fourth of July, and you will once again be fighting for our freedom… Not from tyranny, oppression, or persecution… but from annihilation. We're fighting for our right to live. To exist. And should we win the day, the Fourth of July will no longer be known as an American holiday, but as the day when the world declared in one voice: We will not go quietly into the night! We will not vanish without a fight! We're going to live on! We're going to survive! Today we celebrate our Independence Day! 

- President Thomas J. Whitmore, Independence Day

Sons of Gondor, of Rohan, my brothers! I see in your eyes the same fear that would take the heart of me. A day may come when the courage of Men fails When we forsake our friends and break all bonds of fellowship. But it is not this day. An hour of wolves and shattered shields when the Age of Man comes crashing down. But it is not this day! This day we fight! By all that you hold dear on this good earth. I bid you stand, Men of the West!

- Aragorn, LotR: Return of the King

By the way, [this blog] agrees with me.

In my earlier days in IIUM, I quite liked borrowing novels from the campus library. I say this like it is a big thing because, first and foremost, the idea of being loaned a book and then having to return is a heartbreaking experience for me. I'll prolong my possession of the book for the longest time possible, cos I don't wanna return it. Mostly I'll avoid borrowing if I can. And second, well, the IIUM library does not have that many books of the fiction genre anyway.

But yes, I did borrow fictions in those days (in my senior year I was more immersed in journals). I was adjusting to my new life there and was looking for things to do to occupy my time. I can almost imagine Ash rolling his eyes and calling me "nerd" right now :p

One fine day, I saw this book: The Lovely Bones. The synopsis on the back piqued my interest and so I took it back to the room and started on it.

I was crying by the end of the first chapter.

You are faced with your own mortality and weakness when you read of a young girl being raped and killed. You know that, put in the same situation, you wouldn't fare any better, and I cannot imagine how it must have felt to know that no one could save you as you died alone. I remember waking up with a start once when I dreamed that I was being held down and I could not scream after reading that book. It affected me so. To the extent I was painfully scared of being alone in secluded areas.

Reading The Lovely Bones put me in an ordeal, trying so hard to finish the book but finding it hard as I was crying at every few pages and had to put it down while I calmed myself down. The story is told by Susie, the girl who was murdered, who watched family, friends and other people she knew live their lives after she died. She watched the futile police investigations on her disappearance. She watched her family crumble, watched her friends grow up and do things she never will, and basically saw how people moved on without her. It was painful, wistful and sad. She was only 14, and had so much to live for.

Sometime in 2008 I heard that Peter Jackson was taking up the movie to adapt to the silver screen. I felt scared, anxious and doubtful. Translating a story based so much more on emotions rather on plot is not an easy task, assuming that it is not interpreted wrongly. With the absence of words to describe the matters of the heart and soul, visuals would need to do it justice. On top of that, with the story covering the lives of so many characters, you can only hope that the story would not be snipped and changed too much from the original to fit in to a movie.

I, however, will give Mr Jackson the benefit of the doubt. I'm sure he'll manage to pull it off. The movie's coming out very soon, and I'm very anxious to see the outcome. Perhaps for me, it is not so much about the story. I'm not so bothered on how true it'll stick to the book, cos I've learned to just accept that movies could never adapt the exact storyline from books, it's just too difficult and complicated. Although I do wish that the essence of the story won't be distorted too much. What I'm more worried about is whether the emotions that was told so heartbreakingly well in the book could be captured in the movie. I want to see whether what made me cry from start to end would be there as I watch rather than read. That is my utmost hope, for the emotions to not be overlooked.

Anyway, here's to hoping that the movie will be as good as the book. From what I saw from the trailer and all, it looks pretty good. And having enjoyed a few movies by Mr Jackson, I suppose he wouldn't do too shabby. So let's wait and see. And for those who has read the book, too, keep your fingers crossed!

Love, Linzy

P/s: After reading TLB, Aaina lent me a Alice Sebold book which told about Sebold's own rape experience. I never could finish reading it, it was too horrible. Like any other woman, I find rape to be the biggest betrayal, something that I fear and have restless thoughts about.

I have recovered from my semi-depression. I wanted to say get over, but that isn't the case. It's still there at the back of my mind hovering like a dark shadow that is threatening to take over me if I let it. But...I won't. I can't. That's why I say recovered; because so far, I've only been able to blanket it; but it's there underneath the surface.

Yesterday, after feeling detached and emotionally absent from everything and everyone around me, I impulsively took off to Alamanda right after work. I tried booking tickets to a movie online, but they were fully-booked. But I decided I'd take my chances and see if a movie -- any movie -- was available.

So I drove, and I got there, and I managed to get myself a ticket for the 6.15 pm screening of Blood. I've watched several episodes of Blood before, and I know the vague background of the story, so I thought I'd see if the movie would do it any justice. But of course, as movie remakes go, this one is no different. It was boring. The plot was non-existent. Characters were stoned and static with no depth or substance. Had an unbearably childish dialogue. And had amateur-ish effects. Basically a no-go for me. Terminator would have done more for me despite me not wanting to spoil my memory of the first two with the current takes. But then, come to think of it, it was a toss between Blood, 17 Again, Jangan Pandang Belakang Congkak, and Hannah Montana. So, as you can see, I didn't have that many choices.

But the whole idea of taking off was basically to get away and not have to stay home and dwell and wallow in anger. I wanted to be occupied. Needed to. I was lonely and angry and mildly depressed, being home alone with nothing to take up the spaces of my thoughts wasn't on the cards. So bad or not, Blood was as good as anything. Of course, this morning I woke up to the thought that I just lost an hour and 35 minutes of my life, as well as RM8 of my salary that I will never get back.

Prior to the movie, after buying the ticket and waiting for it to start, I decided to head towards Sushi King to have my first meal of the day. I haven't eaten the entire day and was lightheaded and almost ready to keel over from hunger. Yes, it does seem odd to want sushi when you're hungry as it seems virtually impossible to assuage a hunger with little itty-bitty plates of equally itty-bitty pieces of sea creatures wrapped in rice and seaweed. You'd need a lot to get full, and sushi is not exactly cheap. But I was in the mood to splurge on myself and not care, so I went in, sat down and looked into the menu.

My cravings for salmon was yet to be fed, so I ordered every salmon dish I could possibly afford. My main course was a plate of salmon steak, served with some kinda crab and mushroom pudding, rice and miso soup. Believe me, it was good. Then I had salmon sushi, salmon sashimi, fried salmon skin and fried salmon skin hand roll. I even took some to go for my movie and sat happily crunching salmon skin in the cinema as well as savouring every bite of my salmon sashimi.

It was a luxuriously delicious meal. Albeit being not fun since I was eating all alone. The guys working there even took the time chatting me up, seeing there was only one other customer. They were asking did I just finish work, and why I was alone, why I liked salmon so much etc. It was nice of them to somewhat keep me company, and even though I'd rather have been left to my thoughts, thoughts wasn't something I wanted to dwell on. So I obliged them by giving into their small talk, smiled when they tried to joke, and graced them with a smile and wave when they gave me a chorus of thank yous or rather, arigatos, as I left.

It was only then that I rushed off to my movie, watched, and left for home. Oh, but not to forget, I bought a boxful of donuts before I left, and shared them with my landlord's kids when they came over to open up my kitchen door.

Anyway, time off on my own is something I haven't done in the longest time. I don't particularly miss it, I'd rather have company to talk to, or rather, have my Sayang with me for guaranteed cheer-up time; but being on my own for a few hours gave me some time to reflect and think, and put things into a little perspective, without being swallowed up by emotion. It was a good setting, a hustling and bustling shopping mall as a background and soundtrack to my contemplations. Its non-quietness allows me to think without wallowing.

I came out of the Sushi King and the cinema with a bounce in my step and a smile on my face. I definitely felt better. Better, but not wholly. But better, nonetheless.

Mission accomplished.

Love,
Linzy

One of the first things I did right after I swung my legs to the side of the bed, planted them on the floor, and got up to walk, was to turn on my laptop and checked my e-mails. Yes, I'm that far gone and that deep in the technology quicksand. But hey, when you think about it, I live in Cyberjaya and it promotes all sorts of cyber-ness--even if it is not as cyber-y as it sounds--and in spite of that, is disconnected from the outside world. So yeah, being where I am I should be living my life ITly and also because the internet is my saving grace to ensure I don't spiral into a black hole of loneliness.

Anyway, I digress, so back to my story. On top of my unread mail was my daily Whedon.info digest, with consists of anything and everything recent about and connected to the Whedonverse which is condensed into clickable links. The links itself are the headlines, so you can click on them headlines to be directed to the article itself and read on.

I stopped dead when I saw
""Buffy The Vampire Slayer" Movie Remake - It’s more than a rumor".

I clicked. And I read on.

My reaction?

Hell, NO.

A Whedonverse without the man, Whedon, himself?

Hell, NO.

There is no room for discussion. No room for reasoning. No room for debate.

I'd rather have no BtVS than have no Whedon. I know that the 'verse that Joss had painstakingly created would be shattered to bits. We've seen it done before in the first movie. And it sure as hell ain't surprising if it happens again.

I mean, the movies now are full of remakes. And I've seen many of my childhood favourites destroyed one by one. My memories now marred by some so-called new take or angle of a once popular show. Their "revolutionary" ideas on how it can be made 'contemporary' ruining the very essence of the show. I've seen it with Alvin and the Chipmunks, Ninja Turtles, Transformers etc. And then there was Indiana Jones 4 and Terminator 3. And how bout them stories like Dragonball and Streetfighter? I'm not a fan, but even I know those two were terribly butchered.

So a BtVS remake but in a different timeline so to not touch the world Joss created?

Hell, NO.

The beauty of the Whedonverse is that Joss builds the legends and myths and history around his stories tightly. So one pull at a strand can unravel this carefully woven, complex world. So it should not be touched. Not unless Joss intervenes. Others may think differently, but in my opinion, Joss is canon. What he thinks out will flow into the myth. It's his myth, after all. And someone else attempting to have a shot at this myth without having Joss be a part of it is murder to that myth. A different timeline might seem to be a way to go to tell the story of Slayers from another angle so to avoid probable contradictions, but I think this is not bloody likely to be the case.

The way I see it, seeing from how there are so many remakes made and being made, alot of people are wanting to jump onto this lucrative bandwagon. All you've gotta do is choose one of the many classics, unearth them, and make them "new" again to gain new fans and interest. And with Whedonites still going strong, there seems to be a market for a new BtVS movie. But a new BtVS movie by someone other than Whedon and his team (think Espenson, Noxon, Minear, Greenwalt, Goddard, DeKnight, Fury and Petrie) and a different timeline? Hell, no. Them bloody "revolutionaries" will rake in the cash and live happily every after, while the stories lie in the dust, doomed to forever be another classic that shoulda stayed buried because they're too cheesy or lame. No young'uns, it's not that. You see, they shoulda been handled the way they should be handled: with care. Their original creators went through much pain making them the way they are; but then some person comes up and thinks they know better cos they're young, and hip and now; but ends up rattling the foundation of the story. And thus, the story slumps in a heap and is forgotten. Never to be revisited again, because everyone will now remember it as a flop. And not for the greatness it once posessed.

So, please, Joss, don't let this happen.

I can see no good coming from this unless you step in.

This is the time for your divine intervention, Joss Whedon.

JWIMMN,
Linzy

Tagged by Anis. I forewarn you, I'm no movie buff and I generally find mainstream movies not to my liking (i.e. chick flicks, comedies, romance); so many on this here list are partly accidental viewings or cos I was dragged to watch it, or cos I was bored. Hence, barely half of the titles are marked with an X. Yes, I have no life when it comes to movies. Mostly cos I spend mine elsewhere. My choice of movies are eccentric at best, and hence, not easy to find.

So, yeah, I've only watched 94 outta 242.

**************

Mark the ones you've seen. There are 242 movies on this list. Copy this list mail, go to your own Facebook account, paste this as a note. Then, put x's next to the movies you've seen, add them up, change the header adding your number, and click post at the bottom. Have fun!

() Rocky Horror Picture Show *Great songs from this musical...have yet to watch it.
(x) Grease
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean
(x) Pirates of the Caribbean 2: Dead Man's Chest *The second and third weren't really worth watching, in my opinion.
() Boondock Saints
() Fight Club
() Starsky and Hutch
(x) Neverending Story *a childhood favourite
() Blazing Saddles
() Airplane

Total: 4

() The Princess Bride
() AnchorMan
() Napoleon Dynamite
(x) Labyrinth *My favourite movie as a kid. Watched it a million of times. But David Bowie as the Goblin King in tights was just plain scary.
(x) Saw
(x) Saw II
() White Noise
(x) White Oleander *One of the best written books I've ever read. Not the story itself, but the way it's written.
() Anger Management
(x) 50 First Dates *not particularly a movie I would watch, but it was ok lah.
(x) The Princess Diaries *the first one was ok, but the second might as well have been called 'The Search for a Prince Most Suitable to Scr*w the Royal Virgin' :p
() The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement

Total so far: 10

(x) Scream
() Scream 2
() Scream 3
(x) Scary Movie *it took me about 5 years or more to finally watch this movie. Mostly because I hear so many people making reference to scenes I know jack about. Watched it once just to be in the loop. I mostly was disgusted by it. Jokes like this are just tasteless.
()Scary Movie 2
() Scary Movie 3
() Scary Movie 4
() American Pie
() American Pie 2
() American Wedding
() American Pie Band Camp

Total so far: 12

(x) Harry Potter 1
(x) Harry Potter 2
(x) Harry Potter 3
(x) Harry Potter 4
(x) Harry Potter 5
(x) Resident Evil 1
() Resident Evil 2
() The Wedding Singer
() Little Black Book
(x) The Village
(x) Lilo & Stitch

Total so far: 20

(x) Finding Nemo
(x) Finding Neverland
(x) Signs
() The Grinch
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre
() Texas Chainsaw Massacre: The Beginning
() White Chicks
(x) Butterfly Effect *This one I enjoyed very much.
(x) 13 Going on 30
(x) I, Robot
() Robots

Total so far: 26

() Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story
() Universal Soldier
(x) Lemony Snicket: A Series Of Unfortunate Events *Went to see this with Fidzy's family one night all those years ago
() Along Came Polly
(x) Deep Impact
() KingPin
() Never Been Kissed
() Meet The Parents
() Meet the Fockers
() Eight Crazy Nights
() Joe Dirt
(x) KING KONG *Took me a few years to actually get around to watching this movie, and it was nicely done.

Total so far: 29

() A Cinderella Story
(x) The Terminal
(x) The Lizzie McGuire Movie *Gasp* Yes, I did watch this movie, but I was dragged there.
() Passport to Paris
() Dumb & Dumber
() Dumber & Dumberer
(x) Final Destination
(x) Final Destination 2
(x) Final Destination 3
() Halloween
(x) The Ring
(x) The Ring 2 *went to see this movie with Fidzy when she came down to Seremban to visit.
() Surviving X-MAS
(x) Flubber *went to watch this movie cos my brother wanted to

Total so far: 38

() Harold & Kumar Go To White Castle *watched parts of this one day when I was bored
(x) Practical Magic *watched a little of this, read the book years later, then watched it properly. The book and movie complimented one another. There were parts that were better in the book than the movie and vice versa.
() Chicago
() Ghost Ship
() From Hell
() Hellboy
() Secret Window
(x) I Am Sam
() The Whole Nine Yards
() The Whole Ten Yards

Total so far: 40

(x) The Day After Tomorrow
(x) Child's Play *As a kid, I never played with dolls. But someone once gave me a Chucky-sized doll on a birthday, and I was damn freaked out by it. Chucky used to scare the hell outta me.
() Seed of Chucky
() Bride of Chucky
(x) Ten Things I Hate About You
() Just Married
(x) Gothika *I watched this with the BENdits...that time when Zeph was talking about her crap while she was in the loo just before the movie started.
(x) Nightmare on Elm Street *when I watched this as a kid, I got so scared to sleep.
() Sixteen Candles
() Remember the Titans
() Coach Carter
(x) The Grudge
() The Grudge 2
(x) The Mask
() Son Of The Mask

Total so far: 47

() Bad Boys
(x) Bad Boys 2 *Watched this with some of the BENdits, I think.
() Joy Ride
() Lucky Number Seven
() Ocean's Eleven
() Ocean's Twelve
() Bourne Identity
() Bourne Supremecy
(x) Bourne Ultimatum *My aunt and uncle insisted on watching this, even if I never watched the first two.
() Lone Star
() Bedazzled
(x) Predator I *Grew up watching Arnie movies with my uncle as a kid, this one was my favourite out of the many.
() Predator II
() The Fog
(x) Ice Age
(x) Ice Age 2: The Meltdown
() Curious George

Total so far: 52

(x) Independence Day *Watched this with just my mom one day.
() Cujo
() A Bronx Tale
() Darkness Falls
() Christine
(x) ET
(x) Children of the Corn
() My Boss' Daughter
() Maid in Manhattan
(x) War of the Worlds *One of the best movies I watched that year; in a long time, even.
() Rush Hour
() Rush Hour 2
() Rush Hour 3

Total so far: 56

() Best Bet
() How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days
() She's All That
() Calendar Girls
() Sideways
() Mars Attacks
() Event Horizon
(x) Ever After *watched it for the first time when I was in MCIIUM.
(x) Wizard of Oz
(x) Forrest Gump *One of the best movies ever.
() Big Trouble in Little China
() The Terminator
(x) The Terminator 2 *the only onne worth watching out of the three.
() The Terminator 3

Total so far: 60

(x) X-Men
(x) X-Men 2
(x) X-Men 3
() Spider-Man *Tobey Maguire=not a fan.
(x) Spider-Man 2
(x) Sky High *Watched this because I had to teman my siblings...
(x) Jeepers Creepers
() Jeepers Creepers 2
(x) Catch Me If You Can
(x) The Little Mermaid
(x) Freaky Friday
(x) Reign of Fire
() The Skulls
() Cruel Intentions
() Cruel Intentions 2
() The Hot Chick
(x) Shrek
(x) Shrek 2

Total so far: 72

() Swimfan
() Miracle on 34th street
() Old School
() The Notebook
() K-Pax
() Krippendorf's Tribe
(x) A Walk to Remember
() Ice Castles
() Boogeyman
() The 40-year-old-virgin

Total so far: 73

(x) Lord of the Rings Fellowship of the Ring
(x) Lord of the Rings The Two Towers
(x) Lord of the Rings Return Of the King
(x) Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark *grew up watching Indie and have always loved him
(x) Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom
(x) Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade
(x) Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of Crystal Skull *fourth one was a disappointment, though.

Total so far: 80

() Baseketball
(x) Hostel *watched the first 10 minutes, then DVD went dead. Watched the rest when I found another DVD just to know what it was about. It's torture porn, to be blunt.
() Waiting for Guffman
() House of 1000 Corpses
() Devils Rejects
() Elf
() Highlander
() Mothman Prophecies
() American History X
() Three

Total so Far: 81

(x) The Jacket
() Kung Fu Hustle
() Shaolin Soccer
() Night Watch
(x) Monsters Inc.
(x) Titanic
() Monty Python and the Holy Grail
() Shaun Of the Dead
() Willard

Total so far: 84

() High Tension
() Club Dread
() Hulk
() Dawn Of the Dead
(x) Hook *One of my favourite Robin Williams movie
(x) Chronicles Of Narnia The Lion the Witch and the Wardrobe
(x) 28 days later *have always thought being alone is the scariest thing ever.
() Orgazmo
() Phantasm
() Waterworld

Total so far: 87

() Kill Bill vol 1
() Kill Bill vol 2
() Mortal Kombat
() Wolf Creek
() Kingdom of Heaven
() the Hills Have Eyes
() I Spit on Your Grave aka the Day of the Woman
() The Last House on the Left
() Re-Animator
(x) Army of Darkness

Total so far: 88

(x) Star Wars Ep. I The Phantom Menace
(x) Star Wars Ep. II Attack of the Clones
() Star Wars Ep. III Revenge of the Sith *I dunno why I've never watched this last one.
(x) Star Wars Ep. IV A New Hope *My uncle loved Star Wars, so grew up watching them over and over.
(x)Star Wars Ep. V The Empire Strikes Back
(x) Star Wars Ep. VI Return of the Jedi
() Ewoks Caravan Of Courage *I loved the Ewoks cartoon.
() Ewoks The Battle For Endor

Total so far: 93

() The Matrix *yes, I've never watched a single Matrix movie. Something happened when I wanted to that put me off.
() The Matrix Reloaded
() The Matrix Revolutions
() Animatrix
() Evil Dead
() Evil Dead 2
() Team America: World Police
() Red Dragon
() Silence of the Lambs
(x) Hannibal *watched cos I was bored and had nothing else to watch.

RESULT: 94

I guess my teammates were not kidding when they told me a certain editor that we work with, who shares a surname with the renowned Fox 'Spooky' Mulder, is a little out of this world; thus she is dubbed "The X-Files". The product which I worked on with her, as it turns out, does not need subbing. Which means that I should not have wasted my time editing the darn thing since she rejected everything, saying that those were from an external source and cannot be changed. Not even the obvious typos... Well, Isure feel like an (x) fool.

But of course, she failed to tell me this earlier. On top of that, her e-mail to me sounded as if I was dumb enough not to know and sorta wasted her time. Even if I did know, it's not like she was being specific as to which part needed subbing and which didn't...*sigh*

In this case, I sure wouldl like to work with a Scully. As much as she is rather rigid, matter-of-fact and by the book, at the very least I know I could rely on her to lay down the facts on me straight up. I wouldn't have to go through the trouble of going around in circles, hunting aliens and all for something that should be left well alone.

Ah well... Serves me right for having a penchant for all things paranormal. Never thought I'd work with one, though...

Love,
HAminudin

This time, last year...

Notice Spike and Giles?

We were featured in Female Magazine, May 2008; the Movie Issue

After the shoot, Fairuz & Fairuz sent me back to campus. I had a Discourse Analysis presentation at 2pm, so I had to be back and couldn't stay to chat. As soon as I got to campus and reached the bridge just before Nusaibah, I saw Fidzy, Yumi and Lina looking at a wreck of a bike. I opened the window and hollered at them, and they told me that Ash got into an accident; and that the messed up bike they were looking at was the one he was on.

I could have sworn my heart stopped. Went up to the room for a quick change and rushed back down to hear what happened. Thankfully Ash was alright and was now in his room recuperating. I was ridden with guilt so much, cos I wasn't there when it happened. The time it happened was when I'd usually be hanging with the girls. Ash called them to come to the clinic, and I felt so bad that I wasn't there for him.

Later in the afternoon, after class finished and we went to have our usualy drinks at Bangi Kopitiam, I got so worried looking at the scratches all over Ash. But was ever thankful that he was ok.. Despite him hurting and being sore all over, it's just good to see him alright.

A little worse for wear, but thankfully, safe and sound

Of course, nowadays I'm even more thankful that he's alright. Where would I be now if anything happened to him? Would I ever know the things I am feeling now...? That night after we came back from Danau Kota, and was telling the story to Zaza; I felt that pang of sadness and broken-heartedness thinking if Ash was not that lucky...wondered how I would take it; especially because it was previous night that I had that dream. The first of its kind. And it was that point that I realized I cared more for Ash than I knew...only that I didn't know how much--yet.

This is one of the firsts of the domino effect...

Love, Linzy~

I'm too worn out for the day to actually say much; so I'll have it down in digestable bites:

• Slow day today, felt utterly sluggish and malas. Despite having to handle my first product ever; I can't seem to get my head put on properly.
• Met up with the dude who was selling the PS3 game by brother bought on eBay through my account. He met me in front of my office and we had the exchange done. It was in good condition and all; so it was all well.
• Went home for lunch. Felt oddly tired and melancholic; and was missing my Encik Sedil like crazy. Called just to say hello... I just needed the familiar voice to calm me a little.
• Felt even more absent-minded when I got back from lunch. Felt out of sorts and disoriented.
• Juliana told me that she might leave if she gets accepted for the offer that she will be going for an interview for... Kinda sad since I just got to know somebody; and she might already be leaving.
• Did what I possibly could with the product given to me. Learned some tips from Adrian and Caroljit; since I can't seem to remember anything from training.
• Went for the ING Briefing by this dude, Koo, who pronounced everything funny. He made 'sexual dysfunction' sound absolutely cringe-worthy to hear. And at one point, he just gave up pronouncing some words...Poor Koo.
• Finished what I could of my product. I have about half more to look at tomorrow. Eventhough I finished quite a lot in a short time; I still have to have it sent for reviewing and make necessary changes if needed and then send it back to the PE (production editor). On top of that, I have two more products coming in this week.
• The green tea I've been drinking; despite it's benefits, are making my throat sore.
• Ayus called saying Fairuz was on the way to pick up pizzas; he could stop by and pick me up from work so we could have dinner together.
• Fairuz picked me up and we went to get pizzas then convened to Ayus' and chowed.
• Watched The Bucket (starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman), which is absolutely fantastic, by the way; after dinner.
• We got to talking about getting an apartment together, the three of us. That way, it'll be economic, safer and more comfortable. Since we know each other, we will feel more comfortable; and won't have problems with dirty and/or lazy housemates. And, as Ash mentioned, having a guy in the house will be much safer. And we will save lots of money.
• Went back to my place; and now am looking forward to retiring to bed and having a good sleep. Called Ash and had a bit of a vent today; over frustrations brought by my situation and everything. I am only thankful that Ash can be patient enough with me to stand by my side no matter what; even if he can't actually be near. I love you, Sayang; more than you will ever know.
• Now, am gonna have a good night.

Good night!

Love, Linzy~

I've met another Whedonite! I've met another Whedonite!

As it turns out, Juliana, my fellow new recruit, the person whom I carpool with, the one whom I walk to work and joke with, go for training with and sometimes have lunch and get chased by dogs with is a Whedonite. Yes, a Whedonite. And here I thought they were becoming extinct.

I discovered it over lunch while I was explaining to her why I don't watch much tv; about how a certain Director Extrodinnaire have ruined me for tv. I just opened my mouth to say "His shows are Buff..." and Juliana says, "Oh, you mean Joss Whedon? I love his shows!"... And I am left dumbfounded with my mouth hanging open.

We talked for over an hour...Discussing episodes and season and characters. We talked about Dollhouse, Firefly/Serenity and Dr. Horrible...Yup, Linzy was in her element, and I had to pause and tell her that this is what happens when you get me started. Before long, we realized we're already late and should've been back in the office about 10 minutes ago :p

It's a relief for me to let go; because a huge part of me is influenced by Joss Whedon's philosophy and thought. And to be able to discuss it freely and have the other person know what you are talking about is a rare treat for me. I mean, I know people who watch those shows, but not many would know scenes and certain characters and quotes and all those little details. People whom I actually know who are in the know of the Whedonverse are only a handful...and you know who you guys are :)

So, me over here, somewhere in my mind is doing Numfar's Dance of Joy.

JWIMMN (for the benefit of those not in the know, it means Joss Whedon is My Master Now),
Hazlin

I read this article this morning, from my trusty Whedon.info newsletter I get in my inbox every now and then. And reading it gave my heart the familiar tug whenever I watch some of them scenes here in the list. It's just one of those reasons that keeps Whedonites coming back for more. After all, Joss said once, "I don't give them what they want, I give them what they need".

It's the strong emotions that Joss invoke that make you feel the reality of the show despite its fantasy-like setting. And that's the point; because no matter how insane life gets, the reality of it is that we all bleed and we all die. Even if you get resurrected, life is still temporary, and you can be swept off your feet even before you set foot.

And that's the beauty of the Whedonverse.

By the way, I just realized that Yanna has posted a similar post :)

Anyway, here's the article:

My favourites are #3, 4, 6, 7...Ah crap, I love them all. But I cried the hardest watching Joyce, Fred, and Angel die. And not to forget Season 8 #19 when Willow dies... I cried while I was sitting on the bench in front of Kinokuniya after buying it.

Joss Whedon’s 16 Most Painful Character Deaths

Joss Whedon’s new series Dollhouse debuts tonight. How long till one of the characters is killed in some heartbreaking and horrifying way? Only time can tell. In the meantime, let’s reflect on some of Joss’s previous victims… namely, the sixteen which most affected the plots of their respective series. When you have a list like this that’s narrowed down to the top sixteen, you know you’re dealing with a serious offender. Many, MANY characters have died in Joss’s works, but it would be impossible to name them all. Obviously, spoilers abound in this article, so if you’re not up to date on Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, Firefly & Serenity, Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog, or Astonishing X-Men, you might want to avert your eyes.

Buffy The Vampire Slayer

1. Buffy Summers (”Prophecy Girl” and “The Gift”)

"Hey, I’ve died twice..."

It’s not often that the main character of a show is killed off — let alone the title character, let alone TWICE. But that’s exactly how both Season 1 and Season 5 end, with Buffy sacrificing herself to save the world. The difference is that she’s brought back to life within a few minutes in “Prophecy Girl,” while viewers had to spend the summer between seasons 5 and 6 wondering how on earth UPN was going to pull off the show with Buffy dead. But even knowing her death was unlikely to be permanent didn’t make watching it happen any less emotional an ordeal.

2. Jenny Calendar (”Passion”)

"This is where you get off."

When Angel loses his soul and becomes Angelus, it is unclear at first how evil he really is. Sure, he’s callous toward Buffy after their consummation, but until he breaks Jenny Calendar’s neck he hasn’t done anything truly horrific. Possibly even worse than the murder itself, however, is his cruel joke on Giles thereafter. Come to think of it, his careful planning and his uncanny ability to find the most excruciating way to torment his “audience” is reminiscent of Joss himself.

3. Angel (”Becoming Part 2″)

"Close your eyes."

As Angelus, Angel had opened a portal to a hell dimension (how many of those are there, anyway?) and only his death would close it. The fact that Buffy would have to kill him to save the world, then, is awful enough. But to make matters worse, Willow’s spell to restore Angel’s soul works just in time, yet not — too late to prevent the portal from being opened, yet in time to get back his puppy-dog eyes as Buffy rams a sword through him and shoves him into hell. Ouch.

4. Joyce Summers (”I Was Made To Love You”)

"Mom? What are you doing?"

As one of the few non-supernatural deaths during the show’s run, Joyce’s is particularly shocking and disturbing. Her tumor had been removed earlier in the season and everything seems to be looking up — never a good sign in the Jossverse. The realism with which her death is treated in the following episode, “The Body,” is almost unheard of in fiction, which makes it ache all the more.

5. Tara Maclay (”Seeing Red”)

"Your shirt."

Like Joyce, Tara is killed not by magic or demons, but something more familiar: an angry kid with a gun, a stray shot not even meant for her. As a “natural” death, it is irreversible, even by Willow. More than any other death in the show’s history, Tara’s directly affects major actions that follow; i.e. Evil!Willow and her killing spree of pain. It’s also one of the few times a character dies and doesn’t return in any form (a
deliberate choice made by Amber Benson to preserve the integrity of the character she portrayed so lovingly).

6. Anya (”Chosen”)

"Bunnies. Floppy, hoppy, bunnies."

As a regular character for four seasons, Anya had become a fan favorite and one of the most vital members of the Scooby Gang. So it’s a shock when, instead of the usual drawn-out death in her lover’s arms, she’s sliced in half so quick you could easily miss it. Though it seems unfair for her to go out this way, it fits perfectly with the
tone of the episode. No one is safe, and with thousands of casualties in one battle, there’s no time for glamorous deaths.

7. Spike (”Chosen”)

"I want to see how it ends."

OK, so maybe Spike gets a glamorous death. As the self-appointed “champion,” he uses the amulet given to Angel by Lilah Morgan (crossover alert!) to cleanse the Hellmouth of its evil. Unfortunately for him, this involves him burning up from the inside out and exploding in a brilliant ray of effulgence (that’s right, effulgence).
Fortunately for his fans, he would return on the final season of Angel just a few months later.

Angel

8. Doyle (”Hero”)

"Too bad we’ll never know if this is a face you could learn to love."

The first casualty of Angel’s spinoff series, Doyle was a lovable character from the start and it was a shock to see him go so soon, especially as Cordelia finally seems to be noticing his affection for her. Reportedly, he was written off due to Glenn Quinn’s real life drug problems and, sadly, Glenn himself died of an overdose in 2002.

9. Darla (”Lullaby”)

"This child... Angel, it’s the one good thing we ever did together."

Considered a villain for most of her run on Buffy and Angel, Darla miraculously becomes pregnant with Angel’s son — a human — after their romp in Season 2’s “Reprise.” With the mortal baby’s soul inside her, she develops a sense of morality she hasn’t felt in centuries. As a result, she selflessly stakes herself to save her baby’s life.

10. Cordelia Chase (”You’re Welcome”)

"That chick’s in rough shape."

After having spent half of Season 4 possessed by an evil goddess and the other half (plus half of Season 5) in a coma, it seemed Cordelia would never get the closure she deserved. Thankfully, the episode “You’re Welcome” gives her that closure, as she seems to recover from her coma, back to her old self. But at the end of the episode, it’s revealed that she returned only in spirit form, just long enough to tell Angel goodbye and share with him one last vision before she dies. All along, she knows this, yet keeps it to herself; the irony born from Angel’s ignorance is what makes her death so bittersweet.

11. Winifred “Fred” Burkle (”A Hole In The World”)

"Please, Wesley, why can’t I stay?"

Just two episodes after Cordelia’s death, the show lost its other female lead, at least strictly speaking. After being infected with the essence of Illyria, an “Old One,” Fred’s life slowly fades away. In a turn of events which is both relieving and distressing, the demon who has invaded her continues to possess her body. Thus, the character is not completely gone, and Illyria has the ability to impersonate Fred, but Fred herself is truly dead.

12. Wesley Wyndam-Pryce (”Not Fade Away”)

"We’ll be together."

After Fred’s death, tortured-soul Wesley becomes even more broken than usual. Having his memories of all that Connor drama returned doesn’t help matters, either. During the final fight of the series, Wesley is killed in a sorceror’s battle with Cyvus Vail — though from a knife stab to the abdomen, not magic. Illyria enters to see him mortally wounded, and asks if wants her to lie to him — to be Fred. He agrees, and dies in Fred’s arms as she did in his.

Serenity

13. Shepherd Book

"Can’t order me around, boy. I’m not one of your crew."

With nine cast regulars on the series Firefly, it was only a matter of time before one of them bit the dust. But, as it was so short-lived, Joss had no time to flex his murdering muscles. So when the show’s sequel movie came along, he had to make up for lost time by killing two of the nine. Shepherd Book, who appears in the film more as a supporting character than as part of the main cast, dies at the hands of the movie’s villain, The Operative. Rather unceremoniously, Mal and the gang are forced to use his body, along with those of his fallen neighbors, to desecrate Serenity in order to disguise her from the Reavers.

14. Hoban “Wash” Washburne

"I’m a leaf on the wind."

After Book, it seems unlikely that another member of the crew would be killed within the same movie. We’re caught off guard when Wash, declaring himself “A leaf on the wind,” is skewered by a Reaver ship’s harpoon, dying instantly. Naturally, this comes shortly after a conversation between Zoe and Wash about starting a family as soon as this crisis ends.

Astonishing X-Men

15. Kitty Pryde (Giant-Size Astonishing X-Men #1)

"God, give me strength."

Though Joss’s stint writing Astonishing X-Men was relatively brief, he ended it in his signature style: by killing his favorite character. In the final issue of his four-part arc, a giant bullet is fired at Earth by an alien race. In order to prevent the bullet from destroying the planet, Kitty Pryde (incidentally, one of Joss’s inspirations for Buffy) uses her power to phase the bullet through the Earth. Unfortunately, she is unable to stop the bullet from continuing its trajectory through space, so she is doomed to ride it indefinitely. Presumably, she will at some point be too exhausted to continue phasing it through objects in its path, and it will crash into something. Since she is not actually seen dying, it’s likely she will return to the Marvel universe eventually (it is a comic book, after all!).

Dr. Horrible’s Sing-Along Blog

16. Penny

"It’s OK. Captain Hammer will save us..."

An experiment in web media, Dr. Horrible quickly became a cult phenomenon. Told in three acts, it is a musical about a wannabe supervillain driven by his love for Penny, a sweet, benevolent girl who is, unfortunately, more enamored by his nemesis, Captain Hammer. The first two acts are dark yet playful, as Dr. Horrible at first seems to not be very good at being evil. But in the third act, when he tries to kill Captain Hammer, a tragic series of events ensues which culminates in the inadvertent death of Penny. Some argue that her death is necessary for Dr. Horrible to truly begin his journey into villainy, while others are exasperated that Joss seems to have gotten fixated on his characteristic killing-off-the-love-interest device. Perhaps it’s both.

Love,

Linzy the Whedonite

I read this post on Facebook which was put up by Idzaid and thought it'd be fun to list out these 25 random things about myself. Turns out, it was quite harder than I thought. My typing slowed down at about #11 or so, and I had to think hard about what else was there about myself that I could actually publish for public consumption. So, I ended up with this list... Maybe I'll add another 25 more if I think of any :)

Tagged by Idzaid Idros

Rules: Once you’ve been tagged, you are supposed to write a note with 25 random things, facts, habits, or goals about you. At the end, choose 25 people to be tagged. You have to tag the person who tagged you. If I tagged you, it’s because I want to know more about you!

1. I am in love.
2. I am acrophobic and ranidaphobic.
3. When I was a kid, I loved science very very much and wanted to be either a scientist or a doctor/vet. I'll actually watch them documentaries with operations in them. As time went by, they were reduced to being just hobbies. Now, I know for sure that even if I was good at it, I can never see myself doing anything of the sort.
4. I, for the life of me, cannot ride a bike.
5. My biggest fear is rejection.
6. I got the inspiration to pursue English as a degree (and hopefully more) and also as a career when I was 11; from my cousin-in-crime, Kak Ana.
7. When I'm in my own space, clothing is optional...hehe, I have nudist tendencies. That's why I try to avoid sharing rooms :p (Thankfully, in my new apartment, I'll have the master bedroom all to myself)
8. I can watch all sorts of graphic, bloody movies where people get cut up, or lose their limbs in battle or get tortured etc. And while watching, I can nonchalantly eat. But show me or let me hear someone brushing their teeth, and I start gagging.
9. I know I'm weird, but it's ok if you want to tell me that; I kinda like it.
10. My vice is clothes. I can never have too many of them. And lingerie, too. (It's such an irony, cos it clashes with point #7)
11. For many years now, I've been dreaming of owning a cafe. It should have a cosy atmosphere with regular open mic nights. Think 'The Bronze' without the dancing, or perhaps 'The Espresso Pump'.
12. I always have dreams where I'm the commander on the frontlines of war. Often I'd dream about the preparations before the battle, or about the end, where I'd give my life to save another.. Quite gloomy. Anyone a dream reader?
13. My Deadly Sins ranked, as suggested by Tickle.com, are as follows: 1. Pride, 2. Lust, 3. Greed, 4. Gluttony, 5. Sloth, 6. Envy, and 7. Wrath.
14. My ultimate dream in life is to get married to the man I love, have wonderful kids, make my family happy and have a fulfilling life.
15. I want to write a paper that would first of all affirm the importance of literature. With that being said, I'd continue to present how literature influences/provokes discourse and thinking/ideas/philosophy, whilst merging it with the Whedonverse.
16. I have a slight case of OCD. Some things need to be a certain way or I get a mite tetchy.
17. I have an obsession for cheese.
18. I think Nature's best wonders are the smell of rain, the dawn/sunset and waterfalls.
19. I hope to be a scholar, have a good career, be the daughter that my parents can be proud of, be a good wife, be a good mother, and be a good person overall.
20. I am perpetually optimistic, even when I'm complaining.
21. When I'm charged and determined, I have this song playing in my head: These Boots Were Made for Walking.
22. I'm glad to say that throughout my life (so far), a majority of my friends, old and new, have stood by me and stayed friends. This, I feel, is a great accomplishment. You guys know who you are :)
23. The most important things in life, to me, are: Family, Friends and Faith. In a word: Love.
24. My favourite movie themes are: War, Dystopia, History/Periodic, Horror/Thriller.
25. My thoughts, ideas and discourse are majorly influenced by Joss Whedon (i.e. Buffy, Angel, Firefly/Serenity, Dr. Horrible's Sing-along Blog)

Love, Lin~

Malacca was a bust. It wasn't a wonder why we got them free night's stay. The hotel was pretty much run down, with termites eating into most of the woodwork (the second floor had to be closed off cos the wooden railings have been gnawed through), the sheets' cleanliness was questionable and the blankets were thin. And the room was rather tiny, too. My dad said, 'Jom balik', as soon as we got in, thinking we just might as well stay at home. But as my Sayang pointed out, it was still something. Some people would not even have a chance to stay in a hotel; and I agree, cos, well, at least I still have the luxury to compare.

We didn't really do much in Malacca either. Since it is the school holidays and it was a weekend at that, there were many people and their kiddies out and about having a good time; so the roads were jammed, parking lots full and the shopping malls and restaurants were filled to the brim. So we just had a simple dinner at a warung and got back to the room.

I had trouble sleeping that night, as per usual. New place+air conditioning is never a good sleeping companion so I got up several times that night to breathe. I finally got tired enough to doze off around 6am and slept til 8am or so, and then I got up to go for the complimentary brekkie with my mom. Of course, with the hotel being run down, you couldn't possibly expect much from the spread. There were some dry bread with butter and jam, kuey tiaw, roti canai and some sausages. I mean, it was ok, but taste wise left much to be desired... Oh well.

We left right after breakfast. There wasn't much to stick around for, so it was best to just go home. Anyway, Seremban is not that far, so driving back and forth wasn't much of a problem. After buying some McDonald's breakfast, and also two of them Madagascar 2 headbands with ears, we went home; with me wearing Gloria's ears all the way back.

It was just a relief to get back home. It was just home sweet home.

Nighttime is usually reserved for family time. My dad would be back from a long day at work and we'll have dinner and all sit in the living room together. It's like an unwritten rule. We wouldn't be upstairs in the room or elsewhere. Even if we wanted to do something else other than watch tv, we would bring it downstairs to be in the living room; like how I'd be blogging while the my father, mother, brother and sister would be watching a movie or some other tv series.

Tonight we watched a movie called My Dog Skip, which is about a boy, Willie, acted by Frankie Muniz and his Terrier dog called Skip, short for Skipper. The movie is narrated by an older Willie (Harry Connick Jr.) looking back at his younger years starting from his 9th birthday, when he was first given Skip, and he tells of how Skip taught him about life. How with Skip by his side, he matured from boy to young man, became an insecure loner to one of the boys, got the courage to talk to the prettiest girl in town and , and mostly, taught him the value of friendship. Skip died when Willie was in Oxford.

I shed a few tears watching that movie, not because of the movie itself, but because I was reminded of a dear friend that I still miss so dearly.


Sawadikap was a mixed breed Siamese born sometime in 1998. He was born totally white, and developed his brown tips as he grew older. He was a great companion of mine. Loving, loyal, concerned; he never ceased to amaze me with the things he did in his love for me.

Every morning when I had to go to school, he knew the time when I'd come out of the room, cos he'll be there outside my bedroom door, ready to escort me downstairs. When we were downstairs, he'd be right on my heels, following my every move. And when I stood outside to wait for my bus, he would be there standing right with me, the companion by my side til I got on the bus, but not before I gave him a scratch under his chin.

When I got back, he'd be there, too, on the front porch anticipating my arrival. I was always a VIP with him around, with him by my side like a little bodyguard. But don't be fooled, he may be a cat, but he's tough and very muscley. The other cats were afraid of him. But with me, he was loving and took care of me, made sure I was safe. He even walked me to my tuition teacher's house, which was on the street behind mine, and he'll be waiting outside when I was done, and we'd race each other home; him chasing after me madly.

We were inseparable. He was my best friend whom made my life so cheerful each day. He was there through thick and thin. He loved sleeping on my chest or in the canopy of my caftan, he would insist on my picking him up and would roll around until I did, he licked my face when I cried, defended me from other cats and whatever else he deemed was his responsibility to me.

Then I went to MCIIUM, and then moved to Seremban. I hated Seremban and refused to take him there, confident that I would be in Shah Alam more and cos I didn't wanna traumatize him, taking him so far away. But there was where my mistake lay, and I have regrets til now.

I saw very little of him, and when my uncle did renovations to the house in Shah Alam, my Kap got poisoned from all the chemicals that was in the water puddles. Being stuck in MCIIUM and Seremban, it took me 2 weeks to actually go see him after my uncle first told me that Kap was sick. And when I did....

My Uncle told me that Kap already went missing for several days, and I was already fearing the worst, already crying with regret. I sat outside the house for a long time, calling out his name. After so long, he came hobbling back, hardly able to stand. As soon as he reached my arms, he collapsed into a heap, tired from his effort to walk all the way home.

He was dying by then. He was emaciated, skin and bones, and hardly any energy to even lift his head. I was crying non-stop, regret filling every space in my mind, wishing I was there sooner, wishing I had taken him to Seremban with me, wishing I had never neglected him... I took him home to Seremban that night, holding him close, whispering to him not to die, that I would take care of him. But as the night drew on, I knew he wasn't going to make it.

I was awake all night with him. First crying for him not to leave me, saying I was sorry over and over. Then as he looked at me with his wise eyes, tired and weary, I knew in his way he was saying goodbye. I reconciled with myself, all my regrets and all my sadness, and told him it was ok for him to go, that I'd be ok. I held him all night, as I cried, with him looking up at me. His eyes a blue of calm, which saddened me so.

In the morning, around 7am, I took my eyes off him for just a few minutes to open the door. When I turned around, I saw his body jerk, and then he was gone. I sat for a long time holding his lifeless body, crying into his fur.

I miss my Kap. Every now and then, when I am reminded of him, my heart aches, and I would feel that involuntary tear run down my cheeks. The stalwart loyalty he showed, his love and companionship, is something that's hard to find. I failed him in many ways, and yet, he still believed in me. The fact that he waited all that while for me to come home, pained me even more, knowing I should have been there sooner when he needed me most. I know I can say sorry over and over, but it'll never change a thing. I just hope you know it.

Some people may never understand the bond I have with my cats, the friendship and love we share... It's not something many people are privileged to have. But believe me, the pain is deep, and you never stop forgetting. But then, you remember the good times, and how they're always there for you, and you smile a little...Eventhough you know you'll never have them back. That's just how much they touch your life.

And I, will never stop remembering you, my Kap. Your unconditional love and loyalty you showed me taught me how to love even better, and most of all, to appreciate the things I have...before they're gone. I love you, Kap.

~Lin

Not 10 minutes ago, I fell asleep in front of this computer while copying my recent entry onto my Xanga blog. I guess I've been so tired from my erratic sleep that I could actually fall into deep sleep despite it only being minutes of shuteye. I better get my sleeping habits straight.

The short lil snooze in front of my laptop must have been rather deep, seeing how I actually managed to dream something quite substantial. You know, when the dreams are not just jigsaws but actually a story with a plot? Yeah, that's what happened just a few minutes ago.

In the dream, I had a date with Ash (Sayang, I must be missing you so damn much to have dreamt of you) and promised to go meet him at this apartment. I actually went there by motorbike, and yes, I was the one riding it; which in itself is a wonder seeing how a) I can't even balance on a bicycle, and b) I am scared of riding motorbikes. I got to where he was waiting, without much fuss, and he was there with 6 other people, 3 guys and 3 girls.

Nope, I didn't know any of them. The girls all look the baik-baik type, all demure buta lil bitchy, while the guys seemed like the louder, more obnoxious set. I wondered why they were there with us but didn't say anything. Since we were at this apartment; we were not in an apartment, but outside and waay downstairs and the parking lot, or void deck. They were laughing and calling out to their friend on some floors up telling him to come down, but he didn't want to.

Then we went to a restaurant and Ash and I were the last one to sit down, and the girls all had their eyes on me. Looking at me with that I-know-something-you-don't-know look. I was puzzled but shrugged it off since I don't know them. Then one of the guys addressed privately, and obviously asked about me since he was looking in my direction many times. Again, I just pretended not to care.

Later, Ash told me that they wanted me to join them. And they were somesort of cult. Ash was newly initiated, and since they had to be in pairs, the next step was for me to be a part of it too. I was reluctant. Very. Cos I didn't know what it was about. And I never did, cos that was where the dream ended.

When I woke up, for a while I thought it was real cos it seemed so. Despite it being very brief, and the sleep itself was even less than half-an-hour, it felt as though it really happened. Now I'm wondering whether it means anything...hehehe.

But then again, with my lack of sleep and my watching some few weird movies lately, I'm not surprise to have dreamt that. In the past few days I've watched Believers, Numb3rs, Joshua, 28 Weeks Later and many many other thrillers, so it's no wonder. Especially since Believers is about a weird sect of religion and the episode of Numb3rs I watched was also about a cult. So yeah, no wonder.

So, back to reality now. I have guests coming over today so the house needs some spick-and-spanning. It's a college friend of my parents who used to babysit me and call me Cik Bedah, so he's pretty close even if we don't see him often. The last time we met him must have been about 2-3 years ago.

So, signing off for now. Bye.

~Linzy