Hiatus.
Published by lihua on Saturday, July 15, 2006 at 12:51 pm.
...
sometimes feelings just overwhelm you, and you're unable to articulate them.
that's what i'm going through now.
*sighz*
will update soon. :)
meanwhile, life goes on and my year two 2nd semester begins in two days.
The Hall-yu Korean Wave - What Malaysian TV/Entertainment industry could learn.
Published by lihua on Thursday, July 06, 2006 at 11:31 pm.
Most people would know that I follow the hallyu (Korean), Taiwanese and Hong Kong dramas rather closely.
'Korean dramas are so cliche!'
'Those people who like Korean dramas are bimbos with childish expectations of life.'
'Taiwanese actors can't act.'
Blablabla.
I hear some of you professional critics' criticisms.
Will those who would prefer watching cute/pretty people with lousy acting THAN watching ugly not-so-cute-and-not-so-pretty-either people with lousy acting hands up please?I wouldn't speak for others but I would personally prefer to watch a HOT (rich) Korean actor chasing after a beautiful korean babe than watch an old man trying to convince his (fat) first wife to allow him to take another (young) second wife. [Oh, wait a minute, YOU watched that drama too?]
BAH! How do I articulate this properly?
What I'm saying is, films with HOT people and decent storyline can SELL everywhere while films with old men with weird storylines CANNOT be sold for a decent price anywhere. Imagine selling a Malaysian movie (with the second wife cliche storyline) to, say, Japan. Funny, can? They can never relate to it. Heck, even locals are tired of these stories. Save, maybe, for the makciks who once faced the same problems (husband getting second wife).
Before I irk overly-patriotic Malaysians who will stand up to Malaysian productions (but in reality watches only foreign entertainment), allow me to bring up a very popular Malaysian comedy.
Senario.
Each and every episode that I've watch is ridiculous to the point of unbelievability (got such word ah?). Adult males acting as babies (with full costume i.e. nappy, pacifiers etc), adult males cross-dressing and the list goes on.
It totally does not reflect good on Malaysia. If we were to sell this type of show to foreign markets what would the foreigners think of us?
That we are stupid.
Some thing is serious WRONG with that show. I know it sometimes involves an educational message or two... but to have adult wearing kids clothing and acting so silly is erm, wrong?
Oops. I think I've irked the extreme patriots.
Ok, I recognise that there have been few rather intellectually stimulating programs, some of them targeted at teenagers, of which educational themes are inculcated into the storylines. I say kudos to them for trying to bring up the standards of Malaysian TV. But these shows are few are far between.
I vividly remember one rather successful Chinese drama produced by Astro. Does the name Homecoming ring a bell? Yep. That is one of the few good Malaysian dramas. In fact, it is the first local Chinese drama to be shown in a HK TVB channel. Proud-nya…
But, like I said, these dramas are few and far between. Check out the spcnet.tv. This is a portal which viewers/readers submit reviews on dramas they have watched.
Taiwan, checked. Korea, checked. TVB and ATV, checked. SINGAPORE, checked.
Malaysia, NADA, ZERO, ZILCH.
Sighz.
Some comparisons. Hottest singer in Korea (subjective) Hottest singer in Malaysia (Indisputable) Mawi - Erm, Hot? World... Hyun Bin - Need I say more? Rosyam Nor - Need I Say More? 
Rain/Bi/Jung Ji Hoon - Hot! Hot! Hot! *drools drools*
(One of the) Hottest actor in Korea
(One of the) Hottest actor in Malaysia
Best pic I could find.
Sniff Sniff. Can you blame me for watching foreign entertainment?
The Korean Wave has provided a tremendous boost to tourist influx into Korea. Tourism is also one of the key areas of economy in Malaysia. So why can't we film beautiful people prancing around in beautiful clothes on beautiful beaches (REDANG! PERHENTIAN! SIPADAN!)?
Thus,
Things I Would Like To See on Malaysian TV.
1. Cute actors
2. Pretty actresses
3. Malaysian culture (Malay, Chinese, Indian, Baba Nyonya, Kadazan etc etc) and not second wives/third wives/fourth wives that kinda farce.
4. Higher quality of filming
5. Superb soundtracks
6. Impressive storylines (Nevermind if its cliche)
7. Beautiful sets. Does not necessarily have to be ridiculously big bungalows with roman pillars.
Please-lah. And don't say that we are not comparable to Korea, HK, TW etc. Compare our beaches/islands to Korea and HK. We also have hot actors/actresses. And can produce classic movie epics like Puteri Gunung Ledang. So there is definitely potential to improve the local entertainment.
Disclaimer: I'm a biotechnology student. So in no way am I the most qualified person to judge the Malaysian entertainment industry. Thus, this is just purely my point of view, basically a couple of random observations thrown together to form an opinion. And this is not personal. So, don't blast me with negative comments, ya? :)
CHSPJ turns 50
Published by lihua on Tuesday, July 04, 2006 at 1:23 pm.
Newly Built Main Entrance: Eh! How come look like main entrance of posh cemetery?!?
Picture obtained from sgkatholik.smjk.edu.my
Tan Sri - Chairman of Big Listed Company
Siow Hui Mei - 'Chink Chink' The name does not register (apparently host of a talkshow)
(Click on links for a screen cap of the article)
For some unfathomable reason they did not think of interviewing me. HOW CAN?
Nevertheless, being definitely worthy of a Metro centrespread interview, I hereby submit my own interview :)
Another Very Mediocre Alumni - Class of 2002, Wong Li Hua, 21
Wong Li Hua will always be thankful to Catholic High School for providing her with access to the cheapest food in town.
"We used to pay only RM 1.00 for a plateful of rather palatable fried rice. Nowadays, it is almost impossible to get even a decent bowl of ais kacang at that price." laments Wong who spent 5 years in the said school.
She reminisces about the wide variety of food that used to be available there. " Fried rice, Nasi lemak, porridge, chap fun, fried noodles, fishball skewered in (used) sticks, hydrogenated fat sandwiches, fake crabmeat sticks, you name it they (canteen operators) have it." Wong also have full praises for the vast assortment of (unhealthy) packet drinks available, all for just RM 1.00.
While the cheap food allowed for poor students to fill their bottomless stomachs (growing age), those with more money would also take advantage of the cheap food. "We often saw the rich kids eating the fried rice or fried noodles with assorted skewers. Some had normal sized fishball, small fishballs, large fishballs, super-sized-my-ball-is-bigger-than-yours fishball or fake crabmeat." Wong quickly adds that the food purchased was sometimes wasted by these rich kids.
Wong also praises the CHS canteen for not only providing eat-in service, but also takeaway and even delivery service. "The service is comparable to restaurant chains, such as Pizza Hut and the whatnots. The seating arrangements are very well-planned."
A survey of the canteen showed that tables were aplenty in the canteen and there were even a few sections for diners to choose from. Among the sections are the field view seats (often reserved for form sixers), the prison-type seats (which the guys like to hang out) and the under-a-tin-roof-but-next-to-garbage-area section. In recent years, a new section with pebble-washed flooring and sturdy aluminium table was also introduced to provide students with even more seat choices. Self-claimed high-classed students whom hate crowds and refuse to eat in the main sections of the canteen can choose to eat at the ugly green marble tables at the other end of the netball court. However, these patrons will have to endure the nearby stinking drain and potentially deadly mosquitoes that proliferate in that area. "Anything," they say, "is better than eating with those low-lifers."
Delivery service is sometimes available when favour-oweing friends are around. "We get speedy delivery of food with just a shout away. But one will have to prepare for the worst and choose a scapegoat beforehand." advises Wong. She goes on to tell an intriguing story about how an intercepted delivery was retrieved from the discipline teachers room. "To date, I still do not know which courageous student did that unselfish act."
For Wong, the cheap food and canteen were definitely the more prominent aspects of the school. "Recess will always be close to my heart." says Wong emotionally.
Disclaimer: This is meant as a joke. CHS means more to me than just cheap food. The crazy friends, the violent discipline teachers, teachers (the lazy ones, the blur ones, and the dedicated ones), the not-so-adequate facilities, the haunted toilets, the VAST tapak perhimpunan, my embarrassing moments, my deviant days as a misguided prefect, and also my irresponsible days as an interactor will forever be buried in my heart.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY CATHOLIC HIGH SCHOOL PJ!
Seeing Double
Published by lihua on at 1:03 pm.
Woots!!!
The twins are coming! Yes, I mean Charlene and Gillian.
Link to Official Website
Yayy TWINS! I just hope they perform
[lihua]
