It has been a while since Nur and I went out for a movie date due to our busy schedules. Thus, I have to thank OMY.sg and UIP Singapore for giving us the opportunity to catch the preview of an 80′s movie remake – The Thing.

It was the first time we caught a movie at The Grand Cathay and I must say that I was impressed. It really befits for a movie preview screening with at least 300 people watching it.

So what was the movie we were watching? Well, in the spirit of remakes of 80′s movies (the last being Smurfs), we finally revisited a classic 80′s horror movie John Carpenter’s The Thing.

It is exactly like the 1982 movie starring Kurt Russel except for a few minor changes in the storyline (American to Norwegian Research Centre) and a major upgrade in special effects as to be frank,the original movie was a little bit B Grade Sci-fi gore movie. But I guess, it has finally got what it deserves with the upgraded version similar with other movies like Tron.

The Thing 2011 stars Mary Winstead as Kate Llyod, a graduate student in paleontology assigned to identify the remains of an alien that has crashed into the Antarctica ice thousands of years ago. Unknowingly, the alien was very much alive and has the uncanny ability to replicate and look exactly like a normal human being.The story delves into a psychodrama thriller as everyone suspects each other as the Alien.

I have to admit that it is a fast paced filled with action. You are not given time to breathe as you are immediately delved into the thick plot. The director maintains the drama as we are led to suspect everyone and left guessing who is the alien. Certainly, one filled with scares and lots of brilliant CGI effects to leave you watching it through your fingers. I know i did.

So if you are looking for an outing of scares and a ‘guessing’ game, I will suggest for you to catch The Thing 2011 this weekend. And bring along a date, there are lots of opportunities to have those sudden scare hugs!

Review

Storyline : 3/5 (Brilliant plot although thanks to the original movie)

Special Effects: 4/5 (Amazing CGI & lifelike aliens)

Acting: 3/5 (Could have better chemistry among the actors)

Direction: 4/5 (Smooth and no gaps in the story)

Overall: 3.5 (Catch it this weekend.)

Secondly, this is something totally new for me. It’s neither beauty nor fashion but I believe, it still consist the both of them as interior design is all about the aesthetics. But wait a minute! I am not going into interior design nor will this blog turn into one.

It is just that whenever I have something on my mind, I need to pen it down. In this case, put it down on Photoshop and designed my own moodboards.

This is just some inspiration for my future flat and home.

I’ve never been a really creative person. Just once in a while when I feel a little bit creative, I try to do something different. I usually have a vague idea of what I like but I will always need someone to help me turn it into a reality (like how my tailor turns my vision into a beautiful dress).

But at this moment, I need not rush. As my flat will only be ready in about two to three years time. Yup! The moodboards are for my future home.

I had a specific concept/idea in my mind and I needed to visualise it. Since I’m not able to see the end product soon, (because the flat is not up yet), I decided to create the moodboards and file them for future reference.

My interior design style is…… (sings Donny and Marie Osmond’s) I’m a little bit country, and I’m a little bit rock-and-roll.

In truth I’m a mix of traditional, classic, French, and a little bit country. I do not know how these styles will blend in together in the end, but this is what I’ve come up with.

This is the rough idea I have for the living and study area.

Next to it will be the dining area.

I wanted a homely feel, that explains the natural/neutral colours. So, I’m going with a dusty greenish-yellow paint to go with my future traditional yellow kitchen, to unify the look.

Hopefully, my styles will all be unified in the end.

And if you want to find out how our apartment looks like, well, you just have to check back in with us………. in three years time.

You must be thinking what’s so different about this Shaw theatre. Well among its 10 halls, lies one unique and special hall unlike any other Shaw movie theatre hall found in Singapore.

I present to you Shaw’s PREMIERE!

First off, I would like to thank both Alvin from OMY and Shaw for inviting us bloggers to have the wonderful first opportunity to experience Shaw PREMIERE theatre. I did not know that Shaw actually had such a hall and I was really impressed with what I saw.

When we arrived at the busy Shaw NEX Cinema, it was buzzing with people logging off from work wanting to wind down with a movie. There, Nur and I met Alvin who was awaiting to give us our silver tickets!

Super shiny silver tickets!

It’s uber cool to get silver tickets. Even other nosey people were wondering why we were getting silver tickets.

Unkown to them, we were the lucky few to get the chance to experience the new PREMIERE hall.

At the PREMIERE entrance, we were cordially invited by a suited up usher whom duly escorted us to the inner lounge area. It was a snazzy place with movie goers able to have a bite or two or mingle with friends before entering the hall.

However, Nur and I just wanted to immediately plunk ourselves into our seats. It had been a long day and we just wanted to rest on those comfy seats. Besides, you are still able to enjoy those delicious food inside the hall as well.

We were led to our seats by the usher and I was impressed with hall.

Inside lay 25 pairs of super comfy seats. Nur and I immediately lied down on our sofas. As the usher was in the midst of explaining the seats and service buttons, I was already reclining my seat just like in an A380 Airbus business class seat.

Meanwhile Nur was already covering her cold toes with a blanket was deciding what snacks to buy.

There was a large array of food ranging from finger food platter to steaks and plent of mocktails and drinks to whet our appetites.

In the end, we chose the classics of sweet popcorn and cheesy tacos. Nur got herself a Shirley Temple mocktail while I had a chocolate smoothie. Delightful indeed. :p

Well the movie started at 7.30pm sharp. We caught the premier screening of Rabbit Hole starring Nicole Kidman and Aaron Eckhart. Being in the running for Oscar nominations, we found the movie to be a deep melodramatic movie. One that’s filled with emotions and to be honest a tad too long. Basically, it is a movie about a couple coping with the loss of their child.

While admiring the sharp picture quality and superior sound, I did wish for a while that we were catching Anthony Hopkin’s The Rite. Now that would have tested the surround sound! Haha.

Once the movie finished, we reluctantly left our comfy seats and headed out of the hall while being greeted warmly by the ushers.

Overall, I was really impressed with Shaw’s PREMIERE theatre. I loved the experience and really can’t wait to visit again.

Ratings

Ambience: 4/5
Service: 4/5
Comfort: 5/5
Food: 4/5
Screen Quality: 5/5
Overall: 4.5/5

This is because we were on a short holiday to Port Dickson!

Port Dickson is a five hour drive from Singapore. Of course, Fai did all the driving while I tried not to fall asleep. Haha.

We stayed at The Legend International Water Homes for three nights and I must tell you I wasn’t looking forward to coming back to Singapore after that. The place is gorgeous!

It rained most of the time while we were in Port Dickson but we still loved the relax life by the sea and of course having our own private pool in our room (Villa) was why we loved it so much.

The moment we checked-in, we couldn’t resist not changing and jumping into the water. The pool was freezing COLD but we still loved it. It was only 4 feet deep, so the water was only up to my waist, nevertheless, we enjoyed it so much.

The beautiful room also come with a viewing glass of the sea. During low-tide all you see are rocks. But it does get creepy looking at the viewing glass during the night.

As the resort is by the sea and is surrounded by water, it is very blissful to be walking around the resort. They even have sitting areas for you to enjoy the breeze and of course the beautiful view.

Shawl hijab from Renata by Dir Gallery | Long-sleeve tee from Cotton On | Tie-dye dress from Cotton On | Belt from Cotton On | Jeggings from Uniqlo | Wedge platforms from Staccato | YSL Large Muse

I was at Isetan Lido while Nurul was choosing the perfect gold shoe for her new evening Kate Spade large clutch purse while I chanced upon Fit Flops at the corner of the store. To be honest, I have been searching for sandals since my Lois sandals from Bandung was starting to wear out. My sandals tend to wear out fast as my dad just love to wear them. Unfortunate for me though is that he is a UK size 14 while I am a size 10.

I have always been wearing the usual flat flip flops but over the past few weeks, my left knee started to act out thanks to my previous trainings in the army. I have been looking for a sandal that might alleviate the pain as I certainly did not want to wear an ankle guard everywhere that I go. Thus, I was impressed by the board which stated the supposed ability of Fit Flops to help soothe aches and pains.

Benefits of Fit Flops

 (Research done by Dr. David Cook and Darren James of London South Bank University)

• help increase leg and bottom muscle activity (up to 30%). (so you feel less ache in your hips and knees)
• absorb more shock than a normal shoe (up to 22%)
• help realign ground force reaction closer to your joints

FitFlop sandal wearers have also reported relief from plantar fasciitis, heel spurs, chronic back pain, sciatica, osteoarthritis, RLS (restless leg syndrome), scoliosis and degenerative disc disease.

Thus, I decided to splurge some money on myself for a change and decided to try out  a pair. I wanted to experiment out for our dear fans by experimenting on the sandals myself. I immediately tried out a pair of sandals and decided to try it out.

After a day of walking around Orchard busily shopping, I decided to put it to the test if it does relax my feet. Trust me readers, it was astounding!  It was like walking on thin air. I felt comfort and relaxing and it soothed my aching calves. I was hooked and immediately went to splurge the bucks.

Review

Price: 5/5 ($110, Worth every dollar to me)
Style: 2/5 (I have to admit that they are kinda ugly)
Comfort: 5/5 (The immediate comfort is amazing)
Overall: 4/5 (A must buy for this Christmas Holiday)

Well, if you are indeed wondering what to buy for this Christmas, just head on down and grab a Fit Flop. You will be walking to a fitter you. You can get it at Isetan Lido for $110.It is as the tagline states ‘You’ll never wear another sandal ever again.’

Check out their website at www.fitflop.com

A man is easy to please. And it’s even much easier to buy him things. Just notice what are the items he has that is already worn out or things which he needs but haven’t found the time to go shopping himself.  You have to realise that we Men don’t shop often. Normally, our purchases comes mostly once a year and we usually tend to spend big on such items.

Gifts to consider

1. Watch
2. Pen
3. Gizmos and Gadgets (Phone, Lappy, GPS)
4. Wallet
5. Messenger Bag
6. Briefcase
7. Facial Set
8. Shoes
9. Cufflinks
10. Exclusive Shirt (Ted Baker or Calvin Klein)
11. Ring
12. Business Card Holder
13. Electric Shaver

Now, if you are really a sugarmummy, I would suggest to buy for them either a car or a wonderful home surround sound theater system. Haha. Hope this helps. Have a Merry Christmas!

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

In the spirit of HALLOWEEN, Nurul & I went to catch the cool dark slasher flick Jennifer’s Body starring the oh-so-ever-luscious body of Megan Fox at Illuma Bugis Junction on opening weekend.

Plot

Jennifer Check (Megan Fox) was your typical everyday hot cutie cheerleader which all the guys were yearning for. However, things take a sudden twist after attending a pub performance by Low Shoulder (a punk band with Adam Brody of the OC as the lead singer). After the performance, Jennifer never really came back. Gruesome murders & mutilated bodies starts surfacing around the school as Jennifer’s best friend, “Needy” Lesnicki (Amanda Seyfried of Mamma Mia! & Mean Girls) begins to see the change in her once BFF. Well, it ends in an awesome showdown between the girls as Jennifer targets Needy’s boyfriend, Chip (Johnny Simmons).

Cinematography

It knows they have an unoriginal plot thus the moved away from horror to a more horror comedy. Scary yet light and funny. There are many scenes which gives this inter mix of horror and comedy especially the part when Jennifer was about to kill Goth Boy while Needy was making out with her boyfriend Chip. Also, I kinda like the last shot when Needy was trying to kill Jennifer in Jen’s bedroom. The slow motion and deep play in tensions from hate to hopelessness to self-sacrificial. A nice touch in my view.

Acting

I have to commend the strong chemistry between Megan Fox and especially Amanda Seyfried. They had an uncanny connection as we could believe a hot bombshell could be friends with a geeky plain girl. We all know Megan Fox can act as the hot bombshell but it’s different without the robots and when she’s actually a killer. Amanda also continued her Mamma Mia cutesy geeky gal that turns psychotic despairs upon learning the truth.

Overall

To be frank, it’s not an original plot. It has been seen countless of times lastly being used by Twilight. However, it’s a very nice dark humour horror. Thus, that’s what makes the difference. It’s a typical teen movie displaying the sexual tensions, desires & worries among pubescent adolescence. It’s not a respected horror movie (Do catch Darah. I heard strong reviews for it.) It’s a nice show to catch if your bored and just want to have a few laughs and scares.

Ratings

Plot:   1/5 (Unoriginal)
Acting:  3/5 (Nice performance by Megan & Amanda)
Cinematography: 3/5 (A few cool cinematic shots)
Special Effects:3/5 (Life like killings.)
Overall: 2.5 + 0.5 (The extra 0.5 is for Megan Fox being so hot!)

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

Well, to be honest, we have never tried the GV Gold Class at VivoCity. So for our last anniversary, I decided to bring Nurul to catch The Ugly Truth starring Gerard Butler(He is so typecasted in Romance movies! Time to move on to some action flicks bro!) & Katherine Heigl. The film was kinda okay for me although I that felt He’s Just Not That Into You was way better and covered most of the angles in relationships. However, the movie wasn’t the main highlight. Its the GOLD CLASS.

Both of us were like nervous school kids entering the big doors saying GOLD CLASS. It felt like entering the First Class Vip check in entrance at Changi Airport. And I have to say, I was impressed with what awaited us. Truly, value for money.

We were greeted warmly by the staff and were invited to either have dinner or drinks first at the Cinema’s own GOLD Class Lounge while waiting for the movie to begin. (They must have seen the giggles & curious eyes as one of the staff asked if this is our first time.) We both looked at each other & immediately agreed to enter the cinema first wanting to enjoy the supposed exuberant & well-gossiped about cinema. (Also, it did help that we already stuffed ourselves with Barcelos Portuguese Chicken before that! )

When we entered the cinema hall, I was really impressed. Heheh. Big screen, few seats (only 20 if am not wrong) & LUSCIOUS SEATS! I immediately jumped onto my seat while playing with all the gizmos on it. I loved especially the recline button which allowed me go back 180 degrees as i lay there asleep. Hehe. And true to it’s words as a First Class Cabin, with a press of a button, a stewardess (Eh. hehe. Just kidding!) A staff came and took our order for a mouth watering hot chocolate brownie with Ben n Jerry’s ice cream & tortilla nacho chips with sour cream & cheese sauce. Not to mention, a root beer float too.

I nearly fell asleep on the chair while waiting for the movie to begin. Also, it was fun being pampered and served by Nurul. Haha. Some guys just have all the luck. A memorable experience (although I can’t say about the movie though). I can’t wait for my next Gold Class Experience! Hint : If you want to get me something for my birthday, this is a great idea! And I can certainly cross out on my wish list of wanting to ride First Class. Why take a plane, when I can just easily walk to Vivocity.  

Awesome Parts   

• Posh & Grand entrance
• Friendly and truly attentive staff
• Cool Gold Class Lounge
• Wide Array of Snacks & Food
• Excellent Desserts
• Few Seats
• Big, Comfy & Soft Seats that retract backwards
• Lots of Room Space

Not-So-Awesome Parts

• A tad too expensive for some of the items
• Please buy your popcorns, coke & nachos outside. It costs way more inside.
• The screen quality is not that enviable. Work can be done to improve the sharpness of the screen.

Tickets go for $30. Desserts and drinks usually cost from $5 and above.

Fai @ ilovelookinggood

Disney and Pixar’s new Movie UP is indeed a roller coaster movie. You will keep on crying and laughing till the end.

Nurul and I had a blast with Up watching it 3D at Golden Village (GV) MARINA. To be frank, I already had a feeling it was a brilliant movie when Yahoo movies rated it to be a 5/5. And trust me when I say, it’s definitely a 5 out of 5.

Synopsis

Carl Fredricksen is a 78 year old man whom always dreamed of exploring the mountains since a young boy with his wife. When developer began threatening to take over his land, he finally decided to fulfil his life long journey. However, with an unexpected guest - a chubby 8 year old Wilderness Explorer named Russel. Hence, both of them set forth on an amazing journey that makes you realise the important things in life.

Storyline

A brilliant touching movie. You will be surprised with Carl Fredricksen as the trailer shows him as a grumpy old man. What a turnaround he is! I loved the show causing me to tear up at least 5 times but a laughter comes about before the first tear drop touches my cheek. The same couldn’t be said for Nurul as she kept wiping her tears away under our 3D glasses (Interesting that we are still relying on an 80′s contraption still!). You will fall in love with Russel, Kevin and certainly Bud. The adventure is an amazing spectacle. What i learnt from it was you may think that’s your goal and dream, when in reality, you were meant for something else.

Ratings

Storyline                  5/5 (Simply original and brilliant.)
Cinematography   4/5 (Nicely paced, you don’t feel the 100mins)
Effects                       4/5 (Animation at it’s best. Esp with the 3D!)
Overall                      5/5 (EVERYONE! WATCH THIS MOVIE!Heartwarming!)

Fai @ ilovelookinggood