In parts of Asia, it is believed that the gates of Hell will open during the seventh lunar month every year, and all the spirits within will then be set free. These spirits or "hungry ghosts" will roam the mortal world to satisfy their unfulfilled needs, wants and desires. And in order to appease these wandering spirits, people who believe in their existence will burn offerings and put up island-wide religious rituals and folk performances, such as street operas and getai (song-and-dance extravaganzas).
This movie is made with the intent of capturing the essence of the hungry ghost festival. The outing showcases myriad aspects of this special festive month, through the eyes of devotees, religious leaders et al.
For the uninitiated, this film. - with its eclectic sequences featuring soundly edited footages, colourful practices, cemetery visits, "scientific" approaches and interesting anecdotes (there's a chatty housewife whose devotion to her deceased next-of-kin is emotionally stirring) - serves as a good summary of the customs and traditions that are observed by some Chinese here.
However, my only quibble with it is that it seems to be too well put together, somewhat like a functional scrapbook lacking soul (pardon the pun). Although it's a "straight-ahead" documentary, I feel more could be done to bring out the motivations and pathos behind each character. Each episode could also be more strongly gelled to give viewers a deeper perspective of the subject.
Anyhow, if you do not know much about this particular topic and are keen to learn more, this offering is worth sussing out.
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This play, directed by Goh Boon Teck, is based in the Shanghai of the 1930s, when China was at war with Japan.
Here’s the gist of the plot: During the Second World War, a patriotic young man called Wen Cong (starring Hong Kong singer William So), who’s intent on joining the army, saves a nubile woman from being killed by the bombs raining from the skies by stowing her under a bridge.
Amidst the chaos of the air raid, and under the dark enclaves of this architectural structure, the two fall in love. Though they are not able to see each other clearly, they vow to meet again under the same bridge when the war is over.
Years later, Wen Cong returns to Shanghai as a musician. Still haunted by thoughts of the mysterious lady whom he fell for, the lad returns to the bridge with the hope of reconciling with her. The lass has also visited the spot to look for her wartime soulmate. But certain trying circumstances prevent the couple from reuniting with each other.
Unknown to Wen Cong, the woman he longs for is none other than Tu Yun (played by local starlet Mindee Ong of movie 881 fame), who lives on the lower floor of his residence! Besides being his neighbour, she also turns out to be his feisty showgirl-colleague at a local nightclub in which they both perform.
Meanwhile, Tu Yun befriends Dan Lei (played by acclaimed stage actress Emma Yong), a perky but destitute character, who has come to Shanghai to seek her fortune. She lodges at Tu Yun’s flat, and as fate would have it, a series of coincidences and mistaken identities lead to an inevitable love triangle.
How will the story end? Find out by catching this show next month!
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Like Silence of the Lambs and Seven, this suspenseful thriller is about members of society who live on the fringe.
Directed by Andrew Lau of Internal Affairs fame, this offering sees Errol Babbage (played by Richard Gere), a burnt-out peace officer who has been forced out of his job and assigned to monitor sex offenders on parole.
Babbage is anything but a by-the-book agent. In fact, his unorthodox style of operation rubs his superiors the wrong way in the final weeks on the job, and lands him in an awkward training stint with a female rookie-replacement (played by Hollywood babe Claire Danes).
Things start to get worse when a teenage girl goes missing. Babbage is convinced that one of the convicted sexual predators that he is monitoring is responsible for this, but no one believes him.
Babbage must train his protégé to go beyond the boundaries of standard procedures to crack this case. Together, they delve into a sordid realm of heinous crimes. But it comes to a point when the trainee starts to wonder if Babbage is the only person truly committed to saving the missing person, or a man who has simply gone too deep into the abyss he's been burrowing himself into for years.
If you want to know how the story ends, be sure to catch the flick soon!
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Mr Magorium’s Wonder Emporium is a movie that begins with an end.
The protagonist, Mr Magorium (Dustin Hoffman), is 243 years old and will be leaving the world soon. So he decides to leave his magical toy shop in the care of Molly Mahoney (Natalie Portman), an aspiring pianist who has no faith in herself. A new accountant Henry (Jason Bateman) has also just been hired; he does not believe that the toy shop is magical, but sees something good in Mahoney.
When Mahoney takes over the toy shop, all the toys’ colours begin to fade away, leaving the place dull and gloomy, as if has been long forgotten.
Convinced that she is simply not meant to be the one who should take over Mr Magorium’s toy shop, Mahoney decides to sell it. But Henry stops her from doing so.
During her conversation with Henry, Mahoney remembers a wooden block that Mr Magorium has left behind. This object is supposed to give her the guidance she needs.
When the seemingly lifeless block starts dancing around before Mahoney and Henry’s eyes, Mahoney realises that all it takes to make things work is for her to believe in the block’s magical power. She soon discovers that the magic has been inside her all along, and starts to have faith in herself. Before we know it, she restores the magical touch to the toy shop and brings it back to life again.
The flick’s breathtaking visual effects – when toys come alive in ways beyond your wildest imagination – will appeal to those who fancy fairytales. After watching this movie, you’ll be spurred to discover the magical spark within yourself too!
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You know I’ve never believed in you. Not as a child, and certainly not now, as an adult.
Need you even ask why? Bah, humbug! Surely you’d know better. If you’ve looked at my Christmas wish list, you’d have known that I’ve been asking for a ring (and I don’t mean a phone call!) for the longest time. But you’re so elusive, I’ve yet to catch sight of your shadow even! The closest I’ve gotten to seeing you is during your visits to those dingy neighbourhood malls, where you’ll be hiding from drooling tots who can’t differentiate between their candy floss and your cottony beard.
I’ve searched in vain for you via Google Earth. And it didn’t help that you aren’t on Facebook either. I’ve come to the woeful conclusion that you’ve never visited me because there’s no chimney in my home through which you can come sliding down. Anyway, this is Singapore, and the only chute I can think of that’s “befitting” of your “home visits” is the one at Senoko; but I don’t think you’d fancy getting your bottom fried.
I was prepared to die sad and jaded, but it all changed when I caught Scrooge – The Musical! Now, you may think this show is a play for children, but its meaningful share-your-love-and-spread-the-joy concept is no child’s play!
The production spins a tale about Ebenezer Scrooge, an old miser who breaks into howls of “Bah, Humbug!” faster than you can bellow “Ho, ho ho!”. Scrooge is a mean tightwad; he holds no love for anyone and is obsessed with accumulating wealth. But his life changes forever one Christmas eve, when the ghosts of Christmas Past, Present and Christmas Future pay him a visit and take him on three time- and space-transcending, and soul-searching journeys.
Beneath the façade of fancy costumes, M&M-esque sets and whimsical ditties are talented actors who work the scenes with finesse. Fanny Kee holds court as the irritable and jittery Scrooge with a wicked consistency that can only be expected of high-calibre actors/actresses.
Subtly but surely stealing the show is Josephine Tan, who is the voice of Tiny Tim (the sickly son of Scrooge’s poor and underpaid accountant) and the youthful Scrooge. Besides showcasing her versatility as a thespian with good comic timing and measured flair, Josephine also impresses with her laudable crooning. Not to be outdone is Celin Rosa Tan, who, despite playing a minor role as the boy’s mother, shines with her enchanting singing voice.
All these have rekindled the fire in my belly, so I’ve decided to write you once again. I’m making a public appeal for you to give me a ring – only this time round, call me on my mobile phone (it’s faster this way), and I’ll give you full details on where to get that jewel this Christmas.
Yours penitently,
(Written by) Linda Lee
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