Coffee, Cakes & Charlie Chaplin

Charlie Chaplin (1889-1977) of the silent era movie fame is celebrated at the eponymous Cafe located at the One City Mall in Subang Jaya. His iconic screen persona of 'the Tramp' welcomes you into the cafe and is stamped on plates, serviettes, etc. The black and white decor lends an old-time ambiance to the place. You can watch some black and white films* of Charlie Chaplin while sipping some delicious coffee and savouring delectable cakes. But of course you have to be sitting at just the right tables for this.

*Some of Chaplin's movies include: Making a Living (1914), The Kid (1921), A Woman of Paris (1923), The Gold Rush (1925), The Circus (1928), City Lights (1931), Modern Times (1936),  The Great Dictator (1940), Monsieur Verdoux (1947), Limelight (1952), A King in New York (1957), A Countess from Hong Kong (1967).

The menu at the Charlie Chaplin Cafe includes more than just coffee and cakes of course, but that was what we had when we were there recently.
PS. B & A, remember the time you both were in 'the Tramp' lookalike competition years ago? Heheh!
24 August 2014

Chick Flicks & Romcoms: More Indulgence

First the Wiki definition, "Chick flick is a slang term for a film genre mainly dealing with love and romance and designed to appeal to a largely female target audience. Although many types of films may be directed toward the female gender, 'chick flick' is typically used only in reference to films that are heavy with emotion or contain themes that are relationship-based (although not necessarily romantic as many other themes may be present). Chick-flicks often are released en mass around Valentines Day". Chick flicks are also 'gal films'. This sub-genre of film was traditionally known as woman's films - melodramas in the 30s and 40s.

My favourite film genre is the romcom (romantic comedy) and romantic dramas, very definitely chick flicks! So I am a hopeless romantic! I dislike horror movies and cannot really appreciate 'guy/man movies'. My favourite actors are mostly female - Meryl Streep, Sandra Bullock, Keira Knightley, Drew Barrymore, Meg Ryan.

Here are films considered chick flicks as gleaned from the Internet, most of which I have watched and enjoyed. This tedious filmography of chick flick romcoms and romantic dramas is only because I have nothing better to do love lists and ticking against them. And the movie buff in me will try to seek out those films not yet viewed while the bookworm in me will track down the books/novels associated. It is good to note that many, if not most, of these films are adapted from popular novels and literary classics. Chick flicks have become the "prominent staple of films beginning in the mid-80s".

Before 1960: Morocco 1930 - Camille 1936 - The Women 1939 - His Girl Friday 1940 - The Philadelphia Story 1940 - Rebecca 1940 - The Shop around the Corner 1940 - The Lady Eve 1941 - Notorious 1946 - Black Narcissus 1947 - All About Eve 1950 - Born Yesterday 1950 - Pat and Mike 1952 - High Society 1956 - An Affair to Remember 1957 - Island in the Sun 1957 - Imitation of Life 1959

The 60s: Breakfast at Tiffany's 1961 - Lolita 1962, 1997 based on the 1955 novel by Vladimir Nabokov about an adolescent girl who is attractive and sexually responsive and a middle-aged man obsessed with her. - My Fair Lady 1964 - Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf 1966 - Funny Girl 1968 - Romeo & Juliet 1968, 1996 based on Shakespeare's tragedy. - Belle de Jour 1967
The 70s: Love Story 1970 - Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore 1974 - Julia 1977        

The 80s: Somewhere in Time 1980 - French Lieutenant's Woman 1981 - An Officer and a Gentleman 1982 - Terms of Endearment 1983 - The Colour Purple 1985 based on a 1982 epistolary novel by Alice Walker about women of colour in Georgia in the 1930s focusing on their low position in American social culture - Desperately Seeking Susan 1985 - Smooth Talk 1985 - Aliens 1986 - She's Gotta Have it 1986 - Earth Girls are Easy 1988 - Beaches 1988 - Working Girl 1988 - Steel Magnolias 1989 - Dirty Dancing 1987 - Sixteen Candles 1987 - Bull Durham 1988 - Say Anything... 1989 - When Harry Met Sally 1989.

The 90s: Ghost 1990 - Pretty Woman 1990 - Daughters of the Dust 1991 - Fried Green Tomatoes 1991 - Thelma and Louise 1991- The Bodyguard 1992 - A League of their Own 1992 - Joy Luck Club 1993 based on the 1989 novel by Amy Tan about the relationships between Chinese-American women and their Chinese mothers - The Remains of the Day 1993 based on a 1989 novel by Kazuo Ishiguro about the perfect English butler and his fading insular world postwar England and his relationship with a former colleague, the housekeeper Miss Kenton - Sleepless in Seattle 1993 - What's Love Got to Do With It 1993 - Four Weddings & a Funeral 1994 - Little Women 1994, 1949 based on the 1868/69 novel by Louisa May Alcott. - Before Sunrise 1995 - Clueless 1995 - French Kiss 1995 - How to Make an American Quilt 1995 - Mad Love 1995 - Now and Then 1995 - Sense & Sensibility 1995 based on Jane Austen's 1811 novel about the life and loves of the Dashwood sisters. - Waiting to Exhale 1995 - While you were sleeping 1995 - Bridges of Madison County 1995 based on a 1992 best-selling novel by Robert James Waller about a married but lonely Italian woman and her affair with a National Geographic photographer who is visiting Madison County to document the covered bridges in the area. - The English Patient 1996 based on a 1994 novel by Michael Ondaatje about fate, romance and tragedy in World War II Italy. - The First Wives Club 1996 - The Truth about Cats and Dogs 1996 - Eve's Bayou 1997 - My Best Friend's Wedding 1997 -  Romy and Michele's High School Reunion 1997 - Titanic 1997 - One True Thing 1998 - City of Angels 1998 -Ever After; A Cinderella Story 1998 -   Hope Floats 1998 - Practical Magic 1998 - You've Got Mail 1998 - The Wedding Singer 1998 - 10 things I Hate about You 1999 - Never Been Kissed 1999 - Notting Hill 1999 - The Story of Us 1999 - The Virgin Suicides 1999 - A Walk on the Moon 1999.

2000s: Girlfight 2000 - Miss Congeniality 2000 -Where the Heart is 2000 - Bridget Jones Diary 2001 based on a 1996 novel by Helen Fielding about a woman determined to improve herself while she looks for love in a year in which she keeps a diary. - Kate & Leopold 2001 -  Legally Blonde 2001 - Lovely & Amazing 2001 - Monsoon Wedding 2001 - Princess Diaries 2001- 40 Days and 40 Nights 2002 - Bend it Like Beckham 2002 - Divine Secrets of the Ya-Ya Sisterhood 2002 - The Hours 2002 - Laurel Canyon 2002 - Life or Something Like It 2002 - My Big Fat Greek Wedding 2002 - Whale Rider 2002 - Rabbit-Proof Fence 2002 based on the novel 'Follow the Rabbit Proof Fence' by Doris Pilkington Garimara about the true story of the author's mother and two other mixed-race aboriginal girls who walked 2,400 km to return to their community while being pursued by white law enforcement authorities. - How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days 2003 - Love Actually 2003 - Mona Lisa Smile 2003 - Something's Gotta Give 2003 - 13 Going on 30 2004 - 50 First Dates 2004 - Along came Polly 2004 - Before Sunset 2004 - Little Black Book 2004 - The Notebook 2004 - Raising Helen 2004 - The Perfect Man 2005 - Pride and Prejudice 2005 based on the 1813 novel by Jane Austen (the first film adaptation was made in 1940). - The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants 2005 - The Breakup 2006 - Catch and Release 2006 - The Devil Wears Prada 2006 based on the 2003 novel by Lauren Weisberger about a graduate who lands a job as co-assistant to a powerful fashion magazine editor. - The Holiday 2006 - The Lake House 2006 - 27 Dresses 2007 - Enchanted 2007 - Music and Lyrics 2007 - The Jane Austen Book Club 2007 based on the 2004 novel by Karen Jay Fowler about a book club formed specifically to discuss the six novels of Jane Austen - P.S. I Love You 2007 - Sex and the City 2008 - Twilight 2008 - Bride Wars 2009 - Ghosts of Girlfriends Past 2009 - Grey Gardens 2009 - He's Just Not That Into You 2009 - The Proposal 2009 - The Time Traveler's Wife 2009 - The Ugly Truth 2009.

2010s: Going the Distance 2010 - Life As We Know It 2010 - Remember me 2010 - The Switch 2010 - Valentine's Day 2010 - Sex and the City 2 2010 - Eat Pray Love 2010 - Friends with Benefits 2011 - Just Go with It 2011 - The Help 2011 adapted from Kathryn Stockett's 2009 novel. - No Strings Attached 2011 - Water for Elephants 2011 - Anna Karenina 2012 adapted from Leo Tolstoy's 1877 novel. - One for the Money 2012 - The Vow 2012 - The Lucky One 2012 - The Perks of being a Wallflower 2012 - .The Five-Year Engagement 2012 - Brave 2012 - Salmon Fishing in the Yemen 2012 - Hope Springs 2012 - What to Expect When You are Expecting 2012 - The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel 2012 - Austenland 2013 - The To Do List 2013 - About Time 2013 - The Big Wedding 2013 - The Bling Ring 2013 - The Call 2013 - The Heat 2013 - The Spectacular Now 2013 - The Butler 2013 - The Great Gatsby 2013, 1974 based on the 1925 novel by F. Scott Fitzgerald - Her 2014 - August: Osage Country 2014 - The Other Woman 2014 - Belle 2014 - -

Refs: 1. www.filmsite.org/greatchickflicks.html          2. www.chickflickguide.com
(In progress)

Books I Love: Then Again

Then Again is a memoir by Diane Keaton (b. 1946), written in 2011. Actually it is a memoir of both Keaton and her mother, because 'to write about herself, Diane realised she had to write about her mother, too, and how their bond came to define both their lives'. Keaton's mother Dorothy had kept eighty-five journals about her life - herself, her marriage, her children, also her parents. So Keaton used these detailed journals to write stories about her 'restless' mother and her entire family. This book is deemed 'about a very American family with very American dreams'.

Although unmarried, Keaton had a long romantic relationship with Woody Allen. Later with Warren Beatty and then Al Pacino. At 50, she adopted a daughter, Dexter and in 1996 a son, Duke. She famously said, "I don't think that because I am not married it's made my life any less. That old maid myth is garbage".

Keaton is a favourite legendary actress (with more than forty years in the industry) although I have yet to see the film that made her famous and won her an Academy Award for Best Actress, Annie Hall (1977). Her filmography includes The Godfather trilogy (1972,1974, 1994), Looking for Mr Goodbar (1977), Manhattan (1979), Reds (1981), Father of the Bride (1991), The First Wives Club (1996),  Baby Boom (1987), Marvin's Room (1996), Hanging Up (2000), Something's Gotta Give (2003), The Family Stone (2005), Because I said So (2007), Mad Money (2008), Morning Glory (2010), The Big Wedding (2013), And So it Goes (2014), Life Itself (2014).

Ex Libris CNB 2031

Chick Lit and Romance Novels: An Indulgence

Chick Lit as defined in Wikipedia is genre fiction which addresses issues of modern womanhood, often humourously and lightheartedly. Although it sometimes includes romantic elements, Chick Lit is generally not considered a direct subcategory of the romance novel genre because the heroine's relationship with her family and friends is often just as important as her romantic relationship. This Chick Lit genre became popular in the late 1990s with titles topping bestseller lists and the creation of imprints devoted entirely to Chick Lit. The number of titles in the "Popular Chick Lit" list? An astounding 69,648 at the last count!

As for the Romance Novel, all females read these at some stage in their lives, usually during adolescence and beyond. I remember I started reading Barbara Cartland novels at the start of boarding school. We bought the books from the Grenier's bookstore in Seremban town or the newspaper vendor who came on weekends to the College.

I only became aware of Chick Lit when B started buying the "Shopaholic" books by Sophie Kinsella. Then there was Helen Fielding's Bridget Jones Diary, followed by other Chick Lit authors and titles. Not surprisingly, quite a number of Chick Lit (and romance novel) titles have been adapted to film. Like Eat Pray Love, etc. Hence the popularity of romantic comedies (read: Chick flicks)! My favourite film genre. (More on this in another blog post). In retrospect, I have read quite a few Chick Lit titles and enjoyed them because they are rather light reading, 'but not (too) dumb'! Like romance novels, they make for good escapism. A few recent titles include, Chocolat and The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris.

In our local bookshops, especially the MPH outlets, I notice that Malay Chick Lit feature quite a bit, next to the many books on faith and religion. Many TV dramas adapted from Malay fiction (especially Chick Lit) have in turn popularised the reading of these books. I was tempted into buying two titles because I had watched the dramas and found the stories interesting enough to go on to read the books. When I bought Love You Mr Arrogant, it was in its 12th printing, while Kerana Terpaksa... Aku Relakan was in its 13th printing. Reading these books was easy (I finished the 772 paged KTAR within two days, and the 462 paged LYMA in one - a record of sorts for me). But I wish the editors would work harder on the English bits of conversation found therein. But then again... maybe that is how English is spoken nowadays.

Note: We all know that the term 'Chick' is American slang for 'young female' and Lit is the short form of Literature.
Ref: chicklitbooks.com; chicklitclub.com; chicklitcentral.com

Bridget Jones' Diary/ Helen Fielding Ex Libris CNB 0583
Eat, Pray, Love/Elizabeth Gilbert. Ex Libris CNB 1782
Chocolat/Joanne Harris. Ex Libris CNB 
The Loveliest Chocolate Shop in Paris/Jenny Colgan. Ex Libris CNB 2030
Love You Mr Arrogant/Aliesha Kirana. Penerbitan Karyaseni, 2013. Ex Libris CNB 2002
Kerana Terpaksa... Aku Relakan/Umie Nadzimah. Penerbitan Karyaseni, 2014. Ex Libris CNB 2073
(In Progress)

My NZ: Hobbiton, Matamata, Waikato

I have a confession to make. I have never read The Hobbit (1937) or The Lord of the Rings by J R R Tolkien. Neither have I seen the movies. So I do not know anything about Gandalf, Frodo, Sam, Bilbo Baggins, etc. I guess I am just not such a great fan of the fantasy genre. (Although I have read all of Roald Dahl's, but not any of J K Rowling's). But then when you are in New Zealand, I guess you are already in Middle Earth, so a visit to 'The Shire, home of the Hobbiton movie set where The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit trilogies were filmed' is a must.

Rolling hills of  fertile dairy country, Waikato (CNB 2014)

Hobbiton (CNB 2014)

The bucolic setting for The Shire, home of the Hobbits, was found in a 1250 acre sheep and beef farm belonging to the Alexander family and located near Matamata. If initially made of ply and polystyrene in 1999 for TLOR, ten years later for TH trilogy the structures were reconstructed with more permanent materials. By the way I hate that artificial oak tree that overlooks Bag End - it looks so, so ... artificial! But hey, it is part of a movie set after all.

Hey, I could be a Hobbit and live in this hole! (BB 2014)

Our guided tour ends at the Green Dragon Inn of Bywater which we were made to understand, was frequented by Hobbits from the area and the neighbouring settlement of Hobbiton. This fictional pub of Tolkien's Middle Earth is now a working pub with real booze for visitors.

The bridge to the Green Dragon (CNB 2014)

Our guide & colleagues at the Green Dragon (CNB 2014)

Maybe, just maybe, after this rather interesting visit to Hobbiton and the Green Dragon, I might start reading Tolkien's books (because they are, after all, classics in children's literature) and watch the Peter Jackson movies.

Cinderella; the Malay Movie

At the end of last month, while at the Curve, we had a last minute invitation to the premiere of the Malay movie 'Cinderella'. Although we were eating lunch and still slurping our Vietnamese pho noodles then, we decided, why not? I like free romantic movies anyway, and Cinderella, Malay or otherwise, sounds fine with me.

The Director and actors and the paparazzi (CNB 2013)

Before the movie screening, the director Ahmad Idham explained his film which he'd adapted from the Malay television drama of the same name. I do not remember watching this drama. Anyway, this film is about a couple who are forced to marry (because of the usual case of being set up and caught in close proximity) but they do find love with each other. So all's well that ends well, and (Malay) Cinderella gets her prince charming. Oops! I have given away the (expected) ending. My most non-professional review of this movie? Okay-lah! I especially like Fawziah Nawi in her supporting actress role. Note: The movie will be shown in cinemas from 19.12.13

Movie nights at TKC

It was something all the girls looked forward to ... movies. Once a month, we gathered at the Hall to enjoy a movie night. Some movies I remember well, some I cannot recall at all. One movie I remember very well is Splendor in the Grass (1961), starring the beautiful Natalie Wood and the handsome Warren Beatty. Only what I mostly saw on the screen then were just blurred visions of this much tormented couple. Alas, that was the time I discovered to my consternation that I needed prescription glasses! Sheesh, what a time for a light bulb moment!

Another movie well remembered is Love is a Many-Splendored Thing, a 1955 movie adapted from the autobiographical novel by Han Suyin*; about a Eurasian doctor and her American journalist lover in Hong Kong. I still remember that ominous scene when a teacup fell and broke. And who can forget the beautiful theme song? I also remember with clarity (and some hilarity!) that there was quite a technical glitch that night. The film reel moved backwards a number of times, which meant that the actors walked backwards and ... it was during that romantic scene on the beach of the protagonists acted by Jennifer Jones and William Holden. The projector did play up that night and gave the projectionist (our classmate then, now eminent UN astrophysicist Datuk Dr Mazlan Othman) a hard time. It did not help I think, that we were laughing out loud every time the glitches happened and the actors started 'undoing' their actions!

Audrey Hepburn movies I recall because I admired this great beauty - in movies such as Breakfast at Tiffany's (1961), Charade (1963) and My Fair Lady (1964). The Bridge on the River Kwai (1957) I remember because there were trains involved and West Side Story (1961) because it was such a sad, sad musical (sad movies make me cry). Other movies I cannot remember so much except for their titles. Like Hitchcock's Vertigo (1958) - I remember because I had to look up the meaning of it. Then there were his other thrillers and their deafening sound effects - The Man Who Knew too Much (1956), Psycho (1960) and The Birds (1963). Other movie night films include Harvey (1950), Cat on a Hot Tin Roof (1958), The Guns of Navarone (1961), Whatever Happened to Baby Jane (1962), The Manchurian Candidate (1962), To Kill a Mocking Bird (1962), Lawrence of Arabia (1962), Dr Zhivago (1965), Bonnie & Clyde (1967), Mary Poppins (1964), A Hard Day's Night (1964), The Sound of Music (1965), Guess who's coming to dinner? (1967), The Graduate (1967), and Lolita (1962). Wait a minute - I may have seen some of these movies at the cinema, not at TKC Seremban. And ... was I even old enough to have seen these last two movies then?

Anyway I do remember those movie nights at TKC (1964-70) with great fondness and maybe quite a few of us (including moi) became movie buffs because it was recreation we enjoyed with a lot of camaraderie.

*A Many-Splendoured Thing by Han Suyin (1916-2012) was published in 1952. Han Suyin was the pen name of Elizabeth Comber, born Rosalie Matilda Kuanghu Chou of Chinese-Flemish parentage. Her very interesting life also included a six-year marriage to Leon F. Comber, a British officer in the Malayan Special Branch and they lived in Johor. In 1956 she wrote  And the Rain My Drink, perceived to be very anti-British/Government. 

Movies I like: The Legend of Suriyothai

The Legend of Suriyothai is a Thai movie by Chatri Chalerm Yukol and presented by Francis Ford Coppola.  It is a lavish production based on the true story of Princess Suriyothai who lived in 16th century Siam. The intrigue and clash between the most powerful families and also the wars with neighbouring Burma make for an incredible spectacle of Thai history.

Princess Suriyothai made many sacrifices for her country - she married a man she did not love to keep the peace between families, she took on traitors plotting against the King, and she laid down her life in the front-lines of a fierce frontier battle.

This period movie showcases the elegance, pomp and ceremony of Thai royalty, the might of war elephants and the beauty of the country.

Books I Love: Di Bawah Lindungan Kaabah

My 2002 new ed. of DBLK (CNB 2012)

Di Bawah Lindungan Kaabah, an Indonesian novellete by HAMKA (Haji Abdul Malik bin Karim bin Amrullah) was first published in 1938. It is Hamka's first novel actually, and still widely acclaimed today. I watched the 2011 movie adaptation recently on Awal Muharram (Maal Hijrah) on TV and I cried buckets.

So I re-read the book, a new edition published in 2002 (my earlier copy had gone missing so I went out and bought a new one to replace it). We all know it is the story of star-crossed lovers Hamid and Zainab, who grew up together in Padang, Sumatra. Their love is doomed even before it can really start because of their very different social statuses. When you read the book, do not forget your box of tissues.

The star-crossed lovers (TV grab 2012)

'Hapuskanlah perasaan itu dari hatimu, jangan ditimbul-timbulkan juga. Engkau tentu memikirkan juga, bahawa emas tak setara dengan loyang, sutera tak sebangsa dengan benang.' ... Ibu Hamid

Ex Libris CNB 1253 

Movies I Like: Starring P Ramlee

P Ramlee in the 1948 movie "Chinta"

It would be unusual for anyone to not like our Malaysian silver screen legend P. Ramlee's movies, at least some if not all. Especially his comedies/drama-comedies. This very talented and versatile artiste not only acted, but also directed, and wrote/composed/arranged the music for most of his films. He may have left us but his film and music legacy lives on.

I think I have seen most of his comedies/drama-comedies on our oft-repeated movie slots on our television stations; Musang Berjanggut (1959), Nujum Pak Belalang (1959), Pendekar Bujang Lapok (1959), Ali Baba Bujang Lapok (1961), Seniman Bujang Lapok (1961), Labu dan Labi (1962), Nasib Si Labu Labi (1963), Tiga Abdul (1964), Madu Tiga (1964), Masam Masam Manis (1965), Do Re Mi (1966), Keluarga 69 (1967), Anak Bapak (1968), and his last movie, Laksamana Do Re Mi (1972).

Somehow, I like his serious dramas even better; there is the very patriotic Sarjan Hassan (1955), tear-jerkers Penarek Becha (1955), Anak-ku Sazali (1956), Antara Dua Darjat (1960), and  Ibu Mertuaku (1962). Don't you just despise the mother-in-law from hell, Nyonya Mansor? Other dramas include Semerah Padi (1956), Hang Tuah (1956), Pancha Delima (1957), Sumpah Orang Minyak (1958), Sesudah Suboh (1967).

I have yet to watch (or re-watch) other titles in P. Ramlee's filmography of more than 60 which also include Chinta (1948), Aloha (1950), Rachun Dunia (1950), Takdir Ilahi (1950), Juwita (1951), Sejoli (1951), Anjuran Nasib (1952), Antara Senyum dan Tangis (1952), Sedarah (1952), Hujan Panas (1953), Ibu (1953), Siapa Salah (1953), Bakti (1955), Abu Hassan Penchuri (1955), Kanchan Tirana (1955), Melanchong ke Tokyo (1964), Sitora Harimau Jadian (1964), Dajal Suchi (1965), Ahmad Albab (1968), Gerimis (1968), Bukan Salah Ibu Mengandung (1969), Di Belakang Tabir (1969), Enam Jahanam (1969), Doktor Rushdi (1970), Gelora (1970), Jangan Tinggal Daku (1971), Putus Sudah Kaseh Sayang (1971) ...

If this entry looks more like a filmography than anything else, I guess it is.

Movies I Like: Hu Du Men

Hu Du Men is the latest movie that I have watched and liked. It is a Cantonese movie directed by Shu Kei, starring Josephine Siao, Anita Yuen, Daniel Chan and Lee Chi Hung.

The English subtitles helped, but as always, somethings are lost in translation. Anyway the blurb from the DVD case has a useful summary and it reads, "In traditional Chinese theatre, there is an imaginary line separating the stage from the real world. This line is called Hu Du Men. When the actor crosses this stage door, all sense of 'self' must be left behind as the actor becomes the role. Lang Kim Sang, a famous Cantonese Opera actress strives to revitalise the traditional art. She hires a new director called David Lam whose Broadway style of staging and effects stir up resentment and jealousy within the troupe."

I like this movie because it gives me a better understanding of what Chinese opera is all about, especially behind the scenes. The protagonist Lang Kim Sang sacrifices her personal life for her art. There are both serious and light moments to keep one interested all the way.

A Movie Collection at SA,SA

At SA,SA* we have quite a fair number of movie titles on CDs/DVDs - about 600 on my last count. This collection is incorporated into the library shelves/cupboards both upstairs and downstairs. Most of us in the family are movie buffs and other than watching the new movies at the cinemas, and reruns on Astro, we also watch or re-watch (re-view?) movies at home. Thanks to Speedy outlets selling some movie CDs/DVDs at the bargain price of RM5 each, I always browse their bins to find titles that are 'watchable'. Sometimes I find 'gems' for RM5, e.g. Australia, The Jane Austen Book Club, Tea with Mussolini, etc. (I know, I know you can download movies from the Internet, but hey, I'm old-fashioned, and a laggard when it comes to innovations).

Although most are in English, I have quite a fair number of Malay, Indonesian, Chinese and Hindi movies. There are also movies in foreign languages like Farsi, French, German, Spanish, even Portuguese. Subtitles help a lot although the quality of translation is sometimes questionable. Even laughable at times!

My favourite movies are usually the romcoms (romantic comedies). Why? Because romance and comedy equals fun and entertainment. Nothing serious. I hate scary movies and never watch them. (Okay I admit, I have watched a few including the The Exorcist but would rather have not, really). Thrillers are fine because they put you on edge. Fantasy is okay, especially children's feature cartoons! 3D movies are fun to watch, but I wish they would enable us to do away with the cumbersome goggles. Favourite movie stars? Drew Barrymore, Sandra Bullock, Tom Hanks, Anthony Hopkins, Johnny Depp, Meryl Streep, Robin Williams, and Gong Li  are among the actors that I like.

What movies have I watched and liked? The last one was a Cantonese movie called Hu Du Men. I will write about it and others in future postings of 'Movies I like'.

*SA,SA is Seri Aryan, Shah Alam

Books I love: Pride and Prejudice

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen was first published in 1813. It is a most popular novel in English literature and has sold more than 20 million copies. There are many spin offs to this novel, but my favourite is the movie starring Kiera Knightly as Elizabeth Bennet, the protagonist. I have read this book a few times, and watched the movie more times. Why do I love it? I just do!

The story was set in the beginning of the 19th Century, in England. Elizabeth is one of five daughters, with a mother most anxious to marry them well. Pride and prejudice are found in both Elizabeth and Mr Darcy, the very rich man who was later to become her husband. Okay, I have given away the ending, but then again everyone knows this story, right? Anyway now that its nearly the end of the year, once again I shall read this book on a rainy day, curled up in my easy chair. And even watch the movie again!
Ex Libris CNB 1819

My copy of Pride and Prejudice (CNB 2011)