May 2010 Archives

Here they are, comments are welcome :)

I watched the first episode of LOST when I was working in Beijing, in my tiny apartment in front of a computer screen. I was captivated by the production value, after all, it was a 2hr season premiere. Then, I got drawn to all the characters, as they were portrayed in a way that only happens in a character study. It's definitely something I haven't seen before in an American TV program. I guess this series was so wildly successful because we can all relate to those characters, we're all lost but had to make necessary decisions to carry on, we're all flawed yet we strive to be better. Most importantly we find strength in each other, especially in ones that believe in you and love you.

LOST, you've been a good story, I enjoyed it very much. So long...

Pier 23 is a bar on Embarcadero we often go to. These were taken one of our colleagues' farewell party.

I'm on a documentary streak. I can't resist, below are the two I watched recently.

Afghan Star was an UK production, I really wonder why Americans didn't make this film, o right, Hollywood marketing people, right right, same people that hate featuring minorities in their films.

Anyways, the film follows 4 characters in war torn Afghanistan who participated in the first ever "American Idol" style singing competition. While the topic in its self to me was already very intriguing, I did not anticipate how much I related to the film. There was a moment in the film where it showed what the country was prior to the Soviet invasion, it was eerily reminiscent of China before the June 4th demonstration crack down. You see girls on the street with western clothes, Farrah Fawcett hair, Rock&Roll, Disco, Sneakers, and jeans. Then, seconds later, flash back ends, back to Afghanistan, 2009.

In that film, I saw a different me, what I could've been. Had China taken the wrong turn, what would be of my present. It was a moment of pause for the Chinese, a moment of choice for the communist government. I think we as a society, chose wisely... Thank God.

Afghan Star, thus, was bitter sweet, from the film I saw people with similar faces we had in 1989, doubt, anger, unwillingness to accept progress, but then, people do realize it's something unavoidable, something that everyone desires for, to sing, to be able to choose in fairness, to dream for the better.

Exit through the gift shop is an amazing documentary on street art movement of this decade. Contrary to what most people have perceived about the film, it's not JUST about Banksy, it's actually about some of the most important artisits in the street art scene, the film carries Space Invader, Shepard Fairey, along with other famous faces like PinkMonster. The genius of the film, the genius of Banksy really, is how irreverent the film turned out to be. Without ruining the film here, I will say this, Banksy had a stock of street art footage so complete it covered an entire span of 6 years from street art being street art, to street art being gallery art. He could well made a documentary just about street art, and yet, he worked the tapes into something else entirely. That is why I think this film will win best documentary this year.

I think there are a lot of people my age who admired apple every since the original mac. I also think the recent "take down" of the gizmodo editor is way out of what apple's values. This week, thanks to John Steward, the sentiment of many apple lovers were expressed. I also have to agree, yes, I will be getting the next iphone when it comes out.