EVENINGHOUR | the time for mischief

It took a while but I got there

Filed under Arts and Culture, TV
Tags: frasier, video of the week

Yes. After 6 years (and probably 10 years of waiting), today I finally completed my Frasier DVD collection! I was quite devastated that Big W had run out, but a chance entrance into JB Hifi mollified my disappointment. I am quite simply ecstatic!

I’ve grown up with Frasier. I was the odd kid out in high school—with the exception of one other well cultured friend who incidentally loved Star Trek, Star Wars and Harry Potter in addition—who adored it and quoted it, while everyone waxed lyrical about that other asinine and not that funny comedy about a certain group of “friends” (OK, that’s not fair; it occasionally has good moments!) I just see a bit of myself in every character, and the jokes are so wry, ironic and witty. I inadvertently find myself appropriating the dialogue in my own voice sometimes. It’s amazing how influenced you become simply from watching this show hundreds of times.

I watched ‘Something Borrowed, Something Blue’ (the last episode of season 7) today for the first time in a couple of years, and as always I bawl at the end when Niles finally tells Daphne he loves her. Even though the quality of the show’s writing definitely took a bad turn after this whole development (although to be honest I think it started as early as after season 4), I can’t help but still be happy that they got their HEA. Even at the expense of a few good laughs; they are just so adorable together. Probably one of the most dynamic, funny and loveable TV couples ever, even if their relationship should have stayed platonic. Plus, Niles is the best TV comic character. EVER.

This video sums up Niles and Daphne’s relationship very well:

And for even more laughs—some bloopers:

Finally, one of my favourite performances in Frasier:

Well, at least now I’ll be able to watch the rest of the the Frasier eps I haven’t seen in sequence, thank you very much Channel 9 for screwing up the schedule all those years…

Apr29

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Jen
April 29th, 2009
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Please help an indecisive design student by filling out this poll

Filed under Design
Tags: polls

Yes, Jen is alive, struggling to keep afloat but alive. And she would love for you to help her fill this poll so she can find some direction in her life. TRULY!

OK enough with the third person, I will tell you now that the current brief for my studio folio is packaging (both primary and secondary, ie. the bottle and its container) for a leisure pack for 4 wine PET bottles (No glass, I know, it’s a preposterous thought!), targeted to Generation Y (so, that’s the 18-30 year old market). I’ve got most of the technical considerations done, but now I’m struggling with choosing a brand name—hypothetical, of course.

Which wine would you want to buy, judging by the name only? Keep in mind the target market is Gen-Y (2 votes max).*

Excès (43%, 6 Votes)
Defusion (29%, 4 Votes)
Trifle (29%, 4 Votes)
Naught (21%, 3 Votes)
Plethora (14%, 2 Votes)
Zilch (14%, 2 Votes)
Loot (14%, 2 Votes)
Water Down (0%, 0 Votes)
Doctor Up (0%, 0 Votes)
Zippo (0%, 0 Votes)

Total Voters: 14

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*I will tell you also that this wine of mine is non-alcoholic, so purely 0% alcohol. Would your opinion have changed if you knew it was non-alcoholic? (Although considering they’d be placed in the aisle next to the soft drinks in the supermarkets, you’d think you would know, wouldn’t you? Don’t think too much on it!)

Would appreciate your comments/opinions! Or just tell me I’ve gone batshit crazy! If I don’t get enough responses or there are too many ties, I will probably follow up with a second poll to narrow answers down. Thanks so much!

Apr15

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Jen
April 15th, 2009
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A “brief” hiatus for now

Filed under Site Updates
Tags: blogging

Well it’s probably obvious that I haven’t updated this in a long time. I’m wondering what I should do with this blog because I mostly post at my Livejournal. But I don’t want to abandon this to the winds either. So I shall be taking a longer break and coming up with something that will keep me interested in continuing this blog. Adieu for now, chickies~

Mar7

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Jen
March 7th, 2009
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Of vigilantes and hot, sweaty man-hugging

Filed under Film, Life, Rating: 3
Tags: batman, comics, shopping, sport

I saw The Spirit at the Jam Factory this morning with Sylv. Since we went to the very first session of the day we had the whole theatre to ourselves! That was great. The movie—not so great, but still entertaining albeit on a superficial level. The excitement died down the instant we left the cinema.

Essentially the Spirit (Gabriel Macht) is former rookie cop Denny Colt, brought back into the world to rid Central City of the bad guys, namely the Octopus (Samuel L Jackson). He has the begrudging blessings of the Chief Commisioner Dolan (Clearly Commissioner Gordon and Batman have a far healthier work relationship than Dolan and Spirit ever had…) who doesn’t exactly approve of the Spirit’s methods. Well, shock horror there.

I’ve always thought that Frank Miller is a mad genius but lately his work has been nothing short of confusing, bizarre and way beyond the post-post-post-post-modern. And yes, his misogyny and sexism is duly noted (Selina Kyle the whore much?). But in spite of all this, I still enjoy most of his new stuff since he dares to push his audiences to the limit. The only work of his I simply could not handle was The Dark Knight Strikes Again. Completely unnecessary and ultimately infuriating.

I have not read any of Will Eisner’s work (yet), so I guess my opinion on the film adaptation could have been much worse. Miller’s brash over-the-top style oozes long-winded, unintentionally hilarious monologues, gratuitous violence, obscure references to other comics and femme fetales sporting bizarre outfits and kinks. Did not expect (and yet not surprised) to see a Nazi homage/spoof in the film, with Samuel L. Jackson playing the mad Josef Mengele-like “experimenter” and Scarlett Johansson sporting a prissy dominatrix get-up a la camp!SS- she-wolf. Was rolling my eyes at this spectacle the whole time. It reminded me painfully of Miller’s fascist villains in All Star Batman and Robin series and The Dark Knight Returns. Eva Mendes’ character Sand Saref (which in my mind was sans-serif, go figure that) is painfully irritating even for a femme fatale, while Sarah Paulson’s Ellen Dolan is the “resilient” down-to-earth lady in the sideline. A scarlet woman and an innocent damsel for our swashbuckling superhero. Hoo-hah.

Rating: (I’d give it more like 2.85)

What was way more awesome was watching the X-MEN Origins: Wolverine and Watchmen trailers back to back beforehand. Bloody brilliant. I truly cannot wait! That said, I intend to purchase the Watchmen graphic novel, but am not sure whether I want the paperback or the hardback. There are so many newly released books related to the film. Talk about marketing for the weak-willed masses.

And breaking news: apparently a Dark Knight sequel may be set for release in 2011, as hinted by the film’s executive producer himself, Michael E. Uslan (also responsible for pretty much every Batman production in motion picture). I think I may be warming a bit more to this idea now…

Have spent nearly half of my pay in one day on comics/books:

Over and Over: A Catalogue of Hand Drawn Patterns – Michael Perry
The Perils of Pleasure – Julie Anne Long
Batman: The Long Halloween – Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
Batman: Private Casebook – Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen
Batman #685 – Paul Dini, Dustin Nguyen
Amazing Spiderman #853 Variant Third Printing (the Obama issue, lolz) – Mark Waid, Phil Jimenez

Geebus, I don’t know how to save money…

Anyhow, some weeks ago I had applied for a web designer job at Lincraft, and had forgotten about it following my project with a new client, but I got a rejection email today. Ah, well. C’est la vie. I can’t travel to Clayton regularly anyway…

You know, after last night’s epic Australian Open men’s singles final, I am totally shipping Federer/Nadal. They are so awesome and so lovely! Can’t they both be number 1 together?

Feb2

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Jen
February 2nd, 2009
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When cultures collide

Filed under Film, Life, TV
Tags: celebrations

So by some divine providence we are blessed today with both Chinese New Year and Australia Day. Let it be known this may only happen once in a hundred years. Now you might be thinking (or rather, I might be thinking too deeply) how do you go about celebrating both? Which holds more precedence over the other? The answer isn’t all that clear-cut to me, although one friend on Facebook promptly replied it’s all in the “red and gold envelope, baby!” True. Money is a very nice incentive for well, anything. I haven’t had lucky money since I turned 18, but today mum presented me with a red envelope! And in it was … a $20 note, that is, in American dollars. So that’s about $30 Australian. Not that I’m going to use it since I’ve never even seen an American $20 note. I’m glad to say that I think Australia’s note system works better, at least with the colours and the texture of each note’s design. And don’t forget those ‘windows’!

Money aside, I spent my Australia Day listening to the audio of We Can Be Heroes and cleaning my room and organising my visual diaries. I’ve accumulated eleven A3 journals this holiday just to paste in inspirational material, hee! Yes, very fitting indeed. Would it have been more fitting to go out and watch Australia again? Maybe. Not. Although I did find out in the Herald that ACMI was letting people go into the Setting the Scene exhibition for FREE today. FREE(!!!!!!). I paid $10! And it wasn’t even that fantastic to begin with. Anyway, for the REAL (albeit satirical) Australia, you seriously have to watch We Can Be Heroes (now that’s playing with stereotypes):

If you had a naked Chinese man and a naked Aborginal man, they would be exactly the same except the naked Chinese man would have a slightly smaller penis.

Oh Chris Lilley, why you so awesome?

Australia Day at Dunt with Daniel and Nathan, and don’t miss Ja’mie’s rendition of our national anthem—Advance Australia Fair:

Chinese New Year was a slightly more eventful affair. Last night, watched the annual Spring Festival Gala on CCTV (that is, China Central Television, essentially the Communist Party’s puppet station) up to the point when my eyes couldn’t stay open anymore. It was a much better effort from last year’s dismal performance. The stage was friggin’ ENORMOUS. Obviously the set designers have taken a cue from the epic scale of the Beijing Olympics Ceremonies, but I’m impressed with the way they utilised the actual small space to make it look endless with light projection and perspective in the background graphics:

The most bizarre performance I saw was one with Jay Chou, with this amazing little kid, and finally a surprise entrance from Song Zuying:

Dinner tonight at Footscray (probably one of the better Chinese restaurants, if that’s possible) with my folks and my aunt.

Anyhow, thoughts on my nationality colliding with my ethnicity aside, it’s been a busy week for me. I’m still having weekly driving lessons (and my growing frustration at not being able to park properly is inversely proportionate to my instructor’s patience with me—amazing! Dad would have combusted out of fury the first time round…) , and I have a new client who has the potential to make me big(ger), and really expand my portfolio. I’m beside myself with anxiety but I am excited that I’ll be able to be flex my creative muscle since I’ve been whining about having nothing to do for so long (no excuses on my part though).

I went to Laura’s house last night and we watched the Doctor Who Christmas Special, The Next Doctor, on the ABC (not the first time for me though, hehe) and afterwards Slumdog Millionaire, which I liked, but I wasn’t that “affected” by the story as the media/Golden Globe hype may suggest. Don’t think I’m a cold, heartless bitch though—it’s just another one of those rags-to-riches, Cinderella-esque fanfare types, and well, really, they get kind of old, not to mention the image portraying Mumbai is sort of feeding the preconceived notions of unsuspecting, ignorant viewers. But the protagonist is kind of amusing what with his vacuous expression 60% of the time. And I liked the originality of the plot that explained “how” he proved he wasn’t cheating in Who Wants to Be a Millionaire. You’ve got to watch the film to see. ;D The soundtrack was pretty ace, and the editing was superlative too. The ending is rather Bollywood-esque as well which is sweet.

Rating:

Jan26

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Jen
January 26th, 2009
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I Believe in Barack Obama

Filed under Current Affairs, Life
Tags: batman, celebrations, politics

Yeah, I know I know, I’ve been MIA from eveninghour for a time. I just didn’t have much to say… That and have been feeling a little down in the dumps lately.

Anyhow! Yesterday I went to an ol’ high school chum’s place for a sleepover—and caught up with a lot of girls whom I haven’t seen since like, graduation—although I was the only one who stayed back the whole night (honestly, I wouldn’t be heading home at 4am, even if I had a car). We watched I am Sam, Kiss the Girls (lolz LUCIUS FOX) and Breakfast at Tiffany’s. All in all, an eclectic mix of tears, fear and romance.

So, who here’s staying up to watch Obama’s inaguration? I, who never really cared for Australian politics (but that doesn’t mean I’m not up-to-date), much less American (which I have to say is way more interesting). Like so many, I’ve been swept up in the ocean of hope for good change ahead. All our free-to-air stations will be showing it “live” at different times (ironic) between 1:30–6am. Will be so pleased to see the back of George W. Bush, and only sorry for the tremendous, irresponsible mess he’s leaving behind for the President-elect.

The power of image and typography:

Funnily I keep thinking to the time in The Dark Knight when Bruce held a fundraiser for Harvey Dent: “I believe in Harvey Dent”. So will Obama be our White Knight? Time will tell. Just hope no psychopathic Joker-type will be out to destroy him. ¬¬;; I saw a feature on Obama’s lucky trinkets in TIME magazine the other day. He does in fact have a few lucky coins on him! Should we be worried?

(Yeah, trust me to make a vague reference to Batman. I could be talking about toilets and still segue back to Batman)

Jan20

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Jen
January 20th, 2009
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2008 in Review

Filed under Books, Film, Life, Music
Tags: batman, politics

Seems like every blog’s got to have one, but this year was certainly one to remember. So many good things and bad things, possibly more bad than good, if the media has anything to do with it. We’ve had the best Olympic Games in history (in my opinion, not that I’m biased or anything), some of the worst natural disasters in decades, with alarming frequency and devastation; a phenomenal, an emotional and historic apology to the Indigenous Australians for the wrongs of the past (but no compensation in sight hrmmm), an aggressive but inspiring race between Obama and McCain to the White House and the worst economic meltdown in decades. I feel as though that 2008 still has plenty to offer me, and yet it seemed to pass by so slowly… I wonder at that, but I’m optimistic at what lies ahead in 2009.

We haven’t exactly had a great plate of good films this year, but I think the handful of excellent ones make up for all the constant churning of sluggish nonsense (I look at you, Beverley Hills Chihuahua).

Best Film
The Dark Knight (hands down)
Director, Christopher Nolan completely blows our minds away with an intelligent and action-packed sequel to the dark and soulful Batman Begins with superlative performances from all actors, most notably the late Heath Ledger as psychopath villain The Joker.

Honourable Mentions

The Painted Veil
Wall-E
The Band’s Visit
Sweeney Todd: Demon Barber of Fleet Street
Persepolis
Kung Fu Panda
Lars and the Real Girl
Iron Man
Hellboy II

The music scene has been topsy-turvy; I have pretty much tuned out of the so-called ‘Top 20′ charts and discovered new and exciting artists for myself. Far more satisfying and less grating on the nerves.

Best Album
Viva La Vida – Coldplay
I’m just so glad I enjoyed this album a lot better than the sluggish X&Y. It had a surprisingly soulful and transcendental mood, evoking images of cloudy days, sunkissed memories and ethereal cathedrals.

Honourable Mentions:

Safe Trip Home – Dido
Rainism – Rain
The Story of Us – Ibadi
Heavy Rotation – Anastacia

Best soundtracks:

The Dark Knight – Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard
Kung-Fu Panda – Hans Zimmer and John Powell
Wall-E – Thomas Newman
Twilight – Carter Burwell
The Curious Case of Benjamin Button – Alexandre Desplat

Normally in a year I aim to read 100 books, but I don’t think I managed to reach that goal this year. I blame uni and work. Still, I’ve discovered a lot of new authors to be on the look-out for.

Best Book
Addition – Toni Jordan
It’s essentially chick-lit in terms of formula, but it’s a lot more than that, I feel. It’s made in Melbourne, which is rare, hence the extra love from me, and it’s embarrassingly addictive. I read most of it in one sitting in Borders. And I borrowed the book from uni library, before buying it from a second-hand shop soon after.

Honourable Mentions:

The Long Halloween – Jeph Loeb, Tim Sale
The Painted Veil – W. Somerset Maugham
Growing Up Asian in Australia – Anthology, ed. Alice Pung
The Great Gatsby—a graphic adaptation by Nikki Greenberg – F. Scott Fitzgerald
Lost in a Good Book – Jasper Fforde
Midnight Rising – Lara Adrian
Let the Night Begin – Kathryn Smith
A Great and Terrible Beauty – Libba Bray
Fearless Fourteen – Janet Evanovich
Mr. Darcy’s Diary – Maya Slater
The Tales of Beedle the Bard – J.K. Rowling

Best TV Show

Doctor Who (series 4)
This show never seems to lose its vivacious energy and geeky eagerness. Catherine Tate proves she’s a fine, feisty companion to David Tennant’s Doctor. Am just saddened that she never lived to remember all the good times she had with him. The most recent Christmas special, “The Next Doctor”, guest starring David Morrissey, was fabulous! Even though it bordered on melodrama (thus hilarity) it gets away with it quite easily. Why? Simply because the actors are just so into it and having so much fun! Am saddened to see Tennant goodbyeing the Doctor but better to leave now than find yourself waning…

Honourable mentions:

Mad Men
House
Lost in Austen
Sense and Sensibility

Dec31

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Jen
December 31st, 2008
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Jingle Bells, Batman Smells!

Filed under Life
Tags: batman, celebrations

Jingle Bells
Batman Smells
Robin Laid an Egg
The Batmobile Lost a Wheel
And Joker got away, hey!

*sighs* The old school Batman comics were so good, at least Batman could have a good chortle every now and then. Double entendres and dated fashion and all. ‘Twas good times. Pooh. I’d be singing along with Joker in the B:TAS episode, “Christmas with the Joker” if only my Volume 1 DVD order had arrived, NO THANKS to you EZYDVD. I saw it in JB the other day but didn’t get it just in case my order processed. Meh.