Sunday, June 17, 2007

Professional disclosure and links of interest


Here be dragons -- and not just in Kowloon either! ;b

My apologies to those who are used to a more frequent output from this blogger. Anyways, and in case some of you still haven't realized it, I'm currently writing for bc magazine. So, if you're hankering for new stuff to read by me, do feel free to go and check out the following pieces from its current issue over on its website (and then feel equally as free to post your comments on them over here!):-

i) Here Be Dragons -- a feature article on dragons in Hong Kong;

ii) Eye on Yau Nai Hoi -- an interview with the Milkyway Image scriptwriter turned director;

iii) Relax x Appreciate x Learn -- based on an interview with Yip Wing Sie, the Hong Kong Sinfonietta's music director and conductor;

iv) Hong Kong Return -- a piece on the National Ballet of China's two upcoming Hong Kong concerts;

v) Reviews of local films Eye in the Sky (Yau Nai Hoi, director), Kidnap (starring Rene Liu and Karena Lam) and Mr. Cinema (starring Anthony Wong, Ronald Cheng, Teresa Mo and Karen Mok) and French offering 2 Days in Paris (directed by and starring Julie Delpy); with a few reviews by others, including a certain Hong Kong cinema website webmaster who I count as a very good friend... :)

vi) other writings which don't bear my name but which you still might be able to recognize as my handiwork... :b

19 comments:

PU said...

Hey,
Cool blog. Visit mine at http://techappy.blogspot.com/ and if you like it, please link to me, and I will do the same for you!

Thanks,

Sean

Willow said...

Hi ytsl:
Your writing is awesome.

Anonymous said...

Woohooo! So many goodies from you :) Thank you for the update!

YTSL said...

Hi "cheesy bread" (Sean) --

Thanks for visiting. As for the linking idea: Please give me a bit of time to check out your blog, okay? :)

Hi Willow --

Thanks -- and even more so when one has a sub-editor to work with... ;)

Hi "eliza bennet" --

You're welcome and happy reading! :)

Anonymous said...

I'll be sure to check out those articles! (Once I find time--I'm behind in my work...) I'm intrigued by the Hong Kong dragons.

Thanks for the update.

YTSL said...

Hi Alejna --

You're welcome re the update, and thanks for your interest in my articles plus scribblings in general! :)

Stefan S said...

Hi YTSL... i actually guest contributed to BC mag couple of issues back... look for Just Follow Law, The Matrimony and Umizaru 2 :)

Edmund Yeo said...

Oooh, read the reviews. Guess I shouldn't expect that much from Eye In The Sky, then.

But Kidnap, Karena Lam... mmmm...

YTSL said...

Hi stefan s --

Know about your contributions and hope you'll still be willing when it's time again for us to request your contributions... :)

Hi swifty --

Go in with low expectations for "Eye in the Sky" and I think you'll get quite a bit out of checking it out. Just remember/understand that it's *not* directed by Johnnie To.
Also, that my viewing of the movie probably was affected by the fact that I viewed it in a corporate boardroom rather than a regular cinema. (no, I'm not kidding.) At the same time, I actually prefer it to "Kidnap". So... ;b

Edmund Yeo said...

Well, I'm either going for this (Eye In The Sky) or Hot Fuzz tonight, will probably post my thoughts when I'm done.

Heh, you really should get MSN or something.

YTSL said...

Hi again swifty --

Have no idea what's Hot Fuzz. So I'd go for "Eye in the Sky" and actually am thinking of checking it out again some time. As for MSN: Forget it, I hardly have the time to go on line to take care of my blog and such as it is! ;D

Edmund Yeo said...

Hot Fuzz is from the guys behind Shaun of the Dead, and makes fun of buddy cop films. It's been getting pretty good reviews (90+% at Rotten Tomatoes)

But yeap, I saw EYE IN THE SKY. I liked it. Haven't seen a decent HK film in months. Dancing Lion and Ming Ming (okay, is that HK?) made me weep in misery.

Stefan S said...

i wanna watch kidnap!
not sure if it'll make it to our shores though

YTSL said...

Hi stefan s --

Is it the case in Singapore that there's pretty much just one slot each time around for Hong Kong movies (and this week, it's reserved for "Eye in the Sky")?

YTSL said...

Hi again swifty --

Glad you liked "Eye in the Sky". For my money, the best Hong Kong film I've seen this year is "Whispers and Moans". Sincerely doubt that it'll be shown in Malaysia any time soon though as it's a prostitute drama... ;S

Stefan S said...

i don't think there's a formula for HK releases here, but I think you might be right. It's been a long long time since we had more than 1 HK release in a week (as far as I can remember)

And sadly, some will go straight to DVD (or worse, VCD) without hitting the big screens :(

YTSL said...

Hi again stefan s --

2007 has been an interesting year for Hong Kong cinema. Early on, there wasn't much that seemed all that interesting around -- or maybe even all that much about. But in mid May, Herman Yau's "Gong Tau" and "Whispers and Moans" appeared in cinemas and since then, I think that there've been worthwhile -- even if imperfect -- works to check out in the cinemas. And right now, it's pretty unusual in that there are 4 Hong Kong movies out in cinemas at the same time here -- and next week will see one more joining them in the form of "Hooked On You" (Milkyway Image production starring Eason Chan and -- I'll never see her the same way again after having met and interviewed her earlier this week :))) -- Miriam Yeung).

Stefan S said...

I've just watched Hook On You (review not out yet cos of professional courtesy :D), and there were bits that I thoroughly enjoyed!

Ashamed to say this, but that was my first Miriam Yeung movie! :P

YTSL said...

Hi again Stefan --

Glad to hear that there are bits to recommend re "Hooked On You". On the subject of Miriam Yeung movies: I'd like to recommend Fruit Chan's "Dumplings"...though be warned that you might never see dumplings the same way again after viewing that film. ;b