Saturday, August 1, 2009

Entertainment (This week's Photo Hunt theme)




If you read the About Me section on this blog, you'll find that being a Hong Kong film fanatic and culture vulture are pretty high on my descriptive list. And for all the derogatory talk that Hong Kong cinema is dying (well, yes, it's not currently experiencing a golden age but it really does still make, and is the setting for, more movies than a territory the geographic size of Rhode Island and the population size of North Carolina has a right to!) and Hong Kong being a cultural desert, I really do think that there's a lot of entertainment of a cinematic and cultural nature to be had in the Big Lychee.

As an example, last weekend's activities included my viewing two movies (one current and one at the Hong Kong Film Archive) and also attending the A Cross-Rhythms Concert at the University of Hong Kong's Loke Yew Hall that featured percussion performances by an African drumming master, an Indonesian gamelan troupe and a Korean percussion group, among others.

While the performances were enjoyable enough, the icing to the cake (and why I chose this particular event to highlight for this week's Photo Hunt) was the event's venue. A friend who is more culture vulture than film fan complains that it's acoustics are not great.

I see his point but don't care too much because of its Lust, Caution connection. Put another way, it turns such as attending a trans-cultural concert into yet more confirmation that I really do live in Movie Mecca... ;b

29 comments:

RJ Flamingo said...

What a great venue for events! You're never short of opportunities for entertainment. Thanks for sharing, and for visiting!

Unknown said...

movies are a great part of our culture here in the Philippines. sad to say, our local mainstream film industry has been dying for years. but we have good indie films, unfortunately, most of those indie films are famous abroad but not here.

Gattina said...

I can almost hear the drum !

candi said...

Looks like a great entertaining venue! Great take on the theme.

Happy weekend!

jmb said...

Do you have any time for work YTSL?

Wonderful photo of the drummers and the venue does look interesting.

Happy weekend to you.

YTSL said...

Hi RJ Flamingo --

Definitely re my never being short of opportunities for entertainment here in Hong Kong! :)

Hi luna miranda --

Have to say a handful of Filipino films and yes, the ones I've seen do appear to be on the indie -- and artsy -- side!

Hi Gattina --

Heheh... well, it was pretty loud! ;b

Hi Candi --

Thanks for appreciating. :)

Hi jmb --

Definitely have time for work. I actually work pretty long hours five days a week. But yeah, I do try to make the most of my leisure time... believing that I should "work hard" but also "play hard"! :D

jams o donnell said...

Great shots. I'm sure that Hong Kong cinema's down turn is a pahse and it will be back at its peak again. Happy weekend

eastcoastlife said...

I think the entertainment scene in HK is very vibrant, compared to Singapore.

Annie said...

Love the North Carolina comparison!

Cool post. I've learned two great phrases: culture vulture and Big Lychee! Like the photos too.

sarah bailey knight said...

hi ytsl,

Looks like a fun concert and held in a movie location-what more could one want??? Interesting ceiling.

Hootin Anni said...

Great photo share for the theme this week. All the events must have been a super day.

Mine's posted also, hope you can stop by for a visit when you find some time in your busy day! Happy Saturday.

lissa said...

I didn't see Lust, Caution so, no idea what the connection is but the pics you chose are perfect for photohunt

gengen said...

That is an interesting entertainment...Happy weekend. Am playing too.

YTSL said...

Hi jams --

Thanks for your hope in Hong Kong cinema. Well, it has had more than one golden age so maybe another will come again...

Hi EastCoastLife --

That most certainly is my impression too!

Hi Annie --

Teehee and glad to introduce you to two new (entertaining?) phrases! :)

Hi sbk --

My sentiments exactly! :b

Hi Hootin' Anni --

Actually, I watched "just" one movie and attended the concert that day. The other movie was on another day... ;b

Hi Lissa --

Thanks for the reminder that not everyone has seen "Lust, Caution" (thing is that it's Hong Kong box office record holder, so it's hard to remember that!). Basically, what it is is that the Ang Lee movie has a few scenes that take place in Loke Yew Hall, and the balcony is one of the things I definitely remember seeing in those scenes. :)

Hi gengen --

Thanks and happy weekend to you too!

Betsy Banks Adams said...

Hi There, Thanks for visiting my blog. Hope you come back often. I am enjoying reading yours. My hubby (before I knew him) visited Hong Kong back in the early '90's. He was on his way to China to teach. He loved it!!!!

Thanks again. Glad to read that although you work hard, you also play hard. Life is too short to do otherwise.
Betsy

LifeRamblings said...

what a lovely series of entertainment. i enjoyed your post.

Anonymous said...

Sounds like a great show! Do you know if Loke Yew Hall is open during the day? I'll definitely be visiting HKU for the Ku Mei exhibit and would love to take a peek.

Rebecca Mecomber said...

Wonderful post! That's entertainment. ;)

My Photo Hunters is up, too. I hope you like it! Have a great weekend.

Mrs. Mecomber
New York Traveler.net

kayerj said...

wow! an african drumming master, I bet that was very entertaining. Thanks for stopping by

EG CameraGirl said...

The Big Lychee? Love it!

YTSL said...

Hi Betsy --

Thanks for your comments -- and I'm glad your hubby loved Hong Kong too. (So, hey, maybe he should bring you here to show you around!)

Hi Life Ramblings --

Glad you enjoyed! :)

Hi duriandave --

It was a fun and entertaining show -- for sure. Re whether Loke Yew Hall is open during the day: alas, I get the feeling not -- especially not when you're visiting as the university's not in regular session then.

Hi "Mrs Mecomber" --

Re the phrase: "That's entertainment"... did you watch those films with that title too? ;b

Hi Kaye --

The African drumming master was entertaining but have to say that the Korean percussion troupe were really the musical highlight of the concert. The problem is that they were so hyper, it was hard for my camera to take good pictures of them! ;(

Hi "Your EG Tour Guide" --

Speaking of lychees: guess what I had a bowl of for breakfast this morning? ;b

Unknown said...

I'd love to hear the music from the drums! Fascinating.

Interesting venue also.


http://blondesherry.blogspot.com/2009/08/ph-entertainment.html

A. said...

A Cross-Rhythms concert sounds fantastic - a form of entertainment that would appeal to me!

mariposa said...

What a nice venue for events. Love your photos, too. Mine's up.


Mariposa's PhotoHunt

YTSL said...

Hi Sherry --

I love percussion concerts -- and it sounds like you do too! And yes, indeedy, re the venue being interesting... :)

Hi A. --

Yeah, I think you would have enjoyed the concert. :)

Hi Mariposa --

Agreed, thanks and yes, I've gone and visited! ;b

Brita said...

Great post for the theme

YTSL said...

Hi Brita --

Thanks -- and, based on your love of nature that I saw from your own Entertainment Photo Hunt entry, hope you'll check out other entries on this blog! :)

Carver said...

This was a great post for the theme and I love the shots you took. Sorry I'm so slow visiting this week.

YTSL said...

Hi Carver --

Better late than never: appreciate your visit, and hope to continue to see comments from you on this blog. :)