One Battle After Another

It's been awhile since I saw two movies over a weekend (not on the same day, I'm not a masochist). Guess I'm just cramming it in. Also only paid RM5.50 out of pocket, so.. 

I admit, I don't think I've ever seen a Paul Thomas Anderson (PTA) movie before, so not sure what to expect with this. I didn't think it was gonna be shown here, so..  

• Another movie where Leonardo DiCaprio gets to be the idiot/comic relief? People in the room with me were laughing their asses off at Bob as his fried stoner brain is trying to get back into fighting shape.
• NGL, Chase Infiniti sounds like a credit card.
• I also wished there was a built-in intermission, it was that long. 
• I'm not sure if I would've wanted to watch that undulating car chase on an IMAX screen; just watching it on regular screen already made me a little uncomfortable.
• Sean Penn's character is pretty unnerving, especially towards the end. But him licking his comb before using it on his hair was really icky.  
• Kinda funny that Tony Goldwyn is playing a member of a nationalist white supremacist group? 

It's cool that we get to watch this here, something different. I thought it was okay, but I don't think I can watch it again, for a different reason from why I can't watch A Big Bold Beautiful Journey again. 

A Big Bold Beautiful Journey

NGL, didn't know that much going into this, but the only marketing I recall was on Late Night with Seth Meyers because the guy who wrote the screenplay is a writer for the show and he came on to promote it. And of course Colin Farrell and Margot Robbie also came on to promote it. There were only a few people watching it with me on a Saturday morning. Guess it's a good thing I didn't pay parking.

• Any time you see Phoebe Waller-Bridge in anything, it might be a touch cuckoo bananas. 

I didn't hate it, but I'm not sure if I'd watch it again cos I ugly cried my way through this, and I don't know if the writing is that good, or it's my hormones making me feel all the feels. It's two avoidant people going on a roadtrip to show each other's baggage. 

If you want to watch something that's not based on existing IP, etc.... 

Week 40, 2025

• Went back to the clinic Monday morning to return the extra antibiotic pills I wasn't gonna take. Got a cash refund on the excess pills. 
• AIA also finally reimbursed me on the flu shot I got from BIG Pharmacy. Took a few working days, though. Wasn't a lot, but considering I didn't have a lot in the no-claim bonus wallet to begin with, ok jugak la..  
• Saw a couple of movies this weekend: A Big Bold Beautiful Journey on Saturday, and One Battle After Another on Sunday. 
• Because October is breast cancer awareness month, I got mine erm, clinically fondled at a Watsons after the movie on Saturday. Still probably gonna need a mammogram at some point, given my age. 
• Saw Gajen Nad's latest hour, Global Malaysian Chindian, at Shantanand Auditorium in Brickfields on Saturday night. Should've brought a wrap, and having a show in Brickfields in the lead up to Deepavali probably not the best idea? 
• Went back to the clinic on Friday, and the doctor was not expecting having to pop a ear canal pimple. Well, me too lah. Got prescribed antibiotic cream for it, but it still hurts as I type this, so..

Week 39, 2025

Bit slow and also kinda busy at the same time?

• The weekend was the first ever Malaysia International Pen Show. The ticket was for both days, so why not. They also had lucky draws so can't win if you're not there, right? No luck for me. Only got a couple bottles of ink cos wasn't in the mood to blow on pens or other accessories right then. 
• Saw a GP about the ear pain. Apparently there's a laceration in my ear? Was prescribed ear drops and antibiotics. 

Week 38, 2025

Another 3 day work week, cos Monday and Tuesday cuti. 

• Spent PM-declared public holiday (Monday night) at 3 Damansara for 4U2C's reunion gig. Enjoyed myself, not just because I went for free..
• Spent Malaysia Day watching Magik Rompak. Only spent RM5.50 out of pocket, so can't complain. Also went for massage late afternoon, cos I went for morning screening. 
• Went for Pilates Wednesday night to get out of a funk. 
• Busiest Saturday in recent memory: Flu shot in the morning, event about PCOS in downtown KL mid morning, and then back out to Pasar Seni area to watch a recording of Full of Jit late afternoon.  To say I was pooped from all the activity would be an understatement. 
• I guess it was just as well that I did not get around to the Elite reunion concert (also on Saturday), cos I be too tired anyway. 
• Got myself into another free basic health check (glucose, blood pressure and cholesterol) at the second home on Sunday. This time all within normal range, yay.
• Remembered to redeem some vouchers, etc, but not other things. Oh wells. 
• Got the quarterly haircut over the weekend. 

Magik Rompak

It's been an age since I last saw a local movie in the cinema, and somehow this was the first Adrian Teh movie I've seen after all the movies the dude has made. 

But it was Malaysia Day, and I had nothing else going on. And using the AIA Vitality perk, I only spent RM5.50 out of pocket to watch this in the morning, so ok lah, cannot complain so much. 

NGL, when posters (and hearing the premise) for Magik Rompak came out, it really reminded me of the Now You See Me franchise... which was uncanny cos there's about to be a new Now You See Me movie coming out later in the year, and they played the trailer before this one started LOL 

There weren't a lot of people watching it with me, so I could've guffaw like Nelson if I wanted to. 

A leading magician who assembles a reluctant crew for an audacious and daring heist to steal a priceless gem. As their pasts intertwine and the stakes rise, the team must perfect the art of illusion, confront their own vulnerabilities, and orchestrate the ultimate vanishing act to protect their futures.

Sounds familiar kan? 

• NGL, I've never seen both Zul Ariffin and Sharnaaz Ahmad on any screen, let alone together in the same movie (which I'm guessing hasn't happened before this? Correct me if I'm wrong). It's a lot of bearded buff Malay dudes in one movie, and only one of them gets to flex their guns. Guess which one. 
• I held back a snigger when I heard that the main antagonist's name was Hamdan Tan, being played by one of Singapore's most pai lang bin flers ever. 
• I get Ujang the character is supposed to be comic relief, but he just comes across as a whiny little bitch. 
• I could've sworn that some of that final chase scene was filmed in KL Eco City or something lol. 

There's plenty to take in and a lot of twists, so not a movie you'd want to watch after a long day at work or whatever. But some of it is ridiculous as heck. 

Some people might not like this cos it's so talky, but I didn't mind all the exposition/back story really, especially if this doesn't become a franchise. It's a little over 2 hours, which might not be for some people either. But if you got time to kill.. 

Bringin' Back Da 90s Flava! WE4U2C, Idea Live Arena (3 Damansara)

First Malay language gig I've ever attended... I KNOW!

As someone who was too young at the height of 4U2C's peak, they weren't exactly on my radar, but like most people, I only remembered the song "Fiona", and how Dato' AC Mizal first got famous growing up. 

With the current trend of 90s groups making comeback/reunion gigs, I suppose 4U2C thought it was a good time to get back together? Only cos they were a hit when AC showed up at one of KRU's comeback gigs recently, so.. 

Anyway, friend won free tickets to this and I had said before that I wouldn't mind going, mostly to check out the venue, but free concert is free concert la, kan? That venue was a first for the both of us, so didn't know what to expect.. 

We were there before 7 p.m., mostly to have dinner before the show. The only good thing about these new fangled venue spaces in malls is that there's no shortage of makan options... except in 3 Damansara. Had halal Thai food. 

Meandered upstairs, and we were probably some of the very few pork eaters in attendance. There were loads of families with young kids, which was endearing. I knew better than to bring my own water (left mine in the car) and didn't fall for the concessions right before bag check, so only got tiny overpriced, own labelled bottled water for RM4 each. Eventually made our way inside - we were in the Kembalilah Fiona section on the floor, which were RM355 each, so...

Anyway, show started around 8.45 p.m. (called it) and AC's son Reeve Damien opened with 3 original English songs (which were pretty catchy, FWIW) before 4U2C themselves came on stage. 

The banter was kinda insane: AC was in his element, with the host persona kicking in, bantering with the other guys in order to segue into the next song they were doing. He also made the joke about how the PM gave the day off when the gig was announced..

I can only speak for myself, but I thought the show was not too bad even though I was not that familiar with their discography going in. I guess so that they didn't exert themselves too much, they also had other former 90s groups (like Res2, A to Z and M's Teen) come on and do at least one of their best known songs during the show. They saved their most exerting moves for the beginning and the end of the show. It was also kinda cute at one point when they had their kids (except Lan, who's still single) up on stage. Their new songs were also quite catchy, like BOOM, and Sini GO Sana NO, which is about the online trolls. 

Show ended around 11 something, which was fine cos besok cuti and all that. I cackled so hard at all the stuff that did not make it past bag check as we walked out... 

PS. If anyone got free ticket to the Elite gig happening on the 20th, let me know :P