Two interesting films that I have caught lately. Not your Hollywood types

Raising Victor Vargas
Very sincere piece. The quality of the acting is really good despite the fact that amatuer actors were used. Heart-warming story about a teenager and the issues with growing up and family. I always feel that movies that portray issues surrounding teenage sexuality don't usually match up and it's difficult to not end up shooting something that could come off as sleazy or shocking. This film uses dark humour instead.

Last Life In the Universe
I feel alot for this movie. I am very impressed by how Pen-Ek Ratanaruang pulled this movie off in many ways. How did he manage to cast Asano Tadanobu in this movie? The cute pair of sisters that act in the movie are real-life sisters too. I have mention the fact that they shot this film in both Thailand and Japan. Slap cool cinematography (Christopher Doyle) and a beautiful soundtrack in and the result is this film. I love it.

Interestingly, I just found out that Tadanobu Asano also acts in a samurai film that I am looking forward to catching in this year's Singapore International Film Festival. Zatoichi.

I have said this to more than one person "The Last Samurai showcases American cultural imperialism at it's most oppressive".

If there's anyone who wants to catch a good samurai movie, I will highly recommend Yoji Yamada's Twilight Samurai instead. The bitter irony is that the lead actor in this film takes the role of Ujio in The Last Samurai.

A few points about the Last Samurai that makes it such utter crap.
- How does Ken Watanabe as an old school Samurai warrior know English to begin with? If he is such a hardcore warrior, he would have resisted picking up anything foreign in the first place.
- Samurais will NEVER pass on Kendo to someone who isn't in the samurai social strata, let alone a caucasian.
- The Boshin war is totally misportrayed. Even an anime series like Samurai X tries very hard to stick to the events of the Boshin war (Actually, I would recommend watching Samurai X too).

So whose culture is next for Hollywood to fuck around with?

Note to anyone that actually bothers to read this blog. There is a total disregard for linearity in this blog.

It's highly possible that this will be the earliest DJ interview that I will do. I was told to turn up at 11.30am.

What surprised me was the fact that five people were there to interview him. Although Bam (as he is affectionately known) is a legend, not many people here know of his music. Five is definitely a record so far.

I would usually ask to go last because it gives me leeway to stretch my interview. Unfortunately someone had already put his hand up to go last so I had to settle for second last.

We had to move from the hotel to Zouk's conference room. While waiting for the my turn I had a very interesting conversation with Bam's manager.

The manager lives in New York but she's actually English. Although she looks cute for her age, I am more impressed by how sincere and warm she is. The biggest amazement of all is the fact that she's white and she manages two of the biggest legends of black music.

We spoke about

New York
The rumours about the clampdown of clubs are true. Authorities in US are finding every excuse to shut clubs down, especially in New York. Since I would really like to visit New York someday, I asked her where I should go other than the touristy places. We also spoke about 'tagging' (spray paint art, better known as 'grafitti') on trains and the mood in New York after 9/11.

Herself
She told me that she used to run a Hip Hop club in New York called The Roxy a very long time ago (Yes, I do believe her).

Grandmaster Flash (another hiphop legend)
The other legend that she manages as well (big surprise)! Told her that I am keeping my fingers crossed that someday he will play in Singapore too. Maybe this gig would pave the way for Flash to come.

Singapore
Not forgetting the fact that she and Bam are spending the few days before the gig as tourists, she's asking me where she could go do some sightseeing.

Bambaataa
She told me Bam was very interested about finding out about the history of Singapore. It's really interesting to know that they really wanna to understand the roots of our people, how people came to settle here. Apparently, Bam wanted to visit a Buddhist temple and speak to a monk! I had to help manage her expectations tactfully. I explained: Firstly, most famous temples here are pretty touristy and you wouldn't find monks roaming around easily. Secondly, a monk wouldn't know who he is and will most probably be very guarded against speaking to a huge black man like him (he is bigger and taller than Moses Lim). It was really tricky trying to convey this to her because

1) Being their first trip to Singapore, how I communicate that to her would go on to form their perception of how Singaporeans are like.
2) Although I was very careful with my words, I had to be really sensitive so that there would never be a chance for them to misunderstand and think that it's a racist thing.

History of Singapore
I had to answer questions about Raffles coming here and I told her about Sang Nila Utama and the Merlion myth. I think this is the first time for me to have a foreigner asking me about stuff like that.

The interview could have been better and I guess I would have to do alot of post-interview "work" trying to put it into something that I can send in for print. I will see how Bam rocks his set in time to come.

How is it that a person can play a song for a hundred over times on repeat? I did, and that song is (I'm Still In Love With You) by Sean Paul.

It's quite rare to find a song that has such a good reggae feel (Sean Paul's slur) and a happy vibe (the horns). Luscious female vocals as well. Check out the video too!

I have a weird tradition. I only open up my last year's angpows after the 15th day of Chinese New Year this year. That means that I will forever keep one year worth of angpows which will be opened up next year. I drew inspiration for this idiosyncracy from Chinese idiom Nian1 Nian1 You3 Yu2.

I collected $336 from twenty eight angpows. That works out to an average of $12 per angpow. Angpow index anyone? I am sure we could measure inflation from here since my mum keeps telling me how angpows used to be $2.

This moolah would be used for me to buy a pair of new shoes if I land a new job. Comfort is extremely important for shoes that I wear for work. Though most dress-shoes that I saw look really good, I am going to settle for a pair of shoes which are extremely comfortable and doesn't look that good. It's not cheap either but I don't mind shelling out for shoes which I would wear for the most number of times in a week.

It's a pair of Camper.

UNKLE are going to be in town. No DJ Shadow but the new partner Richard File is going to be here. Apparently, James Lavelle has to prove that there is life after UNKLE without DJ Shadow - especially since relationship between the two has turned sour after the Psyence Fiction.

Since it's going to be a Green Room Sessions gig again, it's probably going to be freaking packed like the last Steve Cobby gig. Will I get pissed at the crowds again? We will see how it all comes out.

James Zabiela was playing on the second day of Chinese New Year and I only had energy to go see him play rather than prepare for the interview. So I scrapped it and decided that I should focus my energies on Afrika Bambaataa instead.

I remember how James Lavelle stopped to ask me if James Zabiela was spinning at Zoukout right after my interview with him. James Lavelle did not get to see his namesake in action because the original line-up for Zoukout was changed.

So I was there to see if James Zabiela is really worth his salt. I would say that he is pretty good - from his choice of tracks, his skills on the decks etc. Most importantly, I can tell that he is really having fun as he bounces around the DJ console. Let's hope that he comes back around again and I will try to hook up with him again then for an interview.