Television
Ok, so i haven’t been updating my blog in ages. Even though i have topics to talk about (eg. my Singapore trip and the Mosaic Music Festival) i guess I’m just plain lazy and good at procrastinating! Gosh, i should try to change……
Anyway, I’ve been doing nothing this past week but play with my cards, PS2 and watching tv. Basically turned into a real couch potato. Lately I’ve been resuming my usual high school routine of watching the Chinese dramas on Wah Lai Toi on Astro at 9.30pm. I have to say, this roused me up to compare between the media entertainment of the east and the west. We’ll start with dramas!!
East - Well there are 2 types which is the traditional Chinese dramas of old-age china with all the sword fighting and kung fu and there is the modern age dramas. The yesteryears of Chinese drama is interesting to watch, with all the weird characters and powers and flying talking objects. The modern ones have a wide range of settings. Like main characters of these dramas have a wide range of occupation. There was one on fire brigade, the government flight service, hotel management and well, gangsters! But i can’t help noticing with all these raving settings, the plot seem to be a lil stale. It’s always first few episodes, getting to know the main character, his past and family and friends. Then we see the rival/evil-doer/obstacle. Then prolly the love of his life (usually the main character is a guy) vanish, and he’s heart broken. But somewhere another admirer pops up and encourages him and he oh-so bersemangat after that. Then the plot deepens into the main theme of the drama, be it thriller or romance. The main character is now in hot soup. Miraculously, if this were a thriller, and it was that climax and suspense episode, a high and al-mighty person would appear that sets the path easier for the main character. Or the evil villain would fall into a trap and get choked. (they always do) Then the resolution of the whole thing, he gets the girl, he resolves all his debts, business is blooming and they live happily ever after. Oh course, this would not be complete without a lot few phrases of hope and cherishing the one u love, basically ur nilai nilai murni. The end.
West - Now, I’m not a huge fan of the west dramas (due to the timing of not having the tv after 8pm) i can’t really comment on the usual, everyone’s favorite like ‘the OC’ ‘Desperate housewives’ ‘Smallville’ ‘Grey’s anatomy’ and the list goes on! For some reason, western dramas seem to follow an already well-established drama. I mean, that ‘ER’ for example. We have ‘Grey’s anatomy’ and ‘House’ and ‘General hospital’ after that. Sure it’s common to play a dashing doctor/surgeon with a whooping love affair, but how many illnesses and diseases can the script-writers come up? Gosh, i do wonder if they’re not paranoid by now because i am!
Then we have the superheroes drama. Like ‘Mutant X’ Smallville’ and ‘Heroes’. I hardly watch those so i can’t say much, but i do like the powers of the characters from ‘heroes’. Reminds me so much of the characters from ‘X-men’. Like the cheer leader with amazing recuperating powers ala Wolverine, minus the sharp claws and devil-gelled hairstyle. Ali Carter’s double, wicked, strong personality, except this one doesn’t turn into a monster like ‘Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde’. Peter Petricelli (do forgive if i can’t remember the name) ability to absorb other people’s powers, like Rouge. Expect he doesn’t kill them in doing so, and isn’t deranged for a cure. And Hiro Nakamura, who can stop and travel time. Anyone thinking of Hermione with the time turner?? Maybe they should try getting ideas from our local Malaysian actors. If u don’t know what i’m talking about, try to catch the next stage play called Actorlympics. I think….. can’t remember what’s the name, but the audience were giving ideas for abilities. Like Mr 2 second….. hehhe.
Then we have really dramatic dramas ‘Desperate housewives’. this is definitely new for me, and after watching a few episodes, i give the creator a standing ovation. It so proves we live for gossips and the dirty linens that people hide. After watching it, u just gotta say, "Wow, I’m glad I’m not her!" Though we do envy the curves on those women……… Who needs plastic surgery anyway?
Next we turn to the reality shows of the East and West.
East - They have really weird names for their shows. Like the ‘Ah Fatt Show’ or something along that cheesy line. It usually features HK celebrities doing odd and randomly funny task. Like a couple, catching a piece of bread that pops out from a toaster; with only their face. Sometimes they get it, other times they just have to be contented with smacking their lips against each other. Imagine a scandal if this was done in Hollywood, a married actor and a single, up-rising hot actress. Sizzle…. And of course they’ll have their usual cooking shows and talk shows. But the TV reality shows remind me of Nickelodeons party bashes. The celebrities entertaining the audiences by embarrassing themselves. Wonderful way of getting attention, not publicity.
West - One thing i have to say is that, unlike the TV producers from the East, the West can only think of reality drama like ‘Laguna Beach’. And they say it’s all true! Haha, like which 19 year old wants her life broadcast on live TV? Oh wait, don’t answer that…..
Yesterday i was watching ‘My Super sweet 16′ on MTV. God, i swear i’ve never seen a more spoilt brat before!! She makes plan for her party, only inviting the most popular students! She even disses her friends because they weren’t cool enough. Obviously she wants an all exclusive party. Then she picks out a car as a present (her father is into the oil business) and the reason she picks out a brand new BMW 5 series is because the sun visor in the drivers seat has a slide-open mirror. Not like she cares that it’s a BMW 5 SERIES!!! Her party theme is medieval times, and she has an open tent in a shape of a castle in an open field. She makes her entrance via a helicopter. When she steps out of the copter, she air kisses the camera and turns to her beloved audience……. *Cricket*….. everyone’s still in the tent, further down the field. HAHAHHAHAHAHA…….. she whines and throws a tantrum before her Cinderella-ish Carriage drives her to the tent. Gosh….. she was screaming at her mom on the cellphone to get everyone out!!! That’s a princess for u. She has a good time (she better have, for what her father’s paying!) and in the end, a boy asks her if he can date her. They kiss and ride off into the night, with a warning to be back at midnight from ol’ trusty rich dad. A typical Disney princess story, turned ugly in the modern century. I have to applaud MTV for creating a show for show us how the other ‘better’ half lives. And no, don’t get me started on Channel V’s Parental control…….
Ah, lastly the movies (yes after this u can go back to whatever you’re doing in your own busy lives)
East - Well, can’t say much once again as i hardly watch chinese movies. We have ur normal comedy, thriller, horror types. The comedy is really funny, usually described with a dysfunctional family. Thriller is usually boring, and typical with gangsters and police stories of kidnappings and ransoms. Not much of terrorism. Horror…… hmmm…. weird i can’t remember ever watching horror films. I remember the ‘Mr Vampire’ trilogy, but that was a more comedy film with a horror setting.
West - It’s getting a bit of the different touch. Like hello, we’ve a magician movie!!! How uncommon is that??? The west has managed to incorporate all the types into 1 movie. We have comedy, thriller and romance into 1!!! Added with a setting of dance, wild wild west, or modern age and that’s hollywood. It’s really 2 different world of movies, East and West. So i shall leave it at that. We’re all happy, non overly-critical people.
Yes it’s the end of the entry….. u can go back to your lives. Peace out! Hehe…..
