FINALLY...BE@RBRICK

Ten years after it all started, Beabrick Series 20 was released end of June 2010. As my close friends know, I have only collected SCI-FI ones from Series 1-19 (with only 2 exceptions so far) and never bought any "secret" version. However, S20 has blown me away and I bought quite a few more than I intended to.

Specifically, the S20 ANIMAL is the adorable Gizmo from the 1984 movie "Gremlins", and the "secret" version is the scary Stripe. In the movie, Gizmo's new owner Billy broke the all three rules: 1) No water - it multiples; 2) No food after midnight - it turns evil; and 3) No bright light - it would die (but guess it was necessary at the end to kill all the bad gremlins). It's funny and scary at the same time, and plus Phoebe Cates plays Billy's girlfriend. I must have seen it at least 5 times.

Looking at the photo, you know why I just HAVE TO get them...

WHO'S THAT GIRL, PART 2

You know whom I am talking about... and, this is not really a follow-up of my previous blog, but an effort to comfort any Madonna fan that might have been "annoyed". Ha!

Ever since her self-titled debut album in 1983, Madonna has certainly made a name for herself, not only as a singer, but also as a writer, an actress (well...) and a business woman, among other roles. I have to admit that I wasn't that into her music or performance style at the start. In fact, I didn't become interested in her music until her third album "True Blue" (1985). I liked more than half the songs in that album, and I wasn't even a fan then.

Over the past 25+ years, Madonna has displayed her talents as a singer and as an entertainer. She is bold, not afraid to express herself and is always full of surprises. Change is the only constant in her. You might not like what you see, but you are never bored by Madonna.

This week I just bought her latest 2-CD album "Celebration" (36 songs) as well as the DVD set (38 videos). Although I did own quite a few of her album CDs, I have never bought her music DVDs. So it's a big treat for me. I thoroughly enjoy both, and it's really not that expensive (NT$999 before discount, or about US$30), considering all the great songs and videos you are getting. I highly recommend them!

Oh, by the way, did I mention that Madonna is a Leo, just like me!?!

P.S. I thought Madonna gives good to outstanding performance in most of her music videos. How come she sucked in most of her movies???

WHO'S THAT GIRL

No. I am not going to talk about that 1987 movie starting Madonna.

No. I am talking about the deja vu feeling I often gets nowadays (due to old age) when I see a movie/TV actor or actress on the big/small screen but just can't recall his/her name. Don't you just hate that?

That's when this website comes in handy. It's the "Internet Movie Database" - http://www.imdb.com/. It provides all the details of any movie/TV-series that you don't even want to know. BUT, if you are having trouble remembering someone's name you see on TV or the big screen, this is the right place for you.

It also lets the users of this website to vote for the movies/TV programs they have seen - from the scale of 1 (worst) to 10 (best). As of today, the No. 1 movie in IMDB, with a score of 9.1, is "The Shawshank Redemption". By the way, "Who's That Girl" only scored 4.0. Guess the charm of music queen does not extend to the big screen.

THE CHRONICLES OF NARNIA: PRINCE CASPIAN - "THE CALL"

Went to see the movie "The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian" one Friday evening last month. The movie is quite entertaining as I watched Peter, Susan, Edmund & Lucy returned to Narnia and aided Prince Caspian in his struggle for the throne against his corrupt uncle King Miraz.

The music is also very fitting. In particular, the song "The Call", written and performed by Regina Spektor (I have to admit that I didn't know who she is until I heard the song), totally captures the essence of the movie - the melody, the lyrics & Ms. Spektor's voice all come together to form a perfect song. If you have seen the movie, you would know what I mean.

IT REALLY MOVES ME!!!

To listen to the song on YouTube: http://tw.youtube.com/watch?v=7qRPURWXfA4

And I am also sharing the lyrics with you...

It started out as a feeling
Which then grew into a hope
Which then turned into a quiet thought
Which then turned into a quiet word

And then that word grew louder and louder
'Til it was a battle cry

I'll come back
When you call me
No need to say goodbye

Just because everything's changing
Doesn't mean it's never
Been this way before

All you can do is try to know
Who your friends are
As you head off to the war

Pick a star on the dark horizon
And follow the light

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When it's over
No need to say good bye

Now we're back to the beginning
It's just a feeling and no one knows yet
But just because they can't feel it too
Doesn't mean that you have to forget

Let your memories grow stronger and stronger
'Til they're before your eyes

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye

You'll come back
When they call you
No need to say good bye