Go GREEK for God's sake!

Monsters and beasts never looked so cool ! The recent onslaught of movies like PERCY JACKSON & THE LIGHTNING THIEF + CLASH OF THE TITANS 2010 remake are but a couple of the latest offerings in tribute to Greek mythology.

Eye candy from the 2010 remake of Titans include Gemma Arterton http://www.gemma-arterton.net/ , who first caught my eye in Bond’s 2008 remake-Quantum of Solace. Even though she only had about 5 mins on screen as one of Bond’s agent girls, she made a deep impression here with her rubenesque-like beauty portraying the wise and beautiful Io (cursed with agelessness after rejecting a God’s advances) and romantic interest to Perseus. A perfect contrast of vulnerability to the tough heroes in their quest of the titans, she outshines co-star Alexa Davalos (Princess Andromeda) hands down with her asymmetrically draped costumes designed by award winning Lindy Hemming.

The film’s version of Medusa is also by far the sleekest and most beguiling version so far. This serpentine rendition is swift as the wind. And its lair makes for one of the best arenas for a 3D gamer. One that tests the agility of your senses and speed of response with its labyrinth-like ruins, made so precarious that victims free fall to smithereens from one careless glance at the deadly stare of Medusa. ( ps: their heads amazingly kept intact for the big screen to identify which warrior has succumbed to her deadly gaze) Do we? Mere mortals ever find the MEDUSA in our lives to kill that dreaded and seemingly invincible beast of our worst nightmares? Every hero in the legends seem to have used Medusa’s powers one way or another, alas its rattlesnake tail always the dead giveaway to its own demise. An elusive creature so adept at archery but yet reduced to its beastly state under the wrath of another beauty’s jealousy. A woman’s hatred is indeed far more dangerous than the venom of the most poisonous creatures. Check out this link for videos of 1981’s version of Medusa versus the CGI 2010 version in Clash of the Titan’s & Uma Thurman’s rendition in Percy Jackson & The Lightning Thief. http://blogs.wsj.com/speakeasy/2010/03/27/clash-of-the-titans-medusa-is-ready-for-her-close-up/tab/article/

Serpentine beasts have always brought out the dark and mysterious side in mythological epics. Used to good effect in other films like Harry Potter. How about a game of “Snakes and ladders” in the next movie? This game somewhat makes a most befitting metaphor for the dirty game of politics in the corporate world? Maybe a life sized version for a theme park will make team building activities. Other creepy crawlies that make our hair stand include scorpions, centipedes & slimy toads which never fail to bring up the “eek” factor for viewers !!!

Pegasus(winged horses) and Hermes’s winged slippers are also one of the few godly gifts that many desire and long to behold. Flight empowers its beholder freedom at will and thus makes it the perfect antidote to the oppressing dark powers of the underworld.

Hell is sort of cool to behold in these 2010 remakes, with hell's gateway strategically located right in the heart of Hollywood sign, a glittering highway of lost dreams floating below Percy Jackson’s hell ride and the amazing hell boat in the Titans.

I am looking forward to a whole wave of mythological inspired theme parties complete with accessories, furnishings, fashion to match! Beat the heat with that Grecian inspired draped dress and sandals. Just check out these lovely creations from OCT 2009 GIVENCHY. And how about naming your favourite pets after these Greek legends. Hermes for your Chihuahua, Athena for your pet robin and Poseidon for your pet turtle. Go on and have fun!Its cool to be “GREEKalicious” for a change this season!

BYOB i/o MYOB

It's in to be GREEN! Well, many a naysayer will probably tell me to MYOB (mind your own business) on any eco=friendly effort. For the record, I am no hardcore eco-enthusiast. Just your average plain jane, bludgeoned daily by the numerous "green efforts" campaigns and taglines from big brands cashing in on this new wave of eco-consumerism!

I recall in my high school days when recycling efforts were already in the pipeline, only to see more concrete plans more than a decade later materialise in the form of public campaigns and better designed recycling bins in the town areas. Let's face it! Modern day conveniences inevitably create more by-product waste from the use-and-throw amenities we all need daily. Using them is not a crime but the problem arises when they are not recycled properly in the garbage dumps (coz everyone just dumps everything together without seperating the trash properly) ! Let's touch on this touchy topic in another blog post for brevity's sake.

The BYOB ( bring you own bag) movement is not new and already a common practice in neighbouring asian countries like taiwan, seoul and japan. To drive the message home further, shoppers are charged a minimal amount for the plastic or paper bag along with every purchase. Though nothing you can't afford, every little cent adds up, unfortunately like the amount of plastic bags endlessly clogging up landfills and oceans, decimating precious marine animals and wildlife worldwide.

When I visited Seoul & Japan in 2008, I got into the habit of bringing foldable cloth bags that weigh next to nothing when i went shopping. One simple act like this actually saved myself from accumulating close to a dozen shopping bags for a full day's retail therapy. Not only that, it probably saved up enough pennies for a good ol' cup of kopi-o or teh-si to recharge after a gruelling shopping bonanza. Not too bad a bargain considering the tiny,tiny effort it takes to just throw in a foldable pocket-sized eco-bag into your handbag before you hit the stores.

Ever since, BYOB for me has become such a habit that I get extra peeved at myself whenever I fall short of my trusty reusable bag (eg. on days when i leave the house hands free without my usual carryall , eg. lunch break at work, grabbing a quick breakfast on the weekends, on my morning walks,etc.. ) Every umpteenth time I get to tell the supermarket/bookstore cashier smugly " I don't need a bag", it brings on a wave of triumphant euphoria followed by bemused looks from the cashier. I admit this cheap thrill is getting quite addictive and what a great way to put a spring in your step when you leave the stores "one plastic or paper bag lesser" ? Cashiers in Singapore are still all too ready to whip out a plastic bag and seconds to double them up for heavy items. High time to re-train that muscle reflex!

Durable and reusable bags are aplenty with savvy retailers dishing out reusable carriers for your precious purchases. Should you prefer non-logo emblazoned bags, take your pick from a wonderful selection going from as cheap as S$2 at DAISO outlets islandwide, to the chi-chi versions touted by brands like MOTTERU, ECOBAGS. The fashionably hip need not despair. Grab some one-of -kind versions from the likes of vegetable dyed earth toned stringy versions sold at WOODWOULD or quirky,designer assembled eco-friendly versions fashioned out of discarded sailcloths/newspapers/metal cans peddled on crafty sites like ETSY (check out Ella Vickers) .

Go on and reap the benefits that "BYOB" brings! The feel good factor that follows only serves to extend the the adrenalin rush that retail therapy brings! What's more? For the recessionistas out there, when your eco bag is looking overstuffed, it makes for a great wake up call to call it quits on the day's shopping spree! What a great reminder not to burst your budget, don't you think? Happy shopping everyone!

Mr Perfect - OST blues

The recent holiday stretch over the chinese new year holidays presented the perfect opportunity for a moviethon. Romance comedies rank high on a girl's movie list so there I was, running through my DVD collection of asian and foreign movies to while the hot day away. Coming across my all-time favorite movie (Seducing Mr Perfect) starring on screen eye candies like Daniel Henney & Uhm Jung Hwa ( a quick search on facebook will point you to their numerous fan sites). The plot is typical girl meets boy romance but updated with a modern twist albeit posh locations and a slick wardrobe for the cast amidst witty dialogue. The OST (original sound track) was what lingered on long after the movie ended its run on the pc... a jazzy mix of uptempo classics that make you feel like prancing around Frank Sinatra style and mushy ballads that tug at your heartstrings in those pensive moments. Alas this soundtrack is completely sold out in Korea and S'pore despite several nights of online searching. My last hope of downloading it from the kdramaqueen blogspot site were also dashed with recent improvements to the K-drama fanatics site making downloading impossible.

I wouldn't even mind purchasing a second hand copy of this album. Can any kind soul who comes across this blog entry, kindly point me in the right direction, pretty please ? For now, I shall enjoy the limited tracks available via this link until I can get my hands on this OST!

http://www.myspace.com/seducingmrperfect