A Million Dreams of The Greatest Showman

"Every night I lie in bed, the brightest colours fill my head. A million dreams are keeping me awake..."

Yes, dreams - they keep people awake. Dreams are the reason why we have sleepless nights, but they are also the thrust that keeps us going and awake under all circumstances. 

The lyrics sang through the heart of millions, who had millions of dreams waiting to come true. 

It all started from a random online search for an upcoming musical film. I enjoyed La La Land so much that I was in search for the next La La Land to amaze me. Then, topping the list of upcoming musical films was The Greatest Showman, marketed to be a musical biopic. That was when I watched the trailer. It didn't tell us much about the titular character P. T. Barnum, but the music (The Greatest Show) was an ear-catcher. And that's the one time I hoped Christmas came sooner. 

And finally, I got to watch The Greatest Showman in the theaters and I only had one word for it...

Wow.... just wow!

The Synopsis

The Greatest Showman is a story loosely based on the life of Phineas Taylor Barnum (P. T. Barnum) who was known as the pioneer of show business. Having gone through a poor and underprivileged childhood, a teenage Barnum decides to follow his dreams of becoming a successful showman. After marrying his childhood sweetheart, Barnum struggles to support his family of four, especially after he was laid off by his employer. Barnum then decides that it's time for him to live his dreams and he believes that if his dreams are fulfilled, he will be able to support his family. The story continues with Barnum's journey to becoming "the greatest showman" coupled with the trials and tribulations he has to experience before his dreams can finally be fulfilled. 

The Story

I know what the critics have been saying - while many applaud the movie for the cast and the music, the fact that the movie was not "biographically accurate" is one of the many reasons the critics did not certify it fresh. 

I beg to differ though, the movie was meant to be a loose adaptation of Barnum's life. If you would recently read about the actual Barnum, he was not a nice man indeed. But if you look at those stories from a different perspective, those "unusual people" could finally stand in the lights all thanks to Barnum. Despite the fact that they were mistreated by Barnum, I believe they were happier than they used to. I mean, who loves to be invincible? Who loves to be hid? No one, literally no one. In fact, by uniting all the unusual people, or the "outcast", people have or will soon come to realisation that they are not "unusual",  they are no much different from the rest of us. And that's what this movie's all about - embracing our differences and celebrating humanity.

So, I hereby certify The Greatest Showman 100% fresh on the Gerald-o-meter for the outstanding moral values embedded in this amazing movie.

The Music

Even though the movie was set in the 1800s, the songs and music were generally of the pop genre. While the music of the songs helped to keep audiences engaged to the movie, the lyrics of every single song in the soundtrack was accurately written to enhance the mood of the characters as the story continued on. Individually, the songs were wonderful to the ears and meaningful to the heart. Golden Globe winner "This Is Me" was no doubt a crowd favourite but I was very fond of "The Other Side" for its upbeat music since weeks before the movie released in the theaters. Before watching the movie, the soundtrack was already looping in my playlist; after watching the movie, I couldn't seem to get over how the lyrics of the songs were so accurate in depicting, not only the lives of the characters, but also the lives of all dreamers out there. And that adds another song to my list of favourites - "A Million Dreams".

The Cast

Jackman and Settle in The Greatest Showman

Needless to say, the cast did a tremendous job in portraying their respective roles. Hugh Jackman and Keala Settle stood out among the rest in my opinion. Jackman is always the right man for a movie musical. Dubbed (by me) as the male counterpart of legendary musical actress Julie Andrews. Jackman's charming personality was a perfect fit for the titular role. Acting in a musical film is technically what he does best. Think I am only one who thinks so? Well, at least the Golden Globe nomination committee agrees with me. 

Besides Barnum, Lettie Lutz, the bearded lady was my favourite character. The character is there to represent the minorities of all minorities - being a woman, a black, an obese and an unusually bearded person all at the same time. Settle's big showdown was her performance in the musical number "This Is Me", and really, I was so affected by her stellar performance that I could actually feel the pain and the desires of the "unusual" wanting or hoping to be accepted by the "usual" bunch. 

The Verdict

100% on the Gerald-o-meter and the #1 movie musical of 2017. A set of excellent cast paired with a series of marvelous musical numbers, the movie gives audiences a different perspective of the life of P. T. Barnum, The Greatest Showman of all time. 

The Greatest Showman is a movie no one in the world should miss. Catch it now at your nearest cinemas before it's too late!

Ed's note: Rumours say that there may be a special sing-along screening of the movie coming soon to Malaysian cinemas. Pray hard, peeps!

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Animated Feature of the Year: Coco (Spolier-free Review)

When I first chanced upon the theatrical trailer of Disney Pixar's Coco, I was excited to see how the story would unfold. Upon knowing it was going to be an animated musical film, my excitement doubled, especially after hearing bits of the film's music in the trailer. When I finally got to watch Coco in the cinemas, I was awestruck. And I can tell you, the long wait and anticipation was worthwhile!

Cr: Pixar Animation Studios

The Synopsis

Coco tells a story about a boy (named Miguel Rivera) from Mexico who loves music but his family refuses to accept music due to their century-long feud. Things start to stir up when Miguel steals the guitar of long-dead musical legend Ernesto De La Cruz so that he could perform at the music festival. Little did he know that his act of stealing could lead him to the Land of the Dead. The story continues with his exploration and adventures in the Land of the Dead while he seeks to find his blessings from his deceased great-great grandfather, which he believes to be Ernesto De La Cruz, so that he could find his way back to the Land of the Living before he becomes dead.

The Animation

The film once again proved Pixar to be one of the greats in computer animation. The vibrant colours and the detailed rendering of their characters amazed audiences worldwide. The skeletons (the dead people) were a tad bit scary at first but with time (and a few "hilarious" jokes), they looked tender, just like humans. 

The Music

The music is nothing less than awesome. With a pinch of Latin in most of the songs, including one written by the Oscar-winning team (Andersen-Lopez) who won their Oscar for Frozen's Let It Go, the songs were an impeccable fit to the movie. The title song Remember Me has three renditions in the movie, and two modern interpretations by pop singers Miguel (coincidence, really) and Inigo Pascual (yes, a Filipino). And trust me, the song will be stuck your head for weeks after watching movie - it was addictive, and meaningful at the same time. 

My favourite interpretation of the song, you ask? Watch the video above.

[Ed's note: They released a Spanish soundtrack too! Check them out in iTunes, Apple Music and Spotify]

The Story and its Production

With the story revolving around the folklore behind the Mexican holiday Dia de Muertos (Day of the Dead), its cheerful interpretation of the holiday was an eye-opener for those who never heard about the celebration (like me). For the story set in the country of Mexico, Disney made the effort to cast voice actors with a Latin descent and wow, that did miracles to the movie! Not only the script incorporated various Spanish words and phrases, the voice actors sounded very convincing as Mexicans - even their singing sounded Mexican! And I just realised that the character Hector (a friend Miguel met in the Land of the Dead) is voiced by the same person in both the English and the Spainsh-dubbed version. That's not a fun fact, it's a wow fact!

For most Disney movies, the message is always to "follow your dreams". Coco's message may seemed no different at first look. However, as the movie approached its climax, audiences would realised that the story mainly emphasised on the theme of "family" and "music" with the message of "following dreams" tailing behind, making this movie more meaningful than ever.

The Cast

Miguel and his dog, Dante (Cr: Youtube - Coco's Teaser Trailer)

While all casts did an excellent job in portraying their respective roles, I have to commend 12-year-old actor Anthony Gonzalez for his flawless performance as Miguel Rivera. The singing and vocals were all perfect. In fact, I think he deserves an Annie Award for this (Hello Annie Award's judging panel, can you hear me?).

The Verdict

A ten out of ten! This animated feature surpasses its Disney and Disney Pixar's predecessors such as Frozen, Moana and Toy Story for its excellent interpretation of the famous Mexican culture. This movie secures a confirmed nomination for Oscar 2018's Best Animated Feature. Oh wait, I think we already have a winner!

Coco opens in Malaysian cinemas on 23 November, 2017. Catch it now before it's too late!

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SA2017SG: And The Winner Is....

It is the time of the year again, where we review and award the performances by talented actors and actresses from Singapore in 2016. The Star Awards ceremony has a change of format this year. Instead of having two live shows in the past, it now has four (three are like preludes, with one main show)! With most of the backstage awards such as Best Director, Best Variety Producer and so on given out in the past three preludes, we are left with the main awards - highly anticipated Best Leading and Supporting Actor and Actress, Best Programme Host, Best Drama, Best Variety Programme, Best Theme Song, Best Evergreen Artiste, Rocket Award and the Top 10 Most Popular Male and Female Artist.

This time round we are trying to place our stakes on Drama related awards only as it would be unfair for us to judge Variety related awards without watching all the variety shows.

BEST ACTOR 最佳男主角

We say: Andie Chen as He Daxian (If Only I Could...)

When we first started watching If Only I Could, we could not take our eyes away from Rui En's transformation into a fat, haggard Ahjumma, who was diagnosed with breast cancer. But when Andie came into action, his portrayal as the good-for-nothing husband of Rui En is surreal. Sometimes, one look into his eyes is all you need to know what he is trying to say. There is just so much feels in his acting that I don't call it acting anymore! Without any lovey dovey scenes, we could actually sense his love towards his wife - only with gestures and eye contact. That when we know, yes - he is up for Best Actor. And now, yes - he is gonna win it!

The odds: 2/3

Dark Horse: Chen Hanwei as Zhang Naiping (The Gentlemen)

The King of Transformation is up for the run again. This time, he is running with the irritating machismo Zhang Naiping. Well, many may say that the character is flat by nature, in which I have to agree, but you have to admit that you enjoyed his performance as a male chauvinist who ended up working as a nanny and finally, starting his business in providing confinement meals to post-pregnancy ladies. If there is one word to describe his portrayal, I would say "natural". Plus, the competition wasn't too tough in this category. So really, who else but the four-time Best Actor winner.

The odds: 4/1

The Media's Choice is Shaun Chen for his portrayal of a smart and intellectual gangster. We are pretty much enough with his gangster portrayal. Though it's pretty much different from his award-winning character Zhang Jia, Fada is still a gangster. And, we are not surprised by his performance.

The odds: 17/3

The other nominees of this category are:

Pierre Png as Zhang Nailiang (The Gentlemen)

Zhang Zhenhuan as Zhang Lixing (The Dream Job)

BEST ACTRESS 最佳女主角

We say: Rui En (If Only I Could...)

As mentioned, our eyes are glued to Rui En's take as an aunty in If Only I Could. If Andie won his first Best Actor award tonight, then Rui En should definitely take home her third. Why? Because an actor excellence depends on their co-actors as well as themselves. Rui En put on weight, took off her make up and shed lots of tears for this drama, and I know for sure, her sacrifices are worth it. Why, because. Her acting has been elevated to another level. And that means, she should win her third Best Actress award.

The odds: 3/7

Dark Horse: Rebecca Lim (You Can Be An Angel 2)

Rebecca may seem very so-so as a nurse manager in You Can Be An Angel 2, but the twist of her story comes in when her son dies of electrocution. And soon after, she lost her unborn baby. The mixed emotions she had, while arguing with her screen husband (portrayed by Bryan Wong) is definitely Best Actress worthy, but of course, not as worthy as Rui En in this case.

The odds: 17/3

The Media's Choice is none other than the Queen of Mediacorp, Zoe Tay! We admit she is good in her work as the nurse manager who was diagnosed with breast cancer, but she is the Ah Jie for a reason. She is excellent in every single character she portrays. The only reason why she may lose out this time round is because of the more sophisticated backstory her competitors' characters have. But still, she has a chance no doubt!

The odds: 9/1

The other nominees of this category are:

Jeanette Aw as Cheng Huishan (The Dream Job)

Jesseca Liu as Zhang Weixiong (Hero)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR 最佳男配角

We say: Andie Chen as Ou Jin'guang (Hero) [also Media's Choice!]

Bowl-shaped haircut and and a blurry face together with his slow speech, 'nuff said - he is no doubt the winner. In fact, no one in this category comes even close to snatching the award from him. His portrayal as the kind and slow (and sometimes foolish - in a good way) Jin Guang is no doubt one of his best ever. Jin Guang has become one of his top representative pieces after 10 years of acting. So judges, keep your eyes open and give him the award!

The odds: 3/17

Dark Horse: Ian Fang as Lin Zijie (The Dream Job)

Alright, we have to admit that Ian has the bad boy look so his portrayal as the good-for-nothing Zijie is really convincing. He is not exactly a "bad boy", he is just an adult who acts like a child. In other words, he is just a spoiled brat, and guess what, Ian spoiled himself really well for this drama, and so, he is next in line for this award.

The odds: 9/1

The other nominees of this category are:

Romeo Tan as Tim Goh (The Dream Job)

Chen Shu Cheng as Chuang Dexian (Fire Up)

Jeffrey Xu as Lu Xiaoqiang (Peace and Prosperity)

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS 最佳女配角

We say: Paige Chua as Ou Jinxuan (Hero) [also Media's Choice!]

Paige gave us a jaw drop when she portrayed a money-minded sister of Jin'guang. She played around with Chen Hanwei's feelings and always dream of marrying a rich man. After many attempts to achieve her dreams, she ended up giving up life. That's when you will see the goddess-like Paige in her worst form. Untidy hair, no makeup, dirty and lifeless - that's the Paige you will see. What a breakthrough I would say - and a breakthrough deserves an award.

The odds: 1/4

Dark Horse: Pan Lingling as Xiao Jiahui (Hero)

We can't help to emphatise Ling Ling's character Jiahui when she started to lose her memory and recalls only the past whenever asked after she lost her husband (whose death is partly caused by her onscreen son - portrayed by Ian Fang). When we watched her performance in Hero, we are so sure that she will be nominated in this category and so she did! And she, may have a chance to win her second Best Supporting Actress award for her portrayal as a pitiful daughter and mother-in-law.

The odds: 9/1

The other nominees of this category are:

Bonnie Loo as Guan Meimei (Hero)

Aileen Tan as Huang Lili (Hero)

Ya Hui as Wu Xixi (House of Fortune)

BEST THEME SONG 最佳主题曲

We say: 年轮 from The Dream Job

This year we have a pretty tough time predicting the winner of this category. Thankfully, our mum was there to help us decide and after a series of "discussion", we have decided that the theme song from The Dream Job fits the bill. Soothing and much feels are the only words we could think of to describe this song. And not to mention, it was performed by one of the best Singaporean songwriter Jim Lim and OST Queen Sing Chew - what's more to ask really?

The odds: 1/1

Dark Horse: 吃饱没 from Eat Already

Jiak, jiak, jiak, Jiak ba buey - a catchy song that could easily make everyone moves their feet and body without fail. Who else but the trio who sang this wonderful Hokkien tune if the award was not given to the previously mentioned?

The odds: 7/3

The other nominees of this category are:

最美的时光 from If Only I Could...

天使 from You Can Be An Angel 2

人生无所畏 from Life Fear Not

BEST DRAMA 最佳电视剧

We say: Hero 

This drama is a neighbourhood drama in which it brings viewers into the hearts of Dakota Crescent's citizens. The drama is close to the hearts of the people, with many A-list actors and actresses casted. This drama managed to showcase the acting chops of Andie Chen, Paige Chua and Bonnie Loo and scored the most nominations in this years awards show. So, we are definitely not surprised if it wins Best Drama.

The odds: 1/1

Dark Horse: The Dream Job 

This drama is the mid-year blockbuster of 2016 and it was also led by A-listers and also Hong Kong based Singaporean actor Hugo Ng. The winning point of this drama is its refreshing story line. It may seemed like the typical "family feud" drama but in reality, its a touching drama which brings out the best and worst of people during desperate situations. This is why we think it is the dark horse of this category.

The odds: 3/2

The other nominees of this category are:

You Can Be An Angel 2

Fire Up

C.L.I.F. 4

That's the end of our predictions - let's just wait and see how much of our bets would bear fruit!

Watch Star Awards 2017 LIVE on Channel 8 Singapore and Astro Shuang Xing (CH307 & CH324) Malaysia!

Star Awards 2017 - Walk of Fame

Time: 5:30 PM 

Singapore Channel 8

Malaysia Astro On The Go

Star Awards 2017 - Main Show

Time: 7:00 PM

Singapore Channel 8

Malaysia Astro On The Go & Astro Shuang Xing

Reliving Your Teens: K-Drama Review - Twenty Again

To the people who were years away from their early twenties, have you ever thought of going back to the day you first started college? Or maybe, have you ever thought of regaining those unbelievably strong energy you had within you years ago? 

While most of us of the current generation are lucky enough to live the life we wanted, our parents (and grandparents) don't seem to have the same privilege. We have the choice to go to college and choose our own desired major. What more is that quite a number of us are lucky enough to not worry about the costs. 

Our parents, on the other hand, had a life which is the exact opposite of ours. Going to college is not a matter of "do I want to or do I not want to", it's actually a matter of "can I or can I not" - and no, I am not only talking about academic excellence here. Some of our parents may have excelled in their college entrance exams but ended up not going to college. Why? Because they have to sacrifice the opportunity to further their study for something they deem as more important.

It's been a long time since I sat down and watch my Korean dramas. The list keeps going on but I have no time to enjoy them (same goes to my books - I try not to remind my Mum how many books I have on my shelf, unread). And recently, I decided to invest my precious time into something I really enjoyed and from a random list of downloaded dramas, I chose tvN's <Twenty Again>, and trust me when I say this - it was the best choice I have ever made in the past year!

tvN's <Twenty Again> OST Poster Cover (Photo Credit: Google)

Brief Synopsis 

This romantic comedy stars Choi Ji Woo, the star who caught her fame in famous melodrama <Winter Sonata>, as the main lead of this drama - Ha No Ra. No Ra is the 38-year-old mother of a 20 year-old and the wife of a university professor. Her husband filed for divorce on the grounds of "inability to communicate". Therefore, with hopes to save her marriage, she decides to enroll herself for the national college entrance examinations. She eventually got a spot at Woochun University, the same university her son got into. What's worse is that her husband has transferred to Woochun University as well - coincidence much huh.

When both her husband and son got to know the news, they strongly disagree with her attending university, especially when they are all going to the same university. However, when No Ra was mistakenly diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, she decides to attend university - as it was one of the items in her newly-written bucket list. 

Ha No Ra's "College Look" (Photo Credit: Google)

The story goes on to depict how a 38-year-old fits into the social circle of the 20-year-olds. This was when she (and I) started to realise how different are the mindsets between people of two generations. Oh not to mention, she met her childhood sweetheart, Cha Hyun Suk (played by Lee Sang Yoon) while studying - but now, as her Theater Studies lecturer. 

Ha No Ra and Cha Hyun Suk reminiscing the old days with a song they both used to love (Photo Credit: Google)

Overall Verdict

I shall not let out further details - what I can tell you is that the two are going to bicker like any other characters in rom-coms. But what I can assure you is, this drama is worth your 16 hours. For those who are born before the 80s, you will find Ji Woo's interpretation of No Ra really palpable. As for those who are born after, it's time to understand the inner thoughts and desires (not in a bad way) of your elders.

After finishing this meaningful drama, I have been doing a lot of thinking. Though I am currently still in my early twenties, I have so many items pending in my bucket list, and time is running so fast that I am hitting 24 very soon. I have yet to publish my very own book,; I have yet to watch a musical in Broadway; I have yet to get involved in a theatrical or TV production (whether acting or producing) and there is so much more I would like to do. Most of the items in my bucket list are pretty much related to literature, music and drama. If not, why else did I start this blog? - it's because "writing to connect" is my passion, and it's a passion I would never forgo for another.

Ratings:

Casting and Acting: 9/10

Story and Screenplay: 10/10
Setting and Background: 9/10

Screen Direction: 9/10

Overall Performance: 9.5/10.0 - A MUST WATCH!

Long Long Time Ago.. (Movie Review + Write Up)

Long Long Time Ago 2 Theatrical Poster

Long Long Time Ago, when Malaysia was Malaya…and Singapore was once part of us…those times we shared, those sweats we shed, are now just fond memories to the pioneer generation of both Malaysia and Singapore.

It was August 9, 1965 when Singapore exited Malaysia and became an independent country. However, despite having historical differences from that point onwards, both Singapore and Malaysia went through a few similar events, and one for sure is racial riots. 

That is kind of a never ending issue in most multiracial countries. It is actually not the cultural difference which caused the issue, it’s the unequal treatment given towards the different races (and I blame the politics). In fact, being a part of a multicultural country is a plus point – you get to learn many different languages and dialects, and not to mention, you would have adaptability towards other cultures.

Besides the modernisation, Singapore has also done better in terms of racial harmony compared to our humble country. This could be seen through the numerous Singaporean productions about their national history, where racial riots were mentioned but no chaos has arose. Things would have been different in Malaysia, anything racial sensitive would not be allowed in any productions, let alone getting into the national cinema. Even if it gets through, film makers are to expect some sort of trouble from the authorities. I wouldn’t say Singapore is perfect but it is way better than Malaysia in this term.

It was a few months ago when the first of the two-part Singaporean production Long Long Time Ago hit the Malaysian cinemas. Set in the mid-1960s, in the backdrop of the olden Singapore, I was surprised to see how the storywriter tied the stories of three major races in their country all together. Despite the mention of racial riots, and the elevation of cultural differences, the three families lived harmoniously throughout.

Theatrical poster for Long Long Time Ago 

The story revolves around a Chinese lady who was said to bring bad luck to her family. The story depicts the life of Zhao Di (Aileen Tan), the eldest daughter of a traditional Chinese household. Being a woman, her family thinks she is good-for-nothing, she would only be the burden to the family after being chased out of her husband’s family after his passing. Since then, Zhao Di has done almost everything she could to feed and to give her children a better life. Slowly, she gained her father’s trust but that was not long before he passed on. Her younger brother, Ah Kun (Mark Lee) has been a spoiled son since he was young.  Zhao Di has always been giving in to him despite his unreasonable behaviour. It was only until the end that he realises how great a sister she was, sacrificing all she had for the people around her. And unfortunately, when she was due to enjoy her life of happiness, she was contracted with cancer. As the show ends, she died peacefully knowing that her family would live a good life after they have gotten themselves a HDB flat upon the demolishment of their kampong.

Before I continue, I would like to commend all the casts for their wonderful chemistry and portrayals as their respective roles, especially Singaporean Mediacorp Actress Aileen Tan, who was given the role of Zhao Di. Zhao Di is described a strong woman with a soft spot and lots of emotions are involved in her character. And Aileen Tan brings up the role so well that I believe that no one could portray Zhao Di better than her… like really, no one!

The cast of Long Long Time Ago only speak their respective dialects, ranging from Hokkien, Teochew, Malay and even Tamil. This is part of the producers’ attempt to make this drama more relatable, and also, closer to the heart. And truth being said, they did it – the movie is not only relatable, it brought us laughter, it brought us to tears, and finally, it made us realise one thing – never wait until its’ too late.

With the movie’s mixed dialects, the film makers are attempting to reach multiracial audiences. They even placed subtitles in three different languages to suit audiences with different native languages. 

However, I am sad to report that it seems that the movie drew in mostly the Chinese audiences, rather than the rest. In fact, I have never seen any non-Chinese watching this movie in the Malaysian cinemas. I may be concluding too generally, as I lived in Penang, so I should not speak for the whole nation. But I dare say, at least 90% of the audiences who watch Long Long Time Ago are Chinese. I bet the same happened in Singapore as well.

I know the film has been taken down from the cinemas so it would be a little too late to ask all of you to give this movie a chance and catch it in the cinemas. But, I strongly recommend this movie to all Malaysians and Singaporeans, regardless of your racial backgrounds. I believe you would laugh your hearts out (and cry me a river) after watching it no doubt! The DVD for Long Long Time Ago Part 1 is now available in CD stores nationwide (such as Artist Gallery or Speedy) so quick, go grab a copy before it is sold out!

As an ending note, I have attached the music video for the film’s Theme Song <Our Memories> for your hearing pleasure.

Warning: The song is very addictive – and it may bring back your childhood (or kampong) memories J

If Only I Could... (Drama Review + Write Up)

At moments of regret, the most common phrase running in our minds is none other than “If only I could turn back time…”

The phrase, though too good to be true, is still commonly mentioned by every single person in the world…

But what if, you could actually turn back time?

In the time-travelling drama <If Only I Could>, the heroines were regretful at the choices they made to their lives. They believed that if they were given another chance, the present wouldn’t be that unfortunate, or at least, they may be living better lives.

Main Casts of If Only I Could...: (from left) Andie Chen, Rui En, Paige Chua, Elvin Ng

As they were merely complaining to one another, they never thought that their “wish” would actually came true. Well, they say God has eyes…and ears…so poof! They were both given a chance to change their life – a strange walkway brought them back to 10 years ago…year 2006…

This drama is by far the one of the best dramas I have seen in 2016 – as the moral of the story stands still throughout – there is NO TURNING BACK in life. Both their lives weren't better after the change - it turned worst in fact.

The characters in the drama were well developed. I especially liked the story of He Daxian and Chen Zhenhao, and not to mention, Andie Chen and Rui En did marvelously well in portraying He and Chen respectively. This drama made me shed tears…and most importantly, it made me realise how important it is to live life as it is.

After watching this drama, I have been thinking very hard – if I really had the chance to turn back time, how would things be different for me?

10 years back, I was 14, studying in Secondary 2. I was enjoying my life as a B-class student – with much contentment and satisfaction from my school life and my academics. Thinking back, I have no regrets in secondary school. My results were great and I will do nothing to change it. I had little friends – but those bonds were great and we are still in touch even now. Though there were minor issues I would like to rectify but I would take that as hardships I had to endure.

4 years from then, I was 18, stepping into college life. That was when my choices would differ. I would have opted for Sixth Form, instead of going into the Foundation programme of my alma mater Sunway University. And if I were to be in Sixth Form, I would have gone into the road not taken – I may have taken Math, Science or even Literature or Music, but one thing for sure is, Accounting would not in my list of choices.

But if I were to change my choice, Sunway University would no longer be my alma mater. That being said, the friends I have acquainted with during my 4-year study, would be strangers to me now. If they were to disappear from my life, it is really difficult for me to imagine how my life would be like. Yes, I would have a new bunch of friends, but would I be able to bond as closely to them as my friends now? Franking speaking, I am unsure of it myself.

Year 2014, I was 22. I graduated from my first degree and started my postgraduate studies then after. I have regrets during the year itself – there were some things I should do or wanted to do but I didn’t – due to my unnecessary hesitations; there were some things I shouldn’t do but I did it nevertheless – all because of my rash decision-making. But now, given a second chance, I would, no doubt, do what I wanted to do without hesitation and at the same time, stop myself from doing things I shouldn’t do. 2 years on until today, many choices were wrongly made and that had brought be regrets – and I would change those choices accordingly, since it’s my second chance.

Noting the huge number of changes I would make, especially in the past 6 years, what would future hold for me? Would I still be working in the company I am currently working at? Would I still be pursuing my postgraduate degree? Would I still be sitting here writing this review? And most importantly, would be future be for the better, or the worst?

All of you must be wondering lots about the “choices” and “regrets” I have made in the past few years of my life. Well, I will keep that as a secret for now – just to keep things interesting.

Now, let’s turn the table to you, yes you! If you can travel back in time to 2006, what would you change in the past 10 years of your life?

To end this article, I have attached the music video of the theme song of Singaporean drama <If Only I Could…> titled <The Best Moments of Life>, performed by Alfred Sim. The song would remind you to appreciate what you have, and accept the choices you have once made. Enjoy :)

Star Awards 2016: My Verdict

Time does fly as we are about to witness another ceremony which celebrates the achievements of the people who stood in front of our TV in past, and also, not to forget, those people who made it possible for the previously mentioned party to stand in front of our TV. Already in its 22nd installment, Mediacorp will be holding its annual awards ceremony in Theatre @ Mediacorp located at One Stars Avenue, which is Mediacorp's new home, for the very first time.

Mediacorp's new campus @ One-North

This year's awards marks many firsts as well as many lasts. Besides being the first annual awards ceremony held at their new campus, this is also their first time having the awards ceremony in three parts, one being closed while the other two airing live on TV. Unlike years 2010 to 2015, the heroes behind-the-scenes were awarded and have celebrated their year of honour in a separate closed ceremony in 2016. The remaining two parts of the ceremony will be fully utilised to give away 19 different awards. So this time round, we are expecting longer speeches from the winners - I hope they don't just turn off someone's microphone just because the show is going to overrun.

This is also the first year where veteran artistes will compete against each other to win the Best Evergreen Artiste Award. Nominees must be at least 50 years old and have a minimum of 25 years of acting experience in this field. In a few years, you will see Zoe Tay, Aileen Tan and Chen Han Wei in this category (Oops!). Though there were claims saying that this award was introduced just so that the younger actors can compete for the acting awards, it was clarified that nominees in this category will not be removed from the normal acting awards - as Chen Tian Wen is a great example for being nominated in both the Best Evergreen Artiste award and the Best Supporting Actor award.

The first nominees of the Best Evergreen Artiste Award

Having known all the firsts, it's time to reminisce about the lasts. This would be the last year for the ceremony to present the online categories which includes Favourite Male Character, Favourite Female Character and Favourite Onscreen Couple. So who would be the final recipient of the above awards? Let's just wait and see. Oh wait, did I mention that these awards will only be presented in the Post Show Party which will only be aired after the second part of the ceremony? Sad isn't it...now we have to wait even longer...urgh...

Okay enough storytelling, I guess you all know why I am writing this today. Like duh, I do this every single year - it's like part of my circle of life (like seriously). Without beating the bush (which I already had), let me share with you my guesses for this year's winners for the coveted awards...

Let's start of with the acting awards...here goes!

BEST ACTOR

We say: Christopher Lee as Yang Yi-wei (Crescendo)

Truthfully speaking, this category was always easier to predict. Though all nominees come from blockbusters (not to mention, one came from a long-running drama), Christopher's performance in Crescendo is a sure-win in comparison. Though many supported Qi Yuwu from the Dream Makers 2 (as Jason Lam), we really think that Yuwu's performance is good and natural but it was not to our surprise. Christopher managed to bring the story of Xinyao into all of our hearts, making us feel all the ups and downs a local musician would face in sustaining the originality of local music. Of course, he has his cast mates to thank. It is no doubt that Tay Pinghui, Darren Lim, Cynthia Koh, Ann Kok and Jacelyn Tay brought his character to life. All in all, among all the other nominees, we think he stands the highest chance.

Dark Horse: Chen Hanwei as Li Wei-liang (118)

Who else but Chen Hanwei? Like seriously, this guy has the ability to transform every character he portrays into he himself. Like seriously, you don't see Chen Hanwei in Hu Wei-ren (The Journey: Tumultuous Times), you see Hu Wei-ren in Chen Hanwei. Oh what was I talking about?! Anyway, you got my point right? So is this role getting Hanwei his fifth Best Actor Award? I would say... probably...

The other actors did well in their roles as well but needless to say they were not as outstanding as the above. Also, based on experience, the above were many years ahead of them. Like mentioned, Qi Yuwu was natural but there was a lack in surprise factor. Romeo Tan did a great job but this was his first nomination anyway so he has a long way to go. Shaun Chen? Sorry, Shaun; you did better last year.

BEST ACTRESS

We say: Jeanette Aw as Zhao Fei-er (The Dream Makers 2)

Okay, before anyone says that I am biased, I hereby admit that we are fans of Jeanette Aw. But tell me, who in the world wouldn't feel for Zhao Fei-er this time? Okay, not everyone thinks she is excellent but most people do think so. I really lost count the number of times I got worried for Jeanette herself while watching the drama. It was so real I thought she was actually depressed. Three scenes which caught my heart, you ask? 

• The scene where she was sitting in the bus and Jason leans on her shoulder. She was laughing and crying at the same time. 
• The scene where she started hallucinating about nonexistent negative comments and smashes the mirror with her award. Then, she finally broke down in front of her father. 
• The scene where she forcefully chased her sister Dong Zi-huai out of her house though her father tries to speak up for the latter. After her sister and father left, she screamed in desperation and disappointment - as no one in this world believes in her, even her closest kin. 

Well, her crying scenes were a handful but I also couldn't forget how cheeky she was whenever she was trying to tease Zhong Yi-ming (portrayed by Romeo Tan). With Jeanette's awesome transformation through the life of her character, I bet all my fortune for her to win this award this time. The judges' must have stamps on their eyes if she doesn't. Like seriously, give her the award already!

Dark Horse: Rui En as Fang Tong-lin (The Dream Makers 2)

Well, we all know that Tong-lin is Fei Er's biggest competitor in reel life; and not to your surprise, Rui En, no doubt, is Jeanette's greatest competitor as well. Rui En may have a "boring" start with all her usual funniness as the I-don't-care-what-you-think Tong-lin but the scene where she realised she was disfigured is definitely her turning point. She had a scream as well when she first saw her disfigured face and that scream may be her winning point. This was why I think she could be the next one to win - and this would her third Best Actress trophy if she really does.

What the other actresses are lacking of is mostly "character fluctuation". Zoe Tay did extremely well in her character as Zhou Wei-yun but did we mention that she actually did way better in The Dream Makers 1? And to be frank, we were very shocked when we did not see her in the list of nominees for Best Actress 2014. Her role this time was fairly plain, except for the scene where she met with a car accident, and also the time she was blamed by her nephew for indirectly killing his parents. Oh, and not to forget, the tears she shed whenever she was reminded about her deceased fiancee and unborn child were unforgettable. Ya Hui's nomination was pretty much expected as there was much to explore in her character in the long-form drama. She was a la-la noodle seller and later met her boyfriend who turned out to be the son of a typhoon's mistress. And finally, when life was getting well for her, she was diagnosed with brain cancer. With such a huge turn in her character, there is no doubt she is in the list but I for one thinks that she has much to improve - but I would give her a thumbs up for her work as I really think Hong Jin-zhi is one role which defines her career. Finally, newly crowned Best Actress Rebecca Lim was again nominated for a somewhat comedic role. I think she probably got nominated because her character lost the ability to lie. Truth to be said, it was amusing to watch the drama but at the same time I find it pretty normal and nothing was unexpected in her portrayal. So, I think she would not be grabbing her second trophy that soon.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR

We say: Chen Tian-wen as Zhang Tian-cheng (118)

In this category, it was really unexpected to see so many young nominees this year, though we did expect a few of them to be in this list. But, like the Chinese said 姜还是老的辣 (The older gingers are always spicier) so this time, our pick is none other than veteran actor Chen Tian Wen. His portrayal as Zhang Tian-cheng has definitely left an impression on us - as we almost lost count the number of times he made all of us so mad that we almost threw our shoes towards our 45-inch TV. However, we have to admit that his "Unbelievable" rising popularity had definitely contributed to our impression on his acting. He was a veteran, his acting has to have a certain level - it's just that we have never seen him as excellent until today. I dare say that Zhang Tian-cheng and Mr. Unbelievable (Eric Kuek) may be his most notable roles to date. Anyhow, good luck, Tian-wen! We are placing our bet on you!

Dark Horse: Andie Chen as Hong Dang-yong (The Journey: Our Homeland)

When Joanne Peh missed out her Best Actress nom for The Journey: A Voyage, I bet she was quite disappointed. But she managed to clinch the Best Supporting Actress award with her two-episode appearance in The Journey's sequel - The Journey: Tumultuous Times. Andie suffered the same fate as Joanne last year, where his portrayal as a member of the opposition party during the political riot during the sixties did not manage to capture the hearts of the judges (though it captured ours). So, his portrayal in the final installment of The Journey may be the turning point of Hong Dang-yong and hence, he may be the next in line for this coveted award.

As for the rest of the actors, we would like to commend Ian Fang and Zhang Zhen-huan. The former has managed to portray Mr Goody-Two-Shoes and a common salaryman in the workplace relatively well, which is quite a surprise for someone who is usually good portraying a rebellious teenager. Zhang Zhen-huan, on the other hand is always good in bringing the dark side out of the character he usually plays. Out of the 8 dukes, he is indeed most suited for heavily emotional roles, as he almost nailed it every time. But, that being said, nailing it and winning an award are two different aspects - you may nail your role but you may not win, because some others might be nailing theirs better than yours. But one day, it would be your turn, Zhen-huan, and I hope that day would not be too far from now. Finally, Edwin....err....sorry to say, but he is the least expected to be seen in this list. we even thought that his role is almost negligible. However, we can see the hard work he placed into this role and this role is definitely heavier than his previous roles. So no matter what, you deserve a pat on your back, Edwin.

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESS

We say: Julie Tan as Dong Zi-huai (The Dream Makers 2)

Finally, we have come to the award category which is most difficult to judge. Why? Because all of them are just too young - in terms of both age and acting capabilities. Most of them did not managed to show maturity in acting. Therefore, our pick for this category is Julie Tan, as the evil, scheming and mischievous Dong Zi-huai. Her acting was persuasive though lack of depth in my opinion. However, she still deserve the win among the rest as her role has the largest fluctuation in terms of story line and emotions. Plus, we would never forget how she drove her sister crazy with her scheming plans - it was just so heart-wrenching to see Fei-er being tortured and therefore her appearance always made me furious for no reason. And that's why Julie deserves to walk away with this award.

Dark Horse: Sheila Sim as Hong Shan-shan (118)

She may be a first time nominee but we admit it was definitely not easy to portray an easygoing (and dirty) lady who places her love life above all. And yes, her love line with Ah Niang (aka Lee Wei-liang, portrayed by Chen Han-wei) is very amusing and funny, and sometimes sweet. Given that the bad impression we had for her previous roles (especially her first role in I'm In Charge), we were really impressed with her performance in 118. Therefore, we think she would win this award if Julie doesn't. 

Among the five, Paige Chua is most experienced and there is no doubt that her acting abilities are a level higher than the rest. However, her nominated role is pretty much not helping her to the win - as it is plain and normal, unlike the above two. As for Carrie Wong, yes, her role as Ke-ai is challenging at some point, and she did well no doubt, but we have to say that something is still lacking in her portrayal, we just can't name it. Finally, Bonnie Loo, the weakest link in my opinion as we did not even think she would get nominated for this role at the first place, though we admit that her portrayal was good. The problem is not about her portrayal but about her character, it is perhaps a little dull compared to the rest.

BEST EVERGREEN ARTISTE

We say: Chen Tian-wen as Zhang Tian-cheng (118)

Is this the second time we call him a winner? Yes, it is - because, like mentioned, he did justice to the cunning Zhang Tian-cheng who turned over a new leaf at the end. As for the reasons why we chose him? Refer to the above under Best Supporting Actor.

Dark Horse: Hong Hui-fang as Lin He Xiang-niang (Good Luck)

Hui-fang's portrayal as the centenarian Xiang-niang was definitely up-to-bar. Having a 56-year-old to portray someone twice her age is definitely not easy but she just nailed it like nobody's business. We actually expected her to get nominated for Best Actress, but sadly she didn't. So, she shares an equal chance on winning this award. Well, she is a veteran; no role could beat her down.

As for the rest of the nominees, Chen Shu-cheng, Xiang Yun & Lin Mei-jiao - we have no words for their performances. Veterans have that aura in every role they portrayal. It's like, they are handling each role in such a light and easy manner. Truthfully speaking, the only reason why these three may not win this is their characters. Their roles are more "normal" than the above two, if you get what I mean.

YOUNG TALENT AWARD

We say: Damien Teo as Eden (The Dream Makers 2)

Is he going to win this award two years in a row? Yes, yes he is. He is a child but yet he is able to bring a role with so many different emotions so well. Imagine an adorable little boy who looks happy and cheeky on the outside, angry (of his mother) on the inside, but deep down, he has the desire to be loved and cared by his mother. If this role were to given to an adult - yea, it's doable. But for a child, it's a wow if he or she nails it and Damien just did it, again!

Dark Horse: Sun Yi-en as Viveka (118)

We can never forget how she irritates Uncle Niang (portrayed by Chen Han-wei) with her blunt yet harmless and naive comments. And not to mention, she always tried so hard to tell the whole world that her father loves Shan Shan (portrayed by Sheila Sim). Her portrayal is simple and sweet, and at the same time, unforgettable - and this, deserves a nod. Oh wait, I just realised that the trio got nominated in their respective categories and were all our dark horses. Will the newly-formed family in 118 emerge as victors of the ceremony? We'll see. 

BEST DRAMA

We say: The Dream Makers 2

Do we need to say more? From the excellent portrayals by the stellar cast, to the story line and finally, to the number of nominations this drama got in the year's awards ceremony - it is no doubt that The Dream Makers 2 would follow the footsteps of its predecessor to accept the highest honour in the awards for a drama series.

Dark Horse: Crescendo

The winning point of this drama is definitely the setting and its theme. Having its story to revolve around the local music industry, the drama has not only successfully brought back memories for the older generations, it has also enlightened the younger generation about the journey and evolution of Xinyao. With various A-listers playing the lead roles, and the variety of plot techniques used, I dare say that Crescendo was almost as addictive as mega blockbuster The Little Nyonya.

BEST THEME SONG

We say: Finally by Kit Chan (The Dream Makers 2)

Whenever you listen to this song, you could somehow recall all the scenes and incidents related to each and every cast in the show. The song attempts to tell a story about people who neglected what's right beside them for something they could never get or own. Happiness is right by your side - that's the moral of the song, as well as the moral of the story. See how both relates? That's why its the Best Theme Song for the year.

Dark Horse: Longing To Tell You by A-Do (Crescendo)

This original piece written by Liang Wern-fook was only composed recently for this drama but there were moment where I mistook this song for an oldie. See the magic? It's a modern song which sounds like an oldie - this is the element which makes this song so special and addictive. I couldn't stop humming and singing this song whenever I recall about Xinyao. This song also had its lyrics written to fit the story line of Crescendo, and we find it quite relatable. Hence why this song should win Best Theme Song if the former didn't.


Phew, I am finally done. I just can't wait much longer for the awards show! I bet you are as excited as I am! Tune in to the following channels to watch the awards show live!

Singapore - Channel 8 / Channel U

Star Awards 2016 - Red Carpet 
Date: 17 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 5:30 PM - 6:30 PM

Star Awards 2016 - Part 1
Date: 17 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Star Awards 2016 - Part 2
Date: 24 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Star Awards - Post Show Party (Channel U only)
Date: 24 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 10:30 PM~

Malaysia - Astro Xi Yue HD (CH300)

Star Awards 2016 - Part 1
Date: 17 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Star Awards 2016 - Part 2
Date: 24 April 2016 (Sunday)
Time: 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

Verdicts: My sister and I (The "We")
Written by Yours truly (The "I")