CHRISTMAS CRACKER

Last Sunday, I decided to treat myself to a little pre-Christmas lunch at one of the new pop-up bars that appeared at the Pitt St. Mall. Justin North's Christmas Cracker bar was a charming little space situated in front of the Mulberry Store. Each tile on the bar was a piece of hand-crafted gingerbread. The minimalist vibe in the space added to its appeal. 

Each guest has the opportunity to try Christmas champagne ($15 per glass), a special Christmas cocktail ($15 per glass), as well as a tasting plate of Justin North's 4 Tastes of Christmas. Being a bit of a foodie, I decided to partake in the latter.

Each tasting plate has four courses- two "mains" and two desserts. Each are arranged artistically on the plate. Don't let the small portion sizes deter you. These make you ache for more, and are just like a teaser for better things to come. The various aspects can be purchased at either Becasse bakery or Quarter Twenty Four, both of which are located just a couple of floors above. 

The first course was a miniature crab and prawn mayonnaise sandwich. The bread was undeniably a creation from the Becasse bakery, which tasted absolutely amazing because it was so fresh and soft. The filling was quite tasty as well.

The second course was a teaser of bigger things to come. It was a piece of suckling ham from the Macleay Valley, garnished quite beautifully. It was delicious. The ham wasn't too salty or sweet and added another dimension to the taste of the sandwich that lingered in the tastebuds minutes after. 

This was my favourite piece in the selection. It is a miniature fruit mince pie. The pie is arranged quite beautifully- a delightfully thin crust, a small portion of fruit mince, red berries, a small portion of cream and a piece of gold-leaf to complete the picture. It was like a party in my mouth! I loved looking at it, but I also enjoyed every bite. It definitely reminded me of Christmas. 

The final touch was a piece of tropical fruit French meringue pavlova. The pavlova added an Australian touch to the plate, reminding guests of the typical Australian experience. I'm not usually a fan of passionfruit, but I believe that this dessert changed my perspective. It didn't have too much passionfruit that it overpowered the dessert. Likewise, the meringue was delightfully soft. We all know that when meringue is over-done, it can be a bit too hard and chewy. This definitely was not the case. 

If you find yourself in the Westfield Pitt St. Mall before Christmas, I encourage you to make your way to this bar. It is a good way to wind down after a busy day of Christmas shopping.

HAPPY HOLIDAYS!

NEW YEAR'S EVE (REVIEW)

Hello everyone. Apologies for the minor hiatus from posting.

Here is something to kick-off the festive season.

The director of Pretty Woman and Valentine's Day has a new offering for the hopeless romantics in each of us. It is a film entitled New Year's Eve, and is set in the city with one of the most iconic New Year's Eve celebrations- New York City.

I watched it at EVENT Cinemas, George St. It was a slightly disappointing experience because of a few distractions I had- some of which include the lingering scent of burgers (from patrons beside, behind and in front of me), the rude sms-messaging of the guy beside me and the chatter from people. I'm digressing once again.

The film mirrors the set-up of the British film Love Actually through the relationships of the characters. One character is related to another through family ties, through friendship or through happenstance. Considering that the film is set in the hours preceding NYE, it seemed quite fitting to have so many characters' stories explored in a short amount of time.

Another element that I found fascinating was the casting. Actors like Sarah Jessica Parker and Lea Michele (who seem almost synonymous to the New York Scene) were chosen. Other interesting casting choices included Ashton Kutcher and Jessica Biel who acted in Valentine's Day. The inter-play of characters portrayed by Michelle Pfeiffer and Zac Efron seemed to refer to another of Pfeiffer's previous films, where she acted as an older woman who had a relationship with a younger man. I almost didn't recognise Cary Elwes, probably because I always associated him with the young rogue from The Princess Bride. My favourite in this film was most probably Sofia Vergara, though I felt like her character in this film was too similar in mannerisms to her Modern Family character. Either way, she was hilarious.

It's quite amusing how the screenplay seemed to reference the (current) works of some of the actors who took part. Lea Michele, Sofia Vergara and Michelle Pfeiffer are a few that I took notice of. Elise (Lea Michele) reminded me of Rachel Berry from Glee, albeit a slightly older/more mature version.

I loved the poignant moment in one of the scenes where the camera panned across Sarah Jessica Parker's stilettos before showing her face. It reminded me of Sex and the City.

The best part of the film was probably the lighthearted ending after the credits.

I can see why critics from TIME magazine and IMDB gave this film a low rating. There wasn't too much sophistication in terms of plot, though there were a few significant pockets that showed deeper stories about some of the characters. The film was quite playful and light. It wasn't boring per se, though it isn't everyone's cup of tea.

Louis Vuitton HQ SYDNEY STORE OPENING

The latest addition to the Louis Vuitton franchise just arrived in Sydney. Located at the corner of King and George streets, it offers a new place to indulge in your luxury goods fix.

Here are just a few snapshots of the exterior for you to enjoy. Although I found the handbag creatures to be slightly creepy, it gives us the impression that LV still does its best to get people to think outside the box with what they can do with their products.

I'm interested in seeing what they have inside. Some more handbag creatures? Who knows... We may find out tomorrow. Stay tuned!

1Q84 (reprise)

I've just finished reading 1Q84.

Let's cut down to the chase. The story was brilliantly written. It was so tempting to just flip the book over to discover how the story ends, but I decided to stick it through.

Each chapter was named after the particular character it focused on. The book is divided into three- marking the time period that is explored. In a sense, it was like watching a thrilling mystery. Each book can be seen as a season, whilst each chapter can be perceived to be an episode. It was utterly brilliant. I was on the edge of my seat.

1Q84 was like falling down the rabbit's hole in Alice and Wonderland.

I will try to write a proper review when I'm a bit more coherent.

ノルウェイの森/NORWEGIAN WOOD

I once had a girl, or should I say... She once had me.
She showed me her room, isn't it good, Norwegian Wood?

Norwegian Wood marked my introduction to the written works of Haruki Murakami. Arguably one of the best novelists in the world, Murakami manages to delve into the human psyche and form a rapport between his characters and the readers of his novels. The novel was inspired by a song by The Beatles with the same title. The song likewise acted as a way of connecting the various periods of Toru's life. Toru is the protagonist/narrator of this particular novel.

Each time I read the book, I discovered something new about particular characters that I didn't notice during previous readings. Interesting enough, I found Murakami's characterisation quite intense. His depiction of the people who had touched Toru's life was somewhat delightful, yet at the same time it borders on grotesque due to the juxtaposition of their positive and negative characteristics.

His exploration of the female psyche is also rather insightful. First, you get a character like Naoko who seems to have "died" psychologically as a result of a traumatic incident in her past. Then you get a character named Midori who has a lot of angst hidden beneath a confident mask. Two extremes. Connected with this is the constant exploration of his characters' sexuality. Freudian, perhaps... but somehow each Murakami novel uses sex as a tool to explore character development. It is done tastefully, but still, it makes you wonder more about human psychology.

The novel was turned into a film sometime last year. It was directed by Anh Hung Tran. It was only this year that it was shown in Australia's Palace cinemas. I was lucky enough to see it.

It was more of an art film than a mainstream one. I found myself getting bored at times as the story seemed to progress so slowly at some points. Admittedly, it can be quite difficult to channel the same psychological exploration done by the book. The cinematography was quite good. I loved the colours that were used in various scenes.

Costumes were done quite well. I found myself observing what various characters wore, and each character's personality was channeled quite well. I particularly loved the character Midori- from her acting to her costume. It was very chic and mod.

Characterisation was a bit of a hit and miss. Admittedly, I wished that they chose a slightly different person to act as Toru, though Matsuyama Kenichi managed to portray a semblance of the awkwardness that Toru had. Kikuchi Rinko was a pretty good choice for Naoko. I think they were spot-on with this choice. I also also adored their choices for Midori and Nagasawa.

It's admittedly not a film for everybody. I think that the book packs a lot more punch, though after watching the film I found myself aching to reread the book- just to see what I had missed. I wish that they explored Midori's character just a bit more.

Norwegian Wood can be purchased at any good book retailer. If you have the chance (and the knowledge of Japanese), I recommend that you read the Japanese version as well. This can be purchased at Kinokuniya. The nuances between the English and Japanese versions can add another dimension to your reading experience.

洋菓子店コアンドル/PATISSERIE COIN DE RUE

One of my favourite Japanese actors is the talented Aoi Yu. It doesn't matter what genre of film or series she stars in, her talent just shines through. The 2006 film Hula Girls was probably one of the films that made a lot of people aware of her. I make it a point to watch whatever piece she acts in, as she is just that brilliant. She seems to have timeless ennui that adds another dimension to her acting.

This film was featured in this year's Japanese film festival, hosted by the Japan Foundation. Directed by Yoshihiro Fukugawa, 『洋菓子店コアンドル』was originally shown in Japan last February. The film showcases the stories of two individuals- a brilliant patissier played by Eguchi Yosuke and Natsume, a baker's daughter. 


The story had a pretty good progression, and seamlessly integrated the characters' backstories. There was also a lot of pastry and cake involved, which would make this film appealing to aspiring gourmands. At times, I found parts of the story to be quite slow, but those moments helped me to digest the heavier themes of the plot. 

Aoi Yu's character (Natsume) had a slightly different dialect, which wouldn't be too obvious to people who aren't as familiar with the Japanese language. I guess that most people would just remember the heavy shouting that she did in various scenes. Still, she mastered the personality of this particular character. The other characters that she invoked tended to be less temperamental, so it was quite refreshing to see a change in pace. Aoi Yu also has a tendency to act in a number of period films, so it was quite different not to see her in a kimono. 


The costumes for this particular film were alright, though I wouldn't necessarily say that there was anything too extraordinary about the way the characters were dressed. Though, I quite enjoyed seeing the Coin De Rue patissiers in the emerald green and maroon hats. 

This probably wasn't my favourite film, though I think that it was well-made. I guess that Hula Girls still ranks as one of my favourite Aoi Yu films to date. For now, I will just leave you with a trailer. I think that the Japanese Film Festival will be travelling to Melbourne? The Sydney season has already concluded for the year. 

AN UPDATE ON MY PROGRESS: 1Q84

At the moment, I am reading Haruki Murakami's 1Q84. I've had mixed emotions about my skills as a speed-reader. Even though I want to read the book from cover to cover, I'm biding my time. It's just an amazing read.

The characterisation is exactly how I expected it. The protagonists seem alive, especially since each of them have their own little quirks and skeletons in closets. The main thing about his characters that is quite fascinating as well is their openness to sexuality. Murakami fleshes this out in such detail.

Unlike Dance, Dance, Dance, the plot is much easier to follow. Each chapter resembled a scene from a film. There were also smaller nuances in the story that revealed themselves in each page.

I'm a third into the book. It's an amazing story so far.

NEW YEAR'S DAY

Romantic comedies are such a guilty pleasure, especially during cold, wet and rainy days like this one. It seems as though I've been seeking light-hearted films lately, especially when I'm delving into deeply intellectual novels like 1Q84. I seem to be digressing from my point. 

One of my colleagues at work said that it's difficult to find something completely original in the Hollywood scene. I'll have to agree. Love Actually was one of the original fore-runners of this particular style of film. Incorporate a lot of characters with inter-mingled plots, lots of big acting names and relationships plus add a holiday- the end result is simple. You get films like Valentine's Day and New Year's Eve in the mix. 

Honestly, I was quite critical of Valentine's Day when I first watched it in the theatres. I thought they were trying to provide an American twist to the British Love Actually. The latest addition to such holiday films, entitled New Year's Eve seems promising. Another American film with plenty of big names littered in its storyline. 

The film comes out in Australian theatres on the 8th of December. I guess that I'll give my assessment then. I might be tempted to watch a certain film about a girl who has to choose between a vampire and a werewolf while waiting. 

1Q84

So a couple of posts ago, I mentioned how I was reading The Devil Wears Prada. I've decided to put it on hold (yet again) as I had been utterly intrigued by the newest addition to Haruki Murakami's repertoire.

Murakami is one of my favourite authors to date. He has written best sellers like 『ノルウェーの森』(Norwegian Wood) and Dance, Dance, Dance. my favourite Murakami novel is the former.

1Q84 looks like a promising read. I've only just started it. Three chapters in, I know that I'm hooked. I'll give my assessment of it when I finish. So far, it's been a very interesting journey. Like One Day, it reads a bit like a screenplay. Either that, or I just happen to have an overactive imagination.

You can purchase 1Q84 at any good bookstore. Sydney's Kinokuniya offers a special price. The RRP is $39.95, but there you can get it for just $29.95. I think it's a pretty good price- I mean, you happen to get BOOK ONE, BOOK TWO and BOOK THREE of 1Q84 in one nice little hard-bound package.

THE DEVIL WEARS PRADA

image taken from Lauren Weisberger's official site

I'm afraid that my insomniac tendencies have arisen once again. I've started reading yet another book in my arsenal. I've accumulated a large pile of books that I have to read. I guess that trips to my favourite bookshop cafe in Paddington during the semester didn't really do much good with regard to making the pile of books any smaller. On the contrary...

I got my copy of The Devil Wears Prada from a charity stall a few months ago. I haven't touched it until today. I decided to give my mind and my eyes a bit of a breather from reading One Day. Unlike the latter, I have indeed seen the film version of the Prada story. Honestly, I was more distracted by the clothing worn by the talented Miss Anne Hathaway in the middle scenes of the film. I have yet to give a proper review about this book, but I did enjoy the film when I watched it.

Delving away from the subject of the book, Lauren Weisberger's official site is quite elegant and quite easy to navigate. I rather liked the use of the shoes to point visitors to the right direction. Tres chic. 

I really should sleep. 

THE VOW (2012)

They tell us that each moment that happens in our lives happens for a reason. People also enjoy reminding each other to live each moment as though it is our last. Imagine what it would be like to forget about everything that's happened in your life... Imagine having that second chance to make things right.

For lovers of romantic comedies or tear-jerking love stories, this one looks like a promising film to watch. Apparently it is inspired by real-life events. In early 2012, we can expect The Vow to hit cinemas.

The theme of amnesia and the chance to rebuild relationships is something that is not completely new, according to Hollywood standards. They've done something similar in 50 First Dates (starring Drew Barrymore and Adam Sandler) as well as an older film entitled While You Were Sleeping that starred Sandra Bullock and Keanu Reeves. I wonder how this film will differ, and how brilliant the acting will be. We can probably expect something good to come out of Rachel McAdams and Channing Tatum's collaboration. Until then, we can probably enjoy the trailer.

What I'll be waiting to see (aside from the plot) are the costumes worn by the beautiful Rachel McAdams. From what I can tell, her character is pretty stylish, as always. Considering that the film will be about making vows and so forth, we can probably expect a wedding dress or two...

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ちょんまげプリン/A BOY AND HIS SAMURAI

One thing that people should know about me is the fact that I enjoy watching Japanese films. Although this particular film had been shown in Japanese cinemas in 2010, I had not had the opportunity to watch it until today.

The film that I am talking about is entitled 『ちょんまげプリン』also known as A Boy and His Samurai. The plot is about a time-travelling samurai who ends up discovering that he has a talent for creating sweets.

Aside from the amusement of watching a time-displaced samurai attempt to fit into a more modern social mould, the story is rather touching. The bond between the boy, his Mum and the samurai are explored just as much as his talent for manipulating sweets.

Nishikido Ryo's talents as an actor were showcased in several drama series in the past few years. Seeing him act as a gruff samurai who ends up showing people that he has a really soft, gooey heart beneath the toughness was an interesting experience in itself.

This is a film that I enjoyed watching. I found parts of the story to be a bit slow, but it slowly became better as it progressed.

『ちょんまげプリン』is one of the films that will be showcased at the Japanese Film Festival this year. The screenings are limited, so check the official Japanese Film Festival site for more information.

MARY POPPINS

To celebrate my Mum's birthday, I took her to watch Mary Poppins at Sydney's Capitol Theatre.

For once, I did not have any expectations with regard to the theatre. When my Mum and I watched The Phantom of the Opera (with Anthony Warlow) for my birthday a couple of years ago, we were both sorely disappointed. I think we expected a little bit too much from the production. We watched The Lion King three times when it ran in Sydney and absolutely adored each moment. Another favourite was Wicked, because of its freshness and vibrancy. Both Wicked and The Lion King had dynamic set and costume designs, as well as an exquisite musical score.

The musical mirrored some elements of the original film with Julie Andrews. What I enjoyed about it was the fact that the theatre production had its own individuality that sets it apart from the screenplay. New musical scores were written to suit the additional scenes that were not in the film. Likewise, I found that the characters' personalities and characteristics were explored a bit more. There was greater substance in them, as well as more points for improvement, which were used quite effectively as a plot development device.

As an aspiring costume designer, I adored the colours and textures that were present on stage. We had a fairly good vantage point, especially from our seats in the Stalls section of the theatre. It was quite fascinating to see how the costume designer for this production adapted historical elements like bustles, trains and peoples' silhouettes to suit the characters. I also enjoyed seeing the set design, which adapted paper folding and doodling to create a sense of playfulness. The set was simple but quite effective, especially in the progression from one scene to the next.

The dancing was impeccable.

My Mum and I had a wonderful night at the theatre. Mary Poppins will be running at the Capitol Theatre for a few more weeks. Tickets may be booked at Ticketmaster.

ONE DAY (reprise)

I promised in an earlier blog entry that I was going to do a proper review of One Day. Thanks again to Hachette Australia and MX magazine for giving me such a lovely present!

I suppose that it is both a blessing and a curse that I am a speed-reader. I really wanted to enjoy and savour the experience and prolong my reading time. This was not the opportunity for "slow" reading, albeit I did it at a leisurely pace.


One Day was a lovely read. From the first chapter, Nicholls managed to engage the reader through characters and a plot that ordinary people can relate to. The division of chapters into years probably made the journey with the characters a lot easier to follow. In a sense, the reader matured with the characters.

The story panned out like a film. Each moment that I read seemed real- as though I was a voyeur that witnessed the lives of two people who seemed tied together by fate. The story was light, although it dealt with deeper undertones of personal insecurity and the internal demons the protagonists had to face.

I found the story to be quite smart and fresh. I wish that I could have savoured the story a bit more, like a glass of merlot. Then again, I believe that I can pick this book up more than once, and re-immerse myself in the story again and again.

I haven't seen the film yet. I might be a bit critical of it because the book was utterly delightful. This is definitely a book that I'll recommend to people.

MIRROR, MIRROR + SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

MIRROR MIRROR

SNOW WHITE AND THE HUNTSMAN

Based on what I've observed, late-2011 and early-2012 appears to be the year of fairytales. To be more specific, there will be two adaptations of the story of Snow White. 

The reinterpretation of fairytales is quite fascinating to me. Earlier in the semester, one of my favourite classes in university required us to re-examine the notion of fairytale. We needed to design costumes for fairytale characters and re-examine the psyche of the protagonists and antagonists. This concept is not completely new. However, the focus on the story of Snow White gives us an insight into how fairytales can continuously be reinterpreted time and time again. 

The two adaptations have similarities, particularly in the way Snow White is reinterpreted as a heroine who sets out to save her kingdom. Charlize Theron (Snow White and the Huntsman) and Julia Roberts (Mirror Mirror) present different characterisations of the persona of the "evil" Queen. Between Theron's icy take and Roberts' more animated and fiery characterisation, I'm not sure which one I prefer. 

I'd be interested to see how the two films compare in terms of plot and cinematography. Both appear promising at this stage. Honestly, I'm intrigued by Mirror Mirror, because I grew up in a household that absolutely adored the works of Julia Roberts. 

I'm equally as intrigued to see how costume will be developed for both. I'd like to see the sketches and mind-maps of the costume designers for both films. 

MIDNIGHT IN PARIS

image taken from imdb.com

Last week, I had the pleasure of seeing one of my most anticipated films of 2011. The film was one of Woody Allen's finest. It showcased his austere talents as a writer and as a director. 

In some instances, Owen Wilson's character Gil reminded me of a character from an older Allen film. He was similar to Alvy from Annie Hall, probably because of the neurotic tendencies that he exhibited. However, combined with the colourful nature of other characters from the 1920's, Gil seemed to flourish.  

taken from the official Midnight in Paris website

The costumes were quite stunning. Designed by Sonia Grande, each costume added another sense of dimension for the characters. Costumes are meant to give us an idea of the preferences of the characters, what they like, how they want the world to see them and so on. The costumes that she designed and styled were quite inspirational. Grande emphasised the use of clothing as a means of communication and expression. 

"When preparing for a film, you don’t choose an individual look. You think about the overall development of each of the characters, their actions and physical and emotional journeys. You don’t really think of fashion as a tool, but use it as a tool of communication." 

- taken from hollywoodreporter.com

What I loved in this film was the way Paris was portrayed. The cinematography presented Paris at its finest.

 taken from the official Midnight in Paris website

This film is one of my favourites for this year. Rotten Tomatoes gave it a rating of 93%. If you enjoy travel, vintage films, fashion or comedy, this is the film for you. 

CONTAGION

I watched Contagion with a friend last week. I had not seen trailers for it, primarily because I didn't have much time on my hands to begin with. However, as the film commenced, I realised that it was an insight into epidemiology. The film in essence shows the progression of an unknown disease and the human responses to the threat of epidemics. 

The film was well-done, and wasn't too heavy on the medical jargon. There were probably one or two gruesome moments in the film, so I suggest not eating anything too heavy beforehand. There were a lot of big names throughout the progression of the story. It was fascinating to see how Hollywood captured the basic human desire to survive. Definitely a must-see. 

BUTTER NAIL POLISHES

A very good friend recommended this particular brand of nail polish to me earlier this year. Butter London is a brand that prides itself on its amazing range of colours, as well as its "THREE FREE" philosophy. Three free means that each polish is free from carcinogens and parabens found in ingredients like formaldehyde, toluene and DBP (dibutyl phthalate). This philosophy was what attracted me to Butter. 

                                        Top: Pink Ribbon; Dahling

                                        Bottom: Tea with the Queen; All Hail the Queen

Each lacquer has a playful, quirky names inspired by British icons like the Royal family, British slang and British fashion. A light coating provides instant shine. For best results, use three coats. 

My favourite is Dahling, only because its vibrant pink shade looks amazing on any skin tone. For winter, I love using All Hail the Queen. For more conservative get-togethers, Pink Ribbon and Tea with the Queen work quite well, as they are more neutral and a lot more natural-looking. 

In Sydney, you may purchase Butter at selected health food stores for approximately A$24. (I believe that the Pure Health store located at Westfield Pitt Street has a promotion. Purchase 3 Butter lacquers for about A$50.) 

ONE DAY

After a long hiatus from the world of blogging, I've decided to make a comeback in the form of a shiny new blog at a new home. One of the characters from the film entitled Contagion stated that blogging is like "graffiti with punctuation." I believe otherwise. 

Yesterday, I came home to find a package sitting nicely on my front door. I've been meaning to purchase the book before watching the film of the same title. Last week, when MX magazine and Hachette Australia advertised 1000 free copies of One Day, I immediately jumped at the chance. I completely forgot about it, until yesterday.


I'll post a short review about it. For now I'll leave you with the trailer to the film starring the lovely Anne Hathaway and Jim Sturgess. 

P.S. Happy birthday to my amazing and beautiful Mum. I love you.