Hello, World

Hello world, how you been?

Good to see you my old friend...

Besides it being a statement of rediscovering the beauty of life and the importance of your loved ones, it is also about rediscovering my old friend... my blog! Feels good to have a place to share my musings again =)

I've already declared my love for them before, but I guess I'll restate it here - Lady Antebellum does great country music! (Sorry, Taylor Swift, your music is good too, but more pop-ish).

I Run To You, Need You Now, American Honey... and now, Hello World. It just keeps getting better =)

Recently went to watch Rapunzel: A Tangled Tale. It's one of the best Disney (minus Pixar) has to offer in recent years. Speaking of which, will be changing back to my previous rating system after receiving some flak =x But anyhow, welcome back, cute popcorn man!

I give the film:

In the U.S., the film is entitled Tangled because it was trying to appeal to young boys, after the previous princess-titled release (Princess and the Frog) did not do as well as expected in the States. But over here in Singapore, the title Rapunzel is kept as it is, probably for easier identification with local audiences.

In anyways, Rapunzel is now officially Disney's 10th princess, after Snow White, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Ariel (Little Mermaid), Mulan, Pocahantas, Belle (Beauty and the Beast), Jasmine (Aladdin) and Tiana (Princess and the Frog).

One thing's for sure -- she's definitely the one with the longest hair.

Her story in this film starts before her birth, when the Queen's body is frail. The kingdom's guards managed to find a magical plant with healing powers for her; and after drinking the concoction, beautiful Rapunzel was safely born. Because of the plant, Rapunzel's golden locks possess the power to heal, and it was precisely this reason that an evil witch stole her from the palace, and locked her in a secret tower so that she can harness her power for immortality.

Lonely but not despaired, the teenage Rapunzel (voiced impeccably by singer/actress Mandy Moore) spends her days in her tower singing and painting with an adorable chameleon companion, Pascal, yearning for the day she can finally see the world.

One day, wanted bandit (not a prince) Flynn Rider (voiced by Chuck's Zachary Levi) stumbled upon the tower, and Rapunzel saw him as a perfect ticket out of her captive life. After successfully luring her Mother Gothel (voiced with menace by Broadway veteran Donna Murphy) out of the tower, Rapunzel escaped and they began a journey to see the lanterns that seem to appear in the sky every year on her birthday.

The CG animation here is top-notched and is bound to dazzle the eyes of kids and adults alike (thanks, partly, to executive producer John Lasseter, the master behind Pixar's Toy Story and Cars). Rapunzel's long, silky mane moves with ease and is easily the star of the show. Action pieces - especially one involving a gigantic dam - keeps the boys interested, and the catchy song and dance numbers (it's a Disney film) and budding romance is bound to thrill the females.

Keeping the heart of the Disney tradition alive, memorable side characters also fill the screen. One that stood out is the smart and police canine-like guard horse, Maximus, his non-verbal actions delightful and hilarious.

FINAL SAY: Pulsating with stunning visuals and timely humour, Rapunzel puts Disney animation back on the map.

~

Next...

is nEx! (at Serangoon interchange)

This is the biggest shopping mall in Singapore's north-east - and boy, does it live up to its hype in terms of size! Went to check it out on Saturday night and although it was not officially opened yet, I was darn excited with what I saw.

All that is important at nEx:

> Haato ice cream

> 30-cashier counter NTUC Xtra (24 hr) and Cold Storage

> Sanrio @ Isetan

> Yoguru

> Shaw Cinema

> Partyworld

> Din Tai Fung

> Broaster Chicken

> Wendy's

> Food Republic and Food Junction

> Starbucks

and our favourite...

Sogurt! =)

Yep, that delicious DIY fro-yo that charges by weight, and we had it at 10% off on Students' Discount! =)

Can't wait for it to officially open. No need go town loh!

Take care, peeps!