Rated G

Looks like it’s been a great week for women in Hollywood, according to cinematical.com, who has very conveniently compiled casting news from various different sources.

Rachel Weisz, reports Variety, is on board with James Bond Daniel Craig and Australian beauty Naomi Watts to star in Jim Sheridan’s Dream House- a movie about a couple who discovers that a mother and her two children were murdered in their new home.

Another Australian powerhouse, the incomparable Cate Blanchett has also found work. She has just signed onto Hanna, a film about a CIA bred killer’s 14 year old girl “ hellbent on finding her father and uses the survival skills she learned from him on anybody who gets in her way.” The film co-stars Hulk’s Eric Bana and Atonement’s Saoirse Ronan who will next be seen in The Lovely Bones.

Mia Wasikowska who landed the coveted role of Alice in Tim Burton’s Alice in Wonderland moves from one literary protagonist to another, and has signed on play the classic heroine Jane Eyre.

But it is TV’s Joan of Arcadia and The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants alum Amber Tamblyn, who has reportedly nabbed the starring lead opposite the to-die-for James Franco in Danny Boyle’s latest film, that has got me all green-eyed gaga. (Have you seen how dishy and gorgeous  and handsome and sexy and sexy and sexy and sexy and SEXY Mr Franco has been looking these days?)

MY HOTTIE- JAMES FRANCO(photo borrowed from http://blogs.glam.com/glamblush/files/2008/04/james-franco-asg-004963.jpg)

Anyway, before I get carried away… the movie titled 127 Hours, is based on the story of a mountain climber in Utah who had to amputate his own arm when it got pinned beneath a boulder.  According to firstshowing.net, there has been plenty of early buzz, primarily because it’s Boyle’s highly anticipated follow-up to his Oscar winning Slumdog Millionaire. It was reported that Ryan Gosling who was rumoured for the role initially, but looks like good ole talented Jimbo landed it in the end. Sounds like it going to be a challenging role, seeing how it’s pretty much a one-man show and with Boyle behind the lens, it’ll possibly be another proper awards show contender. Back from as far back as his Freaks and Geeks day, Franco has consistently proven that he does have the acting chops to pull both serious and funny stuff (Pineapple Express anyone?) off.  But will Amber Tamblyn match up?

 Maybe I’m just jealous …(hee hee) Nonetheless, do let me know what you guys think.

 Till then always remember to Snap Crackle and Popcorn!

 XOXO

 Your Flick Chick,

 G 

Tags: 127 Hours, Alice in Wonderland, Amber Tamblyn, Atonement, Cate Blanchett, Daniel Craig, Danny Boyle, Dream House, Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, Hanna, James Franco, Jane Eyre, Jim Sheridan, Joan of Arcadia, Mia Wasikowska, Naomi Watts, Rachel Weisz, Rated G, Ryan Gosling, Saoirse Ronan, The Lovely Bones, The Sisterhood of Traveling Pants, Tim Burton, TODAY Newspaper

So you know you’ve gone all Hollywood when you find yourself a little helper. Ok, so it’s more like my desperate call for help with the workload, but a girl can pretend right? :)

Flick Chick lucked out when “help” came in the shape and form of Katrina, a fellow movie lover.  She helped saved me many a tear when she gamely covered the recent addition to Boo-Hoo-Bow-Wow movies – Hachiko: A Dog’s Story starring Richard Gere and Joan Allen. Check out her post and video interviews below and tell me what you think. Y’all be nice you hear?

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick, G

Here’s KAT!

Hellooo out there! It’s Flick Chick’s Little Helper here (believe me, I’ve had worse nicknames), but you can call me Kat This is my virgin post on RATED G, so let me introduce myself. I’m 19 this year, waiting for the dreaded GCE ‘A’ Level results (gulp) and helping out in the TODAY Newspaper office. And I have to admit, it’s been pretty kick a** so far. I mean, how often do you get to watch movies for free? Okay fine, I have to write a review after that, but still, it doesn’t get a lot better than this. Be jealous, be very jealous.

So the first film I saw on the job was Hachiko: A Dog’s Story, out yesterday in cinemas everywhere. You might have read my review in TODAY’s  Wed 20 Jan issue. As expected, it was a total sob-fest, which resulted in me sitting there, stubbornly refusing to cry because I knew I’d have to interview people after that.

“Hi, (sniff), I’m from Today, (gasp), may I know what you thought about the movie?” (Honks nose)

Yeah, not very cool. I wasn’t the only one either. Waiting outside the cinema after the movie, I could see that 80 percent of those coming out were red-faced with the effort of keeping their tears at bay. It was my first time doing an interview of any sort, so of course half the audience had already escaped before my movie buddy and I worked up the courage to approach our first pair of interviewees. Sigh.

They seemed rather intimidated at first, as if they thought we were going to mug them or something, but we won them over with our charm eventually. They were still too shy to say much beyond the requisite “It was touching”, but it was nice to see a pair of old friends (or sisters? What do y’all think?) taking the time to get together and enjoy a good movie nonetheless.

I found myself nodding along in agreement to the part about Joan Allen (who plays Richard Gere’s wife) discovering Hachiko still waiting being the most moving bit. That scene alone rendered my “No Crying” mission an utter and complete failure.

I also thought it was interesting that it was mentioned how the show had an educational aspect about taking care of dogs, especially since I’m an avid reader of Singaporean blogger Xiaxue, who recently did a blog post on why keeping a dog isn’t an easy business. So if you thought the show was all about the boo-hoos, like I did, you’d be wrong. Who would’ve thought huh?

And, lastly, presenting my movie buddy, because we didn’t manage to trap a final victim before they all left:

I had to shoot that video three times before he deemed it appropriate to be on camera. Guys!! As for his opinion that action junkies may not appreciate Hachiko: A Dog’s Story as much as we did, well, there’s only one way to find out if that’s true or not. So head down to your nearest cinema, ladies and gentlemen, but remember to pack a hankie. Or five.

Till next time folks!

KAT

Tags: dog, Dog Movies, Flick Chick, Flick Chick’s Little Helper, Genevieve Loh, Hachiko:A Dog's Story, joan allen, Katrina Lam, movie buddy, movie review, movies where you cry, Preview Screening, Rated G, richard gere, Singaporean blogger, sob-fest, TODAY Newspaper, Xiaxue

So, even as James Cameron fights new claims that his 3D spectacular blockbuster Avatar “borrowed” from popular Russian fantasy writers Arkady and Boris Strugatsky, there is really no denying the film’s SCI-TANIC (will my coined term EVER catch on?) power! It has grossed more than US$1.3billion worldwide (and counting), have a healthy balance of both critical and commercial acclaim, and…wait for it.. spawned AVATARDS (could they not have come up with a cooler name? ) Yes, a whole generation of fans who have taken to painting their faces blue (stop laughing Trekkies, it’s true!)

Avatar, that SCI-TANIC (can’t you see i’m trying here?) 3-D spectacular  is just a whisper and dollar (or so) away from becoming the highest grossing movie ever. Like in the history of film. And that my friends, is no small feat. Right now, Jimbo is  the ONLY one director  in the world  to be responsible for the No. 1 and No. 2 highest-grossing movies of all time. (No. 1, as we all know, is his 1997 Titanic) How’s that for bragging rights?

In Singapore, the man-who has brought a whole new meaning to the term BLUE MOVIE – has already one upped himself with Avatar knocking off schmaltz-fest Titanic as our little isle’s highest grossing movie EVER. And I’ll bet my last 10 foot tall blue alien that I always keep in my back pocket, that it won’t be too long before Avahontas? Pocatar? becomes NO.1 world wide.

After all, Flick Chick hasn’t had a day gone by without hearing someone (and their grandmother) ask, discuss or argue about Avatar since the movie opened. And if that isn’t some sort of indication of its phenomenon… I don’t know what is.

Check out my video of the Avatar’s Press Conference held in London’s Claridges Hotel last Dec and let me know your thoughts.

Do you think Avatar has the chops to go ALL THE WAY? Have those blue schmoos inspired you to learn Na’vi, save a tree and embrace someone a wee different from you? Or are you so sick and tired to the Avatar overload that you’re petitioning for the blue hue to be banished from the Pantone palette? Leave me a response. And as always, remember to snap, crackle and Pop Corn!

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick

G

Tags: 10 foot tall blue alien, 3D-Spectacular, Arkady Strugatsky, Avahontas, Avatar, Avatar Press Conference, AVATARDS, Boris Strugatsky, Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, highest grossing movie, James Cameron, London, London't Claridges hotel, Na'vi, No. 1 highest-grossing movie of all time, No. 2 highest-grossing movie of all time, painting their faces blue, Pantone, Pocatar, Russian fantasy writers, Sci-Tanic, Singapore, Singapore's highest grossing film, Titanic, Trekkies, US$1.3billion

Heyyyy Youuuuu Guyyyyysss!  Hope everyone out there had a Merry New Chrismukkah Year  (a little Christmas + Hanukkah+ New Year combo greeting!!! ) Here’s wishing you guys a fabulous 2010 filled with love, happiness, peace and lots and lots of  fun movie-watching!

So what has Flick Chick been up to besides stuffing her face with Turkey, pumpkin pie and every imaginable stuffing while trying to countdown, fireworks and all, to a brand new decade? Only just chin-wagging with the wicked-cool yummy mummy Sarah Jessica Parker in London’s Dorchester Hotel (I was there to interview her for her latest rom-com DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THE MORGANS? which is in cinemas tomorrow! Do check out my review HERE or watch me on Prime Time Morning Channel News Asia Zoom In 7 Jan Thursday morning )

SJP (what’s with all these Hollywood acronyms?), manolos, designer threads and all, turned out to be really lovely, chatty person who couldn’t stop talking about her children, never once hesitating for a minute to compliment somebody on their style (she made a  greek journo’s day by loving his sweater) or gamely putting her arm round you for a fan photo (I very not shy and went ahead to ask coz I am a huge SATC fan la!).

Of course, I had to ask her about her New Year Resolutions and she had a cheeky reply: “I haven’t made any yet, but  I sure wouldn’t  share them. I wouldn’t want to break them and then be called out for it. (Laughs) You know, I do, really easy ones. No I am kidding. I have and I do, and I pretty ok about them (smiles)”.

Here are some video snippets of my interview with her, as she shares the scoop about the new Sex and the City 2 movie and her childhood dream of being a ballet dancer.

Hope you guys enjoy it! Check out  my cover story with SJP in  Jan 6 Wednesday issue of TODAY here. And as always, do remember to snap, crackle and POPcorn!

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick,

G

Tags: 2010, Channel News Asia, Christmas, Did You Hear About the Morgans?, Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, London, London Dorchester Hotel, movie, movie review, New Year, New Year's Resolutions, Prime Time Morning, Rated G, Sarah Jessica Parker, Sarah Jessica Parker Interview, Sarah Jessica Parker Video, Sarah Jessica Parker Video Interview, SATC, SATC 2, Sex and the City, Sex and the City 2, SJP, TODAY Newspaper, Zoom In

So what has Flick Chick  been up to lately? Only just holding my breath, along with the rest of the cinematic free world, for James “Aliens-Abyss-Terminator-Titanic” Cameron’s long-awaited AVATAR, hoping to great hope that it just doesn’t suck. I mean, who knows what’s been brewing in Jimbo’s head since he last used Jack and Rose to tear open gazillion tear-ducts across the globe to the tune of  an unprecedented US$1.8 billion. I mean how do you top your last movie, when your last movie (albeit a schamltz fest) was the the biggest box office hit in the history of film?

So it was with an odd mix of  trepidation and excitement that I clicked by cold cold heels down the incredibly apt BLUE carpet laid out in Leicester Square, London last Thursday night 10th dec to attend the WORLD PREMIERE of AVATAR – reportedly the world’s most expensive film made to date.

The World Premiere of AVATAR

The carpet is Blue. The lights are Blue( ish). The Aliens are Blue. We’re guessing that is James Cameron’s favourite colour.

Flick Chick on the blue carpet... red dress, black shoes and all....

a massive bunch of photogs ripe and ready to shoot the star cast and director as they walk down the BLUE carpet

Flick Chick on the edge of the BLUE carpet in front of the photographers NOT taking a photo of me

Right in front of the Odeon,with my invite to the World Premiere of Avatar.

Look who didn’t get the memo for the colour theme of the night? Flick Chick not blending in at all in RED!

Leicester Square's Odeon cinema all lit up to welcome you into the world of Avatar

It has to be said that I did try my utmost best to walk  incredibly slowly down the carpet so as to bump into Jim to ask him that all important burning question, “WHY BLUE?”  Or ask stars Sigourney Weaver, Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana what was it like to be 1o feet tall with tails? But alas, we were hustled and let into the cinema faster than we can say BLUE!

Thankfully, I did get  a chance to  interview them at the Press Conference the next day, so all my burning questions were answered.  Sorry there are no first hand pics of the stars on the carpet … but hopefully this badly taken pic of Sigourney, James, Zoe and Sam will help a little.

So after all that said and done, did I enjoy the film? Especially since  I really didn’t like it during the sneak 15 min peek we had some time ago? Did Cameron made the most expensive flop (budget is more than US$300 million) in the history of film? Are they REALLY Giant flying Smurfs? Will the hokey love story stand? And will it really revolutionise cinema? Check out my cover story (here) and review (here) in the 16th Dec issue of TODAY Newspaper. All I can say is, PLEASE WATCH IT IN 3D!!!

I promise you.. it’ll be a SCI-TANIC and immersive experience!

Till then, always remember to Snap, Crackle and PopCorn,

You know you love me,

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick,

G

Tags: Aliens, Avatar, Avatar World Premiere, biggest box office hit, Blue Carpet, Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, Jack and Rose, James Cameron, Leicester Square, Leicester Square Odeon, London, Odeon London, Rated G, Sam Worthington, Sigourney Weaver, Terminator, The Abyss, Titanic, TODAY Newspaper, World's most expensive film, Zoe Saldana

Yo. TODAY’s Resident Art-Throb here, speaking on behalf of Flick Chick. She’ll be taking the backseat for this post.

Well, if you want to be literal about it, she actually took one of the front end seats of the bus last Friday, when we both went on a dry run of the Jack of Hearts Mystery Tour.

The tours (there are two, but the first one’s sold out apparently) are part of celebrations for the 30^th anniversary of Saint Jack.

That infamous film that was, until quite recently, banned in Singapore is also screening at the National Museum on Thursday (7.30pm) and Friday (1pm).

Based on author Paul Theroux’s book, Saint Jack was directed by Peter Bogdanovich and starred Ben Gazzara.

Unfortunately, neither Peter nor Ben will be flying down. (Check out Flick Chick’s alter ego Genevieve Loh’s exclusive interview with Peter Bogdanovich in the papers tomorrow, Tuesday, or  here http://www.todayonline.com/Plus/Movies/EDC091124-0000031/Some-like-it-hot 

 But hey, we’ve still got another Ben.

That’s Ben Slater, who wrote Kinda Hot: The Making of Saint Jack in Singapore. Don’t be fooled. He may look ang moh, but deep down inside, he’s really Singaporean.

Anyway, he acted as bus tour guide (his partner-in-crime, Tony Yeow, who was the movie’s unit manager, wasn’t around but rest assured, he’ll be there – and possibly other cast and crew members too).

Here’s the map. And some notes. And some coffee. Or was it tea?

So anyway, the tour, which is named after the codename the crew used while filming Saint Jack, takes you to some of the places where the movie was shot. Yes, it’s not Hollywood but methinks we need alternative bus tours like this. Or this. (Shameless plugging rules!)

The two-hour tour goes to places familiar and otherwise. First up was Institution Hill at River Valley. One of the locations, which served as a brothel, was an abandoned colonial mansion. But it’s not there anymore. Instead you have a condominium – with a lot of Japanese expatriates.

Then we swoop down to Clarke Quay. Jack Flowers, the film’s lead character, loves to cross bridges.

Then it’s off to Chinatown, where scenes were shot at Smith Street, Amoy Street, Club Street, among others.

The interesting thing about the bus tour was that they played certain scenes from the movie that corresponded to the place.

At certain parts, the bus stops as a  particular scene is played out. So you’re both seeing it onscreen and imagining it happen right in front of you. Cool right?

Hopefully for the actual bus tours, they’d put the scenes on loop, because some of them are too short it’s a blink-and-you’ll-miss-it affair.

Anyway, I’ll leave it up to you to imagine the rest. Rest assured, there’s a lot of nice tidbits from Ben (Slater). Imagine when his kakis come on board. Nostalgia fest, man!

Quick one: you’ll also be passing by Bugis Village (aka Boogie Street), Botanic Gardens, and the Bukit Timah area (which veers from the movie and is more Paul Theroux territory – since he used to live in College Green).

And lots of hotels. Apparently the crew used six hotels. And stayed in some of them. So you’ll pass, among others, Raffles Hotel, Shangri-La Hotel, and Goodwood Park Hotel.

The latter’s the last stop in the tour – and you’ll end up right here at the poolside, where the crew used to hang out when they weren’t filming.

Ben (Slater) says you can have drinks there. But they’re not paying.

***

More details for The Jack of Hearts Mystery Tour and Saint Jack screenings can be found here.

Tags: 30th anniversary, abandoned colonial mansion, Amoy Street, Ben Gazzara, Ben Slater, Botanic Gardens, Bugis Village, Bukit Timah, bus tour, Chinatown, Clarke Quay, Club Street, College Green, Flick Chick, For Art's Sake!, Genevieve Loh, Goodwood Park Hotel, Institution Hill, Jack Flowers, Jack of Hearts Mystery Tour, Japanese expatriates, Kinda Hot: The Making of Saint Jack, Mayo Martin, National Museum, Paul Theroux, Peter Bogdanovich, Raffles Hotel, RAT, Resident Art-Throb, River Valley, Saint Jack, Shangri-La Hotel, Smith Street, Tony Yeow

Guess who got a picture with the deadliest ninja with a hot bod body?

Me! Me! Me!

Flick Chick Genevieve Loh with Rain at his Ninja Assassin Asian Junket in Seoul, Korea

Korean-Pop-Superstar-turned-Hollywood-Action-leading man was all serious business during our roundtable interview during his Ninja Assasin Asian Junket in Seoul. But he was all sweetness and amiablity when I requested a photo with him. 

Ninja Assasin is the latest Joel Silver and Wachowski Brothers produced martial arts actioner which features the Korean Pretty Boy in kick ass moves and buff rock hard bod. It opens in Singapore Nov 26. Check back here for more blog posts about my interview with Rain and my Korean adventures.Let me know what you think of my photo with him! Till then, always remember to Snap Crackle and Popcorn!

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick,

G

Tags: Action Flick, Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, Hallyu, Hot Bod, Interview, Jeong "Rain" Ji-hoon, Jeong Ji-hoon, Joel Silver, Korean, Korean actor, Korean Pop Singer, Korean Superstar, Martial Arts, Ninja, Ninja Assassin, Ninja Assassin Asian Junket, Rain, Rated G, Seoul, TODAY Newspaper, Wachowski Brothers

HELLO … is there anyone out there? Greetings and Salutations World Wide Web! Yessiree Bob, Flick Chick’s movie blog is finally up and running. Boy, was it a long time coming. Complete with the requisite blood sweat and tears. But hey, we’re in the movie business right?

You see, it was murder trying to come up with an interesting film related blog name. Not only did it have to be  funny, witty and self-referential, it also could not be  pretentious film snobbery insular, or just plain weird. Which probably explains why my initial “Chi-ca-bow-wow” blog name was shot down. Immediately. “What’s wrong with me onomatopoeic-lly spelling out the soundtrack of a typical cheesy porn movie? I asked my editor wide-eyed. A death stare and hard plonk on the head later, I compiled a list of 20 or so wildly exciting blog names, with many helpful contributions from friends, family and my fellow plus deskers.

From Blog Buster (personal favourite) to Confessions of a Movie Junkie to  24framespersecond, I scoured memorable movie quotes and sifted through film jargon. Names like Lalaland. and Feel Reel were bleeding out my ears and save for actually holding a Choose a Name contest (First Prize: movie tickets!!), I was totally uninspired.

Eventually I had to decide (read:Forced By E.E.E aka Extremely Evil Editor) and had to give up 3 Thumbs up! (coz we REALLY love our films), Flog (Film+Blog) and Cineplexed! to end up with  Rated G. A movie blog that pretty much will run the gamut from  film buff news to  La la land musings and movie world gossip … For General Audiences Everywhere!  Your basic G-rated info with an R-rated edge.  Eh, we don’t discrimate ok?

So do let me know what you think? Or even better, if you have a more interesting alternative

Till then, always remember to Snap, Crackle and Popcorn!

XOXO,

Your Flick Chick

G

Tags: Flick Chick, Genevieve Loh, Movie Blog, Rated G