lindiebugs

Top Movies (romantic comedy) for this Winter

2009-12-29T13:10:00.000-08:00

During the holidays, I can watch up to a few episodes of dramas, soap operas and movies everyday. It's my way of relaxing and rewarding myself for all the hard work I do everyday. So now I'm coming up with a list of movies I loved to watch during this winter holidays (and a few I'm going to throw in from my favourites). The kind of movies I love to watch in the winter are romatic, funny and great if you are alone at home and want to cuddle up in bed, alone or with a friend. They are largely Asian (korean) and quite mainstream chick flicks. In case you are looking for something to watch, I hope the list below should help you out a little.

Note: No ratings because they are all 4-5 Stars, imho.

1. My Girlfriend is an Agent
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Review: The name pretty much gives it away. A Korean take on Mr.& Mrs. Smith. The girl is the usual korean sassy girl and the guy an average awkward (but cute) nerd. A movie that will just entertain you, and make you laugh out loud. I wish all movies were like this. Highly recommended.

2. Baby and Me
Genre: Comedy
Review: A story about a rich and spoiled teenage boy, (played by Jang Geun Suk, trumpet player in the Beethoven Virus) who is suddenly made a father, who must take care of his baby. Thus he is faced with the hardship of becoming a parent to a toddler. Another successful, hilarious Korean comedy which will make you laugh all the way. For someone that (almost) never watches a movie twice, I watched it three times =)

4. Hello Schoolgirl
Genre: Romance
Review: I actually don't know what is so special about this movie. It's purely romance without a significant plot. It's a little less artificial and mainstream than the previous two I mentioned and a little bit more artsy. Whether it was because of the pretty and cuteness of the characters (particularly of Jeong-an Chae, who you might remember from Cain and Abel or Coffee Prince), or because of the idyllic, carefree suburban setting that enables the audience to enjoy a simple romance without too much complexity, it's a movie I thoroughly enjoyed and hope you will too.

5. Daddy Long legs
Genre: Romance
Review: An orphan girl receives gifts and encouragement from a mysterious sponsor. Then she falls in love with a librarian, and the story of Daddy Long legs slowly unwinds before them. This one's a lot like Hello Schoolgirl in which it feels mellow and very pleasant. It's not so much comedy but rather a very touching love story.

6. Romantic Island
Genre: Romantic Comedy

Review: Don't you also want to take a holiday now to a really warm, sunny place, well this is a romantic comedy just about a couple of korean couples going on a trip to an exotic island and experiencing the exciting rollercoaster of love leading up to New Year's. You might remember one of the leading characters as Seon-gyun Lee from Coffee Prince? His voice is to die for, imho.

7. Happy Killing
Genre: Comedy/Horror/Action/Romance
Review: This one's about a Christmas dinner party at a famous Korean actress' house, where suddenly things start getting horribly wrong. If you are not one of those hardcore horror fans, don't let the horror label scare you. It's seriously tame. There's just a little blood and gore but it's largely comedy and hilarious. It's especially nice to watch in Winter because it's set on Christmas Eve.

8. The Rebound
Genre: Romantic Comedy
Review: Catherine Zeta-Jones acts as a middle aged, divorced woman with two kids trying to find herself again and starts to fall in love with a much younger guy. Perhaps I'm prejudiced because I just finished watching My Queen, a taiwanese drama about a older woman/younger guy relationship (loved it!), I instantly wanted to watch this movie. It turned out to be hilarious, cute, and definitely romantic. Really not as eww as you might think. The guy's pretty cute after all, reminds me a lot of Milo =)

Other worth mentioning: Previously I've watched The Holiday (Hollywood with Jude Law!!), Love So Divine (Koeran), the Nodame Cantabile Specials (Japanese) and The Secret (Taiwanese) and imagine they could make pretty good Holiday Movies.

Now, it's time to recommend me some!

Best Maroni Cake Ever

2009-12-26T08:46:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to order this next time you go to Cafe Mozart.

Christmas dinner

2009-12-26T08:38:00.001-08:00

This year like every other Christmas, we go to Jana's house and have some intense Chinese kids bonding time with great food, presents, shisha and horror movies. The dinner was amazing, not surprising since there were about 8 (ex and present)restaurant owners present. Among other dishes we had sauteed lobsters, sushi (the avocado+shrimp one was amazing), sashimi, beef tatare, honey grilled turkey, roasted duck, salads and various chinese dishes. I stuffed myself, quite obviously.

The presents too were great. Didn't take any pictures because I couldn't contain myself and had to open them straight away. But the packaging did look really pretty (particularly the ones I gave others :P). Although I do think Christmas present wrapping is a waste of time/energy/paper/&other natural resources scarce in this world (like 10 hours of my life trying to figure out how to tie a ribbon diagonally on a cyllindrical container) because who really cares how the wrapping looks like as long as there's something we want underneath. I don't think I wanted quite so many mascaras as I got though, it's bodering on riduculous, are my eyelashes really that short?? I guess they are and no matter what I use, I don't think they'll turn any much significantly longer. Having tried them all out, I think my favourite one is the Dior Blackout. Otherwise I've gotten a few bottles of perfume (loving Coco Madmoiselle) as well as cute crystall stuff, a very odd pair of socks (will post pics) and scarves, and just way too much girly stuff than is good for me. Oh well, I do love the stuff so I can't complain.

Cold days and Comfort Foods

2009-12-20T09:34:00.000-08:00

It's been snowing really heavily for the past few days. It's -7°C to -9°C outside today, and when I went out my feet froze and became icecubes. However, the snow's really pretty and I love the cool and fresh atmosphere. It's the little things that make our world so beautiful.

Oh and of course, Christmas time is also time for stuffing. I figure I should start buying new clothes (preferably in the pregnant moms section from now on).

Cambridge

2009-12-20T09:19:00.001-08:00

Lovely architecture.

Fish & Chips

2009-12-20T09:18:00.000-08:00

Yes, it was very exciting for me =)

London

2009-12-20T09:16:00.000-08:00

At the beginning of the month I went to the UK for a Cambridge interview. It was my first time there and I had a great experience (although my interview went badly). I can really imagine living there though, seems like a really exciting place to be. Very much more vibrant in comparison with Vienna and I think I prefer a city that way. Although Vienna is charming in its little town-like way as well.

The best thing about my stay there was the weather. Particularly if you go on the tourist buses (which I did) in London.

Don't want to be left alone with my thoughts

2009-11-26T13:53:00.000-08:00

2009-11-11T14:05:00.000-08:00

Because someone especially complained that they didn't get to see my face in the last post, I shall post it now. No other news today really, only that I'm starting to feel like a big coward. Meh.

YES! YES! YES!

2009-11-10T11:07:00.000-08:00

I got an invitation today to an interview at Pembroke College, Cambridge for the 7th of December! A girl's dream, indeed. Finally, comes an acknowledgement of my existence from a university and now I do understand the amount of bliss such an invitation can bring, even if it isn't an offer and probably everyone gets one. Leave me be =P

The dates are already set. I will go with my father on the 6th and come back on the 8th , he's already booked the tickets, so talk about enthusiasm =)

Yes, I am happy.

(The picture is of Yayra, because I couldn't find a picture of myself looking happy, sorry C: )

More colours of autumn

2009-11-07T11:29:00.000-08:00

Lack of motivation

2009-11-07T11:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not in the mood for anything other than sleeping and watching movies. I've watched Install, the Train Man, Public Enemies, Addicted to Plastic and My Sister's Keeper this weekend already. Great films all of them, very recommended, particularly My Sister's Keeper, although the director changed the ending and that really annoyed me to the core. However, at the end of them, they just remind me of the futile life I am leading at the moment and I kick myself for not doing what I should be, ie. Extended Essay, math homework, etc.

Maybe I am a bit jealous; jealous that all my friends are getting offers from their chosen universities and I feel that as soon as one of mine replies back to me, I'm going to get my drive back! Obviously, it should be an offer and not a rejection (which will just serve to depress me even further), but as long as that is not happening, I'll just be slouching in my bed/chair or whatever doing nothing other than chilling and getting stressed out (paradox, in IB, the more you chill while knowing how much work you still have to do, the more you stress). This reminds me, there's another episode of Wetten, dass...? tonight! Haven't watched it for a long time, think I will tonight. I heard Lily Allen will also make an appearance.

So yeah, feeling at the moment:
"My life's all a haze."

Colours of autumn

2009-11-06T12:24:00.000-08:00

I know, it's snowed already, but technically it's still autumn and the leaves aren't all gone yet.

First Snow

2009-11-03T10:01:00.000-08:00

I woke up today, wishing it would be sunny. Instead, I look out the window and it was snowing! Since we are having cold weather anyways these days, I figured it's all for the better. I love snowy days, that is unless I have to wake up to go to a stressed out day in school. The only thing I want to do is sleep at home.
I have a math test and a German oral tomorrow! ARGH!

Walking up Cobenzl

2009-11-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I got new a new lens for my camera, a 50mm f/1.8 II! Although it was a bit steep compared to what other people have gotten it for and caused a huge dent in my wallet (in fact, I don't have any money left) but I'm still happy to have gotten it. I can already feel that it will take me a lot of practice to master this lens. Since my old one was a zoom lens, moving on to this one feels so awkward as I can no longer zoom in or out. If I want to see something closer, I have to physically move closer. That may sound obvious and easy but if you've been used to zoom lens then you don't quite grasp the concept of moving forwards or backwards. For example, today I was taking some snapshots of autumn leaves up in Cobenzl and I wanted to get a wider angle of this one tree, so I made multiple shots of the same tree using different apertures. They turned out looking almost the same. Then it hit me. You really have to move with this lens. Ten steps back was the answer.

But otherwise, I really enjoy using this.

Death at the Harbour

2009-10-09T16:03:00.000-07:00

Suffering from a severe case of SENIORITIS, I am physically unable to get any work done these days. My Extended Essay Final Draft is due in 3 days and I haven't yet decided on my topic? Dead, I guess so.

Last week, however, I went on a trip to Lindau and I had the best of times. I'd love to write out the schedule of every day, but alas, I cannot (ie. don't have time). So I'll just post a few favourite photos and write out the schedules some other time.

Bitter Heart

2009-09-25T05:42:00.000-07:00

Sun rays come down as seen

when they hit the ground,

Children spinning around

till they fall down down down.

I wait for you: it's been two hours now,

You're still somewhere in town,

Your dinners getting cold.

I rest my case you are always this late,

And you know how much I hate

waiting around 'round 'round,

Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside,

Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide,

Bitter heart, my bitter heart is gettin' just a little fragile,

Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine.

And then you come and tell me

the same reason as you did yesterday,

So tell me whats her name.

Doo doo da dum, doo doo da dum,

doo doo doo doo doo doo da da dum dum,

da da da da dum, da da da da dum, da da da da dum.

Bitter heart, bitter heart tries to keep it all inside

Bitter heart, bitter heart shadows will help you try to hide,

Bitter heart, my bitter heart is just getting a little fragile,

Bitter heart, bitter heart of mine,

of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine, of mine.

-Zee Avi

Late night hour

2009-09-21T12:47:00.000-07:00

Sunsets and silhouettes

2009-09-21T12:38:00.000-07:00

Playing with HDR

2009-09-20T12:17:00.000-07:00

But of course...

2009-09-20T07:07:00.000-07:00

...I couldn't resist playing with the ducks, HDR processed.

Parteh!

2009-09-20T06:50:00.000-07:00

Alex' b-day party yesterday was a hell of a lot fun! Although it took a long time to get started, once we got started everyone was laughing and talking (and in one instance, jumped on the table - JENNY!).

First there was the birthday girl, happily unwrapping her presents

Then the friendsss

Then the fellow stalkers (why has this become a synonym for photographer?). All we want to do is just record the moment, right?

And not to forget the foood!

AND THE CAKE! Silvia, Jane, Frani and Katharina made them together- it was beautiful as it was delicious, well done guys! :)

Later,the jumping episodes...
And a roundup of the pretty girls (not the only ones, by all means).

Like always, nice things end with a beautiful sunset.

While my camera died and pictures taken into the night got corrupted, argh!!

Bokeh lights

2009-09-18T16:49:00.000-07:00

Flowers for Algernon

2009-09-18T16:19:00.000-07:00

I read this book during the holiday, but I told myself I need to recommend it to everyone. It's a masterpiece that will definitely goes into my "Best Book of All Times" list.

Algernon is extra-clever thanks to an experimental brain operation so far tried only on animals. Charlie eagerly volunteers as the first human subject. After frustrating delays and agonies of concentration, the effects begin to show and the reports steadily improve: "Punctuation, is? fun!" But getting smarter brings cruel shocks, as Charlie realizes that his merry "friends" at the bakery where he sweeps the floor have all along been laughing at him, never with him. The IQ rise continues, taking him steadily past the human average to genius level and beyond, until he's as intellectually alone as the old, foolish Charlie ever was--and now painfully aware of it. Then, ominously, the smart mouse Algernon begins to deteriorate...

-Amazon Reviews

In fact, I saw the Korean live action adaptation of this story years ago - Hello, God!- and just like the book, it was a tragic and heart-wrenching story. So, must read &/watch!!

Based on the novel, “Flowers For Algernon”, by Daniel Keyes, the story centers around an optimistic and innocent mentally handicapped 27 years old Haru (Yoo Gun) who is neglected by society because of his handicap. Seo Eun-Hye (Kim Ok Bin), a fumbling swindler is a woman who thinks love is nothing more than sadness and difficulties piling up one after another… until our “Forrest Gump” shows up and turns her life upside down. Park Dong-jae (Lee Jong Hyuk) is an ambitious brain surgeon, whose research gives him the power to transform Haru’s life forever, but at what cost?

-Crunchyroll

More info about the drama, including cast, etc. @ Dramawiki
Watch it @ Mysoju

Dinnnaaa.

2009-09-18T16:05:00.000-07:00

Tonight was dad's turn to cook us something "European". So here we go- There was a pumpkin soup too.. dunno where that went :S

Cappuccino Oreo Shakes and the Proposal!

2009-09-17T16:44:00.000-07:00

The highlight of my day, or week, or month. Went to watch the Proposal today, didn't watch a movie for sooo long. Very fun to do it again. The film was very entertaining, albeit very predictable and plots with sophisticated-lady--with-high-heels-going-to-the-country-side-and-shocked-by-the-local-conditions and the-old-cool-doting-grandma-taking-care-of-necessities are anyway too overused in my opinion. But the real thing that bothered me was how old Sandra Bullock looked -older than her husband's mom in the film!

Nonetheless very recommendable.

Another highlight in my life these days, cappucciono oreo shakes, my lifesaver midnight snack, deliciouuuuus but sure to add some unwelcome pounds on me.

I have Chosen

2009-09-16T12:43:00.000-07:00

Finally! I have chosen my unis, made a last minute change and sent the app off (hopefully for the last time)! I feel so happy now ~
If I'd known you could delay your app, I would have spent more time on my PS. As it is now, I can't be bothered anymore :P

I'm posting some pictures of lightpainting that I took when I first got my camera. Enjoy :)

A tribute to summer

2009-09-15T15:46:00.000-07:00

Officially it's not over yet, but I can't see any signs of it any longer. So here are some pictures in the Garden when the flowers were blooming.

Alex at Klosterneuburg

2009-09-15T11:39:00.000-07:00

It's Alex' birthday today! The first of my best friends turning 18 (excluding Jaa). I wish her all the best and have an awesome adult life (sorry for the lame congratulations, will think of something better at her party). Her beauty enlightens us all - see photos of her on our walk in Klosterneuburg.

Playground Continued

2009-09-15T02:47:00.000-07:00

Cute kid on the playground

2009-09-14T10:00:00.000-07:00

YAY! I set up my blog!!

2009-09-14T09:21:00.000-07:00

As part of the Vienna Blog Fieber, I reunite with blogger, the buddy i set up a blog with back in 2007 (which I still have, no chance of showing though) just temporarily, before I get a job, go to uni, have some money to spare to host a proper blog on wordpress, wohoo!

For now, this blog has the purpose of showcasting my photos and will serve as a diary to the world, if only me.