Love On The Rocks

Yeah, another Chinese romantic comedy. I gotta stop borrowing these, if only I knew what to borrow. Maybe summa those ghost/kung fu flicks.

"Love on the Rocks" (戀情告急) revolves around an unromantic guy and his dissatisfied girlfriend. They freeze their relationship until Easter to decide then whether or not to break up or stay together. Did I say romantic comedy? So yeah, there's a "happy ending".

I didn't like this movie: Female lead's character cried at seeing a nekkid man inside his hotel suite. Geez. The characters didn't capture much sympathy/empathy from me. And so far, most of the movies that I've seen w/ Charlene Choi in it have her acting as some kinda weirdo. Is she like that in RL? Not much haha either.

Marry a Rich Man

Another fluffy VCD librarying. Marry a Rich Man (嫁個有錢人) is a light, quirky romantic comedy about Mi, a chick working in the glorious world of the family propane business. The movie starts off w/ a palmist telling her she'll marry rich. She is also ribbed by some old classmates who married rich and so she wants summa dat. She announces that she wants to marry a rich guy on a cliff overlooking the ocean and a satellite owned by some Destiny company hears her, and shoots a Cinderella "rags to riches" instruction manual down to her. She follows the book by dressing better and flying 1st class to Milan, so as to hobnob w/ the richies there. She meets the prospective rich guy who's sitting next to her. I find it funny he named himself Chris...tmas. They have some adventures in Milan but they leave the city separately and in unhappy situations. Since this is a romantic comedy, you know it will come out alright in the end, so, eh.

I didn't feel that much for the characters. Something to pass the time, sure, but I'd've liked it to've been a bit heavier.

The Same Stuff as Stars

Picked this book up 'cuz of the title and I like blue. On the cover.
I haven't read all of Katherine Paterson's books; Bridge to Terabithia was some English class reading, and I recall making trips to a local hobby store that is no longer in existence for a Terabithia model assignment. Also some of the Asian based stories. But anyway, "Stars" focuses on responsible pre-teen Angel Morgan and her dysfunctional family: Her brother's a spoiled brat, her father's in jail, and her flakey, selfish mother dumped the kids at their great-grandmother's house. Angel finds solace in reading up on astronomy and getting a first-hand look through the mysterious "Star Man"'s telescope.

Didn't enjoy the book all that much; I felt like slapping the 7-year old brother around since he was always so demanding and throwing tantrums and Angel doesn't know how to let the kid suffer a little. Angst. Kid-angst. Teen-age angst ain't all that great but maybe it ain't as bad as kid-angst.

The Giver

I read this book 'cuz it was featured on Wikipedia's front page a while ago.

In a future where humanity has established controls over himself and his environment, pre-teen Jonas' world is turned upside-down when he is Selected to be the Receiver of Memories. The safe, gray, emotionless world he has known all his childhood irritates Jonas as he gains memories from the Giver. He stops taking a pill that suppresses his hormones, he starts to see colors, he learns of the types of pain and pleasure experienced by man before the "Sameness", and he is spurred into action when he learns that the foster "newling" in his home will be euthanized.

The end is left open, but I guess Jonas is revisited in Lowry's Messenger. If I remember, I'll try & find the next book