Movie Review : Journey to the Center of the Earth

IMDB - 6.4/10 (6,572 votes)

Trailer

Starring: Brendan Fraser, Josh Hutcherson, Anita Briem


BengGaBoy Ratings :

3.0 (Good enough to pass time)

Brendan Fraser is the guy popular with such adventurous movies plot. Yawn............ kind of boring that show after show is about the same old stunt from that guy.


So what's new with this movie ? Are we expecting some mummies chasing after them ? Anyway, this show looks like a combination between Jurassic Park and National Treasure. During the show, you will see dinosaurs, flying HUGE piranha, man-eating plants and plenty of uncovering of clues and tunnels.

You have to watch this show without asking and applying too many questions and logical thinking. In such show, typically will not result in any death, unlimited supplies and resources, tons of luck and coincidence.

The story started off with Brendan's sister in-law requesting his help to take care of his nephew for the next 10 days while similarly passing him a carton of old stuff left by his deceased brother. Within that box, it contain a book with the same title as the show documenting their experience to the center of the earth. Believing it's real, they set off the journey with their mountain guide in search of what has happened to his brother.

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Movie Review : Death Race

IMDB - 6.7/10 (6,347 votes)

Trailer

Starring: Jason Statham, Joan Allen, Ian McShane, Tyrese Gibson, Natalie Martinez

BengGaBoy Ratings :

3.5 (Slightly above average - watchable)


Jason Statham is back with yet another "action pack" kind of movie again. Just in case you have forgotten who he is, check out the following show Transporter, The Bank Job and War.

The story started in the future (2012) whereby the America's economy could no longer support the prison system. Thus, the prison has to find it's own way in sustaining it's own operation and at the same time keeping those convicts away from the public.

From there, it has modernized the Roman empire's "Gladiator" style of killing each other into various form to entertain the public earning money to sustain it's operation. However, after a while, the audience get bored and demand more "exciting" style that gave birth to Death Race.

Jason was sentence to jail for something (killing his wife) he never commit. Been an ex-racer, he was immediately drafted by the prison system in participating the death race with each racer given the promise of freedom with 5 wins.

So who killed his wife ? What do they want from Jason ? How did Jason fool the system ? Watch on and get entertain by the killings and gore.................................

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"Upgrading from Vista to XP" for Compaq Presario V3505TU Notebook

This write up is meant for folks who owned a Compaq Presario V3505TU notebook. In the original form, it was pre-installed with Microsoft Vista Home Premium operationg system. As most of you know, Vista tend to consume more resources and resulting in laggy performance especially if you only have 1GB of ram couple with a slow processor.

Thus, this article serve as a purpose of saving you the agnoy of "upgrading" from Vista to Windows XP.

Notebook Specs

• Intel Core 2 Duo T7100 1.8Ghz (2MB/L2 cache) 800 FSB
• Integrated Intel Graphic media accelerator X3100 (256mb)
• 1GB DDR2 (667)
• 120 GB (5400rpm)
• 14.1 WXGA Brightview Widescreen
• LightScribe Super Multi 8X DVD-RW (dual layer) 5 in 1 media card
• Intel Pro/Wireless 4965AGN/Bluetooth

Stuff that you need

1. Windows XP (Home or Professional) Edition with Service Pack 3 Integrated
   
2. NLite application
3. Device Drivers (see section B on where to download)
4. A working PC/notebook with CD-ROM burning capability
5. 1x blank CD-R or CD-RW disc
6. Internet connection for downloading OS update, application

A. Slipstream the SATA drivers into the installation disc

In the original Windows XP installation disc, it does not include any SATA drivers in it. Thus, during installation process, the OS will fail to detect the presence of a hardisk (even though physically it exist) and abort the installation process. Refer to the guide for information on how to slipstream.


B. Downloading of drivers

1. HP Software - Link
2. Mobile Intel® 965 Express Chipset Family - Link
3. Intel Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN - Link
4. Ricoh 5-1 Card Reader - Link
5. Marvell Yukon 88E8039 Ethernet - Link
6. Software and Drivers for HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth Wireless - Link
   
7. Conexant HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP - Link
8. Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver for High Definition Audio - Link
9. Conexant High-Definition Audio Driver - Link
   

C. Installation of drivers

After the installation of Windows XP operating system (I am assuming the reader has the knowledge of performing basic OS installation via bootable CD-ROM), install the drivers in the following sequence (tested to work for me) :

1. Intel Graphics Media Accelerator Driver for Windows XP v14.36.2.4980
2. Intel(R) Matrix Storage Manager v8.5.0.1032
3. Marvell Yukon 88E8039 PCI-E Fast Ethernet Controller Driver v10.22.4.3 A
4. Intel® Wireless WiFi Link 4965AGN
5. Software and Drivers for HP Integrated Module with Bluetooth Wireless
6. Ricoh 5-1 Card Reader Driver v3.52.02 A
7. Conexant HDAUDIO Soft Data Fax Modem with SmartCP v7.67.0.0 A
8. Microsoft Universal Audio Architecture (UAA) Bus Driver for High Definition Audio (sp33867) v1.00B3
9. Conexant High-Definition Audio Driver 3.38.0.50 A

For item 1-7, it's pretty straight forward and in fact, you can change the sequence between 3 and 4 depending which mode of connection is more readily available to you.

I would like to bring your attention to item 8 and 9 which are the most difficult and additional steps have to be taken care of to ensure successful installation.

After installing item #8, refer to the following thread (look for a post by Cherly.G dated 22nd Dec'07 01:51:17 GMT) and follow the steps in installing item #9.

Hopefully with this post, it helps to reduce the amount of "mouse walking" you need to ensure a successful installation. Happy installing.................

Cheers,

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Movie Review : Big Stan

IMDB - 6.5/10 (2,566 votes)

Trailer

Starring: Rob Schneider, David Carradine, Jennifer Morrison

BengGaBoy Ratings :

3.0 (Good enough to pass time)

Hahaha ! This show is one funny shit from Rob Schneider. Just in case you have forgotten about him, he's the man behind Deduce Bigalow : Male Gigolo, The Hot Chick and The Benchwarmers !



So what's up from this dude this round time ? Well, the story is about a professional conman who trick unaware consumer into buying properties at exorbitant prices at lousy locations. As a Chinese proverb said "上得山多终遇虎", finally, law has caught up with him and he was given a jail sentence. For some reasons (I could not remember why), he was given a 6 months period before he starts serving his sentence.

Upset with the sentence, he went to seek opinions from ex-convicts on how's life like in a prison and immediately he was been warned of getting rape by fellow prison mates ! Hahaha ! So depressed that he went home crying to his girlfriend :) Well, I could imagine his feelings of been helpless and having to subject to a foreign object sticking up your ass where chasity belt is NOT an option and safety is not guarantee by the wardens.

So the poor man decided to enroll himself with some martial arts school, however, patience and time is running out with stakes (his virgin ass) running all time high, he got frustrated and gave up. Suddenly (once again, can't remember how), an old sinseh show up and decided to take him as his disciple imparting skills to defend against getting rape by fellow prison mates.

On his first day of arrival to the prison, he made his presence felt by beating a hell out of those potential rapist instead of waiting for them to bang his ass. From there, the story develops further to uncover one of the conspiracy behind the prison system and organization.........................Watch on and enjoy ! Ooops ! Dun forget your chasity belt :)

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Movie Review : Doomsday

IMDB - 6.2/10 (17,534 votes)

HD Trailers

STARRING: Rhona Mitra, Sean Pertwee, Bob Hoskins, MyAnna Buring, Adrian Lester


BengGaBoy ratings :

3.5 (Slightly above average - watchable)

This is the first movie that I ever watched spoken entirely in British accent ! This shows how popular British movies are :) Anyway, in short, this science fiction movie was set in the late 90s whereby there was a deadly virus affecting human mankind with no known cure. Sounds familiar ? So what are the differences between the previous "plot alike" movies like "I am Legend" and "28 weeks later" ?

Well, to begin with, I think the lead actress Rhona Mitra looks great with her moves and style. The film approaches differently from the rest by isolating the virus infested Scotland that indirectly stopping the virus from spreading.

Upon discovering survivals from satellite images within virus infested Scotland, the British government decided to send a team of special forces into the isolated area in hope for a search of a cure to the deadly "Reaper virus". Thus, the journey begin with entering into the isolated Scotland after 30+ years and as usual, they faced tons of endless "creatures" running at them.

However, this show proves to be a little different from the rest, there are a lot of hand-to-hand battle and car-chasing scenes unlike the usual gun and bomb explosion type of killings. After 30+ years in isolation, Scotland has transformed "backwards" into the early days of civilization whereby you will you treated with quite a fair bit of castles, knights, arrows, shields and gladiators style of competition.

Ofcourse, the film do intend to challenge the viewer's memory and sense of humor. An APC (Armor Personnel Carrier) designed with 2 inch armor plate to handle 30mm rounds to chemical weapons attack, however, the windscreen is easily broken by a homemade bottle filled with gasonline and fire :) I would have sack the design engineer repsonsible for HF design.

Watch this movie with an open mind and you will be surprised with the outcome. Enjoy..........

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A better MRT System ?

A visit to STOMP especially on the "Ugly Commuters" section where there are tons of pictures and comments about commuters NOT giving up seats for the old/disabled, pregnant and even placing their belongings on the seat next to them. Well, the list goes on and similarly, their lives goes on as well...................

So what the hell can we do about it ? Education ? Nah, Singapore is one of the few country in the world to have the highest literacy rate (95%), but yet, look at us, how much control (via fine) and people performing ungracious acts on a daily basis without the slightest guilt ! Guess, they must be a fan of Michael Jackson's song "Smooth Criminal" (minus the moonwalk and iconic white socks) !

For example, back in July'08, I was boarding a train towards City Hall standing near to the exit door and there was a girl (about the age of a primary 5 school kid) seated on a priority seat (wondering how many commuters understood that term) with an old granny standing right in front of her pleading for the seat through her eyes and expression.

Due to ongoing embarrassment from public stare, reluctantly, the mother instructed the kid to offer the seat to the old granny . Guess what, the kid just replied "Why should I do that ?" and resumed reading her book without paying any attention to the old granny. At that point, I was hoping for a 9mm projectile would drive through her temple and issue a one-way ticket to hell ! What kind of barbaric animal would do that ???

On the contrary, there was an incident that amused me as well. There was once when I boarded a train at Aljunied station and suprisingly, there was an empty seat right before me, wow, what a lucky trip must be for me ! Upon seated, there was an auntie in her mid 40s seated directly opposite placing her little handbag next to an empty seat shamelessly. At that point of time, the train was getting packed as it approached Bugis, guess what, there were quite a handful of commuters actually dashed to the seat and only to be disappointed by a lifeless little handbag. And best of all, they simply just back off without even asking for the seat. I could imagined their thoughts to be "suck thumb lor". Nevertheless, the curse of the orange seat was finally lifted by an auntie of similar caliber (I assumed) at Outram MRT. For the past 7 stops, none of the commuters actually challenge for the seat and I guess this maybe heavily influenced by the culture.

Having wrote that much, so what BengGaBoy going to suggest that solve everything ? Well, from my perspective, there will not be any single policy that solve everything and agree by everyone. Similarly, we are not going to solve world hunger right ? Read on if you are still interested........................

Pay As You Seat (PAYS)

How it works ?

1. Every single seat on the MRT will be converted to a "cinema like" kind of seat whereby it will automatically flip upwards
2. If a passenger would like to have a seat, they would need to tap their EZlink card on the seat to "unlock" the seat
3. For commuters with special needs (e.g. disabled, old & etc), it will be qualified by a centralized office whereby a special card will be issued. Thus, they will NOT need to pay additional charges
   
4. For pregnant, ladies, upon confirmation with relevant medical documentation, similarly, they could apply for a special "no charge card"with a validity period of 1 year
5. Each train section will be allocated a fix number of "no charge access only" seats for the needy
   

Benefits

• No more dashing for seats by commuters and hopefully that would change the disgusting habit of dashing into the train as well
  
• secured allocation of seats for the needy
• no more 2nd guess for the commuters on who really need a seat (but continue to guess in Deal or no deal)
  
• supply and demand matching by implementing "ERP" like prices
  
• no more obnoxious commuters placing their belonging next to an empty seat
• Win-win situation between commuter and operator. If there isn't much commuters seated means more people can cramp into the train. Thus, this will increase operational efficiency by having a larger economy of scale. With that, cost savings could be pass back to commuters
  

I sincerely hope that such system would implement in Singapore someday and make the trip more pleasant ! With that, Singapore will steal the worldwide headlines of being the 1st country to implement an innovative "ERP" like seating system !

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