Alright, another day where i just took off to catch a movie alone. I think i should have this regularly. My own movie alone day. But sad to say, it is really just an excuse to have sushi on my own. In any case, it was fun. Bought a discounted book from book fair *gasp* but the first 10 pages did not bore me so i am quite optimistic. It is Derek Jarman's Smiling In Slow Motion. A collection of diaries written by a gay artist cum film maker. I have not heard of him nor was there any introduction prologue in the book. I gleaned as much from browsing. He has a certain caustic tone common to sharp witted brit or perhaps i am just prejudice, artist, which made reading interesting. But certain phrases caught my eye. And for a moment i wish i could write like that. A certain flair for words.

The movie. Ah. Caught I Not Stupid. I once declared, i can't remember to who, that i would not watch that movie. Looks like i am eating my words now. Remind me not to make big declarations next time. In any case, it was everything i imagined it to be and then some. In short, a storyline woven to fit in as much social critique as Jack Neo could managed. It is, how should i say it, subtly obvious. If there is an oxymoron, this would be it. I can't decide if he is trying to be clever by creating such subtle metaphors (i.e. all white mom = PAP) or was all along trying to be obvious. In the end, it was a collection of pretty smart remarks that is totally in synch with the rest of Singapore. It is difficult not to be charmed by such a movie because it is declaring in bold cinematic style, what everyone (well almost everyone) in everyday singapore is thinking. Very Jack Neo indeed. To give him credit, it is much better than his past movies like Money No Enough, very singaporean, the plot tugs at everyone heartstring (i.e. adorable children in the system that everyone is familiar with), relatively smooth delivery and common jokes/slang, cleverly put together into a movie. So what on earth am i complaining about? Perhaps i am just too demanding in my taste for movies. It is an adequate (perhaps even clever) piece of social commentary. But alas, not much of a movie for me personally. Still, i had an enjoyable enough evening and i certainly did not mind spending that 6.50 on the movie ticket.