Which is better? Let the right one in (2008) or Let me in (2010)

 

  There has been a debate going on. Whether the original Swedish horror film, "Let the Right One in" (2008) is better than the American remake 'Let me in" (2010) starring Chole Grace Moretz. 

    Critics say the American remake falls short of the original, as there are scenes which only hint to some bloody violence in the Swedish  original, but in the American remake it's depicted very graphically. I suppose European audiences prefer more subtle scenes, but American audiences tastes are a little more gory. 

    I would argue both have their strengths and weaknesses. But both largely stayed true to the source material, the 2004 novel, 'Let the right one in', by Swedish author John Ajvide Lindqvist. Lindqvist was the screen writer for the 2008 film adaptation, and the producers for the Swedish film were brought on to help with the 2010 American remake as well. 

  In the end, both centre on the relationship between a lonely boy, and a centuries old female vampire, who seems to be 'forever 12'.  Both are lonely souls, broken and battered, and they seem to complement each other. But, what is shown, not told, is that the vampire. Elli, was grooming the lonely boy, Oskar, to be her familiar: To look after her during the day, when she's 'asleep' in her coffin, and to manage all her affairs, including fetching blood for her. 

   Is there any real love between them? I don't know, but its obvious: When Oskar has lived past his usefulness, he will be discarded by Elli, who will then go on to groom a replacement familiar, and the cycle continues. This is the main message in both movie adaptations. 

    So to my readers out there. Be careful:  Avoid being so smitten by someone, you get used by them, then when they are done with you, they simply discard you like a pile of trash.                                                                                                                                                               

   In the end, I would give both movie adaptions a 9/10: Great date night rental. The cold, dreary settings strike a chord with me, and I can feel the pain and melancholy of two lonely souls trying to navigate a dark cruel world. 

   Fun Fact:  John Ajvide Lindqvist published a collection of short stories in 2005, entitled Let the Old Dreams Die, and one of the short stories was made into a movie in 2018, titled 'Border'. It's about Tina, a lady working in Swedish Border Control, who finally comes to the realization she is a troll, and so Tina travels into the Swedish wilderness to discover her origins, and reunite with her fellow trolls.                                                                                     

    

On Fruit Smoothies

 

   Fruit Smoothies are really great, especially in the summer.  For the following reasons: 

    1) Allieviating tension headaches as a result from the glare of a hot summer sun. 

    2) Clearing the bowels, and the bladder

    3) Curing hunger pangs 

    4) Full of vitamins and minerals, fibre, and anti-oxidents to fight free radicals. 

    My go to fruit smoothie is watermelon, and blue berries. Sometimes I go for watermelon and banana. Banana and blue berries are great too. 

   When it's not watermelon season, like right now, I substitute watermelon with Dragonfruit (purple) and I add an apple and an orange. 

  Other ingredients I'd add to a fruit smoothie: 

      - Greek yoghurt

      - ice cubes

      - Water.  

     

 My parents are old. So they don't have much for dinner. They just have some fruit smoothie, then head straight to bed. 

  I've been recommended to try Mango smoothies, and Strawberry smoothies. I have tried Mango lassi, and they are the bomb, just like Papaya Lassi. I haven't had the chance to try strawberries, but I have tried strawberry black tea, served hot, with milk. 

   

Review: The Odyssey (2026) by Christopher Nolan

   

    "What you most want, is what you most cant have. And what you most can't have, is what you already had, and lost." 

       - Odysseus

    Imagine surviving a decade long siege of the greatest city of the era, only to be by consumed by cyclopses, enthralled by sirens, and massacred by armoured giants and a terrifying sea monster? 

   And all because your leader, in a moment of egotistical folly, did something really stupid to jeopardize your return journey home? 

   Well, this taught me a harsh lesson: Always control one's ego and impulses, and it really pays to keep one's mouth shut. 

    Of course, there are other lessons to be learnt from Homer's classic, the Odyssey, but this one is perhaps the most important. 

    Matt Damon, gives a stellar performance as Odysseus, an old military veteran, haunted by regret and remorse for his actions in the Trojan War, whose brilliant plan of the Trojan Horse culiminated in the burning and sacking of Troy.  

   Whilst there are many modern elements in Nolan's adaptation, I'd argue Nolan largely stayed true to the source material, and special mention goes to Tom Holland as Telemachus. It is through Telemachus's search for his father, Odysseus, that the audience learns, from tales told to Telemachus from other individuals, the story of his father's sacking of Troy, and Odysseus's return journey back home. 

   Perhaps why the Odyssesy is such a classic, is because, at its very heart, it is an exploration of human nature, betrayal, and human failings. And Ann Hathaway has to deal with Odysseus's failings, as the strong queen Penelope, holding the fort as Odysseus is away for 2 decades. Truly what a sad state of affairs Ithaca has fallen into. All the military vets left for war long ago. The remaining men did not know how to string a reverse bow. It was not a matter of strength, but technique, and Odysseus, having returned, successfully strings the bow, and fires the arrow through the 12 axes, then proceeds to massacre all 108 suitors. What an iconic ending that stayed the same and lasted through the ages. 

   If you have the time, and you like ancient Greek epics, do take a dive into this 3 hr long masterpiece, and fall in love with a time and place very different from our 21st century world. And the scene with Odysseus's dog at the end? Broke my heart, and I cried a little. 

    9.5 out of 10. Highly recommended. 

Review: Zheng, by Christopher Teh

 

   Today I'd like to write a review of my good friend's novel, Zheng

   Without giving out spoilers as much as possible, here goes: 

       Zheng basically takes the origins of the Nyonya Baba (Peranakan) people, and turns it 180 degrees. 

       Instead of an affluent Chinese merchant coming to British Malaya for trade and commerce, and marrying the regular local women, Zheng tells the story of Zheng, a poor, down -trodden Chinese sailor  who escapes the cruelty and hardships of Qing China, and sails down south to Nusantara (modern day Malaysia) and Zheng's encounter with the Malay noble-woman, Melati. 

    Zheng is meticuolously crafted, the author's love-letter to Malaysia, and Malaysian culture, and Malaysian food. The narration provided by characters tell a gut wrenching tale, and there are snippets of heart-warming anecdotes, of the kindness of the locals. The larger than life characters certainly bring Zheng to life, and it is the characters that carry the story forward. 

   What I like best about this book, is that its very strongly grounded in Nusantara, written in simple English, and does not have flowery metaphors with no grounding, that are full of plotholes

    My favourite character in the whole story is Melati, the Malay-Noble woman, and it is hinted it is via the beautidul union of Zheng and Melati, that forms the origins of the Nyonya Baba (Peranakan) people.

  I honestly felt it was the kindness and strength of Melati that carried Zheng, indeed the story, forward, and therein lies the point of the novel, and the message the author is trying to convey: It is the kindness of the Malays that eased our ancestors transition into the new world (Nusantara, or Malaya) from Old Qing, and we must always be mindful and grateful for this kindness. Even till today. 

    Additionally, reading between the lines, in the subtext of the novel, one can feel the lonelinss and melancholy of the author. 

   Overall, I give Zheng a solid 8.5 /10.  Escape into a simpler world, where people cared for one another, and are not lost in an endless haze of doom scrolling and social media stalking. The author's skill in story-telling, and crafting of scenes, create vivid imagery, and walk side by side with characters in the past and experience Malaysian Culture and Food for the very first time, as when our chinese ancestors first ventured into the new world, in their escape from Old Qing. 

   Order Zheng, from the publishers website here: 

   https://www.gerakbudaya.com/product/zheng-the-sailor-who-came-to-melaka-christopher-teh-cherita-books

    Or from the Shopee E-Commerce website here: 

  https://shopee.com.my/Zheng-The-Sailor-Who-Came-To-Melaka-Christopher-Teh-(Cherita-Books)-i.224888210.53709944855

   

   (Disclaimer: This is not a paid review. The author is a friend of mine, I simply wanted to support him. The fact my grandma on my mom's side is Peranakan from Melaka also factors in my support of this novel.)