mrbrown.com

See What Show: Mulan

Besides the lack of travel, this year has been marked by the lack of cinema-going too. Blockbuster movies have been delayed or pushed back. Cinemas were closed. We’ve been also locked down.

So it was with some excitement that the Wife and I went to watch the premiere of Disney’s Mulan. Tenet was the first movie we watched post-circuitbreaker but Mulan was the one we understood.

It was also very enjoyable and I’m glad we caught it on the big screen. I think the US is getting it on Disney+ (you buy it from the streaming service) but we get to see it on the big screen here.

It is quite the spectacle.

No, there is no Mushu. No, there is no cutesy humour. No, there isn’t even any singing. Just leave your animated Mulan expectations at the door and watch this as a different movie. A little more serious. A lot of pomp and grandeur.

You can tell Disney has put in a lot of effort to get the costumes and the sets right. The kungfu wire work is also spot on.

Where you might get a little thrown off is the Chinese-accented English and the English-accented pronunciation of Chinese names. Some of the over-emphasis on morals and love of country can also feel a little cringey and smell a little of propaganda.

But, get past some of the cringe and you will find a kickass movie about a kickass heroine who, well, kicks ass.

I like that the focus is on Mulan herself. The romance angle from the animated movie was played down too. This is all about a young woman’s journey to finding her place in a male-dominated society. And you will cheer her as she does it.

This is one of the best animated to live-action movie adaptions that Disney has ever done. This is no meh Cinderella or Lion King.

Think of it as a tribute to all the Chinese wuxia period movies you’ve watched before. Sure, we are familiar with the tropes and may find it hokey seen through the lens of Hollywood, like we did when Crouching Tiger came out. But I think it’s a credible effort and enjoyable for the family.

Go see it in the cinema. Oh and see if you can recognize Jet Li.

Kim Huat Presents: The Worst Heist Ever

Kim Huat saw this old Malaysian CCTV footage of the worst heist ever.

YouTube link: youtu.be/fjPEP5UBb3A

See What Show: TENET

Just saw TENET, my first movie since I saw 1917 in February.

I have only the faintest idea of what is going on. I am still trying to pick up the pieces of my brain after it was blown. And I will up all night, sleepless, trying to think through the plot.

BUT WOW, what a rush! Tenet makes Inception feel like Sesame Street. My head hurts.

This is one of those movies that will be watched over and over again and analyzed for years. Epic.

Some nerd please draw a chart to eventually explain everything to me.

Side note: Must see in IMAX.

The confusing world of USB-C cables

I’m done buying low-end USB-C cables. If I don’t see 10Gbps data rates on the box, I am not buying it.

It is so troublesome trying to distinguish between the low-data-rate USB-C cables designed mainly for low-power charging, and the ones I can use with my SSD drives and for 100W charging. I open my drawer and I see all these USB-C cables and they are not designed the same.

Those cheapo charging ones are usually USB 2.0 (480 Mbps) for data. Then there are those that can do 5Gbps, like Apple's 2-metre USB-C charging cable for their MacBooks. You won't use that one for data but it is still faster than USB 2.0 USB-C cables.

If you want the speed, the cable has to be 1m and below, and must say "SuperSpeed+" (10 Gbit/s maximum) or "USB 3.1 Gen 2" or "USB 3.2 Gen 2". Sometimes you see a Superspeed logo "SS" on it, and a "10".

I got this Flujo Elite X X34 USB C Cable recently. It does data transfer at 10Gbps, supports HDMI 2.0b 4K at 60Hz, and charging up to 100W (which is what your 16-inch MacBook Pro draws).

And no, this is not a sponsored post. I just happened to see that cable that met my requirements and bought it. I like Flujo products, by the way. Solid local brand. I am playing with their Signature Pro hub at the moment too. I have also used their CH55 USB-C 7 in 1 Multi-Function Adapter.

As you can see in the photo above and below, I have my share of SSD drives. I have a 1TB SSD NVME drive inside an OWC Envoy Pro EX USB-C enclosure. That is the silver one in the photo above. Wicked fast at 980MB/s transfer.

Then I have the 2TB G-DRIVE mobile SSD R-Series drive (photo above and below) that does 540MB/s over USB-C. Not bad.

And my latest one is the SanDisk Extreme PRO portable SSD (photo below, right) that also gives me 2TB over USB-C at a solid 1050MB/s. Fast enough to edit video directly from. They both come with their own short USB-C cables which support 10Gbps. But when you need something longer, you have to buy your own. So that is why I started buying better USB-C cables.

At least know which of your cables are for charging only and which ones are for high-speed data transfer, is what I am saying. This Verge piece explains the confusion better than I can.

How I wish Thunderbolt 3 SSD drives were cheaper. Then I get to play with 2,800MB/s speeds. Which is almost as fast as my 16-inch MBP's internal SSD. Woosh!

Kim Huat WFH Phase 2, Day 51: Dream Vacation

Kim Huat takes advantage of the National Day long weekend to go on a short holiday.

YouTube link: youtu.be/dO6lRfU7gSM

Kim Huat goes on a Learning Journey

If you want to take the family for a learning journey, Kim Huat has an itinerary you can adapt from!

Take a trip around Singapore to learn the story of the many cultures that have contributed to the building of our country. Kim Huat marvels at our ability to bridge cultural differences and work together with people who may think differently from us.

More than ever, these are important skills for us to #LearnforLife.

[This video was filmed before Circuit Breaker measures were put in place. Please observe safe distancing, mask-wearing, and all the current measures necessary to beat COVID-19. Stay safe, everyone!]

YouTube link: youtu.be/xjzJQ2yGMSk

Kim Huat: So What if I am a Late Bloomer?

Some of us start a little slower, and have different interests at different stages. What matters is taking these interests and aptitudes into account when deciding the next step in our education journeys. Kim Huat shares the story of his journey.

#LearnforLife

[This video was filmed before COVID-19. Please observe safe distancing, mask-wearing, and all the current measures necessary to beat this coronavirus, ok?]

YouTube link: youtu.be/b2EqqX2sNv8

Kim Huat WFH Phase 2, Day 27: GE O Levels

Kim Huat scores the winners and losers in the critical exam.

YouTube link: youtu.be/S5fsGydDluM

See What Show: The Old Guard

mrbrown’s #WFH mini movie reviews: The Old Guard was not brilliant but it was a watchable action Netflix thing. Did not make me pui chow nua like 6 Underground.

Took a while to build up. Action was nice. Villain was cookie cutter. I’d like to see more Quynh. Sequel is very likely. Charlize Theron is an action flick goddess. Please show more of her past in the next movie. I also want to see more of her axe.

Middle part of the movie a little too much exposition. It’s so obviously a setup for a franchise and a sequel. It felt more like a tv series pilot than a full-on movie.

I bet the graphic novel was better. The last book of the sequel is out, I think.

Other stuff I’m watching now or soon: Warrior Nun and Apple TV+‘s Greyhound.

Also fun was The Great, on Hulu, about Catherine the Great.

In this time of COVID-19, it seems like the only movie options come from streaming services. I don't know when we will feel safe enough to go back to the cinema.

Kim Huat WFH Phase 2, Day 20: Cooling Off Leh

On the day before Cooling Off Day, Kim Huat shares his frustrations about GE2020.

YouTube link: youtu.be/aH0YeY1tpmo

Kim Huat WFH Phase 2, Day 12: GE Lai Liao

On Nomination Day, Kim Huat provides his best ideas for those standing for elections.

YouTube link: youtu.be/02tWwumfgQw

Fatherhood in the Time of COVID

Something I wrote for Father's Day, for my church publication, the Trinitarian magazine:

“When your children see you 24/7 at home, they see their father in every situation. When he is working. When he relaxing. When he is praying (or not praying enough). When he is angry. When he is goofy. When he is loving with their mother. When he is arguing with her too.

Everything. Laid. Bare.

In these times, you start to ask yourself, how do you be the father you need to be to your children?”

Link: https://www.trinitarian.online/post/fatherhood-in-the-time-of-covid

Kim Huat WFH Phase 1, Day 17: Last Day

Less than one and half hours to the beginning of Phase 2, and Kim Huat has some anxiety.

YouTube link: youtu.be/WrcA-mbCRro

Kim Huat WFH Phase 1, Day 14: Akan Datang

Kim Huat is very excited about the Phase 2 news that was announced. He would like to declare he did not receive the leaked version of the news.

YouTube link: youtu.be/xqBgwFMWtfs

Sleeping in

Wife: “Faith hasn’t woken up yet. It’s almost 12.”

Me: “It must be her wild night at Zouk yesterday.”

We both laugh.

But there is also a feeling of longing in our hearts. If only.