The Dream-catchers 未来不是梦

February 14, 2009 in 2009 Dramas, Dramas
Tags: dawn yeoh, jesseca liu, lin meijiao, nat ho, paige chua, richard low, rui-en, shaun chen, tay ping hui, the dream-catchers, wei lai bu shi meng, zhang zhenhuan, 未来不是梦

this drama starts on 4th Feb 09, at 9pm on Channel 8.

this drama stars:
Jesseca Liu as Lin Jiale, Rui-en as Lin Jiaqi, Tay Ping Hui as Wang Zhi Wei, Shaun Chen as Jiang Cheng Feng, Elvin Ng as Sato, Dawn Yeoh as Wang Pei Pei, Nat Ho as Lin Jiajie, Zhang Zhenghuan as Hu Yuanjing, Richard Low as Lin Guodong, Paige Chua as Zhang Xiaowei, Lin Meijiao as Cai Aili, Wang Huaqing as Situ Yan, Eelyn Kok as Li Shanshan

OFFICIAL MEDIACORP CH8 SYNOPSIS

this is an idol drama about engineering! haha :) it reminds me a lot of 2007’s “The Peak”, ‘cos they’re both sponsored by erm… big companies to promote something.

in the midst of all the engineering jargon, love troubles surface…

Rui-en will receive the affections of Shaun Chen and Elvin Ng – and they even get to film in snowy Japan! the scenery is so beautiful!
and some complicating problems arise with the arrival of Eelyn Kok’s character as Shaun Chen’s ex-fiancee, who is quite a horrible person – evil role for Eelyn Kok again!

and Jesseca Liu will end up with TPH in the end, but Jesseca is liked by expat engineer played by Zhang Zhenghuan (in his debut acting role), while TPH is liked by resident slacker played by Wang Huaqing.

they ALL have to encounter multiple problems at work and in their love lives, and family lives.

i guess that sums the whole show up. sorta.

SORRY PEOPLE, I’M NOT WATCHING THIS DRAMA.

here are some views from Paul Chan’s blog– CLICK HERE

The BEST and WORST of 2008

December 31, 2008 in 2008 Dramas, Dramas, Special!
Tags: ann kok, apple hong, best and worst of 2008, by my side, chen hanwei, chen shucheng, crime busters x2, cui peng, 球爱大战, 绝对佳人, 缘之烩, dai yangtian, dawn yeoh, eelyn kok, 黄金路, huang hui, jeanette aw, jerry yeo, jesseca liu, joanne peh, joshua ang, just in singapore, kinship ii, li yinzhu, love blossoms, nanny daddy, ng hui, paige chua, patricia mok, rebecca lim, rhythm of life, rui-en, Taste of Love, tay ping hui, the defining moment, the golden path, the little nyonya, Top 8 Most Likable Female Lead Characters, Top 8 Most Likable Male Lead Characters, Top 8 Most Likeable Female Lead Characters, Top 8 Most Likeable Male Lead Characters, zhu houren, zzen, 变奏曲, 叮当神探, 奶爸百分百, 小娘惹, 年度8大最喜爱的男角色, 年度8大最喜爱的女角色, 心花朵朵开, 手足, 沸腾冰点, 一房半厅一水缸, 不凡的爱

BEST

BEST DRAMAS!!

The Little Nyonya 小娘惹 (Xiao Niang Re; 2008/9): 4.8/5.0 (EXCELLENT!) tentative

The Golden Path 黄金路 (Huang Jin Lu; 2007/8): 4.6/5.0 (EXCELLENT)

Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸 (Yi Fang Ban Ting Yi Shui Gang; 2008): 4.5/5.0 (Very Good)

Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开 (Xin Hua Duo Duo Kai; 2008): 4.4/5.0 (Very Good)

Crime Busters x2 叮当神探 (Ding Dang Shen Tan; 2008): 4.2/5.0 (Very Good)

BEST ACTORS

Tay Ping Hui as Huang Kaijie in “The Golden Path 黄金路”

Chen Hanwei as Chen Bufan in “By My Side 不凡的爱”

BEST ACTRESSES

Ann Kok as Lin Xiuhui in “La Femme 绝对佳人”

Jeanette Aw as Huang Juxiang/ Shanben Yueniang in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTORS

Zhu Houren as Tang Weiye in “The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点”

Zzen as Wang Tianbao in “Rhythm of Life 变奏曲” and as Robert Zhang in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

BEST SUPPORTING ACTRESSES

Patricia Mok as Sammi in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开” and as Mary in “Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸”

Li Yinzhu as ‘zi-dong sao’ in “Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸”

Lin Meijiao as Guihua in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

MOST IMPROVED ACTOR/ACTRESS (award coined by HK-TVB)

Zzen as Wang Tianbao in “Rhythm of Life 变奏曲” and as Robert Zhang in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

Apple Hong as Qianqian in “Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸” and as Huang Meiyu in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

Joanne Peh as Huang Kaiqi in “The Golden Path 黄金路”, Chen Shuxian in “The Truth 谜图”, Rainie in “Beach.Ball.Babes 球爱大战” and as Huang Yuzhu in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

Ng Hui as Gu Xiaolei in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”, as Zheng Wanyu in “The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点”, and as Ah-tao in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

PERFECT MALE CHARACTER (inspiration from VV Drama’s ‘Perfect Man 完美男人’ prize)

[somewhat similar to the Top 8 Most Likeable Male Lead Characters (results by online voting and revealed at the Channel 8 Countdown Party 2008):

1. Ma Tianwu (Christopher Lee) in Beach.Ball.Babes 球爱大战
2. Li Junjie (Christopher Lee) in Rhythm of Life 变奏曲
3. Yousuke Yamamoto (Dai Yangtian) in The Little Nyonya 小娘惹
4. Fang Youfang (Dai Yangtian) in Taste of Love 缘之烩
5. Lin Bang (Huang Wenyong) in Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸
6. Chen Buqun (Elvin Ng) in By My Side 不凡的爱
7. Chen Bufan (Chen Hanwei) in By My Side 不凡的爱
8. Sun Jiaming (Pierre Png) in The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点]

others:

Cui Peng as Yan Feipeng in “Beach.Ball.Babes 球爱大战”

Qi Yuwu as Chen Xi in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

PERFECT FEMALE CHARACTER (inspiration from VV Drama’s ‘Perfect Woman 完美女人’ prize)

[somewhat similar to the Top 8 Most Likeable Female Lead Characters (results by online voting and revealed at the Channel 8 Countdown Party 2008):

1. Huang Juxiang (Jeanette Aw) in The Little Nyonya 小娘惹
2. Shanben Yueniang (Jeanette Aw) in The Little Nyonya 小娘惹
3. Chen Xiaorou (Jeanette Aw) in Rhythm of Life 变奏曲
4. Lin Keyi (Jeanette Aw) in The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点
5. Tao Haitong (Felicia Chin) in Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开
6. Lin Fei (Felicia Chin) in The Golden Path 黄金路
7. Lin Kexin (Fann Wong) in The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点
8. Zhang Yuhang (Rui-en) in By My Side 不凡的爱]

others:

Dawn Yeoh as Wang Sixing in “Beach.Ball.Babes 球爱大战”

Jesseca Liu as Liu Zhiling in “Rhythm of Life 变奏曲”

Ng Hui as Tao in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

“PERFECT PARENT(S)”

Chen Shucheng as Tao Dashun in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”

MOST INSPIRATIONAL CHARACTER(S)

Rui-en as Zhang Yuhang in “By My Side 不凡的爱”

Jeanette Aw as Huang Juxiang in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

PEOPLE TO LOOK OUT FOR IN 2009!!

Dai Yangtian. duh. winning 2/8 of the ‘Top 8 Most Likeable Male Lead Characters 年度8大最喜爱的男角色‘ for the ONLY 2 roles he’s played is by no means an easy feat. it’s amazing. he’ll be acting in the ping-pong drama “乒乓圆”.

Eelyn Kok – she’s versatile. she can be utterly miserable as Yu Meiwei in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”, and the heartless, selfish, spoilt, and ‘black-hearted’ Huang Zhenzhu in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”… :) (PS i like the pattern of her blouse in the pic above!)

Joshua Ang of Jack Neo’s “I Not Stupid” fame. after NS, he signed on with Mediacorp. most know of his wonderful acting skills portrayed in “I Not Stupid” and “Homerun”. look out for him in the ping-pong drama “乒乓圆”, where he romances Teresa Tseng of Campus Superstar fame.

Paige Chua – this newcomer appeared in 2008 and has done 3 dramas (“Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸”, “La Femme 绝对佳人” and “Crime Busters x2 叮当神探”) already. she looks set to rise up to bigger challenges, especially after her turn as a mentally disturbed forensic pathologist in “Crime Busters x2 叮当神探”.

Rebecca Lim – she had 3 roles (“The Truth 谜图”, “The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点” & “Crime Busters x2 叮当神探”) in 2008… although only her role in “The Truth 谜图” was major. looking forward to seeing her more, as her acting is promising!

Jerry Yeo from Star Search 2007 fame. he played Jesseca Liu’s goody-two-shoes brother in “Beach.Ball.Babes 球爱大战” where he tried romancing Dawn Yeoh’s character, and then he guest-starred and played the mentally unsound genius in “Crime Busters x2 叮当神探”. i was impressed by his role, however small, in “Crime Busters x2 叮当神探”. it seemed so real and looked so real that it freaked me out.

SURPRISE OF THE YEAR!!

Dai Yangtian – from China, he was signed on by Mediacorp in 2007. virtually unknown, he made his debut in “Taste of Love 缘之烩”. then he was cast in the mega-drama of the year, and most people didn’t know who on earth he was. but that role was all he needed, and he shot to fame with that ONE SINGLE ROLE – Yamamoto Yousuke in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”. Yousuke had only appeared for about 5 episodes before he was killed off, but that was enough. EVERYONE was curious and dying to know who this handsome, charming and gentlemanly guy was. from an unknown actor, he shot up to the top, in a little less than a year — and won (by online votes) 2/8 of the ‘Top 8 Most Likable Male Lead Characters 年度8大最喜爱的男角色‘ – for “Taste of Love 缘之烩” and and “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”. this just proves that roles really can make or break an actor/actress.

WORST

WORST DRAMAS!!

Nanny Daddy 奶爸百分百 (Nai Ba Bai Fen Bai; 2008): 2.2/5.0 (Below Average)

The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点 (Fei Teng Bing Dian; 2008): 2.4/5.0 (Below Average)

Kinship II 手足 II (Shou Zu II; 2007/8): 3.0/5.0 (Fair)

By My Side 不凡的爱 (Bu Fan De Ai; 2008): 3.1/5.0 (Fair)

Rhythm of Life 变奏曲 (Bian Zou Qu; 2008): 3.2/5.0 (Fair)

“WORST PARENT(S)”

Nelson Chia and Patricia Mok as Robert and Mary in “Just in Singapore 一房半厅一水缸”

MOST IRRITATING CHARACTER(S)

Patricia Mok as Sammi in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”

Chen Tianwen as Lu Gua in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”

WHO IS THE MOST EVIL?

Tay Ping Hui as Huang Kaijie in “The Golden Path 黄金路”

Zzen as Robert Zhang in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

Patricia Mok as Sammi in “Love Blossoms 心花朵朵开”

Ng Hui as Zheng Wanyu in “The Defining Moment 沸腾冰点”

Lin Meijiao as Guihua in “The Little Nyonya 小娘惹”

ANYMORE???

OK, i think i’m finally done! hope you all enjoy reading this post! let’s cheer to the wonderful year 2008!! :)

THANK YOU to all the actors, actresses, and every single behind-the-scenes personnel – scriptwriters, directors, editors, cameramen, soundmen etc.- EVERYONE who made our dramas possible, and drama-watching enjoyable! to all of you I HEREBY EXTEND MY DEEPEST THANKS.

*all photos are property of Mediacorp

By My Side 不凡的爱

November 30, 2008 in 2008 Dramas, Dramas
Tags: AIDS, AIDS awareness, bu fan de ai, by my side, channel 8, chen hanwei, drama review, drama serial, drama series, elvin ng, mediacorp, rui-en, singapore, terence cao, vina lim, zoe tay, 不凡的爱

this drama debuted on Tuesday, 28 October 2008, at 9pm on Channel 8, and airs in collaboration with World AIDS Day (1 Dec). it attempts to inform, warn and educate the public about AIDS.

additional info:
World AIDS Day 2008
buy (RED) save lives
wiki
World AIDS Campaign
UNAIDS: The Joint United Nations Programme on HIV/AIDS

THE DRAMA

This drama stars:
Chen Hanwei as Chen Bufan, Zoe Tay as Lin Xinya, Rui-en as Zhang Yuhang, Elvin Ng as Chen Buqun, Terence Cao as Zi Xin/Zi Jian, Vina Lim as Chen Tiantian, Zhu Houren as Lin Chunxiao, Zhu Yu Ye as Wang Qiuyue, Chen Tianwen as Andy, Brandon Wong as hui-gou (grey dog), Ong Ai Leng as Cecelia, Ye Shipin as hei-ma (black horse), Benjamin Heng as Xinya’s brother, Melody Chen as Xinya’s brother’s wife

This drama starts with Chen Bufan (Chen Hanwei) passing out after coughing incessantly, and he is taken to the hospital, with his wife Xinya (Zoe Tay) and daughter Tiantian (Vina Lim) following him.

Flashbacks show that Chen Bufan is a loving husband and model father. He works in a meat factory, and his wife is a tutor. Their daughter, Tiantian, is 6 years old, and they are well liked in their neighbourhood.

Scenes in the current and past show the set of events which happened after Bufan discovered he has AIDS. His entire family were discriminated against, and life became very painful for them, as they were regarded like the plague.

I gave up 1/2 way. It got boring and kind of pointless, as it was really miserable… All the info in a drama setting was definitely better than doing it in a magazine programme. I appreciate the fact that this drama set out to create awareness among the masses, and it did it’s job.

Chen Hanwei was brilliant! He looked so sickly, and looked like he was going to collapse and die anytime.

Zoe Tay’s role was quite pointless. She was so cold, and strict.

There was no chemistry between her and Chen Hanwei, even in the beginning, when they were supposed to be a loving couple. Therefore, I was not surprised when they were having a cold-war and all. You couldn’t feel the love between the couple.

On the other hand, I thought Vina Lim as Tiantian did a good job, and kept the life in the show. she was the one who asked questions which everyone watching would, at one point or another. so I think she can be called the audience’s conscious-voice

Rui-en was quite an ’emo’ character, and Elvin Ng was the one who managed to melt her heart. Rui-en and Elvin as a couple… they were quite sweet.

Terence Cao in the show — quite meaningless. really.

OVERALL, this drama did what it was supposed to do — create awareness about AIDS, and warn people about its dangers. it attempted to show how a family’s love can change almost every situation, and also focused on current issues like unfilial children, discrimination among kids due to adult’s thoughts…

FINAL RATINGS: 3.1/5.0 (Fair)

THE REVIEW BELOW is done by my sister, KiM:

I think that the plot is very simple and it almost seems like that were trying to stretch a 10 episode drama to 20 episodes. The show was quite bland and colourless, and I gave up watching it half-way through.
The show was made to get people to be aware that AIDS is a very dangerous illness and how you could prevent yourself from getting it as well as informing audiences how you could contract AIDS.
The show also shows how people with AIDS are discriminated against and that it is not as easy to contract AIDS as getting a common flu.
Chen Han Wei’s acting was really good in the show. He had to look sick throughout the whole show and he achieved it. Zoe Tay’s character in the show was very bland and it did not show her acting skills. Rui-en’s acting was to her usual standard as she normally does not act in very challenging roles. Elvin Ng was trying to be cool in the show and really did not bring out any acting skills.

I’m sorry, I didn’t have the time, and I was not interested in doing a review for this. If this review disappointed, I’m terribly sorry!