This Seventh Month, Ghost where?

The ominously-sounding Hungry Ghost Festival has arrived, and despite the little things we religiously follow or abidingly avoid during this month of the year in accordance to the many stories we have been told since young, the trend of watching a good old fashion Horror show during this time of the year is on the rise.

Here are a few good film choices for you to organise a movie night at a friend's place, munching popcorns amidst scaring yourselves out:

1. The Eye (2002 Hong Kong Version) - Aesthmatic ah-ma at the hopsital, floating ah-peh in the lift and the boy in school uniform at the stairway. Enough said.

2. Shutter (2004 Thai Version) - This movie is the closest to authentic real horror in recent years. Shoulder ache and polaroid cameras will never be deemed the same again after watching this movie.

3. The Ring (1998 Japanese Version) - The great grandmother of Asian Horror comes together with the most common household appliances - Television; you got to give it to the Japanese.

4. Sixth Sense (1999) - M. Night Shyamalan's first and best film that gave a whole new meaning to twist endings.

For true horror fans, the following list of movies may not be as commercially successful or well-known as the above 4 movies, but they carry some quality scares and is definitely worth a watch as well:

- Stir of Echoes (1999) - Starring Kevin Bacon, the story tells of a man who gets haunted by spirits after a hypnotising session. The ending is not much to rave but this psychological thriller does give some good chills.

- 4BIAS (2008) - This Thia Horror is a rare gem of 4 short stories. Although 2nd story fails to deliver, the first & last story are priceless in the scare department while the 3rd combines horror with full-blown humor.

- Quarantine (2008 US Version) - This remake of the Spanish movie - REC, surprisingly delivers fear and scares much better than the original; the chills and scares are well-delivered and fear is literally infectious.

- What lies Beneath (2000) - Great scare movie with a quality cast - Harrison Ford and Michelle Pfeiffer.

- The Others (2001) - Good-old fashion horror with a fantastic twist, chilling performance by Nicole Kidman in a pretty amazing plot.

- Alone (2007 Thai Version) - From the team that brought us Shutter, the scare quality in this movie isn't too bad and makes a rather good horror show. Only problem - Shutter was too good so audience tends to compare.

If the above are still too much for you to stomach, there's Tim Burton's Corpse Bride, Casper The Friendly Ghost, Scooby Doo - The Movie, Scary Movies or Jack Neo's Where Got Ghost, which is currently still in the theatres:D

Make Your Mama Proud (MYMP)

I didn't know of MYMP's existence until last weekend when I chanced upon a music store looping their album. I have seen their album before but the overly simple CD packaging and dull design had me brushed it off assuming it to be an amateurish band's attempt at cover songs. I'm glad I was given a second chance.

Hails from Philippines, MYMP is an acoustic band act consisting of five members, with Juris Fernandez (vocalist) and Chin Alcantara (Lead Guitarist) being the two prominent faces of the band. The band started out as a four piece rock band in 1996 and was only complete with Juris joining the band in 2001. Most of their songs are covers but they do have some great original songs as well. In particular, I thought their rendition of Kathy Trocolli's Tell me where it hurts and Jefferson Starship's Nothing's gonna stop us now are fantastically done.

Female Vox Juris has got a great voice, sweet tone with an undercurrent of strength and it was her voice which captivated me at the CD shop so I couldn't resist and ended up going home with one of their albums.

Some of their earlier album covers are honest-to-god tacky but at least the Singapore versions ain't too bad. Look beyond the plain design and it will be a gem to your ear:)

For more information, check out their official website

The Proposal

The plot of the movie may be a little overused and cliche but the pairing of Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds is a nice and comfortable one.

Sandra Bullock plays Margaret, the editor-in-chief of Colden Books who is nicknamed "The Witch" for her no-nonsense attitude and overly driven work attic. Impeccably efficient, she does not accept incompetency and expects her kind-hearted assistant secretary, Andrew (Played by Ryan Reynolds)to be at her beck and call.

After learning that she will be deported back to Canada, Margaret forces Andrew to marry her for mutual gains albeit the risk of being caught by the immigration division. The two then flew to Andrew's hometown - Alaska to celebrate his grandma's 90th birthday as well as taking this chance to "break" the news to his quirky family.

The rest is predictable: Amongst the bickering and fake kissing and hugging, there were genuine family bonding and the couple get to know each other better and feelings developed, complicating things. The ending to such a feel-good type of romantic comedy is predictable but I think the movie scores because of the great chemistry energy displayed by Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds.

My favourite quotes from this scene where Andrew came back for Margaret:
Andrew: Three days ago, I loathed you. And every single day for the past three years, I wished you would be hit by a van. But now, everything changed, starting from that kiss........Margaret, would you marry me? Cause I would like to date you.

Margaret: You..you don't want to be doing this...there's something you don't know about me. I've been on my own since I was 16, why do you think I choose to stay single? Cause I like this..you should just let me go back to Canada and it will be better for both of us. Things will be much easier...

Andrew (closing in on Margaret and held her eyes):Yes, it will be easier..

Margaret (Started to cave and teared):I'm scared.

Don't worry about The Proposal blowing up in your face because this movie exudes sweetness and subtlety in a fantastic pace throughout the 108 mins.

Remember to catch this movie, meanwhile I hope to see Bullock and Reynolds in another film soon.