Call me a sucker, but I just love heart-warming family films, especially romantic comedies with kids (must be my maternal instincts coming to the fore). This probably stemmed from my love of old ‘80s and ‘90s John Hughes films. Remember Pretty in Pink, Sixteen Candles, Home Alone and The Breakfast Club? Well, there’s a new category—the Adam Sandler films.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SONY RELEASING INTERNATIONAL

It takes a certain type of movie-lover to like Adam Sandler films. You’d have to like clichés, cheesy romance, the occasional brawny joke and family-centric plots. Just Go With It is no different. It tells the story of Danny (Adam Sandler), a successful plastic surgeon who pretends to be in an unhappy marriage to hook up with women in order to have fun without any attachment. When he meets a beautiful, N*Sync-generation, sixth grade teacher who could just be the love of his life, he enlists the help of his assistant Katherine (Jennifer Aniston) and her two children to help him with his pretend play. Guess what happens in the end?

Like I said, it’s clichéd.

But like other Adam Sandler movies such as Happy Gilmore, Big Daddy, Grown Ups and Bedtime Stories, the film’s hilarious moments make up for the eye-rolling predictability; take the hair-raising, rib-tickling rivalry between Katherine and her ex-sorority sister, for instance.

Just Go With It is pretty much another Adam Sandler rom-com, but there’s nothing wrong with that. We could all do with a bit of laughter and some warm-hearted family fun, and walk out of the cinema with a warm feeling in your belly and an urge to hug your loved ones.

Rating:

Matthew Chee of events company OP3 International shares how being faithful can bless people in the marketplace. He urges others to remain strong in the face of challenges.

CN PHOTO: Michael Chan

What helps a man rise from being just an employee to a partner in his company? According to Matthew Chee, it is simply faithfulness.

Chee, 43, started out in OP3 International as just an employee, then made his way to the top. He shared that his quick rise in position was through “hard work, willingness to learn and through being faithful.”

BEGINNING DAYS

OP3 International began in 1997 with two founding partners who created the company to help companies with interior design, exhibitions and events displays and point of purchase displays. In 2007, the partnership dissolved and one of the partners left. But Chee stayed on, and after a quick revamp, the company began again with him rising in position from employee to partner in two years.

The company also managed to grow from just the two partners to 33 staff and 10 designers. In fact, the company is now quite prominent, and while you might think you’ve never heard of it, you’ve seen their handiwork everywhere.

The company started out with Sony as a client and has now expanded to a large range of clients such as EpiCentre, Best Denki, Karen Millen, Fish & Co and many other well-known companies. “We have many long-time clients that come back repeatedly,” Chee said. OP3 International helps design and build offices, event spaces and even those displays you see in Best Denki that hold the electronic goods you’re thinking of buying. The goal of which is to help “enhance products.”

“P” STANDS FOR PEOPLE

OP3 International had a turnover of less than S$10 million in their first year but now have increased their turnover by 50 percent, up to S$15 million. Their success probably comes from their great service and willingness to put people first in their business. In fact, the “P” in the company’s name stands for people. And that attribute of the company is seen in Chee, who shared about how they go about helping a new client.

“When we look at a new company we have to think of consumer behavior, namely the five senses of the people. ‘How would you feel?’ is one of the most important questions,” he said earnestly. His role in the company is to open new accounts and new markets for the company, helping them to reach out to new clients.

“When we are pitching to a new client we have to know the industry, know our clients and fit the bill.” Through careful planning and a bit of psychology OP3 comes up with the most appealing designs for both consumers and clients. “We fulfill their needs by understanding them.”

Take Best Denki at Parkway Parade for example. When you come down the escalator you’re faced with two electronic stores, one is dimmer with huge grey televisions crowding its front entrance, the other is bright, clean and with a straight path leading into the store. Most people would view the brighter and cleaner store as more pleasing and choose that store. That store is Best Denki. The layout was designed, revamped and re-built from scratch by OP3 International.

“We analyzed the traffic flow and placed merchandise such as televisions to the back of the shop so customers will be encouraged to walk through the entire store to get to the end. Also by placing more lights, Best Denki looks more welcoming and new,” Chee explained.

RISING FROM BROKENNESS

Chee clearly has a passion for his work. “I was pretty intrigued by the events industry when I was younger.” And now he’s a partner in an events-based company. But it didn’t start out all peachy-keen for the A-Level graduate.

In 2002, Chee was in financial difficulty, he had marital problems, and was separated from his wife. “I was a broken man,” he said. But through his friends Nicholas Goh and Lillian Cher who had reached out to him and brought him to City Harvest Church, his life was turned around.

His marriage was restored and they now have a three-year-old daughter. He also moved from a three-room flat to a private property, and both he and his wife are cell group leaders in CHC. “God can turn your life around.” he said, “It was also through friends and strong leadership, the support of Pastor Derek, Pastor Kong and Sun that helped me.”

It is evident from the way he handles his clients and job that Chee has brought part of the church’s mission statement into his job with him putting people’s needs first. His dedication and faithfulness to the church has also overflowed into the marketplace.
Despite the two founding partners splitting up, he chose to remain faithful to the company he was in and stayed on to help achieve greater things for the company.

Chee shared that in spite of certain circumstances, one has to  remain faithful because a reward is waiting at the end. “You might face problems and a dilemma but stay put,” he said, “God will handle it. He will turn your life around.”

He is a living testament to that statement, coming from almost nothing to a partner in a company with an annual turnover of S$15 million. More than this, OP3 International, which had humble beginnings in Singapore, is now a presence in the international market; in Dubai, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Indonesia, and China.

OP3 International
130 Joo Seng Road, #07-01
+65 6748 2282

Forget the Oscars (many of the films in the running for the awards are not even shown in Singapore yet, anyway)—City News picks the flicks that stood out, in one way or another.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WARNER BROS. PICTURES

The one that left us hanging: Inception

Sure, this Christopher Nolan/Leonardo DiCaprio blockbuster about mind invasion through dreams received some of the most breathlessly positive reviews from both the critics and the critical—but seriously, how many of you out there really understood what it was all about? I, for one, left the cinema, my jaw hanging with the thought, “So what the heck happened?” Inception was mind-blowing, literally, with all the intense gun-fire, floating people and spinning tops.

The critically acclaimed one with mass appeal: The Social Network

Let’s admit it, besides movies like the Lord Of The Rings franchise, other productions of “critical acclaim” are total snooze fests—think Cold Mountain or Syriana. The Social Network, on the other hand, is both hugely entertaining and critically acclaimed. Coupled with director David Fincher’s ability to dramatize a story, this unofficial biopic of the hugely popular social networking site, Facebook is a definite shoo-in.

PHOTO COURTESY OF UNIVERSAL PICTURE

The one that was too cute: Despicable Me

Revolving around a baddie who gets a lesson in love from his hostages­—three orphan girls roped in as pawns for his evil scheme­—this film was heart-warming like all Pixar movies. But what gave it an edge over other animated productions is its characterization of the cutest little girl, Agnes, since Boo from Monsters Inc. For sure, “It’s so fluffy I’m gonna die!” and “Is this annoying?” is going to follow us for a pretty long time.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PARAMOUNT PICTURES

The one that sunk lower than the Titanic: The Last Airbender

Needless to say, this movie officially removed any remaining traces of respect I had for M. Night Shyamalan. This was a complete massacre of the beloved animation, Avatar: The Last Airbender. Based on a very conventional coming-of-age and seemingly fail-proof story line about Aang, a child successor to a long line of Avatars who has to stop the Fire Nation from enslaving the Water, Earth and Air nations, it nevertheless turned out to be a disaster. With every mispronunciation and bad acting, I felt a stab. Right. Through. The. Heart.

The most underrated: Easy A

With its witty word-play, plenty of laugh-out-loud moments and endearing performances, Easy A is clearly one of the best movies of the year. The plot, revolving around a low-profile high school student who finds herself catapulted to the top of the social hierarchy when a white lie gets out of control, is not entirely original, but its treatment of issues such as bigotry and self-value elevates it a cut above the typical high school flick. With her flair for dead-pan humor and a demeanor of self-deprecating intelligence, Emma Stone is one actress to look out for in the coming year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF PIXAR

The best wrap-up of all good things: Toy Story 3

Having trailblazed its way into the annals of film animation with its delightful first and second installments, Toy Story 3 concludes the Toy Story franchise on a high note. Who could ever forget Andy’s love for his beloved Woody and Buzz Lightyear? Or forget the firm camaraderie between the toys? This is one nostalgic film that left the older members of the audience tearing and newbies to the franchise wanting more.

“It’s like a Pirates Of The Caribbean rip-off,” my friend whispered to me halfway into the movie. “And a Harry Potter rip-off as well,” he murmured again, toward the end. To all fans of the seven-book series, do not be distressed—I set him straight. “The Chronicles of Narnia came out way before Pirates of the Caribbean or Harry Potter!” I yelled when the credits rolled.

PHOTO COURTESY OF 20th CENTURY FOX

But, I must say, he did have a point.The Voyage of the Dawn Treader is the third installment in the Chronicles of Narnia series. It sees Prince Caspian (Ben Barnes), now King Caspian, traveling the world in search of the seven missing Narnian lords. Unlike the first two movies, the four children have been cut down to two. Only Lucy (Georgie Henley) and Edmund (Skandar Keynes), along with their cousin, Eustace (Will Poulter), have come back to help King Caspian in his quest this time round. Besides battling evil characters on the outside, both Lucy and Edmund struggle with internal demons of self-doubt and self-esteem, being the youngest two of the pack.

From a narrative viewpoint, this didn’t really make the cut. The momentous quest of stopping a great evil seemed as though it was hastily squeezed in just so that it would add a climax to an otherwise dry re-telling of the adventure.

That said, the final fight scene must be commended for its excellent computer graphics. The expertly rendered sea monster, especially if you catch it in 3D, is huge and terrifying—the stuff nightmares are made of. The film would make a great introduction to the Narnian series for kids, but adults like my friend would probably find many scenes lacking the element of surprise or excitement, even with all the visuals and special effects.

Rating:

PHOTO COURTESY OF MOVIESSPOILERTV.COM

I’m a big fan of Harry Potter. Huge. But, for the sake of professional journalism, I shall remain unbiased and judge this brilliant movie with impartial judgment. Completely. I won’t talk about how brilliant the screenplay was, which, by the way, managed to stay true to the original plot, keeping the momentum surging ahead without drowning it in the details. Or that like the book, it had both the cheeky and emotionally-driven scenes that would either bring tears to your eyes or have you going “awww … ”

Yes, this first part of the final Harry Potter film series, which follows the adventures of the titular hero and his faithful, courageous sidekicks on the fate-defining quest of finding and destroying Lord Voldemort’s link to immortality, the Horcruxes, does not disappoint.

It is a testament to how much the Harry Potter franchise has grown over the years. Its fanbase, the actors, and its ability to capture the audience’s attention have grown by leaps and bounds. The film has also grown up with its audience—which is why bringing kids under the age of 10 would not be such a great idea. Where the previous installments have all been adapted into length features, this one has been split into two parts, and the difference has not gone unnoticed. The movie does not feel rushed and the director has taken the time to develop the characters and plot. Worth watching? Definitely. Worth sitting in the cinema for a derriere-numbing three hours? Without a doubt. Again, I’m saying this from a completely un-biased point of view.

Rating:

Adorable. That’s the gist of the animated fantasy/adventure film Legend of the Guardians: The Owls of Ga’Hoole. As a children’s movie, it is light and entertaining enough, with adorable owls eliciting “ooh”s and “ahh”s from the young ones. As a children’s movie that adults will enjoy too (read: Up, Toy Story), it falls short of the mark.

PHOTO COURTESY OF WWW.IESB.NET

Now we’re not picking on the animation of the film. Directed by Zach Snyder (300), the computer-generated imagery was no-holds-barred amazing. Each scene is set to blow your eyes out of their sockets. What was sorely lacking, however, is the barely-there, completely predictable plot. Maybe the director got too caught up in the graphics that he forgot to add in a little excitement for the adults. But then again, we should have been warned by the trailer’s teaser line—“from the producers of Happy Feet.” Groan.

The movie is based on a popular children’s book series by Kathryn Lasky, which tells the story of a little barn owl, Soren (voiced by Jim Strugess). Growing up, he was told tales of legendary owls whose sole aim was protect the inhabitants of the owl world. However, the kingdom is soon overrun by an evil owl, Queen Nyra (voiced by Helen Mirren), and both Soren and his brother, Kludd (Ryan Kwanten) get kidnapped by her evil owl army. Soren manages to escape, and with the help of various other feathered friends, they search for the legendary owls, their only hope to defeat the evil army.

The themes of self-discovery and teamwork of this coming-of-age story are grand and timeless, but pitifully, the story just fails to take flight. Stay for the visually stunning effects and graphics, but you’ve been warned—unless you’re 12 and under, you will not exactly be hanging on the edge of your seat with this one.

Rating:

PHOTO COURTESY OF SINGAPORE MARRIOTT HOTEL

Marriott Café is having a Thai dinner buffet promotion until Oct. 30 (Adults: S$85++, Children: S$37++). That gives you only a week to gorge on delectable Thai delights, alongside their famous international buffet.

Show your taste-buds no mercy at the fiery Tom Yam Soup station, or play it cool with Thai-herbs-infused cold cut roast beef. Tuck into the creamy, spicy goodness of Thai curry, and tackle huge portions of Thai satay! If all that spiciness is getting to you, enjoy a refreshing slurp of unlimited individual Thai coconuts, complete with soft tender flesh.

The Thai salads, chockfull of seafood goodness, are refreshing and will invigorate your palate. Seafood lovers, you will find yourself in heaven with offerings such as fresh oysters, prawns and scallops. End off your feast on a toothsome note, with Thai sweets such as the delicious sticky rice with mango, and the fried banana fritter with vanilla ice cream, while decadent, is definitely worth the calories.

Marriott Café
320 Orchard Road Singapore 238865
Tel: +65 6831 4605

City News gives the scoop on the latest iPhone rival—the new Windows Phone 7 operating system.

PHOTOCOURTESY OF WINDOWS PHONE, MICROSOFT

The year 2010 is rounding up as quite the techie’s year, with the launch of the iPhone 4 and the iPad, two of the must-have gadgets for the perennially plugged-in and on-the-go. By now, most would have heard about the Windows Phone 7 operating system which hit the market last Thursday on Oct. 21. But just how much does it give the smart phone-of-the-moment, the iPhone, a run for its money?

MORE PHONE MODELS

Unlike the iPhone, the Windows Phone 7 operating system runs on several different phone models, namely the LG Optimus 7, which is already in the market, and four other handsets from HTC and Samsung, to be released over the next few weeks.
For those strong enough to resist iPhone dominance, this will afford the luxury of handset choices. All phones are touch screen models, light and aesthetically pleasing. Prices range between S$798 (HTC Trophy) and S$998 (Samsung’s Omnia 7 and HTC HD7).

DYNAMIC LIVE TILES

While the iPhone home screen is highly application-centric, populated by applications, Internet shortcuts and folders, the Windows Phone 7 promises a more dynamic home screen experience. In place of application icons, it has Live Tiles, featuring real-time updates such as calendar news, emails and status updates. Without having to click on each application, users can take in their social and work lives at a glance.
Additional Live Tiles can also be created from other applications, web sites, photos or music, bringing personalization of the home screen to a higher level.

INTEGRATION OF SOCIAL MEDIA UPDATES

Unlike the regular contact list, your contacts on the Windows Phone 7 will have live updates all attached to it. One click of a contact will bring up his or her Facebook updates, Windows Live updates and picture updates—you can even select your favourite people to be “pinned” to your home page so you can get immediate updates just by clicking on a tile.

GREAT FOR GAMERS

The Windows Phone 7 also carries the Xbox LIVE, a first for any phone. Hardcore fans need not fear the dilution of the Xbox experience, however—Windows Phone 7 automatically syncs up the Xbox LIVE gamer tag, scores and wins with the phone, allowing for a greater level of consistency and interaction with other players. The Marketplace tab allows for gamers to purchase new games, but this is what we like best—its try-before-you-buy demos, which allows for free trials before making a purchase.

WHAT WE DON’T LIKE

Certain applications are only available for certain users, and that would be fine by us, if it wasn’t for one key app—the Singtel Xplorer, a GPS system that tracks where you are and helps you find directions to wherever you’re going. This highly practical app works for both drivers and pedestrians, and we especially like its navigation active search function—type in “coffee” and you will be shown all the nearby coffee shops. Looks great, works great, only trouble is that it is offered for Singtel users only.

Could the Windows Phone 7 kill off the iPhone? Probably not, but it does bring something new to the table, in terms of utility and dynamism.

All three operators, SingTel, StarHub and M1, carry Windows 7 phones.

Be waited on hand and foot at Komachi The Hair Cult salon as you get a spanking new ‘do.

The Japanese are well known for their attention to detail, polite demeanor and elegant style. Komachi The Hair Cult is a standing testament to that.

Possessing a nondescript storefront that is a sharp contrast to the ostentatious flashiness of other salons, I almost walked past the hair salon unknowingly, only stopping when I heard the unmistakable sounds of hairdryers fluffing up a storm of hair.

But it’s not so much the appearance of the store that matters, it is the hairstylists that make all the difference.

Situated at Liang Court, Komachi The Hair Cult, named after the beautiful Japanese poetress Ono no Komachi­­, stays deeply-rooted to their background, hiring only experienced full-time Japanese hairstylists.

Without a doubt, you will walk out of the hair salon tossing a mane oozing simply-chic Japanese style.

“Office ladies prefer elegant, neat styles,” hairstylist Takao Horii explained to me in halting English. “If they go to work with a strange hair color or haircut, they will get into trouble,” emphasizing his statement with a sinister-looking gesture to his neck.

For Singaporeans, he said the best look was “straight hair.” I was appalled. Straight, boring hair? No wonder Singaporeans have the reputation of always looking the same. I asked if I could get that kawaii (Japanese for “cute”) Harajuku-styled coiffure instead, straight at the top with dramatic bouncing curls at the bottom. But I was turned down flatly. Japanese faces, Horii explained, are very different from other Asian faces. What might look good on the Japanese might not be perfect for other ethnicities. He also mentioned that the hairstyle I requested for was hard to maintain.

CN PHOTOS: Michael Chan

Horii soon had me convinced that a lighter shade of straight brown hair would be the best option for me. “Your skin is very fair, so I will color your hair a lighter shade of brown and just give you a trim,” he said after serious consideration. And with that declaration, he promptly whipped out a pair of scissors and began work on my hair.

Ever polite and cheerful, Horii was quick and efficient. The 30-year-old hairstylist has been in Singapore for about a year and was previously working in a hair salon in Japan. Besides being a hairstylist, Horii also does make-up, which comes in handy when women want a full makeover. Fashion and makeovers seem to run in the family for Horii. His mother is a professional kimono dresser and his brother is a hairstylist as well.

For me, getting my hair washed is the best part of the salon experience. I revel in getting my head massaged and my hair made nice and shiny by professionals. I was not disappointed by the assistant hairstylist washing my hair. He gave my head a good scrub and the scent of the shampoo was to die for!

It might sound strange to be awestruck by a shampoo, but I’m a big fan of sweet, fruity scents, and the cleanser used in Komachi feels completely different from the other chemical-drenched shampoos used in other salons. It was a lovely strawberry scent that I won’t forget anytime soon.

After a quick blow-dry with two hairstylists no less (I felt so pampered!), my hair was a brighter and lighter shade of brown; similar to those kitschy, cutesy girls in hair dye commercials! As with any drastic change, it was initially a shock to my system. But I eventually grew to love it­—especially when the compliments started coming fast and furious!

So if you have a hankering to experience the unique “Japanese-treatment” for your treasured locks, a touch of Japanese culture and milkshake-smelling shampoo, try Komachi.

Komachi The Hair Cult
177 River Valley Road,
#02-07 Liang Court Shopping Centre,
Tel: +65 6339 9432/ +65 6836 3391

City News contributing writer subjects her bitten-down digits to some much needed grooming and tells us about the experience.

PHOTO COURTESY OF IPUTA NAILS

Short, tiny nails, bitten to the quick. That was the state of my nails before I stepped into Iputa (Korean for “pretty”) nail salon.Needless to say I had never stepped into a nail salon before and this was my maiden voyage into the sparkly world of artificial nails and 3-D nail art.

Iputa is tucked away in a corner of Far East Plaza. A girl’s hideaway, you’re greeted by pale pink walls, big comfy armchairs and manicurists in pink aprons. Right at the receptionist sit two lonely chairs for waiting customers, but more often than not, the waiting boyfriend.

June Tan, owner of Iputa Nails, had me settle into an armchair as she added the finishing touches to another customer’s nails. One of her staff started on a pedicure for my feet and I was quickly lulled into a pedicure coma by the soft strains of k-pop and the murmur of customers chatting as they were being pampered.

Pedicures at Iputa have your feet soaking in a sink of warm water with fizzing bath salt, followed by a leg scrub and a rubdown with a pumice stone. Toes are then prettied-up with a color of your choice.

“Your nails are so tiny!” she exclaimed. I had to sheepishly admit to her that yes, I tend to bite my nails. “Nails are like your face and hair; you must take care of them,” she reprimanded. The mother of two took the time to explain what type of artificial nail would be good for me.

With my tiny nails, it was definite that if I wanted to paint them I would have to add extensions. “We encourage customers with short nails to keep their nails long. If their condition is bad,” somehow I had a feeling she was referring to my nails, “we help by putting extensions and overlay gel.” Overlay gel is meant to protect nails and is more long-lasting than regular nail polish.

“Nail polish chips easily after a few weeks, but soak-off gel lasts for over a month. 80 percent of our customers use soak-off gel. They usually come back after three weeks to change their nail design.”

“Apply overlay gel and extensions and in about two months your nails will look very nice.” She prepped my hands for their makeover by neatening my cuticles and buffing my nails, all the while telling me more about her shop.

A native from South Korea, Tan arrived in Singapore over 10 years ago and is married to a Singaporean. She and her husband have two daughters. Tan always had a penchant for arts and crafts and she discovered the joys of nail art soon after arriving in Singapore. “When I give customers pretty nails, they are happy and this makes me happy too.” June enjoys creating new designs for nails, and customizes designs for customers.

“Three-dimensional art is very popular.” She referred to a few pictures of previous designs she did for customers. Flowers, bows, there was a plethora of fashion nail art. “Most of my nail art is from Korea.”

Quickly shaping the acrylic pieces for the base of my nail extensions, she shared about the profiles of different ones who visit her shop. “My customers are bankers, businesswomen, and housewives. We have tai-tais coming in also.”

“Air stewardesses come in a lot as well.” She added. Customers like air stewardesses and businesswomen usually go for a simple look. Most opt for soak-off gel instead of nail polish as it lasts longer and is more resistant to wear and tear.

While 3-dimensional art sounded tempting, I opted for a simple, sparkly design of black, silver and pale pink. With the little pots of color-gel in hand, Tan began to paint on each layer with a brush. While long-lasting and less damaging to the nails, applying soak-off gel polish is tedious. Each coat can only be dried by a UV light and has to be dried slowly, layer by layer.

Finally after about 30 minutes my nails were done and I reluctantly got out of the comfortable armchair. Shiny and new, the nails were a whole new experience for me.

One question, how do I open a can?

Iputa Nails
14 Scotts Road, #05-07,
Far East Plaza, Singapore 228213
Tel.: +65 6735 7073