Contributed By Melvin Lim

Set in the Victorian era sometime in the 17th century, The Three Musketeers takes viewers on a joyride through the scenic towns and cities across Europe. While many films based on the historic text Les Trois Mousquetaires by Alexander Dumas have been made in the past, director Paul W. S. Anderson brings something new to the table with this latest adaptation—an injection of visual flair and swash-buckling action.

The young and reckless D’Artagnan (Logan Lerman), along with three former Musketeers (Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson and Luke Evans), must unite and defeat a beautiful double agent Milady (Milla Jovovich) and her villainous employer, the Duke of Buckingham (a thoroughly greasy-looking Orlando Bloom) from seizing the French throne and engulfing Europe in war. Unfortunately, despite the fact that they are supposed to be charming Frenchmen, none of the Musketeers are able to muster up a decent French accent; well, maybe except for Ray Stevenson.

The drama can be rather exhaustive especially if you are already trying your best pick to process all the 3D visuals. However, the costumes and set designs are gorgeously rendered (no doubt to fully exploit the 3D format in which it is released), as are the fight scenes, with the stunt choreographer churning out cool sequences featuring the rapier—the choice weapon of the era instead of the sword and also the signature tool of a Musketeer’s arsenal.

All in all, Anderson has managed to give the overly adapted classic a modern twist—The Three Musketeers is nothing short of an exhilarating joyride of espionage and exploration.

Rating:

Contributed By Melvin Lim

Billed as Jackie Chan’s 100th film, 1911 is suitably epic, given that it is also released on the 100th year anniversary of one of China’s milestones, the Xinhai Revolution. Produced and co-directed by Chan, it brings to light the events preceding the abdication of Emperor Pu Yi and the fall of China’s centuries-old monarchical system, led by Huang Ke Qiang (Chan), the chief commander of the Tong Meng Hui army, alongside its chairman and Huang’s brother-in-arms, Sun Yat-Sen (Winston Chao).

Vividly dramatized by the stunt choreographer, Chan’s grave and sombre treatment of the film is gradually parlayed into a nostalgic reminiscence, in line with its purpose—to commemorate the sacrifice of the nation’s pioneers during that era. The notion that “revolution is not about death, but rather, a better future for the future generation” is well conveyed without coming across too heavy-handed or propaganda-ish. Keep your eyes peeled, and you might just be able to spot Chan’s son, Jaycee, in one of the scenes as well.

You don’t have to be a history or film buff to enjoy 1911; Chan’s flair for storytelling will draw you into the tumultuous affairs of that era. And for someone who has built an illustrious career on slapstick comedy-martial arts films, that’s saying a lot.

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With dance in their blood and passion in their hearts, the youth of The Big Groove overcome odds and affect positive change in their society.

Contributed By Melvin Lim

Acting Minister for the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, MG (NS) Chan Chun Sing poses for a group picture with O Crew, Stephanie Phua, winner of the Hero awards, as well as Joyce And The Boyz.

Sammy Bernad almost did not make it for this year’s The Big Groove, one of Asia’s biggest hip hop dance festivals.  The crew leader from Indonesia’s Last Minute Street Crew, fell gravely ill upon reaching Singapore, just days before the concert. On top of that, he sprained his ankle. Thankfully, ample rest and a dose of medicine restored his health—along with prayer. “During service at City Harvest (where Last Minute performed last weekend) I prayed for healing. After that, my ankle was totally healed!”

Such is the fighting spirit that TBG 2011 celebrates with its theme, “The Year Of The Heroes.” Managing director of O School, Kenny Low, said, “TBG is a key initiative by O School to give back to the dance fraternity. Each year, it gets bigger and the bar for local talents is raised higher. I’m proudest of the team and dancers at O School for putting up a great performance and for hosting all the foreign crews well!” The event was graced by Acting Minister for the Ministry of Community, Youth and Sports, MG (NS) Chan Chun Sing, who spent time talking to the dancers.

Base from Japan.

A marquee event for the National Youth Council’s SHINE Youth Festival, TBG 2011 kicked off on July 6 with three days of masterclasses by renowned dancers Maryss from Paris (The Beat Freaks), Rino Nakasone (The Beat Freaks) and Yokoi (Wrecking Crew Orchestra).

The final concert on July 10 drew nearly 3,000 people to Suntec Singapore. Beyond the jaw-dropping moves, the concert celebrated the “heroes” who bravely face obstacles in life.

Vietnam’s Big Toe Crew, has come a long way since it was formed in 1992. From seven people, the hip hop troupe now has more than 60 members specializing in four genres of dance.

Big Toe Crew from Vietnam wow the crowds with their dance skills.

Big Toe Crew has been an ambassador for Dance4Life, an advocacy group that promotes awareness about HIV/AIDS since 2008 … “After our performances, we will share the message of HIV/AIDS prevention with the audience, but some of them don’t want to listen to what we have to say,” says crew leader Nguyen Viet Than, 37. “My aim is to inspire and see young people (in Vietnam and beyond) make a real change in their community. I believe we can all be an agent of change.”

Zeta, also from Japan. CN PHOTOS: Michael Chan.

Than shared the story of a crew member, CK. Bedridden with kidney disease, CK was going in and out of hospital twice a week for medical check-ups. His family even had to sell their home to pay for his medical bills.

“He heard that Big Toe was in town and he wanted to dance with us. When he told his parents, they were against it. But eventually, they decided to let him dance.” CK’s health miraculously started to improve. “He could not run very fast, but he could run again,” beamed Than. Last year, CK was part of the crew which took first place in the popping category of Singapore’s Battle of the Year dance competition.

The “Hero” award was also given out for the first time to an outstanding youth who combined dance with a social initiative.

The winner, Stephanie Phua, a student from Nanyang Technological University, harnessed the power of social media to stage a successful fundraising concert, Dance For Japan, to aid survivors of the March 11 tsunami.

In under three weeks, they raised S$22,124.81. These young dancers embody Shine’s motto, “Enough Talk, Just Do,” living out their passion against all odds and dancing for causes bigger than themselves.

How did the Usher Ministry in City Harvest Church begin? A look at the history and purpose behind the friendly faces that greet churchgoers every week.

Contributed By Melvin Lim

Ushers on duty arrive three to four hours before each service to prepare the hall for the congregation.

City Harvest Church’s Usher Ministry officially started when the church had several hundred members in the early 90s. Back then, the church ushers were responsible for the logistics of the church as well as helping to run the services and perform basic crowd control. In the early days, the ushers helped in the transportation of equipment from the church office (then at Mackenzie Road) to the conference hall (in World Trade Centre) and various other venues every week—a very time-consuming activity that left the group little time to improve on their weekly operations.

The roles and responsibilities of the Usher Ministry became more defined in 1995 when the church moved into Hollywood Theatre. The ministry leaders began to meet regularly to strategize on the growth and improvement of the entire ministry, especially with regards to the running of the weekly services. Time was also given to the development and training of the existing members in the ministry. Today, CHC’s executive pastor, Derek Dunn oversees the Usher Ministry.

The fruits of the ministry are evident with the ever-ready smiles that greet you as you walk into one of CHC’s services, Bible study conferences and various other church meetings. The various church-related paraphernalia (offering envelopes, bulletins, special event flyers) are neatly placed on every seat inside the hall—thanks to the commitment of the ushers who come three to four hours before the service to prepare the hall for the services. They also help to serve the communion elements to the church.

SERVING PEOPLE

Eugene Chee Wee Leong, an assistant chief usher, 39, believes that the ministry helps its volunteers to understand the importance of servanthood. “The Usher Ministry opens up opportunities for people to give back to the church, and act on the biblical concept of serving others. It isn’t enough to have faith alone; we should show our love to others through our actions as well,” he explains.

Being a City Harvest usher requires patience, sacrifice, commitment and above all, a love for both God and for people. This ministry is predominantly a people-oriented one and it focuses on serving people in a relevant and practical manner. CHC ushers not only show you to available seats, they willingly assist the physically-challenged; offer assistance to parents with nursing infants, and help carry your items if your arms are laden with too many things.

Some CHC members may remember the days when the church used to have buckets for people to drop in their service offerings.

Chief usher, Alex Choh Chee Yang, 38, recollects, “Back then, we used buckets to collect the offering. Because of the noise made by the dropping of coins into the bucket, we actually cut and pasted Styrofoam pieces at the bottom of the offering buckets to reduce the noise.” This method worked quite well, till finally the church decided to distribute envelopes for people to insert their offering. This method also assured a more personal and private way of giving to the church for each individual who was in the service.

Jan Lee welcoming members into the auditorium. CN PHOTOS: Gary Sim and Michael Chan

SERVING WITH A HEART

Beatrice Syn, a long-time CHC member, is one of the pioneers of this vibrant ministry. She first joined the ministry in 1993, and has, over the years, had the opportunity to serve alongside many different members of the ministry, even some who are physically-challenged.

“The Usher Ministry welcomes everyone. As long as you want to serve, we will help you to serve and find duties or responsibilities that are suitable for you,” she explains. To illustrate this, Syn cited the example of Jan Lee, 28, who is wheelchair-bound, and an active member in the ministry.

Lee is an information researcher at KPMG Singapore and has always wanted to serve in the Usher Ministry. Although a spinal cord infection at a young age left him less able-bodied than others, his optimism and cheerful disposition is a welcome attitude.  “I may not be able to carry chairs like the other brothers in the ministry but I can carry smiles,” he says.

Due to his medical condition, Lee takes a longer time to get ready and leave the house for church, but he still makes it a point to arrive at least one hour before the service starts. He then assumes his duties and responsibilities promptly, whether is it as a greeter, preparing the communion elements, or placing the bulletins on the chairs inside the main auditorium.

Syn adds, “Regardless of your background, anyone can contribute to this ministry in a meaningful way and be part of the team.”

For more information or to join the Usher Ministry, please email info@chc.org.sg.

FAQs On The UsherMinistry

1.    The Usher Ministry is the largest in CHC. I am interested to become an usher but will they accept me since you already have so many people?

Yes, we will accept you as long as you have a desire to serve with us. While we may have the largest number of people, we are always progressing and increasing our scope of responsibilities. This is especially true in our journey as a church where we have moved to different venues and our team has consistently adapted to the changes according to the needs of the church. Because we are always growing and discovering new things, there is always a space for you in the Usher Ministry.

2.    Why do the church ushers bring me to a seat that’s already taken?

As we have many new friends attending services for the first time each week, member tend to reserve seats for their new friends. The ushers will do their best to ensure that priority seating is given to those already in the hall while at the same time, being sensitive to the new friends in the service. Since our move to Suntec Singapore, to deal with this matter, we have especially designated reserved seats for new visitors to give the ushers more liberty in this area.

3.    Some ushers seem to just ‘stand around.’ Why is this so?

Because our ministry has many different areas of responsibility, that particular usher may be a greeter whose sole duty is to welcome you as you enter the hall. In addition, we also ensure that there is always an available usher in every part of the hall to assist any one who may require assistance in any form, be it helping a first-time visitor to look for a seat, or directing an elderly person who is trying to find the restroom.

Bendemeer Secondary School’s graduating students learned lessons on resilience and perseverance in an unlikely way.

Contributed By Melvin Lim

Taking a well-deserved lunch break after the 12km walk.

It was a dry run for life, as a total of 460 participants, comprising staff and Secondary 4 and 5 students from Bendemeer Secondary School, embarked on a 12km walk from their school compound at Boon Keng to the Marina Barrage on Jan. 28. Co-organized with the Ministry of Information, Communication and the Arts, the walk aimed to inspire and motivate the students in their graduating year to strive to excel in their GCE N-Levels and GCE O-Levels exams, and to instill a sense of mental and psychological resilience among youth, among others.

Throughout the walk, which was flagged off at 8:30 a.m., the participants were also presented with different challenges which had to be completed in order to advance to the next segment of the walk. An activity at Waterloo Street, for example, taught students the importance of religious harmony as a part of Social Defence, one of the five aspects of the nation’s Total Defence education. Indeed, it demonstrated resilience in the face of change, as Singapore becomes an increasingly cosmopolitan country.

The participants reached their destination at Marina Barrage at approximately 1 p.m. “Twelve kilometers is a long distance to walk for many students and staff. It was challenging and a test of our personal endurance and resilience. During the pre-walk preparation sessions, we asked every graduating student to make this their personal challenge. We wanted each of them to know that if they set their hearts and mind on a task, no matter how challenging, they would be able to achieve it,” said Mdm. Goh Mee Mee, the school principal.

Students penning down their hopes and dreams on their kites. CN PHOTOS: Michael Chan

The finale of the day’s event, a kite-flying session, was a symbolic gesture to encourage the students to set to flight their dreams and aspirations, but it was unfortunately curtailed due to a torrential downpour. Still, the students were not dampened in their enthusiasm in penning down their aspirations on their kites and trying to get them off the ground, albeit in a sheltered compound. The staff members also took part in this exercise as they wrote their own aspirations on their kites.

One of the students, Kevin Foo Shi Xun, 16, admitted that although the day’s activities were not exactly a walk in the park, he has learned a few important lessons. “Success comes with a lot of hard work and it is not an easy thing to achieve. Also, Singaporeans should live together in harmony regardless of race, religion, ethic or cultural background.” Lallita Karamjeet, also 16, quipped cheerfully that she had fun. “I love adventurous stuff so I enjoyed today’s activities a lot. I learned that in order to have a smooth journey in life, one often has to go through a rough path to train one’s endurance.”

History and Social Studies teacher, Winston Tham Wei Yang, 31, shared that the school has a culture of bringing students out for walks, to bring learning beyond the four walls of the classroom. “The aim of today’s walk was to cultivate in the students a sense of responsibility so that in times of emergency, they will not be people who back out. It also aimed to teach them the spirit of resilience so that they can become people who will reach great heights and achieve great things.”

Holiday Inn Atrium’s Xin Cuisine restaurant ushers in the Chinese New Year season with decadent offerings.

The pen cai is to the Chinese New Year table as turkey is to the Christmas spread. Literally meaning “basin of food” in Mandarin, it is rumored to have originated from China during the Song Dynasty. When the emperor was fleeing from Mongol invaders, he stumbled upon a village whereby every local household served the best food they had to him and his army. Everything was put into a basin—hence its current presentation as a “basin” of sumptuous ingredients.

And sumptuous is indeed the order of the day with Xin Cuisine’s rendition of the festive staple. Its Xin’s Prosperity Seafood Pen Cai, brimming with treasures from the ocean including lobster, abalone, scallops, sea whelk, dried oyster, fish maw, sea cucumber and jelly fish, is fit for an emperor. Hours of stewing ensure a natural sweetness and an even flavor with each spoonful. It helps that the ingredients used are nothing less than premium.

If you want to make an even stronger statement about ushering in a prosperous year, get the Xin’s Imperial Pen Cai. It features whole Australian three-head abalone, deer tendon, goose web, wild bamboo pith and Chinese baby cabbage, among many other exquisite ingredients. The pen cai is available for takeaway in, fittingly, a splendid silk carrier resembling a Chinese emperor’s robe. Prices for the pen cai range from S$338 to S$888.

PHOTO COURTESY OF HOLIDAY INN ATRIUM

With a generous sprinkling of edible gold (99 percent) leaf flakes, the Xin’s Prosperity Yusheng with Gold Leaf is a spectacle in itself. The first “segment” holds in place the various sliced vegetables, packed and stacked neatly into a pyramid. The highlight is an ice-sculptured rabbit, preserving the freshness of the raw fish slices. You will be spoiled for choice with the range of yusheng varieties available (S$59 onwards) such as the Ebi (Japanese sweet prawn), Geoduck, Salmon, Japanese Cobia, Tuna and Lobster.

The Roasted Suckling Pig (S$298), more aptly named piglet, is specially selected from Hunan province in China, the animals are selected for the kitchen at just four to six months old for their flavorful, tender meat. A golden brown skin that crackles at the lightest bite encases the moist meat inside, served with wheat pancake and tantalizing sweet and sour sauce.
The Chinese New Year Lunch/Dinner Set Menu is available from Jan. 17 to Feb. 17.

Xin Cuisine
Holiday Inn Atrium Singapore
317 Outram Road
+65 6731 7173

The O School Recital brings fresh perspectives to the dance stage.

CN PHOTO: Enrique Yang

O School’s recital this year, held from Nov. 20 to 21, saw yet another exuberant performance from the school’s 250 students and instructors, but it wasn’t merely good. The creative, out-of-the-box concept lifted the benchmark to a, shall we say, sky-high level.

Set against the backdrop of an airplane flight, the show began with a safety demonstration which involved unforeseen panic attacks—to hilarious effect. Diving into the sea during water landings also gave opportunity for some artistic display.

The in-flight entertainment number was one of the most entertaining among the list of crowd-pleasers that night. In the horror segment, the dancers cleverly used the dance style of popping and locking to create disjointed and abstract body forms. Fused with their twisted facial expressions, the effect was akin to the zombie scene in Michael Jackson’s classic music video Thriller—except these zombies exuded a more Eastern connotation, in the vein of the Chinese vampire.

As with the sequence of a real-life flight, the next natural agenda followed—meal time. The dancers put up a “sumptuous” performance which consisted of waacking (a ’70s dance style focusing on dynamic arm movements) and Broadway dance styles. The first half featured stylish, modern women in office wear in cheeky red and black hues. The latter half took on a bewitching tone as other dancers, adorned with lace stockings and corset tops in the same colors, wowed the audience with their sharp, sassy movements.

Following the end of the in-flight meal was a short intermission, where the Captain “turned off” the seatbelt lights and encouraged everyone to make a trip to the duty free store to purchase exclusive dance recital merchandise.
Over the intercom, the Captain suddenly announced that the place was going through turbulence—to the whooping cheers and roars of the audience. O Crew, which comprised the school’s instructors, demonstrated the landing procedure—a mind-blowing 25-minute performance, segmented into different skits and dance genres.

Before the curtains came down, the instructors unveiled a surprise for the dancers—a short thanksgiving video. Beyond being taken aback, the students were touched by the heartwarming gesture, as they listened to the instructors expressing their gratitude to them.

Ryan Tan, 37, director of O School and the producer for the dance recital added, “This year’s recital was really brought to a new level in many ways—there are more dancers this year and the improvement that they have made since the auditions is astonishing. Without the combined effort of all the dancers, all this wouldn’t have been possible.”

From Prada to Gucci, Ray-Ban to Dior, the shelves at Spectacle Hut are always packed full with the latest eyewear trends of your favorite brands.

Spectacle Hut, a local optical retail giant, currently with 40 outlets island-wide has been delivering amiable, specialized and detailed eye-care service since 1997. Founder Gary Khoo Tat Min, 41, manages, oversees and directs Spectacle Hut as well as its subsidiaries, Blue Eyes USA and Eye Bejewelled.

BIRTH OF A VISION

Khoo graduated in 1995 from the United Kingdom with an honorary degree in Optometry. His humble beginnings started with a job in an optical shop in Ang Mo Kio. He shares that his boss was absent most of the time due to the property boom in Singapore’s market and left the care of the shop entirely in his hands. The one and a half years of experience not only empowered Khoo with the skills necessary to be a good optician, he also picked up the tools of the trade in running a business.

Thereafter, Khoo began to help out his then-girlfriend Sara (now his wife) frequently at her own optical shop despite his own busy schedule. Seeing their labor, her mother encouraged the both of them to start a joint venture to open an optical store in Clementi. Their partnership birthed the retail giant that Spectacle Hut is today.

The early days of the business was undoubtedly their busiest as Khoo and his wife had to work long hours from 10 a.m. to 11 p.m., seven days a week. “On Sundays, we would go to church in the morning and rush to work later on.  We could not afford to fall sick and it was amazing we did not,” says Khoo.

After observing the industry for a period of time, Khoo realized that at that time, the 20 qualified opticians were overcharging customers while the other 600 or so optical stores in Singapore did not practice proper eye care techniques. As such, Khoo had a renewed vision for Spectacle Hut, which was to provide both credible and affordable eye care service in Singapore.

PHOTO COURTESY OF SPECTACLE HUT

Since then, the business has flourished into what it is today. Khoo believes that it is the divine appointment of God that helped prospered his business. “We were, in many instances, at the right place at the right time. We were first in acquiring new innovations and products, launching them ahead of our competitors. For example, we were selected by fashion houses such as Armani Exchange, Bottega Veneta, Vivienne Westwood, David Yurman and Juicy Couture to be the first to launch their eyewear products.”

TURNING POINTS

However, it has not always been a smooth ride for Khoo. There was a time when his supply of stock ran into a brick wall. His suppliers were threatened by other optical retail giants to cut supplies to Spectacle Hut, failing which, they would be unanimously boycotted by the cartel. His suppliers eventually threw in the towel as the cartel made up a significant portion of market share. By the grace of God, Khoo met a big supplier who empathized with his situation. Touched by Khoo’s sincerity in making the effort to search for suppliers abroad, he agreed to supply stocks to Khoo directly, cheaper than what he had been getting previously.

With regards to his competitors, Khoo states that in business, “we cannot be forever enemies or forever friends.” He was surprised by a personal apology by the boss of an optician shop that was involved in the cartel during the supply stakeout.

Personally, Khoo believes that in all the years that he has been running the business, it has always been done with the wisdom and grace of God. He consistently prays together with his wife in their Business Breakthrough Group cell group meetings for divine wisdom, positioning and favor of God. “Sara and I really believe that if the Lord doesn’t build the house, we will labor in vain.” Holding on to God’s promises and doing his best are two weapons that have helped him combat negativity during times of crisis. It has helped Khoo and his wife find a sense of peace amidst turbulent times.

SEEING THE FUTURE

Spectacle Hut has expanded beyond local shores, namely in Kuala Lumpur and Beijing. Moving away from the highly saturated optical scene in Singapore, Khoo believes there is much to be tapped on from the overseas market scene, especially in China, due to population size and rapid urbanization.

However, the cards have to be played differently. In China, legalization issues, consumer preferences and other factors are considerations that Khoo has to keep in mind while operating the store in Beijing. In fact, they recently only opened their second and third stores in Beijing after spending two years conducting market research.

The move to Beijing is not the only shifting of operations; Khoo also has plans to move into a new office building. The new site, located at Henderson, is 12,000 sq feet, nearly double of their previous office. With the additional space, Khoo has plans for a showroom where warehouse sales can be conducted. Furthermore, a training room that can accommodate up to a 100 people will be another feature in the office. Khoo hopes to bring in table tennis tables that are not only meant for staff recreation but also to encourage bonding and teamwork through the sport itself. Moreover, he desires that the room be purposed for the use of both cell group as well as marketplace meetings. To sum it up, it “will be a place to work, play and pray.

ORTHOKERATOLOGY

This unique service provided by Spectacle Hut requires their trained optometrists to fit a special form of semi-hard lens onto (usually) children that is able to control the speed of myopic progression.  It is worn just before going to bed, giving a crystal clear vision after waking up in the morning. The gentle molding of the lens overnight will correct myopia so neither spectacles nor contact lenses are required during the day.  This technique is widely practiced in countries such as the U.S., U.K., Australia and Hong Kong, where optometry techniques are more advanced.

To find out more about Spectacle Hut, visit www.spectaclehut.com.

ON LASIK, CONTACT LENSES AND SPECTACLES

For those placing their hopes on Lasik surgery to correct their vision, Khoo has the following advice to share: “LASIK slices through the cornea and has its risks. Moreover, the long-term side effect has not yet been documented. Eye doctors do not subject themselves to LASIK so this speaks volumes about the risks involved. I personally feel that it is invasive and unless your life is severely hindered, it is better to keep your eyes intact and healthy especially if one may require eye surgery later in life for parts such as the glaucoma and the cataract since these are the two eye surgeries that are more commonplace.”

Khoo keeps his verdict short and sweet on the much-debated topic on eyewear. His final judgment: “Contact lenses are for that once-in-a-lifetime events while spectacles are necessary for giving your eyes a break.”

Aptly, he quips, “You forgot about sunglasses. It is a must in Singapore for eye protection against UV rays and preventing wrinkles.” He adds that they are your most fashionable weapons out in broad daylight. And whether they are in front of your eyes or on your hair, a pair will make you look glamorous.

Doing what he does best, Sylvester Stallone directs and stars in this action blockbuster which looks to be one of the bloodiest of the year.

PHOTO COURTESY OF LIONSGATE

As the title suggests, the movie is about a team of mercenaries hired by a CIA agent to get rid of one of the organization’s own members who has defected to start a bloody tycoon business on an isolated island hidden from the rest of the world. While their task seems simple, Barney Ross (Stallone), the leader of the motley crew, soon discovers that their mission is not just about the cash reward that comes with it.

While the plot and the testosterone-pumping action is standard big-boy fare along the lines of recent releases such as The A Team, The Losers and G.I. Joe, the money-making part lies in the lineup of veteran action stars, which includes Jet Li, Jason Statham, Dolph Lundgren and wrestling star “Stone Cold” Steve Austin. Stallone has to be commended for being able to pull together such a formidable cast. Inadvertent humor ensues, for example, when Lundgren and Li share a face-off midway through the movie, which vastly contrasts the difference in their builds as the hulking Lundgren attempts to squash the smaller but more agile Li.

The Expendables is big in every way imaginable—in terms of budget, cast and action. However, more character development could have taken the movie to a higher level. Additionally, the editing was rather rough around the edges, and thus certain sequences come off as disjointed, marring the non-stop flow of action. Still, if you’re a hardcore action flick fan, this one offers more than enough bang for your buck.

Rating:

Peace, unity and the environment are the themes captured in two specially commissioned sculptures for the Singapore Youth Olympic Games.

CN PHOTO: Michael Chan

In a collaborative effort among the Urban Redevelopment Authority of Singapore, the YOG committee and private property developer City Developments Limited, two pieces of Olympic-themed sculptures have been selected to commemorate the nation’s hosting of the inaugural Youth Olympic Games. Entitled “Breathe” and “A World United” by Edwin Cheong, 36, and Huang Yi Fan, 22, respectively, the sculptures were unveiled on Aug. 5 at the Marina Bay Promenade. The art pieces were selected from over 90 entries submitted for the fourth CDL Singapore Sculpture Award competition.

“A World United,” to the casual observer, looks like a massive red circle with a hole pierced through the middle. However, upon a closer look, it is actually a vivid pictorial description of various sportsmen, each engaged in the 26 sports of the YOG. Huang shared that the circular shape symbolized peace and unity, derived from the fact that sports affords people the opportunity to learn from each other.

Huang, who graduated from the LASALLE College of the Arts in 2008 with a diploma in sculpturing, has been participating in the CDL Singapore Sculpture Award competition ever since he enrolled into the school. He is currently serving his National Service and has plans to further his studies in order to fulfill his dreams of becoming a full-time artist.

Located about 10 meters away, near the exit of a connecting underpass to Raffles Place MRT stands “Breathe.” Not any ordinary piece of installation art, the tree-shaped structure has special LED lights placed in each olive leaf-shaped cup to catch wind like a windmill, generating energy in an internal battery to light up the LED lights. Cheong explains that the structure is a visual representation of the self-sustaining nature of the environment without human interference. The number of cups on the sculpture itself is also of significance—the 192 cups each represent a nation of the world, according to the United Nations. It brings about the message that conserving the environment is an effort in which each individual nation should be an active partaker.

When asked about the design concept of “Breathe,” Cheong revealed that he based it on the theme given to him by the YOG committee, which was “Environment.” After doing some research, he found that the most common object related to the environment was actually the tree. It also had a similar design language of the bronchi of a lung. Thus, “Breathe” not only reflects how the earth breathes through its trees and forests, but how an Olympian maintains his endurance simply by breathing. The dark-colored finishing of the sculpture represents the critical state that the environment is in right now.

A full-time design lecturer at the Nanyang Academy of Fine Arts specializing in 3D design (also known as environmental design), Cheong counts sculpturing as his passion. He feels that with the plans to redevelop Marina Bay Promenade as a livelier public space, it is an opportune time for artists such as himself to display their talents and contribute to the nation’s artistic landscape.

The sculptures, which are lined along the promenade, are just the early shoots of the URA’s plans to enrich Marina Bay as an artistic public space. Ng Lang, Chief Executive Officer of the URA, remarked that Marina Bay has the potential to not just be another venue for events but to bring another dimension of leisure into the lives of the community.

Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan, Minister for Community Development, Youth and Sports, who was the Guest of Honor for the event, personally congratulated both artists for their impressive works. He applauded them for being able to capture the timelessness of the Olympic spirit in their sculptures. He hopes that the sculptures would become symbols and legacies of the inaugural YOG here in Singapore. He concluded by saying that sports plays a vital role in society because it is a symbol of peace,  hope and unity—values that should remain constant and embedded in every Singaporean amid a fast-changing world.