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May Choon Says: Barely seven months after declaring that he would quit Hong Kong showbiz “indefinitely”, sex-scandal heartthrob Edison Chan now wants to go back.

Why? Because breaking into Hollywood is harder than he imagined, according to Infernal Affairs director Andrew Lau who met the actor recently.

Edison shifted his work base to the US in February, after nude photos of him and other female celebrities were stolen from his computer and circulated on the Internet.

One would expect him to shine in the land of sex video leaks, but it somehow didn’t work in his favour.

Just look at how his hyped-up appearance in the Batman movie The Dark Knight turned out to be a meagre three-second, one-liner scene.

Andrew said during a recent TV talk show in Hong Kong that Edison has been constantly enriching himself and going for auditions, but the Hollywood culture is different and makes it harder for him to get roles.

The director added that Edison has become more restrained and mature these days.

“I don’t know if he’s a good boy, but he is a capable, talented boy.”

As for when is it a good time for Edison to return, Andrew said he hopes it can be within the next two years, after the scandal blows over totally.

Meanwhile, we hope the reformed bad boy uses this hiatus to take stock of his lifestyle and properly plan his next career move. And stay away from the ladies, please.

Tell Us: Will you give Edison Chen a second chance? Do you think it’s cowardly of him to run away when the scandal erupted and now, yearn to return because life in Hollywood is too tough? Or do you feel he’s also a victim and should be forgiven?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTER VIA EMAIL

As the Chinese saying goes, human beings aren’t saints,there is no way they can totally avoid making mistakes. Edison, with all his notoriety, surely can’t be held totally accountable for this unwanted episode of his life.As naive as he was to send his ‘goodies’ infested laptop to a random repairman, he is very much a victim just like Gillian is. Surely the last thing he expected to happen is to see his barely dressed torso be plastered all across tabloids and dailies alike.For a while he was the talk of the town and i don’t blame him for making a hasty exit.It’ll take more than a man to stand still to face all the emotional assault and trauma.

It’ll take a brave producer to star Edison as a male lead in any kind of movies given his current reputation ,i am not at all surprised to see his lean pickings in Hollywood, the last thing many advertisers and producers will want is to include a questionable character in their cast. It’s simply attempting to juggle a very hot egg.If the producer can weather the storm with him, there may be light at the end of the tunnel for them. If things don’t work out, the producer can well be dragged down the abyss of no return along side Edison.Looks like tinseltown isn’t the hotbed of action Edison hoped to be!

The entertainment scene, just like it’s political counterpart have murky reputations at best.Edison isn’t an angel and shouldn’t be expected to behave like one. Just because he’s a household name doesn’t mean he should suffer excessively for such indiscretion.He is not the first hunky male actor to sleep around and won’t be the last. Let’s throw away our spectacles of indignance and stop pretending that we didn’t’ find the episode sensational and enjoyable. Welcome back, Edison!
Peng Tie Lun

NO, I will definitely not give Edison a second chance! I have seen those lewd pictures he has taken of all his female companions and without doubt, I find him repulsive. Even worst, he kept those pictures to show off to his friends. For those female, they have loved him enough to share those passionate moment, and it is unthinkable that those moment has been exposed to the public due to his carelessness. He is fully responsible for the humiliation caused to all his female friends. Even when those female can get on with their life, but it will never be the same again. All of them are so young and they have a long road to travel and Edison has made it harder for them to grow up and older.
This really shows who that Edison is, a consuming selfish bastard who don’t deserve our forgiveness. There are many celebrities worthy of more exposure in showbiz and we can go without this man.
 Lily Leong

May Choon Says: Local movie buffs, you’re spoiled for choice this month, thanks to two closely watched local movie sequels hitting the big screen.

First, there’s Jack Neo’s Money No Enough 2, the second part to his money-spinning Money No Enough. Then there’s wonder-boy Royston Tan’s 12 Lotus, the follow-up to his smash getai hit 881.

Both movies are highly anticipated, especially since their first instalments were huge box office successes. But have they lived up to the hype?

The reviews so far have been a mixed bag. Lianhe Zaobao said Money No Enough 2 is “funny and realistic enough”, but The Straits Times slams Jack for being a “one-trick pony”. Likewise, The Straits Times praises 12 Lotus’ “boisterous mood” and musical interludes, but The Business Times gave the movie a C+.

Tell Us: What is your verdict on these two movies? Do they live up to the hype or have local critics been too harsh?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Having watched both movies, I must say that both directors made the sequels in identical veins as the first movie. However having been outstanding in their initial foray, the follow up was always going to take some beating.

The audience for the two movies might be drastically different as one is shot in a more artistic and experimental manner and the other is a more television-like and direct style. There are both pros and cons to their approaches.

For Roystan, his vision of the movie was to make classical opera and ge tai appear modern and psychedelic, that would help attract the younger generation who are used to the artsy fartsy. The tai-tais and ah peks would also flock to this movie because the 7th month and last year’s 881 would have whetted their appetite for more hokkien songs and flashy costumes.

In providing the asthetics, Roystan did admirably and many people who wanted the music to be good were not disappointed. However the plot was neglected somewhat in the middle of the show and ended up being a bit draggy and sketchy. This happens to alot of sequels but the failing was not too serious over here. Plus the fact that there is a certain harmony between the main characters, overall it made a positive experience. Certainly the critics were not as harsh on 12 Lotus as they were on Money no enough 2. Yet because 881 was such a resounding success that to live up as its hype was difficult and Roystan did not manage it but did come close.

Jack Neo who is an veteran entertainer and has hits like Home Run and Granny Liang under his belt, was always going to face more pressure from the critics and general public. His method was always to take the more pertinent issues in society and protray them on the big screen to reflect how ordinary citizens really feel.

Perhaps his maturity as a director made him realized that comedy alone will not be enough to draw the audience this time round. He has included some reflective moments with the relationship of the 3 brothers who were played by Jack, Henry and Mark and their on screen mother.

Somehow that made for the more poignant moments in the movie and since the comic relief is so similar to that of his monday variety show, it seemed less of a comedy but a social documentary. In the end, it is still the actors who bailed the show out of jail and made the viewing so much more endurable. I have to agree with the critics that it did not live up to the hype of its predecessor as Singapore’s highest grossing movie.

Despite viewers’ consternation towards too much products placement, Jack blatantly flooded his movie with so many local brands that it became a personal challenge to spot and point out these products as the movie goes along. Although I regretted paying the cinema fare to watch the show, I might have enjoyed it when it comes onto the TV as our saturday night movie. Lets not discount Jack’s ability to produce another blockbuster in the future as like many Singapore, he has demostrated the Singaporean mentality of never giving up! Ai pia, jia eh yah! ( must fight then can win)
Ong Kok Wah

May Choon Says: I never thought I’d see the day that Fann Wong would be named Best Actress… outside of Caldecott Hill, that is.

Yet, it has happened. The good people behind the inaugural West Hollywood International Film Festival (WHIFF) have bestowed this honour on the Singaporean lass for her role as a ballroom dancing instructor grappling with love in the Singapore-produced movie Dance Of The Dragon.

That’s not all. Dance Of The Dragon swept 10 major awards, including Best Festival Movie, Best Director (John Radel), Best Actor (Jang Hyuk) and The Special Mention Jury Award.

Too bad the festival itself hardly made ripples in Hollywood, where it is based. The four-day festival had no mentions in the wire agencies or newspapers. And it’s panel of judges - made up of names in American TV shows - draw a blank.

Besides, if you’ll remember, Dance Of The Dragon definitely did not rank as one of our better-made exports. It bombed at the box office, raking in only $170,000, and was slammed by most local critics.

Wonder if the guys at WHIFF got whiff of that.

Tell Us: Did you seen Dance Of The Dragon when it was shown here? Are you surprised at its win at the film festival?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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To start off, the questions should not be, “Are you not surprised that Dance Of The Dragon (DOTD) won so many US accolades?” and “Do you think it deserves to?”. But rather, “Do you know what is the West Hollywood International Film Festival (WHIFF)?” I obviously didn’t.

While I’m sure many people are wowed by the title of the festival. But does having “Hollywood” and “International” mean anything? Would you be equally wowed if DOTD swept all of the awards at the Djibouti International Film Festival? A quick search using the popular search engine, Google, turned up 383,000 results with the WHIFF website at the top. But the website didn’t give one of the most important information that is what movies took part in the WHIFF. Would you be surprise if DOTD won because it was stacked up against even worse international film? The rest of the websites didn’t help much to enlighten me either. A search on Wikipedia turned up absolutely nothing. If Wikipedia was anything to go by, it just goes on to show how unknown the WHIFF is. And Wikipedia do have alot of information on even the most obscure of things.

I really do hope someone would come out and enlighten me on the WHIFF. Because as of now, it bring to my mind those dubious reviews and quotes B-Grade movies almost always put of their movie ads. e.g. “5 Stars! - A Movie Critic”. “Arguably the best action flick of 2007 - B Movie Critic”. The only difference now is that DOTD can put a legit WHIFF logo with the caption “10 WHIFF award winner!” on their DVD cover.

If my reviews are anything to go by: Dance of the Dragon! Absolute crap! - J Movie Critic

Joshua Wong

In response to “Panned at home, Fann’s movie wows US film fest”.I like to congratulate everyone who has been involved in the movie “Dance Of The Dragon” or DOTD.I was invited to attend the gala at The Cathay and also to the post party held at Indochine.I was surprised and impressed that DOTD won 10 awards.Unfortunately, I did not get the chance to watch.However i also heard many comments that the movie is not worth to watch.

If such is the case, how did DOTD won so many awards?I believed that is so because Singaporeans are too critical and negative and many in general do not support movies made locally as Singaporeans in general believed that local productions are not up to standards as compared to foreign countries such as the Hollywood.Same for local beauty pageants, Many Singaporeans in general do not support local contestants and they criticise instead of support.I have even read and hear comments such as, “Wah Lao Eh,such contestants can also join beauty pagents, then my grand mother can also join leh.No standard.” With such attitude,how do we expect local productions to excel even in our own country.

I like to say that Singaporeans in general are more interested in movies that depict Sex, Violence, Crimes, Bloody scene and many other negative impact than things like Dance, Arts, and others.I read that the latest Star Wars movie “The Clone Wars” was created in Singapore and read that George Lucas was even in town to have a preview of the latest movie.If Singaporeans have a chance to meet either George Lucas or local famous directors and producers, how many would choose to meet up with George Lucas over our local production team?I believed the answer would be very obvious.

I believed Singapore made movies lack local supports.If such is so, i believed such movies would not be very popular if shown only in Singapore.Such local movies will do much better overseas because the markets are much bigger and foreign audiences may be more mature and ready to accept such movies who can appreciate arts, dances and others.I have also read that many local movies made in Singapore and by local directors and producers are more popular in other countries than in Singapore.

Last but not least, I like to wish Fann Wong a speedy recovery as i read that she had to miss the award presentation as she was not feeling well and is under medication.

Ace Kindred Cheong

I think the awards are given and that’s final, don’t think there’s anything to debate about, nor it is very nice to say whether they deserved it or not about others winning. It is the panel of judges choice we should respect their decision and the awards itself. Well the film doesnt do well locally, it is because the film itself is more of an art film with a slow pace where Singaporean wouldn’t like or enjoy this type of film here, but that does not mean the film is bad even the local box office is not ideal. Anyway the diector and producers also mentioned that this is not a film for local market but meant for international stage. They pin their hopes overseas and now the winning has achieved their goals.

This award festival has no mentions in the wire agencies or newspapers, i believe its because it is the first year running but it definitely will have more years to come and its good that Fann is the poineer for Best Actress.

I personally went in cinema to watch the show and enjoyed the show which i think Fann did well on her emotions and dancing. We should be happy that our local star fann wong bring home the award and glory.

Ben Choo

Dance of the Dragon was supported fervently by the Singapore Tourism Board. STB lent a hand to the production because the film was shot entirely in Singapore, showcasing many of our famous sightseeing locations.

As I had an American friend over at that period, I thought it would be apt to bring him to the show. The cast could be considered experienced and as close to A list as possible for a local production.

Do remember that Fann Wong acted alongside Jackie Chan and Jason Scott Lee is famous for his performances in Timecop2 and the Jungle Book among other hollywood entertainers. My friend Brian certainly recognized both of them though he could not quite recall their names.

Personally I thought it was another measured performance by the experienced trio, however their acting were hampered by the slow and meandering story development. Perhaps the focus of the film was on the the intricacies of ballroom dancing.

The directors also explored the web of relationships with much sensitivity and artistry. That of course would not sit well with the movie-goers because we are afterall not reviews or connoiseurs of films, we are after the visuals and a relaxing time.

In this fast paced society, an epic must contain stunning CG effects, grandiose outdoor shoots, some disturbingly scenes and impactful acting.

In terms of outdoor shoots, DOTD have Cityhall, Clarke Quay and Robinson Road. Compare that to Nardia or Lord of the Rings, where the majestic nature of the New Zealand plains were shown in full bloom. DOTD was always going to lose out in terms of that yet to a Singaporean, these scenes still filled me with pride and a sense of familiarity. Other Singaporeans might not be able to dissociate Fann Wong with television and since they could watch her on TV at 9pm, why pay 8 to 10 bucks just to see her gyrate with a korean or ABC?

JAng Hyuk is an aspiring dance student who taught himself by imitating videotape dancers, protrayed the transition of a novice shaker to an accomplished dancefloor exponent with ease. Fann Wong too could fool us into thinking she has had professional training as a ballerina. Their on screen chemistry deserves a mention.

Together they waltz to the tune of the movie and Jason Scott’s fiery attempt to thwart both of them adds a new sizzling dimension to the show sometimes. As the producers attempt to spin the complex web of relationships between the characters, you wonder if they were overdoing it. Sometimes we are just satisfied with boy A meets girl, B turns out to be a bad apple and girl happily absconds with A. Something like that.

Movies with “what ifs” and complicated choices do not do well at box offices. Morality and mirrors of reality do well in books and essays. They may win you critics but not box office success. So it is not surprising that the Inaugural West Hollywood International Film festival bestowed upon the film so many accolades. These people are the ones who try to understand the movie and not the ones who just watch a movie.

In DOTD we have a nice ethnic mix of singaporean, American chinese and Korean set in an urban Asian city. The theme of ballroom dancing may not be new and retired dancing champions even staler but the producers injected adrenaline into this subject by throwing in bits and pieces of martial arts along the way. The land of revolution is feverished with martial arts craze and anything asian. They seemingly will lap up ballroom dancing if it is wrapped with an asian skin. Also due to the economic downturn, there were not many outstanding Asian movies recently, DOTD made its debut at the festival at a correct time.

There are many films which did not garner blockbuster status but did well at film festivals. Wong Kar Wai’s In the Mood of Love did well overseas with the judges, so did other lesser known China movies like JIang Cheng Xia Ri. Of course it would be a greater honor if DOTD could win awards at the Cannes Film Festival but lets be proud of our Singaporean production which has taken on a cosmopolitan feel and did well on the international stage.

Ong Kok Wah

May Choon Says: Finally, Hong Kong’s longest-dating celebrity couple have got hitched.

Charismatic Tony Leung and vivacious Carina Lau tied the knot in Bhutan on Monday, after being together for some 20 years. Theirs was a liaison blessed by Buddhist monks and witnessed by a small group of 80 close relatives and friends, including retired pop queen Faye Wong and former actress Lin Ching-hsia. Speculation is also rife that a baby is next on their agenda.

But, will it be happily-ever-after for To-rina? Will their union last when they are polar opposites in terms of personality? She is as exuberant as he is introverted. She speaks her mind whereas he keeps it all in. She’s a party animal, while he prefers to stay at home.

Some say opposites attract, but how far is too much?

Tell Us: Do you think To-rina will last forever? Do you think couples who are polar opposites have lasting power?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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With regards to the marriage of Tony Leung and Carina Lau, I am almost certain that it would not be an everlasting one.

Celebrity couples are known to having two, three, or even four marriages one after another within a short period of time. Taking Hollywood celebrity couples for instance; Bruce Willis and Demi Moore, Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman, and even Brad Pit and Jenifer Aniston, whom everyone once thought were the ‘perfect couple’ and arousing envy among people. Still, their marriages didn’t work out.

Despite the fact that there are still some existing celebrity couples whose marriages remained unshakable, sadly, they are only the minority few that fills the rest of the percentage in the percentile scale. Tracy Pollan and Michael J. Fox have been married for 20 years since 1988, and they are one such example of a long lasting couple.

For couples who have polar opposite characteristics, I would definitely agree that there is something about these opposite forces which brings attraction and live to a couple. If one person in the relationship is talkative and the other party has a quiet nature, miscommunication and squabbles are unlikely to happen. One party talks, the other listens, which correspond to the definition of communication - sending and receiving of speech, thoughts,etc.

Thus, polar opposite characteristics can actually helped to improve an everlasting relationship and targeting towards an eternal marriage. However, this can only be referred and applied to non-celebrities just like you and me.

After all, celebrities are people who lead a completely different lifestyle from us.

Lynn Huang

I like to congratulate both Carina Lau and Tony Leung for their recent marriage in Bhutan.I have the pleasure to have met the couple when they were in Singapore in the late 90s when they were special guests at the opening of Jazreel Low’s Wedding Boutique.I am glad that they have finally tied the knot after been together for 20 years.I believed that their marriage will be a happy and blissful one because it is the differences that attracts each other.There is a famous saying “Opposite attracts”.I do not believe any marriage will be a happy one without love, respect, tolerance and compromising at times.I also like to wish Both Carina and Tony the very best of health as well as to love and cherish one another.

Ace Kindred Cheong

I was pleased and glad that Tony finally took Carina down the aisle and “legalised” their togetherness, guess its not for themselves but for their elderly folks….

If they continue to lead their separate “interests” and enjoy what they have been doing before they got married…yes it would be a lasting marriage. Frankly if you followed their “stop-watch” relationship they indeed had taken “non-transparent” marriage vow……in good times and bad times…..when Carina was kidnapped and Tony was there for her…..

If they continue and not be clouded by doubts on “is he ” or “is she” with co-stars “chemistry” relationship (Maggie Cheung and Terry Gou respectively) they will last till their golden years.

They should continue to respect each others space and always, always remember that whatever they do they should not make each other look bad….business is business like movies whether done tastefully or art it is inevitably will through cristicism…the most important thng is that they respect each other and answerable to each other including their elder….

Have a blessed marriage Tony and Carina, love is never a bed of roses, its the ups and downs in togetherness that test one to its end….

Candida Ang

May Choon Says: We’ve seen the critically-acclaimed Nip/Tuck and then reality TV series like The Swan and Extreme Makeover. In Korea, drama Before & After became a hit among TV viewers. Plastic surgery seems to be the fantastic way to go on the goggle box.

And now, local TV station Channel U has jumped onto the nipping and tucking bandwagon with its own series based on the business of plastic surgery, called Perfect Cut.

Why has it taken so long for Asia to finally jump onto this nip-tuck trend? Some say it’s because aesthetic surgery is the “in” thing now, it’s becoming more affordable and it’s become less of a stigma compared to before. Even our own local plastic surgeons like Woffles Wu and Martin Huang have become known for skills and patenting plastic surgery techniques.

But is plastic surgery still too sensitive a topic to be dramatised? In our more conservative Asian society, celebrities or starlets who opt for such procedures still refrain from talking publicly about it. Compare that to the West, where celebrities like Kelly Rowland and Pamela Anderson have openly declared they have gone under the knife.

Tell Us: What do you think of TV shows that centre around plastic surgery? Is it still a hush-hush topic?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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In response to the article on Singaporean’s attitude towards plastic surgery.I like to say that many people have gone under the knife.I am not here to say if such is wrong or right.Personally, i would not even think of such.I like to ask if those who have gone for such treatment is, why can’t they accept themselves for who they are and how they look?I have read that the most people who have gone for such are the Koreans.The only time i believe such to be done is when someone has met with an accident who survived but has been disfigured because of such or when someone has been borned disfigured as well.

I believed technologies are improving day by day and is it possible that one day, such surgery is so advanced to a stage that we can look who ever we want to.If such is possible, then there will be many “Clones” walking around on planet Earth.

I personally believed we should not encourage plastic surgery because we should accept who we are because everyone is unique.I like to be enlightened by the relevant authorities on their view of such surgery and what measures have they implemented to safeguard those who have decided to go for such surgeries?

Ace Kindred Cheong

Technically, aesthetic surgery is a specialty concerned with the correction of form and function. It is undeniable that this phenomenon is becoming increasingly common and no longer falls into the category of taboo. In 2006 for instance, nearly eleven million went under the knife in an effort to improve their physical appearance, with breast enlargement being the most popular procedure. This is a five percent increase from the year 2005 and this growing popularity does not seem like it is going to alleviate anytime soon.

Formerly seen as an issue that provoke frowns of disapproval, aesthetic surgery is now as common as catching a flu and now have clinics sprung up all across the globe. Some people are even willing to travel across boundaries just to attain the best possible aesthetic treatment. “Hotspots” for plastic surgery have also surfaced with Japan, Thailand and China being most popular for licensed and illegally-performed procedures. As part of a billion dollar industry, it is important for us to acknowledge the growing significance of aesthetic surgery.

The fact that celebrities now are being extremely open about correcting their looks with the help of a scalpel is also noteworthy. Action film star Jackie Chan sought double-eyelid surgery in 1976 in an attempt to achieve a more “westernized” look. Ayumi Hamasaki has also been rumoured of having thirty to forty surgeries done. As role models and influential individuals of the society, there is little wonder why aesthetic surgery is indeed becoming the “in” thing.

Amelda Nira Hamdan

TV shows that centre on plastic surgery are as good as their portrayal of the benefits, dangers and ethical issues of plastic surgery. It is important that such an important tool of mass media be used accurately and responsibly.

Plastic surgery just like any other branch of medicine is able to bring wellness to the patient and of course has its unique risks and moral controversies. There are of course valid reasons why people pay so much attention to plastic surgery. American serials like Nip/Tuck and their paparazzi’s focus on celebrities’ cosmetic procedures have tainted the views of audiences around the world.

Someone who is unsatisfied with his or her appearance, a congenitally deformed child or an accident victim may want an improvement by the surgeon’s knife. It is not simply an issue of vanity; there is also the self esteem and other psychological aspects which play a factor. Ultimately it is an exercise of freedom of choice after weighing up the potential pros and cons. There are also unfortunately quack doctors cashing in on this vulnerability.

It is therefore important for TV shows to mirror reality and let us know whilst it may be a quick and even only way to bigger eyes or straighter nose, there are dangers and not everyone needs it. Some people just need a bigger personality.

Unsurprisingly, plastic surgery is no longer a hush hush topic because of all the attention it is receiving. So many stars have confessed to this surgical quick fix and many have gained the fame they so desired. Of course blotched jobs like Michael Jackson’s melting nose left a bad impression and also became gossip fodder.

Yet not many people would admit they have visited Woffles Wu or Kim Byung Gun (renowned South Korean plastic surgeon). Why is that so? It is precisely the same reason as why they opted for the cosmetic surgery. They have a brittle confidence and self perceived inferiority. So they opted to change themselves physically to overcome the deficit. However by discussing their own changes they would be forced to remember their past weaknesses and they certainly do not wish to relive those humiliation.

Hng Pek Khee

May Choon Says: A couple of celebs have been having  foot-in-mouth situations lately.

First, there was American actress Sharon Stone who blurted that the devastating 12 May earthquake in Sichuan was “karma” for China’s treatment of Tibet. More Brainless Instinct than Basic Instinct, Ms Stone?

Then earlier this week, Hong Kong’s Jackie Chan was booed when visited Taiwan and was promptly booed by Taiwanese. Four years earlier, Mr Not-So-Nice Guy had called a shooting incident which wounded president Chen Shui-bian “the biggest joke in the world”.

What is it with celebrities thinking they have the right and necessary experience to comment on politics? I mean, kudos to those who do and have the mettle to back it up, like Bono campaigning to end poverty and actually engaging world leaders, or Zhang Ziyi and her earthquake-awareness efforts at Cannes.

But for the rest, it ends up being an embarrassment. Even the Dalai Lama - who has traditionally embraced celebrity involvement in his cause - has tried to distance himself from Stone’s mortifying comment. And with the upcoming US presidential race heating up and with more and more celebrities joining the campaigns, you can be sure you’ll be hearing more political faux pas soon.

Tell Us: Should celebrities even talk politics or should they just mind their own business?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA EMAIL

Celebrities are no different from the man in the streets when it
comes to voting rights.

The only reason why there are outcries when celebrities mix stardom
with politics is due to the social hierarchy. What they say holds
weight to their herd of supporters and that may have a swaying effect.
If it’s positive for the country, by all means. If the celebrity is
merely swaying a certain angle to appear main stream or for other
nefarious agendas, that can be a real bane to the political climate.

What’s equally sad is the fact that some celebrities just mouth off
without due consideration of their stature, and that has a real
negative impact on them. It makes them look bad. If the man in the
street gets 10 pieces of criticism for one janky blog entry, a
celebrity would get hit by 100 times or more of criticisms. That isn’t
inherently fair, but neither are the wealth and fame celebrities enjoy
necessarily hard earned. Even prominent figures such political
columnists have to do their research prior to releasing a comment,
celebrities would do well to keep their mouth shut because something
they have muttered to their drunken celebrity friends could be
plastered across tabloids the next day.

Peng Tie Lun

I felt that is not whether celebrities should stay mum on matters as definitely they can said whatever they want. But is whether things they said is going to make sense. For example, Sharon Stone said China earthquake is ‘karma’ just because of China treatment of Tibet. Though China may had bad treated Tibet but Sichuan victims are innocent so they do not deserve these ‘karma’ If there should be karma, then it should fall upon on the people who bad treated Tibet. But not on the innocent people who suffered. Such remarks can only showed her brainless instinct. And also such remarks can showed how ignorant or immature that some celebrities are. So celebrities should think whether their comments make sense before giving comments.

Yeo Yong Chao

May Choon Says: Hollywood, it is time to wake up and smell the green tea. Time to stop looking at Asian stars and assuming they all look alike.

Korean star Rain’s recent series of hiccups with the American and UK media who either confused him with another actor or mixed up his nationality had me thinking. Hollywood still had a long way to go in recognising Asian stars as equals to their Hollywood counterparts.

It’s not as if Hollywood doesn’t understand Asia’s potential. If anything it seems to be obsessed by it. Lionsgate and the Weinstein Co backed the Jet Li-Jackie Chan starrer, The Forbidden Kingdom. Universal Pictures will be releasing the US$160 million The Mummy sequel called The Mummy: The Tomb of the Dragon Emperor starring Jet Li, Brendan Fraser and Michelle Yeoh later this year.

And there is a US$30m film by Weinstein called Shanghai starring John Cusack, Chow Yun Fat, Ken Watanabe and Gong Li. Hollywood films like Iron Man and Street Kings were recently launched in Korea to test the Asian box-office market.

So what is Hollywood’s problem? At the moment, sheer ignorance for anything outside the LaLa land borders. Hopefully as more films are made in Asia with Asian directors and actors, that will change. And maybe next time they can easily identify Rain by his name and nationality.

Tell Us: Do you think Hollywood is ignorant of Asia? Will the Western movie industry ever take Asian entertainers seriously?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Hollywood is never going to take the Asian entertainment industry seriously. Period. They know money can be made in this region, they will exploit it, but we’ll never see the day an Asian actor headlines a mega blockbuster. The western media are run primarily by white men, who create content primarily with the white audience in mind. The ignorance will always be there. Why bother when your target audience are generally just as ignorant. As for the Asian market, they will most likely lap up anything thrown at them.

Many of the Asian countries are still suffering from the colonial syndrome and associate western products with being superior. It’s time to realise that content coming out of this region is just as good, if not superior. Afterall, the best directors, like Wong Kar Wai, Lee Ang and Zhang Yimou are from Asia. Is it any coincidence that last year’s Best Picture at the Academy Awards was a remake of an Asian film? Even then, a gross case of ignorance was displayed. They mentioned the Departure being a remake of a Japanese film and not a Hong Kong one.

It’s up to us to not be blinded by what we see and read in the western media and their perception of what is good. When we realise the quality that is coming out from our region, who needs Hollywood?

Keith Tan

I remember that Rain was introduced before this in United States in TRL show, (one of MTV shows).

I believed that westerners do have problems in recognizing Asian talents. Artistes such as Jackie Chan, Jet Li, Chow Yuen Fatt really worked their way up and I am proud of those guys. However, I am not too sure if the westerners could differentiate Japanese and Korean artistes. For all readers, I just would like to highlight here that in Asia, Korean artistes are really well known due to the exposures given but in western countries Japan artistes are more well known.

I do have friends who are in Netherlands, USA and France who actually are big fans of Japan artistes such as Arashi (whose member, Ninomiya Kazunari acted alongside with Ken Watanabe in Letters from Iwo Jima), Yamashita Tomohisa from NewS (who came out in I-Weekly), EXILE, Koda Kumi and of course no 1 Diva in Japan, Ayumi Hamasaki.

It is not that westerners do not want to recognize Asian artistes but we as Asians have yet to prove ourselves that we are proud of our Asian artistes. We should show the westerners that Asians are proud of our own local acts as well as the regions artistes.

I do believe that sooner or later westerners would realize that the Asian artistes are also equally talented as theirs.

Noor Azlin Hassan

Maychoon Says:On which planet does German dictator Adolf Hitler - you know, mustachioed mass murderer and mastermind of the Holocaust - symbolise anything revolutionary?

Apparently, it’s Korea. We know that because a controversial Korean skincare commercial by South Korean brand Coreana starring actress Park Jin Hee has caused a flap around the world. In it, she’s wearing a Nazi-inspired military uniform.

Sirens wail in the background, German voices fill the air, a bomb explodes and raucous cheers resound. Then comes this message: “Even Hitler didn’t have the East and West.”

No matter how “revolutionary” this lotion’s moisturising and calming effects supposedly are, Hitler and cosmetics just don’t go. Unless of course you are a fan of The Producers and believe that the man was really gay.

But seriously, what the hell were they thinking? Or maybe they weren’t.

This pro-Nazi concept sparked outrage among foreigners in Korea and beyond, leading irate officials from the Israeli Embassy in Seoul and the US-based Simon Wiesenthal Center, an international Jewish human rights organisation, to send letters of complaint to Coreana.

Eventually, good sense prevailed and the advertising campaign was withdrawn.

Oddly enough, the South Koreans themselves have remained apathetic and insensitive to the atrocities committed by the Nazis during World War II. Most of the mainstream media in South Korea didn’t even bother pursuing the story, nor did Jin Hee come out to make any statement.

However, you can bet your last won that they’ll be singing a different tune once anything Japan-friendly comes into the picture.

Tell Us: Do you think such ads cross the line of good taste? Are consumers getting more sensitive? Or should all things Nazi remain taboo?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg . Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

Chang May Choon Says: Would you quit school to be a pop star?

Two Singaporean twin sisters did just that. At 15, they both dropped out of Secondary 3 to pursue showbiz dreams. Barely a year later, Miko and Yumi Bai have become stars in cyberspace with their blogs attracting tens of thousands of hits. The two 16-year-olds are now based in Taipei, preparing to release their debut album in Taiwan.

Conservatives would frown, arguing that quitting school so early is madness, that studying is more important at such a young age. But, when asked, the girls, who call themselves By2, said education can wait because some opportunities only knock once.

After all, it was their late father’s last wish to see them succeed in showbiz, and they feel they are now doing and learning things that their own peers can only dream of, like jetsetting the region for vocal and dance lessons and experiencing different cultures.

Tell Us: Would you drop your books to pursue showbiz dreams? Or do you think education is more important?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Getting back to the topic,I would say I am very proud of By2 and i’m definitely supporting them.(Other Asian singers too of course).

Although I’m not a fan of Chinese songs(I love Japanese Songs),I’ll still give them my support and I wish them all the best in their career.Make Singapore proud.

Julius Cher

I feel that you should grab a chance when you see it. After all, everyone is young only once and this is really a golden opportunity for the gals to make a name for themselves overseas. Albeit they do not succeed, they could always fall back on their studies and pursue their dreams again. If they give this a miss, they will definitely end up with regrets. I wish them all the best and certainly hope they would tread carefully as the entertainment business is known to be full of ups and downs.

Tay Chin Meng

A pair of Singaporean twin sisters actually dropped out of secondary school last year to chase their dream of becoming pop stars.

I do agree on them that this opportunity will only comes once, therefore, i too agree on them going on to pursue their dream provided they:

- they are ready for all the unforeseen circumstances; they might not be able to become famous, having to come back to singapore to start all over again

- If they succeed, be prepare to face the real world, because in the entertainment business (whatever you call that), is feel with darkness, hope you know what i am talking about - being rich and famous may sound really cool but you never know how much this people suffer behind the scene…

- lastly, they are just 16 and still very pure… don’t want to see them end up like those people in Hong Kong…

Jack Liaw

I think that the twins have made a right decision in pursuing their dreams instead of staying to complete their studies. If i were in their shoes, i would have done the same. Singapore is a place where education is always placed as a first priority, however, some of us might have dreams which we would want to pursue or fulfil, and this chance to fulfilling it might only come once in a lifetime.

The twins are now still considered young, and the chance to make it big in the industry doesn’t always come by that easily in Singapore compared to Taiwan. With so much youth and energy in them, it is only right to make full use of it and fulfil their father’s last wish instead of waiting till they are much older. Even if they are to meet with a setback, they still have a lot of time in their hands to correct it out or to continue with their studies.

I have seen their blog and the videos they posted up after reading the TNP and i have to say that such talent of theirs shouldn’t be wasted. All the best to them!
Candy Chye

May Choon Says: Singaporean men, I don’t know why you get such a bad rep sometimes, but you’re really a chivalrous bunch.

A recent survey on singles by the Social Development Service (SDS) has shown that many men are willing to go the extra mile to spoil their women silly. For example, 7 in 10 men say they will carry their loved ones’ handbags and 9 out of 10 say they will open the door for their dates.

There have been differing views towards these survey results. Some say these men are being wimps for pandering to their women. Others say there’s nothing wrong with being gentlemanly and some women expect these little acts of chivalry.

Personally, I’m just glad there are some very nice, well brought up men out there. This is despite previous media reports about Singaporean women preferring to marry foreigners because they think local men “cannot make it”.

What do you think?
 
Tell Us: Men, do you agree with the SDS survey? Would you go the extra mile for your date? Women, do you think Singaporean men make good dates?

You can leave a comment here or e-mail us at tnpshow@sph.com.sg. Don’t forget to leave us your contact details: name, age, occupation and e-mail address or telephone number.

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LETTERS VIA E-MAIL

Singaporean men = chivalrous? Both true and false.

Let us first define the terms “man” and “chivalry”.

What is it meant to be a man in Singapore? He has to be successful in his career with a nice path mapped out by 30. His entire worth is determined by his choice of work and the respect he is given by relatives, friends and other loved ones is leveled at his type of occupation… Or income level. Which ever is greater.

Any deviation from this would either mean he is still too young or considered a has-been.

So just what is chivalry? Is it the western concept of a knight in shining armor? The smooth suave moves of a salsa dancer? The romantic purchase of roses for no apparent reason? A sudden plane ride to France for opera and breakfast the Maldives? No sex of course. Just some healthy interest in a chaste way. What else could it be?

Or maybe asian chivalry should be defined with just one word. Responsibility. Sure. Not all men are responsible. Like not all women are made with chocolates, spice and all things nice.

Women love that mysterious man that is borderline metrosexual but spends less time in the toilet than they do… The strong silent brooding type with sweet honeyed words that wouldn’t surprise you if he tells you he’s actually a super spy in an organisation called the “Impossible Missions Agency”. Women dig men that would puff up their chest and confront the arrogant fellow across the room just for looking at her wrong.

But in the morning after, his roaming heart takes over, and he leaves a short sweet note on the dresser saying something like “ma cherie, (women dig foreign languages… Mainly French..) itz waz a fantastic nightz… But alas, duty callsz. I must return to where oncez i came, and maybez we can meetz againz as we lay in bed thousandsz of milez apart…” the woman would swoon over the note… Hoping that he will stay safe in one of his missions as she pull on her granny panties and get back to her single mundane life…

But responsibility isn’t about all that. Its about worrying over bills and ensuring that the kids get food, clothing, and allowance. Its about having the cash set aside for a rainy day. Its about giving that commitment to take care of the family for the rest of your life… Even if it means swallowing your pride at work, or walking away quietly in a potential confrontation as the safety of your family is paramount to a little loss of face. It is the reason why the head of the house wouldn’t pull over to a man waving for help at the side of a dark expressway in the middle of the night with his wife and kids sleeping in the car, but call the police on his way back home to report someone needing assistance on the highway.

Unchivalrous? Maybe. Responsible? Definately.

Opening doors for the women, or anyone else for that matter isn’t an act of chivalry. It is an act of courtesy. You DO NOT open the door just because you’re dating the girl, but anyone else that is going through the door, rather than risking the door closing on their faces.

Carrying handbags for their dates doesn’t mean the guy is pussy-whipped or chivalrous. But if the bag is genuinely heavy, due to massive textbooks or files or other stuff women carry in their bags, then unless you’re willing to put up with a short-tempered date, carrying their bags would be an act of wisdom.

So let us define the terms carefully before any sort of constructive exchange can take place. Slamming the singaporean men just because he is more concerned about real issues simply puts the problem out of focus. Women would continue to pine for the Johnny Depps looking at their Ah Sengs while their daughters heads are filled with unrealistic expectations.

Are singaporean men chivalrous? It really depends how you define it.

And if you really want to be treated like a lady, then start behaving like one first. It would help put the point across.

Haw Kuo Liang

Madonna’s hit song ‘Take a bow’ featured lyrics like ”Take a bow, the night is over.This masquerade is getting older,Light are low, the curtains down,Theres no one here.Say your lines but do you feel them.Do you mean what you say when theres no one around.Watching you, watching me, one lonely star…” The song almost questions whether people are true to themselves and their loved ones when they can show their innermost personalities. I can’t help but to wonder if men always treat women with chivalry out of their own frame or mind, or is it always an outward show and a mere facade.

We have all heard horror stories about how men turned from gentle giants to obnoxious boors after obtaining their targets. Whether it’s a marriage vow, a night of carnal activities or activities best left unsaid, men can be pretty good at putting up a show as and when necessary.

SDS’s survey may not fully reflect true mentalities, how did SDS target the sampling of people to interview? Naturally during SDS events or activities for newly weds, people will be lovey dovey or idealistic about their other half.Men will clearly be more than happy to be at their best behavior for the moment. A much better indication of men’s chivalry can be obtained if SDS interviews people who have been married for a significant amount of time. There’s a Chinese saying which goes ” Genuine gold can withstand the hottest of fires”. I’ll b more than happy to accept the fact that Singaporean men are chivalrous if the research is done in a subjective and through manner. As it is i can’t help but to stay a cynic.

Personally, i prefer to follow the drift. If the chemistry is right, everything will come about naturally. I wouldn’t go out of the way to please my date because I wouldn’t want to raise their expectations to unrealistic levels and send her thumping down to deep depths when she realize that I’m not her knight in shining armor. At the very least,they can be sure they’re interacting with yours truly. All 175 centimeters worth of me , no pretense included! She has to love me for who i am, nothing more and nothing less.

Peng Tie Lun

Opening doors and carrying handbags. Surely, it takes more than that to make a good date. I believe a good date revolves around a very good meal, maybe a good film, which makes for good discussion during a post film drink and someone who makes stimulating conversation. Not to mention, both parties showing interest by taking the effort to groom.

I am writing from the male perspective of finding a man to hang out with. That itself is a challenge. It’s been years, if ever, that I have gone out for dinner or drinks with a male friend. Other than my fiancee, most of the friends I hang out with happen to be female.

Most men I know are not even willing to pay for a good meal themselves, let alone for a date. On top of that, most of their conversation topics do not stray far from football, and crass jokes. On many occassions, especially during National Service, I’ve been asked numerous times, why I ‘overdress’.

There are many S’porean men out there who make good dates I sure. I know a few of them. Guys I can have proper conversation about films, art and literature with. They are not people I can hang out with whenever I want because all of them are already snapped up. That seems to be the problem for the ladies I guess. All the good ones are either taken, or gay.

Personally, I find a lot of the men here lacking in effort while on dates.I see a lot of them dressed shabbily, walking ahead of their girlfriends, waiting outside stores while their other half shops. There is a long way to go before the male species here can be considered good dates on the whole, unless efforts are taken to improve themselves, instead of constantly whining about how hard it is to find a girlfriend.

Keith Tan

Hi, I was wondering about Postwoman Chang May Choon’s article about how chivalrous Singaporean men are, and how she came to the conclusion that men carrying their date’s handbags, or just simply opening the door for them constitutes “acts of chivalry”?

Chivalry is supposed to be gallant or distinguished acts perpetuated by men not because they’re expected to, but because they want to. To actually say that carrying a handbag or opening a door for a woman constitutes chivalry is demeaning to men worldwide, as I would say those are more likely acts general social etiquette than chivalry.

In Singapore, women expect men to carry out such acts willingly, and thus it became so that over time, men are so-called “programmed” to follow the “code” that was wired into them by society to carry handbags and open doors. And when it’s expected, I wouldn’t call it an act of chivalry as said acts are supposed to be spontaneous, but a form of social etiquette. Thus said, a “want” suddenly becomes a “need”, and men are not obliged to service such selfish “needs”.

To end off this email, I would say that yes, I would carry a handbag or open a door for a girl, but I would never ever consider it an act of chivalry.

Benjamin Ho

They’re both good and bad. In my personal opinion, more bad than good.

I don’t think that Singaporean men make good dates much at all, at least those in my age group. Most Singaporean men in my age group are young and immature, fresh from National Service, and not knowing much about how to treat women or otherwise. Most don’t know the subtle hints that their behaviour shows, often portraying themselves as lazy. Would it honestly hurt a guy to wear a nice shirt when we have a meal at Raffles Hotel, for example? Wouldn’t that show that they are at least a little bit interested in the woman?

I am speaking from personal experience.

In general, Singaporean men tend to look at women as trophy prizes, as something he can show off to his friends sort of like a representation of his pride and ego. Also, men my age seem to be brought up on the idea that the men are the stronghold in a relationship, the kind that says, “Whatever I say, goes. No questions.” They don’t care how they look on a date sometimes. They could be dressed shabbily, but still care a LOT on whether or not their partner is presentable and nice-looking, and wearing make-up.

Of course, a good date doesn’t necessarily mean the guy MUST dress up for the lady. Good conversation and something in common is also important. Who would really want to be talking about the inner workings of the digestive tract of a squirrel while you’re trying to eat? What I’ve discovered about men my age is that once they’re in or out of National Service, that is ALL they talk about. Even if you try to change the subject, in some way or other it goes back to the subject of National Service. What do women know about National Service unless they themselves have been in the service? Also, some men have this habit of thinking they are ALWAYS right, not listening to what the woman has to say, caring not if she has an opinion on the subject at hand or not, sticking to his opinion and beliefs (That of course, could be a personal problem and is not isolated to men alone).

Women in my opinion want a man who can take care of them, and not just use her to show off to his friends as his trophy. It is degrading and can be humiliating sometimes as well. The last thing I need is to be a pet that has to take care of itself. Figuratively speaking.

All good Singaporean men I’ve found, are either attached in one way or other, or gay.

On the OTHER hand, I have seen men who do treat their girlfriends or partners with utmost respect. Though this is rare, I usually only see it happening among much younger or much older couples, or couples that have just started going out with each other.

Sadly, that is all I can say about the good side of dating Singaporean men. In my years of dating Singaporean men, I have never wanted to spend the rest of my life with one. Perhaps this is why “Sarong Party Girls” exist in society.

Perlin Chow

I personally do find most Singaporean guys, may it be Chinese, Indian or Malay do make good dates. However, I am uncertain about the other gender. Please bear in mind you ladies that there is no malicious intent in this, and I am just trying to make a statement for the general public to reflect upon. Chivary so speaks, to open doors, paying for meals, and sending the other half home. Are all these a entitlement? Or a priviledge? I have asked many female friends, and many would agree not at all, its just a priviledge, that statement is only true before they are attached. After that, it just takes a little of twisting, turning and whining and the white flags are up for the guys.

All my friends will pay for the 1st date, however, is it because its only gentlemanly to do so? We do remember that we must treat ladies with due respect and be the gentlemen we are, not forgetting the equality in sexes, so demanded by the ladies. Equality to sexes = guys and girls are treated equal = guys will place themselves in girls position, and girls will do likewise = guys open doors, so should girls = guys foot bills, so should girls, guys send girls home after a date, so should girls (I will never end with this comparison.) I always have this thinking that why only feminism exists, yet there is no maleism? Once we guys treat them equally, i.e. get them to do any guy stuff, may it be carry a bag, or foot the bill, we will always hear the ‘Singaporean guys are not gentlemanly at all’ and blah x3. So where was the equality?

When guys go out on dates, please pray tell, many of you ladies will say they can’t dress well, they can’t carry themselves. Have you all brought a mirror too when you go out with guys? Or shall I live in the fantasy that girls will always dress perfectly and behave perfectly.

For a guy to carry a bag, to me, thats losing a huge chunk of your ego. For those guys who are still blinded, is it because you love the person so you do it? Or the other half is incapable to hold a bag. I wonder, did she buy that gucci or prada bag to match her clothes or to match the bellhop who carries it? Why not we tie the laces that are undone for the ladies, or perhaps try on all the dresses and accessories she intend to buy, at least she knows it will match with herself. Some things guys should do, guys shouldn’t. A thin line I agree, to hold a bag when she is sick or did her nails are some that lie on that grey line. A while to hold that bag, I am fine, provided its not that feminine a bag to throw your entire ego to the depths of the sea. Some may say that by doing that am I not compromising or conflicting the interests of the male ego? Thats where gentlemanly and chivary comes in. To know what is good and bad. We can give in to the female, but not ! till you forget oneself.

Girls expect guys to work hard, have a career, meet her, meet his friends, meet her friends, meet her parents, send her to work, send her off work, talk to her on the phone after sending her, sleep sufficiently and maintain a 24hr day. Hmmm kinda hard. Perhaps guys in their logic has 36 or 48hrs a day. You send her home once, Singaporean girls will say, ‘YOU used to do this, YOU used to do that’, now YOU have changed.’ How much chivary has become.

One often comment that its always guys are the bad ones, stray easily, or have affairs. Have they thought why men behave this way? Its because the Singaporean demand that much from them that they are afraid, and they rather have someone that expects less that they provide for. Yet this girl will just provide the simplier things that guys want in life. Perhaps in life would be easier.

Have you people out there watched the show ‘P.S. I love you’, I would love to rant the whole story to you, however, one sentence caught my ear. ‘Girls have no idea what they want’ And that is true to say the least. Girls are wonderful at organising, however they suck at solving problems. Sometimes looking in the mirror will make the world a better place.

P.S. not intended to stir the wrath of the female society.
Have a light heart.

Folken