Charlene Says: Whether it’s sex scandals or legal tangles or just being plain diva, female celebrities - both locally and overseas - have dominated the headlines in 2008.

Take Britney Spears and her almost 360 degree turnabout and comeback, or Miley Cyrus and her semi-nude Vanity Fair pictures.

Even locally, you had Patricia Mok who was labelled a diva after a tantrum at a film set. Or Caldecott darling Fann Wong who surprisingly pulled in a Best Actress win at an LA film festival. And even if you didn’t remember the whole debate over whether Miss Singapore Universe should go on, you definitely would’ve remembered Shenise Wong’s scary, oops I mean scaly, merlion dress.

And of course, how do you not talk about the year’s celebrity events without a nod to Edison Chen’s bevy of girls - Gillian Chung, Cecilia Cheung, Bobo Chan, etc - who became hot property online, and in not a good way.

Of course, I could hope these women celebrities would just get their act together next year but who wants them boring, serious and drab. What would we have to talk about in 2009?

Tell Us: Who are the female celebrities - Singaporean, from the region or Hollywood - who caught your eye this year?

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.

Germaine Says: Buying Christmas presents has never been my forte. I never know what to get friends and family.

Besides, I prefer to splurge on more indulgent presents on birthdays. And even then, I sometimes ask the recipients what they’d like. After all, what’s a present when someone doesn’t like it and won’t ever come close to using it? 

This year, however, marks a departure. I want to get everyone around me a little something. Maybe the gloom of the prevailing economic downturn has inspired this change and wanting to spread a little Christmas cheer has driven this ‘mission’. Suffice to say, the shopping bit hasn’t been wallet-friendly. Little amounts added up rather substantially.

So now that I’ve busted the budget and can’t afford to buy anything anymore, I’ve turned to the next best option: handmade gifts. A friend warned me, “Don’t even bother. They won’t appreciate it.” But I have no choice and time is running out. Besides, the overly crowded streets of Orchard Road scare me.

While I have never been an arts and craft person (I never did well in the subject at school), I’ve been in a baking frenzy. Why not put my trusty mixer and oven to good use and treat my friends, I thought. Hopefully, my friends will appreciate the effort. It doesn’t take much to spread a little Christmas cheer in such gloomy recessionary times.

After all, it’s the thought that counts.

Tell Us: How are you keeping costs low during this festive, gift-giving period? What do you think of handmade gifts?

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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Since the season to be merry has been somewhat tainted by the economic crisis,people are increasingly frugal and gone are the days most of us can expect extravagant presents.That does not mean the Christmas spirit is purged, as if they are the number of digits on the bank account balances. Here are a number of ways to keep costs low while engaging in the festivities.

.Be selective about where we shop, lots of bargain stores such as Daiso carry little ornaments which will fit snugly at homes anywhere for the price of two dollars. It’s probably made from the same factory as those nine dollar ornaments at upmarket stores anyway,why pay more?

.A festival meal does not have to cost an arm and a leg.With merchants comprehending the depths of the the economic crisis,the likes of Waruku are presenting bigger portions and better valued set meals. A conversation over a meal can make a great gift.

.Buying things in bulk can help.A gifts store had a little fair at Suntec Atrium featuring impeccably packaged sweets at just over a dollar per pack.That can be a nice heart warmer for casual friends.

.Drinks tend to be cheaper by the carton behind close doors, as compared to those found within mugs in clubs. A house party tends to be messier but easier on the pocket. It helps in avoiding hefty taxi bills as well. Just sleep in and hit the first train/bus the next morning.

Home made gifts are a real option.True friends will not sulk at such presents because they can be straight from the heart and easier on the pocket.One should not look at the gift horse in the mouth and for most cases, the value of the presents should be secondary to the emotions invested. Whether it’s little knick knacks or home made butterscotch cookies, they can all make a real friend smile. The time invested is just as valuable as thick wads of cash spent making hefty purchases. At least true friends will appreciate it, as for the rest of the folks who may be less sincere, the less we talk about them, the better!

Peng Tie Lun

Jeanmarie Says: So have you caught Twilight fever yet? If not, what are you waiting for? This week, prepare to be inundated with media coverage on the popular book series-turned-movie that has captured the imagination of millions around the world.

I picked up Twilight, the first of four novels, out of curiosity and it was love at first bite. Definitely darker and sexier than Harry Potter, the other page-to-screen juggernaut that Twilight is often compared to.

Having recently seen director Catherine Hardwicke’s film version, I’m glad to report Twilighters won’t be disappointed. Especially since Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen and Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan are perfectly cast, have such sizzling chemistry and hold court from start to finish.

Here in Singapore, I’ve discovered fans from surprisingly myriad groups: Parents and their teenage kids, single and married adults, straight and gay. Yep, Twilight isn’t just for adolescent girls. The forbidden love story between a human teenage girl and her vampire paramour apparently came to author Stephenie Meyer - a Mormon mother of three hoping to earn enough money to pay off her minivan - in a dream. Appropriately, her hero Edward has now become the stuff of every woman’s dream.

I can’t wait to start devouring the next three books, New Moon, Eclipse and Breaking Dawn - just as I’m already counting down to the movie sequel.

Tell Us: Are you a fan of the book series upon which the movie is based? Do you think the film will live up to all the hype and expectations?

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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I am an avid fan of the Twilight saga who looks forward to watching the movie very much. But the trailer shows wrong quotes at wrong scenes, and I personally feel that the movie might not turn out to be so great after all. Most avid Twilight fans who had higher expectations might not be satisfied with this movie.

Vicky Ng

as a fan of the twilight book , i agree that the movie will live up to its book popularity.
even for those youngsters out there who never read the book ,they will be attracted by the looks of the actors

twiguy wannabe

Twilighters

Fan-pires

Obsessive Cullen Disorder

Hate it, love it, call it whatever you like, the Twilight series has garnered thousands of Twi-hards worldwide and even the odd celebrity (Ryan Seacrest). Everyone would , of course, have Emmett-sized expectations of the movie Twilight.

Make one wrong scene and the producers would be receiving hate mail for a decade.

In the beginning, I had my doubt, just like any other fan. (even if the book came with a picture of our beloved vampires, our imagination would conjure up a totally different Cullen Family).
However, after the cast had been vampified, they had no problems winning Twilighters over. Team Peter/Carlisle, anyone?

The cast aside, the movie packs enough punch to bruise even Edward (not that we would want to do that). The fighting cenes were fantastic, i mean vamp-tastic, with enough special effects to keep the guys spellbound. the love scenes were so emotionally charged that every girl was “dazzled”.
Watching the movie was like watching Twilight the book unravel from our imagination to onscreen. It has lived up to our impossible expectations.

How about a round of applause for our favourite vampires?

Gill

i am so totally obsessed with twilight ive seen it 23 times now and that’s nojoke! im serious. the book s will live up to the expectation to the movies because they r really good! ive read them all cant wait till midnight sun comes out! i am obsesseed of robert pattinson i go to hot topic just to get stuff that has him on it i have a t- shirt book mark and also a life size poster he is sooooooooooooooooo hot!!!!!!!!!

jobrolover

I watched the movie twice in two consecutive days. It was an awesome movie, definitely. I heard about Twilight from a friend who was reading the book. We were unaware that there was going to be a movie about it. But she told me it was a good book.

And being a youngster myself, the book will definitely be up to standard with the book. After watching the movie, I could not wait to get the books for myself.

The movie was definitely a 5-stars movie. One word to describe Twilight, AWESOME!

Nurul Jannah Abdul Aziz

THIS IS WORST LOUSIEST UNREALISTIC SLOW AND BORING MOVIE! HOW CAN A VAMPIRE COME OUT DURING DAY TIME! VAMPIRE PLAYING OUTDOOR SPORTS IS VERY STUPID AND RIDICULOUS! THE MOST SICKENING PART IS THE LEADING ACTRESS SHE IS SO STIFF AND DUMB - FEEL LIKE KICKING OFF THE SCREED! WASTE OF MONEY AND TIME WATCHING IT AND GOT PART TWO? WANT TO CHEAT MORE MONEY FROM US? TELL THE DIRECTOR TO STOP THIS PRODUCTION !

Connie Pauline Chan

I’m a late Twilighter, as I only started in October this year, however I fell in love quickly with the books, and have already read all of them numerous times!

I was really lucky you know, I didn’t have to wait too long but just a 3 - 2 months, and as a Harry Potter fan too, seeing how they produced the movie so much like the book, I was really excited to see how Twilight would be.

I definitely swoon over Edward Cullen, who doesn’t! And of course seeing Robert Pattinson in his ‘Edward’ self, he just totally fits the whole role, his crooked smile, simple, yet beautiful, and his hair, and his face, and his built, I couldn’t think of a better Edward, and it surprises me how well he could take this role seeing to his performance as Cedric Diggory in Harry Potter & GoF.

I first saw the trailer, and I nearly peed in my pants, that scene where he swoops down and save her, and that part, between them both, “Say it, say out loud. Say it.” “Vampire.”

I simply couldn’t wait to watch it!
But as leaks slowly gets out, I happen to see that very 8 minute preview of when Bella visited his house. That’s when I really got disappointed.

I mean, how far off is that scene? I don’t know why did they have to add that scene, and Alice (Ashley Greene) also disappinted me, she was bubbly, and she was enthusiastic about Bella’s appearence, and in that scene, her face, it was so indifferent! She didn’t skip over like how Alice would, she didn’t squeal and have that excitement in her voice. I think Jasper did well in his “I must keep control” posture, though.

From than on, my expectations really dropped, I know it won’t meet any of it at all. I was really disappointed you know, seeing that scene. It just made me so sad to see that few add-ons, and the lack of enthusiasm in the film, where was supposed to be needed.

I happen to get the premiere tickets to the movie on 9 December. The show started.

Regardless of all those disappointments I’ve had, for every Twilight fan, the anticipation after waiting so long, that wait is over, and every single minute in there, every single detail, it just means so much, and you just appreciate everything. Who cares about the add-ons, you just want to admire at their beauty, at their lines, at that romance.

I’ve already seen the disappointing scenes, and I already expected them, so it didn’t hit me half that much as it did when I first saw it (which I don’t know if it’s a good or bad thing :P), however I came out of the movie really pleased, to have finally watched it.

After some thinking, it is still rather disappointing though, for the wait, and it comes out this way.

Imagine this.
You are not even a Twilight fan, you don’t follow the saga at all, you just happen to catch it with your friends.
Look at the minimal amount of information they give there. I think for a non-Twilight person, they might actually be clueless, which leads to one of the reasons why they read the book, to find out more.

Why, for that scene, they add the whole ‘italiano craze’, when they could’ve used that scene to explain more things.
It’s just too fast, all the events, one minute he hates her, and the next, he loves her, and she loves him, and they confess, and you know, everything’s too fast paced. Too fast, too little things.

The main thing too, about the whole book, was the romance, was the sweetness between Edward and Bella, but I felt very little from there, only at that prom scene, but still, again, I felt just that much, and it’s not enough to satisfy the hunger of a person who’ve waited for this movie! And expected so much!

Sigh, yes it is fast, and yes it is actually you can say, very disappointing for a fan, and actually a headful of question marks possibly for a person who’ve not read the book, but than again, I appreciate for them to make this film, for them to have at least tried their best to put the contents of that book into the movie.

I just felt that they could’ve done it the ‘Harry Potter’ way, you know, they could fit one whole book (with that amount of page, and action!) into a 2 and a half hour show, and possibly 3, and see Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallow, a split into 2 movies! I’m sorry if I’m comparing here, but I’m sure you know too, how ’similar’ Harry Potter is to Twilight. If Twilight is as important, they ought to know how important it is, for a non-fan to know how to follow, without having to read a book.

If you’re going to base a movie on a storybook, following the storyline is very important. We know there are some scenes that cannot be followed, still, the least you could do is to try and meet up with how a fan would feel, would expect.

We don’t expect the exact following of every single chapter, you know, just not the events jumping from one to another. I have to admit though, they did a very good job jumping, as in to say, jumping at the right areas, so it does not clash in anyway, or seem weird.
Ah, still, even though I wish the movie could improve, I think it’s wonderful.

I hope the best for Chris Weitz for his new directing in New Moon than, I can’t wait!

Teresa Zhou Minghui

Yes, love the books. Yes, love the movie. Yes, Love Rob.

Joanna Maria

Jeanmarie Says: Brad Pitt, George Clooney, Jude Law and Robert Downey Jr are generally considered the creme de la creme of Hollywood heartthrobs. But if you’ve seen pictures of them recently, you’ll be thinking twice because those days may soon be over.

Of late, they’ve been sporting furry caterpillars, sorry, moustaches on their top lips for film roles and have sparked talk that this sort of follicular accessory will become a stylish trend because it supposedly makes its wearer that much more masculine, serious and gentlemanly.

I think it just makes them look hum sup (lecherous) - in a ’70s porn actor kind of way. And having to kiss a man with one is a total turn-off.

The trend emerged in the ’70s and I think it should stay dead and buried in that era. Maybe I’m such a hater because I associate moustaches with my dad, who is by no means a chee ko pek but had one ever since I was born and I could never figure out why. He finally got rid of it a few years ago.

It took him 30-odd years to come to his sartorial senses, and I certainly hope Brad and gang don’t take that long to get their razors out. Until then, I’m writing off these hairy ah pehs and going for more clean-shaven hunks.

Tell Us: What do you think of the Hollywood actors’ new look? Can Asian men pull off moustaches?

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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I have to say that it all depends on the features of that guy. Facial hair on some men makes them look older while others looks sexier. However, I would prefer a guy without facial hair. He will look so much cleaner and neater. Ok, well, maybe a little bit of facial hair is alright. Too much of facial hair is utterly disgusting. It makes guys look like they have not been bathing for ages. Gross. Same goes for white men too.

Nurul Jannah Abdul Aziz

Seto Says: Being a comeback kid is hard. Just ask two artistes on opposite ends of the music spectrum - Britney Spears and Axl Rose.

Both have highly-anticipated albums dropping during the festive period. For Spears, it’s her way of proving yes, the cache of Video Music Awards trophies she picked up earlier this year wasn’t a fluke and she still has what it takes to be the princess of pop. For Rose, it’s his way of proving yes, he can resurrect the Guns N’ Roses brand name as one of the top rock bands in the past few decades.

Will they succeed? Only time will tell. Reviews for both Spears’ first single (off her new album Circus) and Rose’s new disc Chinese Democracy have been mixed.

But musical comebacks aren’t so easy. Sometimes fans are so put off, they may not bother sticking around. And in an online-dependant climate where album sales are declining, it’s hard to rely on fans anymore. For Spears, her fans are tired of her continuous personal problems and run-ins with the law. For Rose, his fans are just tired of waiting for an album that was supposed to have been out years ago.

Tell Us: What do you think of Britney Spears’ Circus or Guns N’ Roses Chinese Democracy? Are these megastars still worth listening to or are they has-beens?

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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As a huge Guns N Roses fan all I can say is I found the album just ….. blah with a few listenable radio friendly tracks. Nothing in Chinese Democracy is going to end up a favourite rock anthem like Sweet Child O’ Mine.

If Axl needs more than a decade to come up with this then I’m certainly NOT going to wait another 15 years to listen to his next album. No doubt Axl still has that voice and can still sing his balls off, he sounds so “careful” like he is singing for the Pope in Chinese Democracy. So much for trying to live up to its name of being the Most Dangerous Band in the World.

I miss that I don’t care about you attitude that made Guns N Roses so huge.

I just hope Axl, Slash and all the former members will just “Get in the Ring” and let bygones be bygones as what made Guns N Roses so great was all their unique personalities and talents combined.

Metal Maiden

Charlene Says: Whenever homegrown talent JJ Lin pushes his artistic boundaries, he’s bound to receive flak. From mutilating a girl in his MTV to kissing A-do on the mouth, JJ has sold as many copies of his album as he has been called controversial. The latest incident is his riot-of-colours plaid look on the cover of his new album Sixology.

The 27-year-old singer, who has been honoured with awards such as Hong Kong, Taiwan Best Composer 2005, seems to be received with mixed feelings in Singapore. People can’t decide whether to celebrate his regional success or chide him for thinking a pictorial book with a picture of him on the toilet bowl (with his pants down no less) is humourous.

But I say: Singapore, give him a chance. JJ should be applauded for stepping out of the box and daring to be different. Besides, the guy is feeling hurt. He recently posted on his blog that he is especially hurt by negative feedback from his “home country”.
 
Perhaps we’re just not used to seeing him be so daring, thanks to his boyish, clean cut image. But boys do grow up. And I think it’s time the public does too.      

Tell Us: Do you think JJ Lin is daring in his artistic choices? Or do you think he is trying too hard to be different and failing? What do you think of the plaid look on his new album cover?

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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Found nothing wrong with JJ Lin’s new look. It is refreshing.

If all album cover is with 3pc suit, and the usual type, then the album cover will be like uniform in school. Are we so square?

Mary Ho

JJ’s a clown? I totally don’t agree with the comment that some singaporeans gave. To me personally, as a malay guy and a big fan of JJ, he actually dresses well la. I adore his clothings la. This shows that he is daring to do differently,rather than appear in sleeveless top which other artiste love to do, which i find it boring and lame. In overall,he’s taste of fashion is superb. And no matter what he wears he will look good. So to those who say his a clown. Look yourself at the mirror.

Khairy AK

Charlene Says: Table tennis player Li Jiawei has been rumoured to be considering a career in entertainment.

After losing the spotlight to Feng Tianwei during the recent Beijing Olympics, I can’t say that I’m surprised. Credit has to be given where it’s due and Jiawei has fought to bring glory to the Singapore sports scene for the last 15 years.

But is she thinking about a career switch now because she knows her time’s up? Or does she really see herself gracing the big screen?

I’m not a table tennis fan and truth be told, know very little about the persona that is Li Jiawei. But having seen her famous mug on TV and in media publications over the years, I’ll admit that there is an air of vulnerability about her.

Perhaps it’s the worried glances that she shoots her teammates when they’re losing or her bouts of unabashed crying when they win, the image that she portrays is essentially that of the girl next door.

So can a table tennis player who wears her heart on her sleeve successfully make the transition to acting when sport is the only thing she’s ever known?

Snippets from the grapevine indicate that some are of the view that she shouldn’t as she lacks star quality and the elusive X-factor. Others seem to think that she would do well by leveraging on her current “celebrity” status.

Personally, I think Jiawei should consider a career in the entertainment industry if and only if she decides that she has nothing more to contribute to the world of table tennis. To give acting a shot while she remains a sportswoman, she risks becoming a jack of all trades and a master of none.

No one would want to be remembered as that if indeed they are remembered at all.

Tell Us: Do you think Jiawei has the goods to make it in showbiz? Or should she stop being distracted by her other personal aspirations and focus on winning medals?

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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The competitive sporting life of a top tiered athlete is very limited and it is of no surprise that she is exploring greener pastures with news of her intentions to pursue a degree, get married and maybe even become an actress.It may be all well and good if she can juggle all the eggs but it is easier said than done. She still has years of top levelled competition ahead of her as she is still going to anchor the Singaporean female table tennis team for the upcoming 2012 London Olympics.It will be a real waste if her mind is set adrift and she loses sight of the bigger picture. As the adage goes, no pain no gain. If she has intentions to achieve even more, i believe it is important for her to maintain her focus and make suitable sacrifices and priorities. When her time in competitive table tennis is up, there will be many decades for her to pursue her various endeavors. She may have the potential to make it as an actress but a few years more wouldn’t rob her of such instincts.As it is , her niche remains table tennis and it will be dreadful if she’s remembered as a budding Olympics Champion who ended up acting in some third rate films because she chose the wrong course of action. That will be a disaster not only for her, but also for the countries which made her what she is. As the situations involving Gao Ning,Ms Lee Bee Wah,Antony Lee and perhaps most tellingly,Coach Liu Guodong reach a closure, Singapore’s best hopes for a gold medal come 2012 can give the nation a massive boost by declaring her focus ahead.I am sure Singaporeans will give her their full support when she hangs up her tennis paddles and starts acting in a few years time That won’t do anybody any harm in this lean economic times will it?

Peng Tie Lun

Germaine Says: Some of us aspire to the lifestyles of the rich and the famous.

And enterprising celebrities have made their lifestyles accessible by launching personal products.

You may begin by spritzing Magnifique to smell like Anne Hathaway, who is the face of the Lancome perfume. For Halle Berry’s enviable complexion, put on some Revlon makeup.

Now, celebrities are banking on real estate endorsements in the United Arab Emirates (UAE), even if there are no obvious links between both parties.

Hilary Swank, Brad Pitt and Shah Rukh Khan have been named as spokespersons for various properties in the UAE.

While Khan has played movie characters involved in the construction business, Pitt is perhaps the most accomplished ‘builder’ of the trio as he is involved in a rebuilding project in Hurricane Katrina-devastated New Orleans.

Champion golfer Tiger Woods has also swung his way into Dubai with a 200-membership residential golf community. Not to be outdone, design gurus like Donatella Versace, Giorgio Armani and Karl Lagerfeld are introducing their fashionable way of life with eponymous residences and hotels.

Do such ventures lead us closer to celestial living?

For one, you would need at least US$7 million to get your hands on one of these exclusive properties. And even if you are loaded, sale of projects like Swank-endorsed The World is by invitation only.

Tell us: Will you be sold on such brand name associations? Will you buy a property because your favourite idol is its ambassador?

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

Branding is a very delicate business. When a celebrity is linked with a product because of obvious connections, it can be a mutually beneficial arrangement. For example, if Korean actress Song Hye Kyo flashes her fair skin as she convinces TV viewers about the benefits of a skin whitener, Miss Song will have a heavier wallet and the cases of skin whiteners will disappear instantaneously from storehouses. They will make their way to the hands of adoring fans who wants to emulate their favourite stars’ skin. However, if there is no direct bridge between the product and the celebrity, it can appear misguided at best and mercenary at worst. How many dodgy advertisements featuring celebrities and inappropriate products do we need?

Singapore is a very pragmatic society and people will not be easily swayed when it comes to expensive products. It’s one thing to convince someone to shell out a few bucks and another to make them take up a massive commitment like a house. Just think about the massive endorsement fees that the celebrities will command and where all the money comes from. As much as I like a celebrity, I will not spend my hard-earned money lining his pockets to such a massive scale. A CD, concert, or even a perfume in his name, sure. Getting a ‘Song Hye Kyo’ apartment for twice that of a similarly positioned but unbranded unit is simply out of the question.

In such economically lean times, people will err on the side of safety and it’s intriguing why people would shell out massive sums. As the gap between the rich and poor widens, social ills will becoming increasingly dominant. The money that a single rich person spends on luxuries can serve the needs of many poor folks. May the rich always retain their social consciousness!
Peng Tie Lun

Shah Rukh Khan has this exclusive property in UAE - The Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard - and from endorsing watches to budget cars (which of course he does not use) to satellite TV operators, the list goes on.

It leaves me to ponder why we have given celebrities so much importance in our lives, that instead of trying to find ourselves, we are caught aping others.
Clothes, watches, perfumes are understandable. But why would I want to stay in a place that has walls painted of Shah Rukh? It doesn’t make sense. If we try to build a home where we would live with peace and love, then what is Mr Khan doing there?

The fault is clearly in us, as we have been time and again misled, wearing the same shoes as Beyonce doesn’t make you Beyonce, applying L’Oreal makeup doesn’t make you Aishwarya Rai and living in The Shah Rukh Khan Boulevard doesn’t make Mr Khan your neighbour.

How realistic would such a world be? Isn’t it enough that we see them weekly for three hours of entertainment? But letting them take over our lives like this is complete madness. I guess those houses were built for the hardcore SRK fans, who would wait hours at the airport to get a glimpse of him, and now they’d just prefer to wait a lifetime.

I would hardly buy a perfume if my favorite celebrity is an ambassador if I don’t like it. But I guess there is a majority of people out there who would, that’s why such brand associations are made. What leaves me perplexed is do people get the brands because they are good or solely based on the fact that it is endorsed by their favourite celebrity?
Sadhna Rai

Jeanmarie Says: The new James Bond movie Quantum Of Solace is out this week, making it Daniel Craig’s second stab at the franchise.

But even though it’s setting UK box office records, it’s also been getting mixed reviews for being inferior to Casino Royale.

Maybe that’s the reason why Quantum opened first in Europe and will only reach the US next week - the producers were probably concerned that a highly-negative reaction in the US would scare off the rest of the world.

Those looking for non-stop action will not be disappointed. The rest of us expecting the trademark sly quips, cool gadgets or even a decent sex scene will be wondering if we stepped into the wrong cinema hall.

And remember the brouhaha surrounding the casting of Craig as the super-cool spy? He redeemed himself admirably in Casino Royale, but without a buzzed-about scene like the one with him emerging from the ocean in his trunks (which he has retired for good) in Quantum, he gives a performance worthy of a Madame Tussauds waxwork.

It’s hard to believe that producers can bring themselve to rave about how he’s “the greatest Bond”. Hello, what’s Sean Connery then?

Craig has confirmed he’ll be back for a third go-around because we all know Bond movies never die, but I’m already over him.

Tell us: Is Quantum Of Solace on your must-see list this year? Or do you disagree with the producers, who call Craig “the greatest Bond”?

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. 

Raven Says: It’s Halloween this Friday. And you can be sure people will out clubbing in full force in all manners of costumes and getups.

Judging from previous 31 Oct parties, I’m a little bewildered. Where along the lines of ’scary’ did sexy nurses or flapper dancers occur? In the throes of prose woven by Poe, Wilde and others  frolicking in the gothic genre, how did I miss the part about Pamela Anderson-with-fangs? Or the crazy zombie stripper girls?

If Halloween dressing up is about scaring someone silly, then should it be about ghouls and demons and hooded creatures? Not sexy fishnet stockings and stiletto heels?

Fear in the times it’s most celebrated has always highlighted the subtle terrors of that most terrifying to the day. Dorian Gray focuses on the loss of youth, Dracula on the sensual and foreign, Frankenstein and Phantom of the Opera both exude the agony and effect of social and emotional ostracism in a time when it was most prevalent.

Perhaps this year, it’ll be different. If societal fears are indeed the fashion after which to mould our halloween horrors on, then this year, we should all dress up as house repossession letters, rejected credit card slips, or crashing stock market charts. Then again, Pamela Anderson with fangs would probably be less depressing.

Tell Us: What are you dressing up for Halloween this year? Will you be curbing your Halloween and year-end revelry in light of the looming recession?

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