新居的第一晚

唯一認識的是由舊屋移來的老舊氣味…
面前著一個陌生的環境，一箱兩箱的漫畫、書、衫，我選擇的竟是半夜一點走回只一分鐘路程的公司。

我有預感這幾天我會經常留在這裡…

黑社會賺錢高招

是說杜sir的黑社會，不是賣四仔的。

在電影新聞組看到這條連結，很有意思，故節錄部份內容如下：

……

其中有一幕是梁家輝（飾演想搶黑幫龍頭地位的老大）捉了那些在選龍頭時沒為他出夠力的頭目到山上，在糟躓他們之餘，蹲在那塊可以俯瞰城市景觀的大懸石上，用手提電話約其他頭目晚上聚集談判，很有實感的大大聲講出約定見面的酒家名。

……

很有交代，打電話給一個頭目說一遍，有的聽不清楚又要勞氣說一遍（這是很合理的，在山頭野嶺嘛，電信公司覆蓋不好，信號不清），約一大堆人，酒家名便一而再的在一個很有氣勢的位置給喊出來。

這酒家名正是全力贊助這套電影的字號，我是出錢贊助的，又或電影公司的老闆，一定會看得聽得很開心，為導演的交代而滿意。

不論市道好不好，既是商品，開多點門路賺錢天公地道，只要不會讓觀眾覺得突兀討厭便好，他們也該會審慎行事，避免造成反效果。

像這一次便是很好的示範，……

原文： 杜琪峰《黑社會》賺錢高招

名字的由來

hokuto是誰？間中也會有不認識的人問這個問題。要猜好像一般都會猜是『北斗之拳』。實情當然不是。那其實是一個漫畫女角的名字…我也曾經是半個動漫迷，而當時最喜愛的作者一定要數CLAMP，而CLAMP的作品中最喜歡就是『東京巴比倫』。

CLAMP是一個四人集團（人數曾經較多），畫的漫畫都是比較華麗的類型，在很多角川（以前）跟講談社（現在）的漫畫雜誌都有連載，較多人認識的作品有『Ｘ』、『聖伝』、『Card Captor Sakura』等。CLAMP的作品經常有一個特點，就是好人不像好人，壞人不一定做壞事。

「你知道為甚麼櫻花是紅色的？因為樹下埋了屍體。」

『東京巴比倫』是一個七期完的中篇，以上是故事中多次出現的名句。講的是兩個陰陽師：皇昂流（主角）跟櫻塚星史郎（殺手／壞人）的故事。七期漫畫大部份都是不完全相連的短篇，講兩人與身邊不相識、路人的事。（這方面跟新作XXXHOLiC有點像）

那北都是誰？她其實是主角昂流的胞姐。配角，簡單來說是二打六。但這個二打六跟其他漫畫的不一樣，她對兩個主角的影響十分深遠。她不像胞弟或星史郎有強大的靈力，但事實上整個故事會發生，星史郎會跟昂流會成為朋友，結局之所以會變成這樣，甚至關連到『Ｘ』中部份事情都是她所做成的。如果昂流是一個明明無能為力但時刻想救人的悲刻人物，那星史郎就是替昂流決定放手的人。北都則是將兩人連在一起，感化兩人的旁觀者。可能她是由昂流跟星史郎的肋骨造的吧？沒了她，兩人都不再完整…


問題：死也不會說CLAMP畫的是少女漫畫，但應如何分類呢？

追加：死之花是朋友網站的其中一頁。也有提到TB哦！不妨猜猜是誰 ^_^

Circus Flohcati

（友人說寫中文較好，所以今天轉中文台）

Circus Flohcati 是一個很簡單的紙牌遊戲，作者是Reiner Knizia。我想都沒有哪個還在玩圖版遊戲的現代人不知道他是誰吧？他是一個德國出生的數學博士。我不清楚他主修哪科，不過從他對骰子的著迷程度－－他寫了一本書講骰子的，叫Dice Games Properly Explained－－應與或然率有點關係吧？他設計的遊戲怕超過100，肯定是產量最多的一人。但產量多不代表質素參差，相反很多都是高質素的作品，例如最近再版的Ra 就是。想知更多可到wikipedia 找Reiner Knizia 的簡介。他寫的遊戲也沒有特定的觀眾，其中有幾分鐘能玩完、消磨時間用的家庭遊戲，也有要玩長時間、花腦力的重型遊戲。

Circus Flohcati 就是一個十分簡單的遊戲，全盒只有多種語言印製的規則跟89張卡片，可供三至五人同玩。卡片分十種顏色，０至７各一張，另九張特別功能牌。早幾天友人新買了一盒，當然先拿來玩一下。規則很簡單，到你的時候選一張卡拿上手，如果沒有合意的卡則可以抽卡放在枱上，直至有你想要的卡為至。但要留意，如果你抽的卡跟枱上的顏色相同，你的回合則立即完結。當遊戲完結時你手上的卡每種顏色最高分的一張加起來就是你的分數。那拿０不是沒有人會拿？遊戲當然沒這麼簡單，還有一種特別的計分方式：只要把三張同數字的牌丟到枱上，不管面值多少都變成10分。

跟Can't Stop一樣，Circus Flohcati是一個簡單的push your luck遊戲。規則雖簡單但要思考的其實也很多：枱面上有三張１、一張２、一張４，你要拿牌還是再開下去？如果拿的話，要拿１、２、還是４？自己手上的牌跟已知對手手上的牌對你有影響嗎？這要留玩者自己思考了。


以中文寫一些不是中國人的東西實在很麻煩。問題：push your luck 中文怎譯？

黑社會

上周五在沒大期望的情況下看了黑社會。

故事是很簡單的黑社會爭上位遊戲，大Ｄ與樂爭做和聯勝龍頭大哥，各區話事人因不同原因各執一詞，各不相讓。要避免警方介入，應如何處理？

之前看新聞說會『教壞細路』，我看完這種感覺卻不強烈。要說教壞，之前的古惑仔系列不是更嚴重？片中多次說明，所謂的愛兄弟不愛黃金都是騙人，以香港電影來說都不能算是美化黑社會了。反而是很多對白都刻意影射時局，甚麼最重要是安定繁榮，大社會選大佬比選香港人選特首早一百年，不同人看應會有不同感想…

暴力鏡頭以三級片來說實在是非常的少，要不是有黑社會入會儀式的鏡頭，應該都不會成為三級片。片中角色眾多，幾乎清一色是男生。由於開始時人物介紹部份沒細心看，中間搶旗時認人名還有少許困難－－如果你打算看記緊要留心。一般來說出鏡的演員都是有實力的演員，整體演出都可以。主角方面，任達華做得出色，而梁家輝能做出大Ｄ的惡，不過好像做得太過火了。配角方面林家棟演的東莞仔應是演得最好的一個吧…

黑社會評分：7/10

再早幾天看過Flightplan（港譯：高凶三萬尺）。故事大綱有趣，不過犯駁之處不少。有幸演員出色不救回不少分數。
Flightplan評分：5.5/10

（自己寫的文章好像愈來愈短了…）

以下私自轉載舊同事寫的黑社會影評。有部份說得還算有意思，希望不要見怪。

杜琪峰的確是當今香港影壇的重要人物，他執導或監製的電影都能緊握著香港觀眾的口味和市場的觸覺，而男性警匪電影更加是杜Sir近年專攻‘科目’，由＜鎗火＞，到＜PTU＞，甚至劉德華的＜大隻佬＞，警與匪的對立都像電影中的燈光手法一樣黑白分明，今次＜黑社會＞可說是開宗明義，將全男班黑幫兄弟一個一個擺上檯，甚至推出康城影展‘曬冷’之作！

有＜無間道＞珠玉在前，＜黑社會＞勝在擺脫了最濫情的臥底橋段，甚至連一幕旗鼓相當的黑白兩道大鬥法的場面（e.g. 曾志偉 vs 黃秋生的一幕）也沒有，反之是樸實無華地描寫一次黑幫話事人選舉交棒的腥風血雨；正因為沒有太多情節上的出人意表，因此更添劇情的感染性和張力，這亦是最 考編劇功力的地方。當然，有人認為龍頭棍的爭奪有點脫離現實甚至乎過份漫畫化，但我認為這正是全片最畫龍點睛的一個意象符號！當任達華第一次看見龍頭棍，說出一句：「我都係第一次見！」他為權力著魔的表情，就令觀眾更容易明白杜琪峰以黑社會為題拍電影的弦外之音！

兩大男主角任達華和梁家輝撐足全場，無論造型和角色設計上梁家輝都佔盡優勢，他的角色其實是＜江湖救急＞中任因久的兄弟版，演繹方面難度較小，金馬提名最佳男主角只有家輝入圍，任達華落馬實非戰之罪；天林叔的老戲骨獲提名最佳男配角實至名歸，而一眾黑道男人個個搶戲，最討好的當然要數杜sir愛將林雪，他的戲份不多，但幾句對白卻是電影中最重要的關鍵所在；張家輝和張兆輝都略嫌over了一點，但可能只是角色設計所累，相反古天樂演得沒精打采，與其他人演技上仍有點距離，個人認為演得最恰到好處的男配角是林家棟，短短的一場戲不愠不火，交足功課。
散場之後第一個感覺是，咦，點解無黃秋生呢！有就perfect喇！
（影評：葉瀚）

無題

我不知道我在朋友間的印象如何？我覺得自己像個自閉青年。有甚麼事都喜歡收在心中，情緒化，不合群，想法負面，沒甚麼自信，甚麼self-esteem 全都沒有。也不是沒有，只是好像從不知何時埋在不知何處，在某些不適當的時候才會展現出來。

這份工做了近六年，工作經驗沒多少，人生經驗反而好像更多。識了幾個能夠分享秘密的朋友，也結了不少仇家。好像成長了不少…（成長了才是這樣子，成長前是不是很可悲）

不知大家有沒有看明珠台做的Las Vegas？第二季最後的『大爆炸』跟我們的情況有點像。只是不知事實會不會如第三季一樣發展…

Christina Stürmer

The blog is not only for movies. If time allows I will also write about the games I played and music I listened to. I have written a little bit about Denise Ho. I believe I should also write about Christina Stürmer, to whom I listen almost every day.

Stürmer is an Austrian singer. Only 25 years old, she had already won twice in the Austrian Music Award, as the best Pop/Rock female singer. Brilliant, is she not? She does not have a pretty face, but she sings quite well. Reminds me of Denise Ho in the old days.

If you know me in real life you should have known that I have been learning German for more than 2 years. I think it helps if I listen to german songs, so I went searching at Amazon.de. There I found names such as Nena, Juli, 2raumwohnung, and of course Christina Stürmer. One of her CD covers look quite nice so I went to get mp3 of some of her old CDs at The Torrent Galaxy. Quickly I grow addicted to her music. Unfortunately her best CDs are already sold out.

She is now having a Germany tour. I would have gone there if not for the recent events! (Above: she doing soundcheck with her band before a show)


To the Official homepage (Germany)
More about Christina Stürmer at Wikipedia
At Yahoo! Musik you can find some of her music videos.
(all in german)

What makes a great doctor?

What makes a great doctor? HOUSE may give you a clue. The first season of this Fox TV series is now showing on AXN (In US they already have a season 2).

Dr House (Hugh Laurie) is an infectious disease specialist with a broken leg. In each episode he and his team of talented doctors take on a new case. He however does not skip on any chance where he could insult one of his colleagues or patients. This behaviour may seem anti-social, but as the series proceeds, we eventually find him possessing every trait that a good doctor should have. Most people do not understand that behind his taunts lies a kind heart. To him being a doctor is not a job, but a way to save lives and to teach his patients how to live better.

In episode 9 (the latest on AXN) we starts seeing it in more detail. John Henry, the wheelchaired musician who had no will to live because he can no longer play his horn, discovered that he and Dr House are the same type of people. They both have this "thing" inside them. This thorn, the desire to do better, had them sacrificed a lot for their achievements as musician and doctor. Through the treatments Dr House made John understand that music may be his most important part of life, but not the only reason of life.

House, the official web site

World in War: Axis and Allies revisited

Time for some game reviews and session reports.

I am not really a big fan of Axis and Allies but I have seen some very positive review on spielfrieks, which also influenced my decision to buy Antiquity. The system of World in War: Combined Arms 1939-1945 seems innovative enough for the big money it costs. Three weeks ago I received the big parcel from Delayed Reactions including World in War and a couple of other games I bought. Surely I must give them a try, so I brought them to the last two saturday gatherings at Poly University of Hong Kong.

It turns out I have keen instincts judging games. In the last two weeks we have played 4 games. The first three were more like a mess, but with a more sensible opponent, the fourth was a blast.

In was a 2-player game. In that game I was playing Germany with the suggested variant of an extra Western Powers submarine. My opponent decided very early that France cannot be defended, and would instead carry out a sea blockade on every port his ships could reach. The game ended at turn 4 (or perhaps it was turn 5) because it was already midnight with a dozen hungry eyes watching us play. When we pack the game, Germany had about 19 production points and Allied around 15. I already had control of the whole central-western Europe and is pushing towards Russia, but the supply lines are long and I had no control of the sea. I probably cannot attack fast enough before UK could regroup and dump units in western Europe in the future turns.

The outcome was surprisingly close to real history. Western powers occupying the sea while German troops are roaming freely in Europe. I should have built more submarines to break out of the blockade and Russia was harder to defeat than expected. How would the game have played out? God knows. I only know that I would persuade most of my A&A friends to try this game.

The gameplay is very dynamic; one must constantly adjust strategies and tactics in order to gain the upper edge. There had been many A&A websites with discussions and articles on A&A strategies. I wonder if there are web sites focussing on strategy for this game? Please let me know if you have found any.

Wait 'Til You're Older

I am not a big fan of Andy Lau, but the company I work for is a sponsor of the movie. Many colleagues went to the premiere show and came back with very positive comments. The movie looked promising enough, so I went anyway.

With no gangsters, crimelords, nor gamblers, I am surprised to see such a high calibre Hong Kong movie like this one. Years ago, Kwong's mother commited suicide because his father fell in love with another women. Since then the kid had been living with the stepmother, and refused to communicate with his parents. He hated his parents. He wanted to be free from them. He wanted to grow up. One day he met an old alchemist in the park and witnessed the effects of the old man's new invention: a magical growth potion. He stole the potion and became an adult after just one night's sleep. How could he live in his new shell? Could he forgive his parents for the mistakes they made? Or, could he ask the forgiveness of his parents for his childishness?

Families and friends, misunderstanding and forgiveness. These are not common themes in local movies, but it had been wrapped up very well. They might have borrowed a few ideas from Big Fish, I guess. Your parents but not tell you every truth, but if they don't, they are probably doing you good. Not that I would change my attitudes towards my father though.

Impressions on Wait 'Til You're Older: 7/10