Movie Review: The Hunger Games - Catching Fire

I contemplated sleeping... then I decided I just HAD to blog about this movie I caught over the weekend.

Before you say anything, I did not manage to catch the movie in its opening week because of my finals, and I did not read the books, so I'm not exactly a biased source when it comes to this review considering how I am was not joining the craze back when the first movie came out.

The Hunger Games was good. Hell, it was one of the movies that brought Jennifer Lawrence into the arena of devastatingly charming and beautiful stars we can't ignore and simply adore. However, Catching Fire is really the movie that sold me on the entire Hunger Games Trilogy. The movie is THAT good.

Some notable moments that really left a big impression on me:

This outfit. I simply adore Jennifer Lawrence (or Katniss Everdeen) in this outfit. When I saw it, I was immediately in lust with it. Then the fire came on. Damn, I loved how the fire started from her chest and trailed to the ends of the dress. It was really good work with the effects, and I absolutely loved it. Plus the reason why the fire came on at the specific moment.

While everyone was falling in love with Josh Hutcherson and Liam Hemsworth, I was totally digging how hot Sam Claflin looked as he played Finnick Odair in Catching Fire. Who wouldn't? Good looks, devastating bod...

I mean, tell me if you can resist such delicious hotness? I know I can't.

Another scene that really caught my attention is when this dress appeared. To save you from me and my bad behavior of giving spoilers, I'm going to let those of you who haven't seen it go figure it out yourselves. Hint: There's a reason why she's called the Girl on Fire

Amazing scenes aside, Catching Fire adds a lot more depth and meaning into the story, drawing you to the multiple dimensions of the film, providing you more insight into some characters, as well as giving you so much more room to think of the depth and meanings of the various scenes both during and after the film. (but it may just be my movie buff self who's so intrigued)

I particularly like how the movie emphasized so much on hope of the people, and how it can ultimately lead to great things, as well as the part where you see the tributes of such different personalities work together to eliminate the competition. These things just add so much more meaning to the film, and its really up to you how you decide to interpret these aspects. I know I have been thinking all weekend and I still feel as if I am only scratching the surface of it. Thank god I'm on holiday so I do have the luxury of spending my days thinking.

Seeing that I've said quite a bit, here's what I think of Catching Fire:

Never thought I'd rate a movie as high as this, but I really just did. (I just checked. I rated Oz a 5, but considering so much time has passed, I'd say this rating means more of a 'YOU NEED TO WATCH IT 10 TIMES MORE THAN OZ' kind of rating. Not that I don't love Oz, but... times change)

If you do decide to watch Catching Fire, I'd say the best part comes at the end. Which is probably why I have not been finding pictures to justify it, because you just have to see it for yourself. And for those book fans who are afraid of disappointment (that always seems to happen), my friend did say he wasn't disappointed with the film and he really liked it.

Well, for all of you who have caught this movie, do tell me what you think! I know I absolutely loved loved LOVED it, and I'm definitely sold on the Hunger Games now that I've watched Catching Fire!

xoxo pamela

Christmas Music Playlist: December 2013

Well, whadduya know... It's post number 101, and I'm finally back to stay now that I have the most hectic semester of my life out of my way!

Plus Christmas is coming. HEHE. Christmas is my favoritEST season of the year (I like it more than my birthday!) with all the decorations, the atmosphere and the peppermint mocha frappuccinos from Starbucks... (no snow here in Singapore, sadly)

Since I love Christmas, I decided it is ultimately necessary for me to craft a playlist for the rest of you Christmas lovers out there, so here are the top 10 Christmas Songs I love. (FYI, most are from pretty long ago...)

#1 All I Want for Christmas is You by Mariah Carey
This is a Christmas classic for me. I HAVE TO listen to this multiple times every year. Apart from the fact that the song itself is one of my favorites,Mariah Carey just sings it in such a way that makes me want to sing and dance along to... or it could be something that's just me.



#2 Have Yourself a Merry Little Christmas by Christina Aguilera
Another one of my all time favorite Christmas songs by one of my favorite singers on this planet. This song is smooth and sexy.... it makes me want to cuddle.... I'm really starting to think I'm having a weird phenomenon with Christmas songs.



#3 Christmas (Baby Please Come Home) by Michael Bublé
Who can forget Michael Bublé when it comes to Christmas music? There's an obvious reason why his Christmas album tops the charts every year during this season. Personally, I love all of Michael Bublé's Christmas songs, but I just had to pick something I loved (and isn't on this list), so here this goes. Who can resist his voice (and his looks)?



#4 Hark! The Herald Angels Sing by Carrie Underwood
Yes, I do know my playlist is pretty mainstream, but who doesn't love Carrie Underwood? I'm not exactly a religious person, but her clean voice, this soothing song... I'd use this to soothe my nerves any day, sing to it... or fall asleep with it. One of my absolute must listen to songs when it comes to Christmas songs.



#5 My Only Wish (This Year) by Britney Spears
Yes, Britney Spears. This song is such a fun song to dance and sing along to... Definitely a song to bring up the Christmas spirit... Plus it always makes me happy instantaneously! It's like the cure for all things bad this season with it's upbeat, catchy tune. (I think I hear my brothers judging me... psh)



#6 Santa Baby by Colbie Caillat
I love the song 'Santa Baby'! I know, I know. It's really about this materialistic woman who's asking her sugar daddy for all the expensive stuff, but it's one sexy Christmas song! Plus it's soothing, so I don't really care that much about the lyrics... as long as I'm not that materialistic bitch bimbo woman.



#7 White Christmas by Kelly Clarkson
I need to stop using 'I love', but I really can't resist it. I LOVE THIS SONG TOO! This comes from Kelly Clarkson's latest Christmas album, Wrapped in Red. Although we don't have white Christmases in Singapore, a girl can dream right? (In this case I'm really hoping to get my white Christmas in Korea this year!)



#8 I'll Be Home For Christmas by Drew Seeley
If you don't know who Drew Seeley is, he's this actor/singer who sings on Disney. Or at least he used to. I really enjoy the beats of this song (YES! I stopped using 'love), and it's definitely one of the songs that have been on replay on my playlist. It's been a song I have been listening to for years... Definitely one of my favorite Christmas songs (regardless of who's singing)!



#9 Celebrate Love by Jordan Pruitt
Another ex-Disney singer. If you don't know her, she did appear on the 3rd season of The Voice, and was on Xtina's team before she got eliminated in the Battle Rounds (that really pissed me off). It's such a peaceful, soothing song by such a sweet sounding vocalist. I absolutely love Jordan Pruitt.



#10 Merry Christmas, Kiss My Ass by All Time Low
Hahaha. I just had to put this in. It's the one 'Christmas' song I sing along to ALL THE TIME (partially cos it pisses my mom off in a totally jokingly manner)! Then I start bursting out into laughter after singing it cos this song just tickles me. (Though most of the time it's probably my mom's reaction to this song) I think this counts as a Christmas song... It has the whole Christmas-like tune to it, but it could just be my twisted imagination. If you haven't already listened to it, knock yourself out.



Enjoy the playlist!

xoxo
pamela

Twenty First.

At the start of the year, I was a firm believer that 21st birthday parties are so overrated, and yet, there I went hosting my very own when my birthday came along. (PS. that's partially why I went missing!)

At the end of it all, I kind of enjoyed it. BUT, you won't catch me hosting any parties anytime soon. I've had my fair share of pain from planning my photobooth (actually especially that) to planning a HRCC event. I was pretty much thrown into a moment in time where I had absolutely no time whatsoever to focus on school.

And I still am. So here's pretty much all I'm going to say for now. Ugh. Talk about awkward endings!

xoxo pamela

 Leather Jacket from ASOS

Muscle Tank from Forever 21

Shorts from Cotton On

Necklace from Cotton On

Black pumps from New Look

21st Birthday Sash from Spotlight

The Stories of Summer

I seriously can't believe summer's ending and I've been gone from this blog all summer!

For those who missed me, here's an overview. (That's kinda long, I gotta admit)

(Mocha @ Crowne Plaza Hotel - Made by YH)

Summer was hectic, busy, and sometimes boring. I learnt some stuff though. Some about work, some about the people around me, and mostly myself. Well, usually I wouldn't like to learn THAT much about myself, but I swear all those personality tests and horoscope shit has me reading more into how I behave and who I really am. Besides, it's always so amazing when you look and realize how much we change ever so constantly.

I'm not going to bore you with the whole peacock and influence stuff, but it's so amazing when tests manage to capture how you are.

(and I'm a peacock, so let me bask in my peacock-ness)

The bad thing about summer was work. I don't mean it in the typical 'I hate work.' mantra, but in the sense where I can't really have the freedom to decide what I want to wear to work. It's so hard to express individuality with office wear! I mean, I ended up doing it with dress-down Fridays and accessories, but still.

Of course, in summer you can never miss the movies. I mean, there was a period where I was obsessed with minions (don't say you weren't, cos you'd be lying), the days where you just spend out enjoying some good food without homework and projects nagging at you...

 And then there are the days where you spend some glorious days of summer (after internship) goofing around with friends you've known ages ago.

So, that's basically my summer in a nutshell.

Hope everyone's was just as great!

xoxo pamela

Laziness is the worst excuse.

I know I've promised to blog once I ended my papers, but my internship started and... well, laziness and tiredness became my excuses to not blogging.

Thanks to my course registration, I've managed to get a day off from work and lets just say a small break off work really did help. I rested up a little more, read a bit, and shopped online... A LOT. Yeah well, shopping will always be my weakness.

There's so much to say and yet... I don't want to bore you all with my stories of work.
Plus I really want to get a little more rest before work tomorrow.

So... take care sweethearts!

Au Revoir!
Pamela Avery

Fullerton Hotel: Town Restaurant

In Singapore, one thing that most locals love to enjoy from time to time would definitely be buffets.

My mom, being ever the indulgent, first introduced us to the Town Restaurant seafood buffet on my parents' anniversary last year. That one night left us with great impressions of Fullerton. This time, we went to the Town Restaurant seafood buffet again, and once again, Fullerton has surpassed my expectations.

With their platters of food ranging from local delicacies such as laksa and bak kut teh (pork rib soup), to japanese cuisines with tempura, soba and sushi, all the way to the glorious seafood platters of mussels, crayfish and lobster; I'm pretty sure everyone would be able to find something you enjoy there.

Since the day we went was in celebration of my brother's birthday, Fullerton actually helped my mom arrange a birthday surprise that included cakes, fancy drinks and polaroids. YES, polaroids, the big ones. In fact, they placed the polaroids in cards after to make birthday cards, documenting my brother's mini birthday celebration.

The way everybody addressed my brother by name (even the manager) and gave him birthday wishes, I was already beyond impressed with Fullerton's exceptional service. I'd definitely say this experience with Fullerton is one of my favorites and greatest, and it definitely won't be my last.

So the next time you want a birthday celebrated or a birthday surprise, you know where to go~

Fullerton Hotel - Town Restaurant
1 Fullerton Square
Singapore 049178
For Reservations, call +65-68778128
Email: dining-rsvp@fullertonhotel.com
Website: Fullerton Hotel

xoxo pamela

The Voice Season 4

I have one paper remaining for my finals and I'm done! Yay me!

There were so many times during finals week where I was itching to churn out a new post, review or look on the blog, but I really had to work on my finals. After all, I'm all for procrastination when it comes to schoolwork. BUT, I truly am sorry if any of you were upset that I wasn't posting this entire time!!

Back to the topic at hand. The Voice Season 4.

I'll be honest here. I'm an avid fan of The Voice and I never miss a single episode, so when I first heard that they were switching Cee Lo and Xtina for Shakira and Usher, I was a little upset. Until I watched the new season.

Shakira and Usher brought a new dynamic to the show and after a few episodes (or maybe after 1), I decided that I prefer the new judges to their previous counterparts. Banter gets more playful, the set is more energetic, there's less bitching around and Usher is BEYOND HOT. Come on, now I get to watch the show for TWO guys instead of one!

Ultimate Favorite Part of The Voice Season 4 (apart from Adam and Usher):
The way Usher trains his artistes. For us bedroom singers, The Voice gives us a little advice with regards to singing, but I seriously think Usher takes it to a whole new level. He teaches how to entice the audience, to convey the message of the song, to maintain enough energy for the performance...

There's just so much I can learn from how Usher coaches! There's more to him than his mad good looks (and voice) I'm telling you!

Favorite Contestants This Season (so far):
Sarah Simmons
Amber Carrington
The Swon Brothers

Alright, that's all I have for today.
More up this week.

xoxo pamela