Oscar biggest winner — Clint Eastwood

This year, the 77th Oscar, Clint Eastwood and his "Million Dollar Baby" became the biggest winners. Not only Eastwood, Hilary Swank and Morgan Freeman also got the recognitions on stage. It is a little bit out of my predictions. Annette Bening defeated by Swank again and her popularity in Hollywood is unexpectedly unhelpful. As I said in "Time for Oscar" a month ago, "The Aviator" seemed to be the biggest winner but now a number of statuettes went to the hands of Clint Eastwood and his controversial baby. Probably, Scorcese has to continue his work, otherwise he has to get the Lifetime Achievement Award only...

It is not a bad result, at least Clint Eastwood is an old but exceptional horse, and he is still in a top form. Indeed, he started to direct since 1971's "Play Misty for Me". I would not forget his "Unforgiven" (1992): it is matchable to name as a classic in 1990s after ripe development and revisions of the western genre by noteable directors like John Ford, Sergio Leone, Sam Peckinpah etc. Now, Eastwood's second little gold man would assure his bargaining power in dealing with Warner Brothers (he was not too satisfied with the cooperation). I would watch Oscar tonight, hope it is a good show.

Best Film - Million Dollar Baby (not The Aviator)
Director - Clint Eastwood (not Martin Scorsese)
Actor in a Leading Role - Jamie Foxx (correct)
Actress in a Leading Role - Hilary Swank (not Annette Bening)
Actor in a Supporting Role- Morgan Freeman (correct)
Actress in a Supporting Role - Cate Blanchett (correct)
Foreign Language Film - Mar adentro (correct)
Original Screenplay - Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind
Adapted Screenplay - Sideways
Animated Feature Film - The Incredibles (not Shrek 2, how could I get it wrong?)

100 funniest jokes ... not recommended

I found lots of web surfers bookmarked the page of this "100 Funniest Jokes of All Time" a week or two ago. Because my sister has to take a joke to share in the class next week, so I started to have a look on the list (3/4 of them already appeared in the GQ magazine). However, a large number of jokes are uninteresting, silly or bad-tasted. But if you are really bored and want to kill time with light stuff, go and read it. May be these two gags are two funniest examples:

I went to a restaurant with a sign that said they served breakfast at any time. So I ordered French toast during the Renaissance.
— Steven Wright, American stand-up comedian

My grandfather always said, "Don't watch your money; watch your health." So one day while I was watching my health, someone stole my money. It was my grandfather.
— Jackie Mason, another American stand-up comedian

我的生日密碼？

經過某些網誌，有人在玩所謂的「生日密碼」，於是上網一找，發現這個生日密碼大致是採用星座作性格分析，並提供幸運數字、守護星等資料。我以前曾有一段極短時間（幾日左右）鑽研星座，甚至設定星盤嘗試「較科學地」作探究，不過呢，自己覺得準確率有限，而且也不認為一個人的出生時間可以測知性格，故此一向對 horoscope 沒有甚麼興趣。不過這個生日密碼對我而言，部份分析是中的（有些出乎意料）。

9月17日 不屈不撓的人
不論是否具有創造力，9月17日出生的人始終者以不屈不撓的精神聞名，縱使要花上好幾年的時間也在所不惜（他們似乎也喜歡這樣的方式）。他們不僅有能力建立自己的事業與聲望，有朝一日也能功成名就爬上最高的地位。在今天出生的人常常顯得很嚴肅、不太好相處，甚至很難管理。一旦他們設定了一個目標，不論多麽崇高或低微，都會努力地完成，絕對不會半途而廢。他們不但熱心，而且認真、信守諾言。

對9月17日出生的人來說，遇到挫折與克服挫折乃是家常便飯。他們不會用閃電高壓的方式來迫使敵手就範，寧可慢慢地對敵手施以無情的壓力而擊潰他們。在面對巨大的壓力時，他們可以表現得很好，不會太緊張，面臨緊要關頭時也不會缺乏自信心。因此在最困苦或艱難的時刻，人們可以信任9月17日的人所做的一切。

雖然他們很有創造力，可是大多數出生於9月17日的人都是很難纏、頑固的，他們是左腦邏輯的思考家，是以先後因果的邏輯概念來進行思考的，他們的推理方式是，如果A是真確的，那麽B也必然是真確的。出生於這一天的人有很強烈的正義感，希望爭論能被公平裁決。他們不僅希望自己能被公平地待，同時也很公平地對待別人。所以，絲毫不意外地，出生於這一天的人可以極優秀的律師或仲裁者。

雖然9月17日出生的人也會從事逐步的改革，好讓既有的處境變得更好，但是，一般而言，他們還是比較安於現狀。就算是最爲激進的人，到最後還是會在既有的組織中，找到一個讓自己安身立命的位置。也許這是因爲他們比較喜歡有組織及直接的表達，不喜歡混亂或無政府的狀態。在今天出生的人經常會站在保守評語者的這一方，重視既有事物與民俗傳統的延續與保存。

儘管是保守主義者，9月17日出生的人仍有強烈的幽默感，這種特質使得他們與其他人有所不同，同時他們也會以一種最不尋常的方式去完成最爲平凡的任務。他們通常並不像外表所顯現的那麽嚴肅，如果處在比較輕鬆的狀態下，還會讓人覺得他們非常有趣。可惜的人，他們並不輕易讓自己的這一面表現出來，所以對周遭的同事而言，也許從來就沒有機會去認識這一面的他們。

9月17日出生的人是最高度自我節制的人，很少以別出心裁的手法去加深別人對他們的印象，或是以此吸引他人的注意。同樣地，他們也不太需要別人的諂媚或照顧，因爲這會使他們因人性的善變與任性而受到傷害。對他們來說，情感是一件很嚴肅的事，不能像掛一頂帽子般地輕易表現出來，因此當他們說［我愛你］時，可是相當認真的。

當中不乏語意矛盾處，比如第一段起首的「不論是否具有創造力」與「雖然他們很有創造力」。而部份也頗為「大路」（如一般星座預測），像第四段「雖然……也會從事逐步的改革，好讓既有的處境變得更好，但是，一般而言，他們還是比較安於現狀」（真是模稜兩可）、「最後還是會在既有的組織中，找到一個讓自己安身立命的位置」（活得久的話誰不會呢？）和「不喜歡混亂或無政府的狀態」（九成九的人也一樣吧）。

雖然如此，但鑑於它整體上說得正面，我心裏是同意這個的生日密碼的性格分析。始終盡說一個人的優點（甚至沒有的）最能博得認同，若這分析評價負面，我當然不會說它準了。（我妹妹便抗議其密碼亂七八糟。）玩玩就好。有興趣的便到這個簡體字的星座秀網站按生日看分析，而這個繁體新浪網「我的生日書」便散亂了點，不過想看花語與誕生石的便有用了。

Some changes in the Doghouse

I have to tell you some things have changed in this Doghouse. First of all, the "Weblog" under the categories altered to "Notices" (告白). I think it would be more accurate in meaning while focusing on this weblog rather than the others.

Also, the numerous posts "Movies watched recently" seem disorganizing, and are not easy to revise. Therefore, I tried to gather them into two posts, "Movies watched in December 2004" and "Movies watched in January 2005". And I would renew "Movies watched in February 2005" in this month regularly. I hope you would like it.

Finally, I guess some of you have already known about the disfunction of the message board for a period of time. Yes, it is still unavailable. Though I quite like this board, may be we have to change another one later. Sorry for any inconvenience caused.

中國電影百年選

《蘋果日報》今日似乎早著先機地公佈大陸華語電影傳媒大獎評選的「中國百部電影」、「中國百位導演」和「中國百位明星」（因為網上未有文字版，看圖權且參考）。因為今年公認是中國電影誕生100週年（由1905年《定軍山》起計），故此不少團體相繼舉辦類似活動；比方說，又有一個「中國電影百年百部優秀影片評選活動」，不過限於「入選作品要符合思想性、藝術性和觀賞性統一的原則，具有健康積極的思想內容和盡可能完美的藝術形式」（中新社報導），個人期望不大。

回顧這份新的「中國百部電影」名單，令我不其然想到1999年《亞洲周刊》另一個「二十世紀中文電影100強」選舉。事實上，兩者都包攬大量相同作品，但上次《亞洲周刊》的稍為看重歷史意義，而今次這份則頗明顯地注意作品類型的藝術價值（比如不選《精武門》、《甲午風雲》等），或許如負責人員所講「此次評選的初衷並非單一參考『人氣指數』或是歷史里程碑，而是綜合當年在各個電影類型上取得過很高藝術成就的影片或者電影人」（相關新聞）。

自然，名單不是沒有可議之處（有爭論正常之至，當然亦沒敢選入《藍風箏》），不過已有相當參考價值。敝人特別將這兩次大型選舉的共同之選羅列於下，可以得見是風雲變色的八十年代佔多數，兩岸三地都有劃時代力作。基本上，全部54套都應是中國影史上的重要作品，藝術上各有特色，非常值得觀摩。讓我們認認它們，有時間的話一一欣賞吧。（補遺：評選細節可參考羅卡的〈評選所思所感〉。）

1923 勞工之愛情
1934 神女
1934 姊妹花
1935 大路
1937 夜半歌聲
1937 馬路天使
1947 太太萬歲
1947 一江春水向東流
1948 萬家燈火
1948 小城之春
1950 珠江淚
1950 我這一輩子
1959 林家鋪子
1960 劉三姐
1960 野玫瑰之戀
1961-64 大鬧天宮
1963 梁山伯與祝英台
1963 農奴
1963 早春二月
1965 舞臺姐妹
1967 破曉時分
1968 冬暖
1970 俠女
1974 再見中國
1976 半斤八兩
1978 少林三十六房
1979 瘋劫
1981 被愛情遺忘的角落
1981 邊緣人
1982 投奔怒海
1983 半邊人
1983 兒子的大玩偶
1983 似水流年
1984 黃土地
1984 省港旗兵
1985 童年往事
1985 黑炮事件
1986 盜馬賊
1986 英雄本色
1987 龍虎風雲
1987 倩女幽魂
1987 老井
1987 紅高粱
1988 胭脂扣
1988 悲情城市
1991 牯嶺街少年殺人事件
1991 雙旗鎮刀客
1992 喜宴
1993 霸王別姬
1993 找樂
1994 陽光燦爛的日子
1994 背靠背，臉對臉
1996 甜蜜蜜
1997 香港製造

港台找到 William Chan

很久沒有看香港電台的節目，不過幾日前看到《鏗鏘集》2月14日的一集「尋找陳俊濠」，訪問主人翁 William Chan ，其經歷很富戲劇性：留學期間的一次意外，正如本地《太陽報》2004年報導所載：「故事原來跟人氣台灣劇集《流星花園》的男主角一樣，陳俊濠在英國遇上一場車禍後，便失去所有記憶」，William 君「休養過後，才再度活躍於義工活動，更成為香港傑出學生協會會長」，後獲政府委任為青年事務委員會委員。

此集好看，除了 William Chan 本身夠傳奇外，你也會不多不少的想到自己——屬於自己過去的記憶、與家人朋友的關係……而且帶出很多話題或爭議。對！看完節目後可到其討論區掃掃，從討論此集的編採方針、到質疑 William 君「扮失憶」、甚至掀人隱私等各式各樣均有，為節目最佳佐料。對人至緊「聽其言而觀其行」，但倒有網友觀人於微，且對其中一位受訪女孩趨之若鶩（此女為一位本地社福界名人掌上珠）。嘿，未免有些喧賓奪主吧？

"Angels" became the Brits 25 best song

An old piece of news follows up "The greatest British single from 1977". At last, Robbie Williams got the BRITs 25 - Best Song Award from Gary Barlow (also a member of ex-boy band, Take That, but leading one). It is not surprising for me to about this result when the top five contenders came out in the end of January. The top fives included my picks "Wuthering Heights" by Kate Bush and "We are the Champions" by Queen, along with Joy Division's "Love Will Tear Us Apart" and Will Young's "Leave Right Now".

Choosing "Wuthering Heights" or "Love Will Tear Us Apart" would show a better taste. However, as a voting of public's favourite British song, "Angels" is a resonable and satisfactory choice. In fact, it is one of the best pop ballads in the 1990s and surely the most significant one for Robbie Williams, saving his career and leading him to the future fame. Robbie Williams sang it quite well, although it might be also successful for other singers (or even more popular). Congratulations to "Angels"!

Angels

I sit and wait
does an angel contemplate my fate
and do they know
the places where we go
when we're grey and old
'cos I've been told
that salvation lets their wings unfold
so when I'm lying in my bed
thoughts running through my head
and I feel that love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I'm right or wrong
and down the waterfall
wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
when I come to call she wont forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

when I'm feeling weak
and my pain walks down a one way street
I look above
and I know ill always be blessed with love
and as the feeling grows
she breathes flesh to my bones
and when love is dead
I'm loving angels instead

and through it all she offers me protection
a lot of love and affection
whether I'm right or wrong
and down the waterfall
wherever it may take me
I know that life wont break me
when I come to call she wont forsake me
I'm loving angels instead

新春紀事

本日人日，先祝大家生日快樂。

新春期間，網誌更新慢了，因為假期中訪客大減（有一日甚至錄得破天荒的零訪問），如此時節，本來自然不過，（咦，那為何電視劇《大長今》的收視不跌反升？）便趁機休息幾天。今年沒有外出拜年，利市亦像往年一樣少，不過一連欣賞了十多套電影「賀歲」，每天更追看李英愛，節目還是很豐富。

至於書報呢，春假中除了每日仍有看報紙一至三張不等外，只有翻翻今年兩期《萬象》與《明報月刊》，書也僅看了數十頁《電影閱讀美學》和《夢影錄》，夏志清的《文學的前途》更利害——我不過看了序言而已！讀書方面成績似乎未如理想。

看來要開始下點功夫了，學倉頡打字進度也要加快點吧？

Arthur Miller left on the screen

Arthur Miller, one of the great American playwrights, whose work exposed the flaws in the fabric of the American dream, died Thursday night (10th February) at his home in Roxbury, Conn. He was 89. The author of "Death of a Salesman," a landmark of 20th-century drama, Mr. Miller grappled with the weightiest matters of social conscience in his plays and in them often reflected or reinterpreted the stormy and very public elements of his own life - including a brief and rocky marriage to Marilyn Monroe and his staunch refusal to cooperate with the red-baiting House Un-American Activities Committee.
— Except from the New York Times Obituary

Miller was named as one of the greatest dramatists after World War II (along with Tennessee Williams). On the screen, his most famous screenplay is John Huston's "The Misfits" (1961), starring his wife Monroe. Sorry that I have not seen it yet. If you are interested to know more about his works, besides reading, watching films is another choice. Some of his well-known works were adapted for the screen and widely accepted. For example, based on reviews, 1951's "Death of a Salesman" might be slightly better than Dustin Hoffman's TV version in 1985. And about Miller's another great play, "The Crucible", both 1996 remake by Miller's personal screenplay and the older French version "Les Sorcières de Salem" (1957) are highly worth seeing. Hope I could see all these later.

Obituaries: BBC, New York Times

Lunar New Year，幾首年歌

Tomorrow is the Lunar New Year's Day. In Chinese society, you have to say good blessing words to each other. You could congratulate people becoming rich by saying "Kung Hei Fat Choy", it is very popular though I do not like it much. A better choice is "Maan Si Sing Yi", it means all your heart's wishes would be fulfilled.

I am only able to introduce four New Year songs to share the atmosphere of festival with you. (In fact, Chinese like to listen to New Year songs too). The first one is an English song "Happy New Year" famously sung by Swedish group Abba. It is not a song for Chinese because it has certain what we think "unlucky" or "unfavourable" words like die, lost etc. But nothing is taboo to me. Besides, it is a really nice song.

Happy New Year

No more champagne
And the fireworks are through
Here we are, me and you
Feeling lost and feeling blue
It's the end of the party
And the morning seems so gray
So unlike yesterday
Now's the time for us to say...

Happy new year, happy new year
May we all have a vision now and then
Of a world where every neighbor is a friend
Happy new year, happy new year
May we all have our hopes, our will to try
If we don't we might as well lay down and die
You and I

Sometimes I see
How the brave new world arrives
And I see how it thrives
In the ashes of our lives
Oh yes, man is a fool
And he thinks he'll be okay
Dragging on, feet of clay
Never knowing he's astray
Keeps on going anyway...

Seems to me now
That the dreams we had before are all dead
Nothing more than confetti on the floor
It's the end of a decade
In another ten years time
Who can say what we'll find
What lies waiting down the line
In the end of eighty-nine...

當然，還是原汁原味的聽華語賀年歌最好，在此送上以下三首曲成於三四十年代上海、但一直流傳至今的經典。第一首是歌影名星白虹的代表作〈春天的降臨〉，第二首是鼻音歌后吳鶯音演繹的〈大地回春〉，意象大同小異，講的都是春來大地。最後一首則最有賀年氣氛，是由陳歌辛所作、姚敏姚莉兄妹合唱的老歌，名字亦是我要向大家講的——〈恭喜恭喜〉。有興趣可到立地城懷舊金曲網站按選曲試聽，好了，謹祝大家新春大吉！

春天的降臨
陳歌辛曲 洪菲詞

冬天把白雪鋪滿大地
可以叫春天不能出頭
要花草活活埋在泥中
永遠不能開口

唱吧唱吧 螞蟻搬走了懶蟲
唱吧唱吧 蜜蜂不息勞動
唱吧唱吧 柳枝揮動了綠旗
唱吧唱吧 桃花燃起了鮮紅

天空是海水一樣明亮
白日給萬物無上滋養
灰色的愁雲隨風消散
玫瑰遍地芬芳
玫瑰遍地芬芳

擋不住時間向前進展
終於給春風帶來溫暖
花草們聽到春的號召
誰不心裏喜歡

唱吧唱吧 螞蟻搬走了懶蟲
唱吧唱吧 蜜蜂不息勞動
唱吧唱吧 柳枝揮動了綠旗
唱吧唱吧 桃花燃起了鮮紅

天空是海水一樣明亮
白日給萬物無上滋養
灰色的愁雲隨風消散
玫瑰遍地芬芳
玫瑰遍地芬芳

---

大地回春
姚敏曲 陳棟蓀詞

歡迎大地回春
枝頭朵朵花如錦
原野層層草如茵
燕子歸來尋舊巢
雙雙呢喃訴衷情

大地萬象更新
蝴蝶翩翩舞輕盈
蜜蜂嗡嗡採花粉
情侶漫步軟風裏
一片春色動人情

桃李爭放 紅白相映
堤邊水濱吐清芬
大地回春 柳暗花明
水綠山青
小鳥歌聲唱不停
大地萬象新

歡迎大地回春
蝴蝶翩翩舞輕盈
蜜蜂嗡嗡采花粉
情侶漫步軟風裏
一片春色動人情

---

恭喜恭喜
陳歌辛詞曲

每條大街小巷 每個人的嘴裏
見面第一句話 就是恭喜恭喜
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀 恭喜恭喜恭喜你

冬天已到盡頭 真是好的消息
溫暖的春風 就要吹醒大地
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀 恭喜恭喜恭喜你

皓皓冰雪融解 眼看梅花吐蕊
漫漫長夜過去 聽到一聲雞啼
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀 恭喜恭喜恭喜你

經過多少困難 歷盡多少磨練
多少心兒盼望 盼望春的消息
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀 恭喜恭喜恭喜你

每條大街小巷 每個人的嘴裏
見面第一句話 就是恭喜恭喜
恭喜恭喜恭喜你呀 恭喜恭喜恭喜你