Back from Jianghu, dinner, James D'Arcy
Jianghu wasn't quite as bad as I had expected. It was attempting to be clever but the acting was acceptable from each of Shawn Yu and Edison in particular. Each of Eric Tsang, Andy Lau and Jacky Cheung played roles they could have done in their sleep, and the rendering of "Leave sadness to me" was a tolerable although not as good as the original.
Rodney, Kelvin and I ate Xinjiang cuisine at Pasha's in Causeway Bay - both were great company. Rodney's sister Natalie was working late and met us at Windsor Cinema, as did Donna. After the movie, Donna and I went to Delicious for a spot of dessert. The day was quite slow-moving, and I spent the morning studying for my Chinese class. I was so tired though that I was quite lack-lustre during the class and my tones were COMPLETELY off today.
Tomorrow evening I'm meeting up with a friend, then on Sunday I've organised yum cha with a group of friends at the Fragrant Lotus and then Sunday night it's dinner with another friend. I was slightly vexed with Michael - he's doing his "keeping my options open" in terms of social engagements. Call me harsh but I prefer to have friends who want to spend time with me instead of putting me in a list of social functions so that they can pick and choose. I have no problem with Michael preferring to spend time with other friends, but he shouldn't get narky if he's not invited to my functions, and he shouldn't try to invite himself along. I know I sound stern.
I'm starting to read short stories by Ted Chiang, lent to me by Kim who has just switched firms. The first short story is called "Tower of Babylon" and seems all right so far, and very "Great Wall of China-esque" in its concept. I've posted quite a few pages of screen caps on the James D'Arcy forum: http://www.livejournal.com/community/jamesdarcy/
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fitzgerald/8/darcy/nn/nickleby01.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fitzgerald/8/darcy/nn/nickleby02.htm
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fitzgerald/8/darcy/pow.htm
I also posted some of Canterville Ghost:
http://www.fortunecity.com/tinpan/fitzgerald/8/darcy/canterville.htm
I don't really like those much though because James looked so strange and geekish in those photos. It has something to do with his teeth and his duck-bill like mouth. He really has improved in looks as he has grown older although his acting and his voice were and remain wonderful.
A few thoughts are chasing about in my head but I am not really able to articulate them at this point, so they'll have to wait.