Overall Satisfaction: 0 / 5
Consultation Process: 3.5 / 5
Officiant's Appearance: 4 / 5
Officiant's Professionalism: 0 / 5
Ceremony: 4 / 5
Website: http://lindawongofficiant.com/index.html
Those of y'all who have visited this site in the past, y'all know that I do my utmost, and very best to provide a fair and objective critique of the things that I've purchased, tried, and experienced. Honestly, I wasn't going to write this on here, but I have realised that there is no where else that I can review this wedding officiant. She has a testimonials page, but that's for positive reviews only. There is feedback page, but that form is never going to see the light of day anywhere.
No words can express our disappointment with Linda. While she started off quite professionally, ultimately, she had one job on the day of the wedding. To show up. Not only did we have to call her to find out where she was when she didn't arrive on time, it wasn't until we called her that she admitted to us that she had FORGOTTEN. She ended up finally arriving over an hour late.
On a hectic day like most weddings are, having to flip schedules around for everyone and coordinating with venue staff caused confusion and undue stress on everyone involved.
An experienced officiant's job is pretty easy after a while. Scripts are already pre-written, forms are simply just filling in blanks. Which means, an officiant has ONE JOB. And that is to show up. Bare minimum. Show Up. Something that I am very sorry to say, that Linda FAILED to do.
To be fair, she did volunteer to compensate us $100 for her blunder. I'll let y'all decide if $100 was adequate. It's not the money that's the issue. It's the principle of it.
~Cheers.
Update: Linda has since provided us with a full refund and additional apologies.
Showing posts with label Chinese. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Chinese. Show all posts
Tuesday, 25 June 2019
Friday, 20 April 2012
Movie: 那些年 - "Those Bygone Years" (2011)
Rating: B-
I've never been to school in Asia, but from what I've heard / seen from friends and the media, 那些年 seems to give a pretty accurate depiction of the student life in Taiwan and I suppose fairly close to the student experience in Chinese Asia in general terms.
(Blogger's note: Sorry. This is the music video of the title song and not the Trailer)
This is a coming of age story of a group of friends going to school in Taiwan. I liked the fact that they didn't try to be cute, and tried to keep the story as realistic as possible; to a point where you could actually see that yeah...kids could quite possibly grow up like that. I also like that they didn't try to put a full cast of great looking kids out there, because let's face it, most people aren't good looking. HAHA. It really just seems like you're taking a glimpse into the lives of a group of very ordinary kids.
A friend of mine said that the depiction of the budding romance was a very accurate comparison to real life, I couldn't help but think back upon my own experiences back in school. Of all the people that I knew (not that I knew few or many), I only knew one person that spent their entire high school life trying to score a date with a girl. So while I understand that the movie was trying to focus on this one core group, the romantic relationship that underlined the group's dynamic seemed a little far fetched.
I don't know a single member of this cast, but the female lead really stood out for me. Watching her grow up and mature in front of the screen was a fantastic feat that left me extremely impressed with her performance. While the other members weren't nearly as noteworthy, I suppose that if we think of our own lives. How many of our lives would make for a good movie?
~Cheers.
I've never been to school in Asia, but from what I've heard / seen from friends and the media, 那些年 seems to give a pretty accurate depiction of the student life in Taiwan and I suppose fairly close to the student experience in Chinese Asia in general terms.
(Blogger's note: Sorry. This is the music video of the title song and not the Trailer)
This is a coming of age story of a group of friends going to school in Taiwan. I liked the fact that they didn't try to be cute, and tried to keep the story as realistic as possible; to a point where you could actually see that yeah...kids could quite possibly grow up like that. I also like that they didn't try to put a full cast of great looking kids out there, because let's face it, most people aren't good looking. HAHA. It really just seems like you're taking a glimpse into the lives of a group of very ordinary kids.
A friend of mine said that the depiction of the budding romance was a very accurate comparison to real life, I couldn't help but think back upon my own experiences back in school. Of all the people that I knew (not that I knew few or many), I only knew one person that spent their entire high school life trying to score a date with a girl. So while I understand that the movie was trying to focus on this one core group, the romantic relationship that underlined the group's dynamic seemed a little far fetched.
I don't know a single member of this cast, but the female lead really stood out for me. Watching her grow up and mature in front of the screen was a fantastic feat that left me extremely impressed with her performance. While the other members weren't nearly as noteworthy, I suppose that if we think of our own lives. How many of our lives would make for a good movie?
~Cheers.
Friday, 17 June 2011
Movie: Kung Fu Panda 2 (2011)
Rating: A-
Too many sequels are money mongering excuses to build a franchise, that just regurgitate the same story in a different setting (ie, The Hangover Part 2). Kung Fu Panda 2 is among the select few sequels that might actually be better than its first installment.
The story, while nothing new, is compelling enough to be retold. The jokes actually have some thought put in to them and fitting for all ages. The star studded voice cast did an admirable job.While I would have liked to have seen the supporting cast be more involved, the story would have been far too complex to properly use ALL of them.
I loved the artwork when they were talking about the past, in particular, Po's little stuffed toy. Very adorable. It's great to see them use a different art style to differentiate what is now and what was THEN.
Is it twice the awesomeness as advertised? Yes it is!
Too many sequels are money mongering excuses to build a franchise, that just regurgitate the same story in a different setting (ie, The Hangover Part 2). Kung Fu Panda 2 is among the select few sequels that might actually be better than its first installment.
The story, while nothing new, is compelling enough to be retold. The jokes actually have some thought put in to them and fitting for all ages. The star studded voice cast did an admirable job.While I would have liked to have seen the supporting cast be more involved, the story would have been far too complex to properly use ALL of them.
I loved the artwork when they were talking about the past, in particular, Po's little stuffed toy. Very adorable. It's great to see them use a different art style to differentiate what is now and what was THEN.
Is it twice the awesomeness as advertised? Yes it is!
Sunday, 10 April 2011
Movie: Bruce Lee, My Brother (2010)
Rating: C+
Most people have heard of Bruce Lee. Several biopics have been made over the years talking about this superstar, his life, and how it was cut short. Most however, gloss over his childhood focusing instead on his time in the US. This rendition, based off of memoirs, written by his brother, talks about him and his family growing up, and how he got his start in Hong Kong.
The movie stars some relatives unknowns along with Tony Leung (梁家輝）and Christy Chung (鍾麗緹) as Bruce's parents. The movie is largely superficial, talking about Bruce and his buddies getting into trouble, and how he breezes into fame. But it's a feel good story and not a documentary. It doesn't talk about any personal demons he had or anything like that. But just gives you an overview of how he grew up.
If anyone knows anything about Hong Kong biopics, it is to believe no more than 20% of what's presented to you. This movie, is the same. Not a GREAT movie by any stretch of the imagination, but gives you certain insights to how Bruce grew up, his family, and life in Hong Kong in the 60s. Also, a great job by Tony Leung, and the kid the plays Bruce as a child? Brilliant.
~Cheers.
Most people have heard of Bruce Lee. Several biopics have been made over the years talking about this superstar, his life, and how it was cut short. Most however, gloss over his childhood focusing instead on his time in the US. This rendition, based off of memoirs, written by his brother, talks about him and his family growing up, and how he got his start in Hong Kong.
The movie stars some relatives unknowns along with Tony Leung (梁家輝）and Christy Chung (鍾麗緹) as Bruce's parents. The movie is largely superficial, talking about Bruce and his buddies getting into trouble, and how he breezes into fame. But it's a feel good story and not a documentary. It doesn't talk about any personal demons he had or anything like that. But just gives you an overview of how he grew up.
If anyone knows anything about Hong Kong biopics, it is to believe no more than 20% of what's presented to you. This movie, is the same. Not a GREAT movie by any stretch of the imagination, but gives you certain insights to how Bruce grew up, his family, and life in Hong Kong in the 60s. Also, a great job by Tony Leung, and the kid the plays Bruce as a child? Brilliant.
~Cheers.
Thursday, 6 January 2011
Restaurant: 巴屬人家川菜館 (Bashu Sichuan Restaurant)
For those of you who don't know, I don't handle spicy food very well. And Sichuan food...well...tends to be rather spicy. I can eat the damned stuff, but the result doesn't tend to be very pretty. It's like someone decides to turn on the faucets to my head, and ONLY to my head. But this is the dedication I'm giving to this little blog. HAHA.
Ambiance: 2 / 5
Cleanliness: 2.5 / 5
Service: 3 / 5
Taste: 3.5 / 5
Presentation: 3.5 / 5
Price: $$
Overall: 3.5 / 5
While it took an inordinate amount of time for the food to arrive, when it did come, it was like they decided to serve EVERYTHING at once, so I'm just going to go through this in the order I tried the dishes. Since there was some varying levels of spiciness in the dishes, I decided to go from the least spicy dish to the most spicy dish.
巴屬全家福鍋仔 (Bashu Meat & Seafood Pot)
A mish mash of "stuff" served in a steaming broth. There's tofu, and shrimp, and fish, and ox tongue, and fish squares, and scallions, and mushrooms, and beef stomach, and... Heck, I can't even remember what else was in there, oh... With a healthy dose of pepper. How did it taste? Like it was a mish mash of STUFF. With pepper. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't taste bad... but it just... didn't taste like much of anything.
金鉤冬瓜 (Winter Melon in seafood sauce)
After tasting that first dish, I was a little worried about the rest of the meal. I was wondering if the restaurant management expected to burn all the taste buds of of the patrons' tongues with all the spicy food so they won't care how the rest of the dishes taste. Fortunately, this 金鉤冬瓜 was surprisingly good. Cooking all of that together, the winter melon absorbs much of the flavour from the dried shrimp and broth without somehow, losing its own distinct flavour. Very well done.
沸騰魚片 (Filet of Fish in Spicy Sauce)
Looks pretty spicy huh. Actually, it wasn't TOO horrible. The burn of the peppers somehow barely permeates the outer layer of the fish, leaving centre of the fish with the sweetness of the fish's original flavours. It was a great counter balance of flavours, neither one overpowering the other. And on top of that, the fish was perfectly tender. That being said, I DO wish that it was fresh fish instead of the frozen fillets.
幹鍋田雞 (Frog legs in a spice bowl)
Fortunately, it wasn't my first time having frog legs because otherwise, after tasting this pot, there was no way I would have known what frog legs tasted like. But like a trooper, with my corner of the table littered with sweat drenched tissues, I ate more. Perhaps it's because I don't handle spicy food so well, but all flavour, texture, and context was thoroughly covered by the sheer hotness.
手拉銀絲卷 (Hand-Pulled Silver Thread Bun)
After eating the frog legs, I had to clean my palate. I don't think I would have taken as much offense to these buns had they not indicated they were "hand pulled". These buns, when made right, are almost like noodles made of soft bread kneaded, and twisted together. And when you pull them apart, are individual strands of soft, fluffy bread. These buns were more like someone decide to make noodles of bread and mashed them together into clumps of...well...clumps. Such a disappointment to an otherwise, fairly enjoyable meal.
In all, I've got mixed feelings about this place. While some of the dishes exceeded expectations, others fell below par. I won't judge the frog legs, because unfortunately, my taste buds were far too numbed to taste anything. Sichuan food tends to be pretty spicy, so I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and blame my own inability to accept such levels of spice.
巴屬人家
A01-A02
4771 Steeles Ave. E
Scarborough, ON
Canada
~Cheers
Ambiance: 2 / 5
Cleanliness: 2.5 / 5
Service: 3 / 5
Taste: 3.5 / 5
Presentation: 3.5 / 5
Price: $$
Overall: 3.5 / 5
While it took an inordinate amount of time for the food to arrive, when it did come, it was like they decided to serve EVERYTHING at once, so I'm just going to go through this in the order I tried the dishes. Since there was some varying levels of spiciness in the dishes, I decided to go from the least spicy dish to the most spicy dish.
巴屬全家福鍋仔 (Bashu Meat & Seafood Pot)
A mish mash of "stuff" served in a steaming broth. There's tofu, and shrimp, and fish, and ox tongue, and fish squares, and scallions, and mushrooms, and beef stomach, and... Heck, I can't even remember what else was in there, oh... With a healthy dose of pepper. How did it taste? Like it was a mish mash of STUFF. With pepper. Don't get me wrong, it doesn't taste bad... but it just... didn't taste like much of anything.
金鉤冬瓜 (Winter Melon in seafood sauce)
After tasting that first dish, I was a little worried about the rest of the meal. I was wondering if the restaurant management expected to burn all the taste buds of of the patrons' tongues with all the spicy food so they won't care how the rest of the dishes taste. Fortunately, this 金鉤冬瓜 was surprisingly good. Cooking all of that together, the winter melon absorbs much of the flavour from the dried shrimp and broth without somehow, losing its own distinct flavour. Very well done.
沸騰魚片 (Filet of Fish in Spicy Sauce)
Looks pretty spicy huh. Actually, it wasn't TOO horrible. The burn of the peppers somehow barely permeates the outer layer of the fish, leaving centre of the fish with the sweetness of the fish's original flavours. It was a great counter balance of flavours, neither one overpowering the other. And on top of that, the fish was perfectly tender. That being said, I DO wish that it was fresh fish instead of the frozen fillets.
幹鍋田雞 (Frog legs in a spice bowl)
Fortunately, it wasn't my first time having frog legs because otherwise, after tasting this pot, there was no way I would have known what frog legs tasted like. But like a trooper, with my corner of the table littered with sweat drenched tissues, I ate more. Perhaps it's because I don't handle spicy food so well, but all flavour, texture, and context was thoroughly covered by the sheer hotness.
手拉銀絲卷 (Hand-Pulled Silver Thread Bun)
After eating the frog legs, I had to clean my palate. I don't think I would have taken as much offense to these buns had they not indicated they were "hand pulled". These buns, when made right, are almost like noodles made of soft bread kneaded, and twisted together. And when you pull them apart, are individual strands of soft, fluffy bread. These buns were more like someone decide to make noodles of bread and mashed them together into clumps of...well...clumps. Such a disappointment to an otherwise, fairly enjoyable meal.
In all, I've got mixed feelings about this place. While some of the dishes exceeded expectations, others fell below par. I won't judge the frog legs, because unfortunately, my taste buds were far too numbed to taste anything. Sichuan food tends to be pretty spicy, so I'm going to give the benefit of the doubt and blame my own inability to accept such levels of spice.
巴屬人家
A01-A02
4771 Steeles Ave. E
Scarborough, ON
Canada
~Cheers
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Movie: Lust, Caution (2007)
Rating: A-
It's not just new movies that deserve mentioning. And unfortunately, there's simply not enough time to watch EVERY movie at the cinema. Although, I've been meaning to take in Lust, Caution for a while now.
Such a waste to cast singer / songwriter 王力宏 (LeeHom Wang) in this powerful and lustful drama. Whomever told him that he could act needs to be shot. That, however, is pretty much my biggest criticism of this movie. Tragically sexy, 湯唯's (Wei Tang) performance was powerful and mesmerising. And as much as 梁朝偉's (Tony Cheung) portrayal of Mr. Yee was quietly brilliant, it was 湯唯 that stole the show.
Beautifully filmed, Ang Lee catches intensity and trepidation of his lead characters. But the strength and intensity of 梁朝偉 and 湯唯 completely outshines the rest of the movie, leaving me to feel like maybe Ang Lee didn't pay enough attention to the rest of the cast. The story, however, is riveting, thrusting the innocent schoolgirl 湯唯 into the dark, lurid world of espionage.
As titillating as the Lust, Caution is, it is MUCH better if you understand a little about the history in this time period. As powerful as 梁朝偉 seems to be in the movie, there's something that ISN'T said in the movie. He has the unenviable position of EVERYBODY wanting him dead. The Japanese don't trust him and the only reason they tolerate him is because he is of use to them. Given the opportunity, anybody working with him, would kill him for his position. All the other Chinese want to kill him because he is working for the Japanese. He needs to be equally ruthless and civil at the same time while always be vigilant of people trying to usurp him or kill him.
Watch for 湯唯's little soliloquy. It totally sent chills down my spine. It just goes to show, to what lengths people will go to in times of war.
~Cheers.
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