Camera-less in Denver

Although my flight was delayed, the flight to Denver yesterday wasn’t too bad. There was a Japanese boy constantly talking to his mom next to me. His voice was so cute and soft. I tried to improve my listening comprehension for Japanese, but I understood little. That’s okay. It’s almost like listening to a smoothing sound. After cutting through a bumpy turbulence, the plane landed. I felt like walking into a dry sauna when I walked out of the airplane. Then I was devastated—I realized that I left my camera at home!!! I almost bring it anywhere. Now, I feel like walking around naked. I won’t take any picture for almost a week, is that possible? I am staying at Hyatt, which is not bad with contemporary decoration. But despite the fact that there are six or seven pillows in my bed, none is as comfortable as the one in my own bed. Last night, I got really irritated when I smelled a little smoking from the vent last night, since the entire building is supposed to be smoking free. So today, I moved to a new room. No, not a room. Actually, a suite. It’s so freaking big, with a bar area, refrigerator, three huge floor to ceiling windows, 10 chairs and one couch. It’s over 1500 square foot! Having been living in San Francisco, I feel the room space is ridiculous. I always ask for king size bed when I stay at a hotel, but now I sleep on a queen size bed in a big room like this. What are they thinking when they design the room? When I went to Sushi Sasa for dinner tonight, as always, I sat at the sushi bar. The chef is a young inked Chinese guy named Wing, quite cute. When he cooks, he is fantastic! I wish I could cut a fish like he does. Watching him slice some squid into thin strings, I want to marry him. What I do at home is cooking dinner, and what Wing does is making art. He put squid strings into this special clear sauce (like a noodle sauce) then topped with finely chopped onion. I never had that before, and he made that special for me, because it’s not even on the menu. This is precisely the reason I always prefer to sit at a sushi bar at a Japanese place—you get special treatment from the chef. The sashimi platter I got was so fabulous, including pieces of exquisite toro (とろ). Considering this is Denver, not Seattle or San Francisco, I am very happy with the fish. I might go back there again before I leave Denver. Although I forgot my camera, I borrowed one from a friend before I went to Sushi Sasa, but it doesn’t take very good pictures as my camera does, plus I don’t have the cable now to upload the pictures out of the camera. Oh well. No camera, no pictures. Edit: The pictures are uploaded. http://picasaweb.google.com/s/c/bin/slideshow.swf Last month I watched fewest films this year, only 12. I think I have found the balance. The heavy travel and the Beijing Olympics this month perhaps even reduce the number of screenings even more. I don’t mind. Here is the latest I wrote: The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor I had to admit—when I walked out the theater after a screening of "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" (USA 2008, 112 min.) a few days ago, I could not remember the title, except the word "mummy" in it. This film is supposed to be the third installment in the "Mummy" series, despite the fact that there is no mummies in the emperor’s tomb, except a Terracotta Army (兵马俑). The pretentious CGI work showing a goofy fight between the Terracotta Army and skeletons cannot save the weak script and thin characters. The previous installment "The Mummy Returns" (USA 2001) was set in 1933, when archeologist Rick O’Connell (Brendan Fraser) had an eight years old son Alex. Fast forward to 1946 in Shanghai, Alex (Luke Ford), now 21, discovers the tomb of "Emperor Han" (Jet Li). Emperor Han was cursed into a clay statue by Zi Juan (Michelle Yeoh) more than 2000 years ago. If Alex’s discovery resurrects Emperor Han and awakes his Terracotta Army, the consequence will be catastrophic, as claimed by the emperor. Rick O’Connell must save the world by bombing the hell out of Emperor Han, because Emperor Han and his Terracotta Army is regarded as a WMD. The plot does not make much sense, because it only serves the purpose of showing off the expensive CGI works, elegant martial arts, loud explosions, and more CGI works. Did I mention CGI already? Even the emperor is given a different name in the film, it is quite obvious that he is modeled after Emperor Qin (秦始皇), who is well known for unifying China, building the Great Wall, and creating a city sized underground Terracotta Army. However, he has never been regarded as "Dragon Emperor." To me, labeling the emperor with the word "dragon" seems a clumsy attempt to infuse Chinese element into this film, because everything else are failing. Although the story is set 13 years later from the previous film, Brendan Fraser has only aged 7 years (2001-2008) in real life. As a result, it becomes really funny to hear Luke Ford calling Brendan Fraser "dad" when they look like a fraternity brothers. However, "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" should have no trouble to find at least one fond audience—the President. The film fulfills the fantasy of finding a WMD, bomb the hack of the location, and claim the victor of getting rid of a WMD. Evidently, the President is one step ahead of this film—he bombed Iraq, not China. "The Mummy: Tomb of the Dragon Emperor" opens last Friday in theaters.