Disney Magic of Animation The Exhibition, Singapore…it tells a story

There is  much to admire here. Disney’s drive, the museum demonstrates, was relentless. Having mastered the basics of animation in the ’20s, Disney kept pushing at the possibilities.

Disney entered a new era with his first sound cartoon, “Steamboat Willie,” the third starring Mickey Mouse. We take it for granted now, but at the time the work meant selecting an expensive technology, developing a technique for coordinating music and image, and convincing distributors the cost was worth it. Nothing about it was easy. By the time he created his first feature-length work, “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs,” he had transformed the very notion of animation. Other exhibits cover the war years and postwar animation movies

Disney lovers, rejoice! The exhibition is almost leisurely in relating its narrative, and while children will quickly pass by many sections that will fascinate their elders, there are more than enough thrills for everyone.

This just may just be the happiest place in Singapore. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Dadong, New York City…nobody should pay this much money and be sad

If one wants terrible food delivered quickly, accompanied by several other unappetising dishes you hadn’t ordered but other diners are currently waiting for, Dadong in midtown New York is for you. While I didn’t get ill after eating at Dadong, I did feel sick about how much I’d spent on a substandard meal.

I’m a massive Dadong, Beijing fan, and can wolf down a peking duck faster than you can say “Times Square”, so I awaited my Dadong “Su bu ni” roast duck – served with sugar, pancakes, crispy sesame buns and special sauce with some level of excitement. The duck was bland, dry and actively repellent. I like to think the staff made it up as a prank, and were watching to see if I would be an obedient foodie and play ball. Let us never speak again of the prime chili diced short ribs

Dadong in New York, well, just don’t serve very good food. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

 

Madame Tussards, Singapore…How much fun did I have? About 15 minutes worth

Since I am obviously not cool enough to have real celebrity friends, I usually like to spend a day at Madame Tussauds Wax Museum everywhere I go and pretend to mingle with the A-listers.  I would take selfies of me shaking hands with President Obama, posing with Angelina Jolie, or fulfilling my dream of doing sit-ups alongside David Beckham!

Madame Tussauds, which considers itself the plus ultra of wax artistry has sunk to the depths with this overpriced and cheesy display in Singapore. The exhibits in Singapore are boring and it’s way too short. The four-minute boat ride called Spirit of Singapore does not add any value to the museum. If you have been to Madame Tussaud’s in London, Los Angeles or New York City you will be extremely disappointment by this museum.

How much fun did I have at Madame Tussards Singapore? About 15 minutes worth. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

DreamWorks Animation The Exhibition, Singapore…pretty amazing to get to peek behind the scenes of your favourite movies

As it’s name suggests “Journey from Sketch to Screen” is divided to three sections: character, story and world, the exhibition shows the entire creative process from start to end. There are lots to see on how a motion picture is born from a scratch pad idea to the details of the muscle movement of the characters.

Love the various storyboards, models and reference material from the films that they have posted around. It’s all around so cool. It’s pretty amazing to get to peek behind the scenes of your favourite movies and see the inner workings. There are plenty of photo ops with the displays. Lining the halls and walls, I was fascinated with the models/sculptures, detailed art, and drawings. The highlight for me was the panoramatic, 180-degree cinematic experience of Dragon Flight. Giving viewers a virtual and dizzying ride on the back of a dragon as you fly over Berk, the township from How to Train Your Dragon.

All in all, a pretty awesome exhibition. I loved every bit of it! This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N., New York City….doesn’t deliver enough bang for the buck

At this Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. (Scientific Training and Tactical Intelligence Operative Network), we went through an “Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.” recruitment simulation and given an ID card and then led to a debriefing room.  We were then taken right into SHIELD and the Avengers HQ with supposedly what is meant to be interactive displays devoted to Captain America, The Hulk, Iron Man and Thor, with all kinds of computer screens and places where you can test your grip against Captain America, see Iron Man’s armour.

The Captain America room was first, in which you could take a number of physical tests showing the difference between what Captain America could do and what you could do. In The Hulk room. witness the neurological effects of Bruce Banner’s transformation into the Hulk. The Thor room boasts a hologram representation of his hammer and is filled with Asgardian memorabilia like Loki’s helmet and scepter and the obligatory Chitauri costume. The Iron Man display, is the most polished of the lot, but even this feels somewhat barebones because of how few artifacts they have for a rather oversized room. The animatronic hand (which was broken down when I was there) and the motion detector showing technology similar to video-game technology we already have,  wasn’t as fulfilling as it could have been.

At $30 a pop, this exhibit doesn’t deliver enough bang for the buck. Avengers S.T.A.T.I.O.N. may be a co-production of Marvel and NASA, but it is not as revolutionary as one might expect. IT certainly won’t convert anyone who finds superhero movies immature. This is the true truth as I say it as it is…

The Art of the Brick Exhibition, Singapore…one of a kind LEGO exhibition

Hailed as one of CNN’s top 10 Global must-see exhibitions, The “Art of the Brick” exhibit features Nathan Sawaya’s traveling collection of awe-inspiring and thought-provoking large-scale LEGO sculptures. Both playful and amazing, a typical, common toy is elevated to the status of refined, fine art through Sawaya’s creative ability to transform LEGO bricks into a new level of awesomeness.

The captivating sculptures which ranges from whimsical to complex are amazingly elaborate and will present a new perspective on imagination and creativity. Check out the swimmer, T-Rex, portrait of Hitchcock, painting of a bowl of fruits. The kids and big kids alike, are sure to be delighted with the grand displays of vivid colour and creativity.

If you’re in Singapore anytime between now till 14 April 2013, make a beeline for the ArtScience Museum, this is an awesome chance to see this exhibit for yourself! This is the true truth as I say it as it is…