Photo Session & Movie

Went to Orchard to watch Protégé at Cineleisure with Daryl and the 3.15 pm show was sold out. We settled for a later timing at 5.30 pm instead. Headed to Marina City Park to shoot some photos in the meantime. I was keen to take photos of the legendary Chinese sculptures supposedly located there but upon arrival, they were nowhere to be found.

Took some photos here and there while being attacked by several ants and mosquitoes. Headed back to City Hall area for some quick snapshots before heading back to cine for the movie.

Protégé is an anti-drug movie that ironically shows us the process of preparing drugs; from mixing the ingredients, to heating and packaging the small slabs of 'US dollars'. There is even on site location shoot at a Thai opium field that shows us the harvesting process of opium. Don't be mistaken as the show is not a documentary.

The story is about a drug lord (Andy Lau) who controls much of the import and distribution of heroin in Hong Kong. His ailing health forces him into early retirement and he intends to pass the extensive underground drug business to his protégé Nick (Daniel Wu). Nick in fact is an undercover cop and he has been waiting for the chance to nab the drug lord for 7 years.

The pace of the movie is efficient and we get an inner glimpse of the drug dealing business as well as the individual characteristics of the leads. The director humanises the drug addicts, but yet condemns their actions, chastising them for having a choice but perpetually choosing the wrong one. Ultimately, the consequences are disastrous for addicts as well as the traffickers.

The acting is quite good with Daniel Wu as the smart and charismatic undercover cop who has a very kind heart, as well as Andy Lau who morphs into a daunting presence at work but becomes a loving father at home. Protégé is a very well-intentioned movie for anyone to watch. It is an entertaining movie with moral values to boost.
***1/2

Went City Hall area again to take some night photography after the movie and set up my tripod along Esplanade Drive to capture some fireworks shots for the Chinese New Year. It was a tiring shoot as i had to bend down to see through the camera viewfinder (the tripod not high enough) and shoot for a few minutes.

Some shots of fireworks using my digicam


People from Chinese Orchestra performing at Esplanade

A very tiring day as i had walked quite a lot lugging my heavy film camera, my bag and my tripod the entire day.