Did you miss me? Did you wonder what the heck happened to me? Why there are not new reviews? Ok, ok, I do have a few new reviews and I will be posting them this weekend. The thing is I was very busy, still very busy doing ... ermmm... well actually inane stuff.
BURN BABY BURN!
For one remember my rant about my woes with RM/RMVB files? I downloaded many Singaporean series and I really wanted to burn them into DVD format so that I can watch them comfortably in my living room instead of looking at my 17 inches computer LCD monitor. Try as I had to, I did successfully converted one series, Women Of Times but realised that the subtitles are blurry and like my complaints of Real Media files, and as I suspected, the picture quality was just so-so. But since I am stingy and I can't possibly move to Singapore to watch these series, I can bear with this rather annoying blurry pictures and even more blurry subtitles which I did not need anyway. And then came Looking For Stars. It was in RM format, instead of the more advanced RMVB format. There are certain things you must realise about RM/RMVB files before you download them if you have the option to download another format of the same movie (save for the even more annoying MKV and OGM formats):
1. Do you have Nero Express or Nero whatever? That nifty programme where you can burn your media files into DVD format and create you own DVD menu? Well maybe for copyright reasons, RM, RMVB., OGM not recognised format. And for some inexplicable reasons, even converted RM files into say MPG or AVI, the picture will suddenly freeze halfway. Not just one episode, all episodes! Suffice to say, I wasted a few good DVD discs but what made me scream with frustration was why? Why so much hassle with Real Media files?
2. Ever converted Real Media files will unfortunately look a bit blurry, less good quality than the original movie encoded in avi format or ripped directly from and into DVD format (those VOB files). But the quality can upgraded a bit by converting them into avi first I realise but a lot of hassle.
3. After conversion, the audio seems to be out of sync with the picture, always except for RMVB files.
4. And yes, there's the dreaded squares that will appear sometimes.
So are you one of those crying because your Nero won't do your RM/RMVB files? Good news you can burn them to DVD format at the end of the day. Bad news is I think all of the softwares involved requires money to purchase. They're not freeware. But if you know how and where, believe me you can find the cracked version or the keygen to the following programmes which I will painfully explain in details to you. Why am I doing this? Just to show to you the hassle one has to go through to convert RM/RMVB files into a DVD format that can be watched using your DVD player.
Are you ready?
The softwares you will need
All can be searched through Google if you wish to buy them. For the other way (wink! wink!), try torrent files at the various torrent sites. Just try the name of the software and add the word Torrent when searching through Google. I found the keygen and the latest software in a bundle. Be very wary of virus and fake torrents. Read the comments of the previous downloaders to see if the torrent is genuine.
Super DVD Creator
An excellent software. You will need this to convert Real Media files to SVCD format (as in MPEG II format). If you don't have a DVD menu creator or burner, you can use this. But not advisable as you shall know in my attempt to convert RM files.
WinAviVideo Converter
Very good software. You will need it to convert MPEG II to Avi and then AVI to VOB format. Easy to use also and quite fast. But don't use this to burn your DVD files because you can't create your DVD menu.
Nero
A must have if you can find it. Why? So many things you can do but the best is of course creating your DVD menu with many effects that Super DVD Creator does not have and making your DVD files small enough to fit into say a 4.7GB DVD R disc. Sometimes you can fit 6 episodes of 1 hour shows into one single DVD discs but of course quality is compromised a bit. So it is not advisable to do that. You will need Nero to recode/burn your previously created DVD discs using Super DVD Creator.
DVD Shrink
If you don't have Nero and yet your DVD files can't fit into a 4.7 GB disc, you can use this freeware to shrink it and burn it. A very good program. If such is the case you can use Super DVD Creator to create your DVD menu first.
Codecs
You will need to download codecs which are free of course.
A great one is K-Lite Codec Pack FULL VERSION (yes, get the full version) here at
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Codec_Pack.htm
OR K-Lite Mega Codec at
http://www.free-codecs.com/download/K_Lite_Mega_Codec_Pack.htm
The point is the more codecs the better. Whichever is not suitable will be automatically deleted so no worries. When prompted whether to uninstall your RealPlayer since they have Real Alternative, please say no. You will need your RealPlayer.
Just to be safe, download also Real Alternative at http://www.free-codecs.com/download/Real_Alternative.htm just for the codecs. Somehow even when downloaded K-Lite, that damn Super DVD Creator could not recognise my RMVB files, saying no such codecs but could recognise my RM files. So have all of them for the sake of RMVB files.
I know there are other good softwares that do the same trick but you know, sorry to blow your bubbles, I tried the popular ones and only the above work 100% even if not perfectly.
RMVB/RM files to DVD discsI believe RM seems to require more steps. But because my Women Of Times seems to suffer from bad picture quality, I think I better just tell you the way to convert RM files to DVD format and you can use the same hassle laden way to convert your RMVB files. I did convert and burn RM files into DVD format and though the picture quality is lesser than the original files, but the audio was in sync and it was wide screen format.
I may update the info below since I plan to convert and burn my RMVB files into DVD friendly quality for my JTTW files. So for now ...
1. Convert your RMVB/RM files to AVI using WinAVI Video Converter and save the files to say Folder 1. You can play with the ADVANCES button where there some good features, like if you want your converted files to be wide screen or etc.
2. Then convert your folder 1 Avi files to VOB/DVD format also using WinAVI Video Converter and save the files to Folder 2. You can directly burn the AVi files using Nero because I found out somehow, for no reason whatsoever, the coversion will freeze about 60% into burning. Also the audio will be out of sync. Anyway click the ADVANCED button and ensure that you choose Constant Video Quality as Highest, target format AUTO, Audio bitrate the maximum number, do not split output file, Aspcet reatio either AUTO or maybe 16:9 but depends on your preference and do not set chaper length. Then find the movie files after conversion, usually the one with the biggest file size in Video_TS folder within Folder 2. Move that file to Folder 3, and rename it using the episode number proper.
3. Then open your Super DVD Creator. Go straight to DVD Menu Creator. Depending on how many files you wish to put into one disc, open those files in Folder 3. Usually 3 episodes per DVD is enough if not your picture quality if compromised. Moreover Super DVD Creator cannot compress such files. You can try to fit more, then use DVD shrink or Nero to compress the files. Not advisable because quality will be effected. Anyway tinker around with the DVD Menu Creator. You know the DVD menu right? Anyway because this is not Nero, the menu created will not be as fancy but who cares when you can burn the bloody files? Anyway burn them to your hard disk please in Folder 4.
4. Finally see if you got NERO. If not DVD Shrink also can. But I prefer NERO. In NERO, go to Photo And Video and choose Recode DVD. Find the DVD_DISC folder or VIDEO_TS in Folder 4. Insert your empty DVD Disc, and simply click Next and choose Burn At Once since no point in prolonging your torture.
Long eh? But it works! The audio is in sync, picture quality also ok lar. Of course if the files had been encoded in AVI in the first place, you can straight burn them using NERO and the picture quality is almost always excellent, depending on how many stuff you stuff into one disc. And you can Create Chapters too.
Which is why I hate RM/RMVB format which ALL Chinese series are encoded that way. But my point is it is not un-burnable. And you want the audio to be in sync. I will try the same method on my other series that got subtitles, then I will tell you if the subtitles are clear or not.
Just Love & The Academy
I am just so happy that Just Love ended the day before yesterday. So happy that I could do this ...
THANK YOU!!!Why am I so happy? Why shouldn't I when this was such a crappy series? Again we have those self righteous feminist who actually want to be taken care of, who is afraid of commitment because father cheated on mom many times and who feels she is right ALL THE TIME. Guess who's in the lead role? Yes, her. And the husband? Not just soft spoken, no stand on anything. And the fact that everytime they argue she brings out the pre nuptial agreement or quotes some laws. Please stop that TVB. It is annoying. Not every family quarrel can be solved by quoting some laws that family member will break if he/she persists in being idiotically stubborn. Total crap.
But what would really make my day? The Academy, PLEASE END! PLEASE STOP IT! This is like a series of War And Beauty but more gossips, more back stabbing and more bitching around and all in a police academy. I will fail them all if I have a chance. Even the Ah Sirs are all semi failures. And can you believe there's a modern day Faggin in this show? Oh Oliver Twist, where art thou dear Oliver? And this series proves one point. Men and women can't be just friends because every female character that matters in this series will fall for and get her male character that matters. But interesting was that not only that I discover Sammul Chan can act, he looks better without a shirt than Ron Ng who was a bit flabby, surprisingly. Ron's acting was awful but getting more tolerable as the series is nearing its end and I suspect it is because of the fact that IT IS NEARING ITS END which makes it tolerable. Sorry to say Michael Miu was a miscast as the imposing Ah Sir. His character seems to have so much "sons of fomer lovers/friends" debt. And what is this? Mi Xue as his potential lover? I was told Mi Xue was already a star when Michael was starting out as an actor. She is probably in her 50s I think and if she is, wow, she looks great but acting a bit bland. And what is this Tavia Yeung as gorgeous girl? Don't let me talk about her profession in this series. I mean she is pretty, but that pretty? Nope. And why can't she take on the role as one of the police cadets instead of that bunch of back stabbing bimbos? That lead girl, don't know who she is was awful. AWFUL. And the worst? Jan Lau and what's that actor's name as parents to this girl. I know what if she's 18 and they started a family really early but I pity Jan Lau. No wonder she quit acting if what I heard was true. Tony Leung will be laughing because the original series on police academy, though not many great performances had at least a great storyline. This one is like please end it. Please!! Let me guess; all will graduate with flying colours. Disgusting.
Anyway have you watched ASTROS 3 Girls And A Bed? Ah something like that starring Amber Chia who went missing halfway through, Carmen Soo and that other girl. Anyway now it is 2 girls and a bed actually since Amber Chia, being way too famous to be stuck in this pointless bimbo show. Anyway just 5 min each day and you get to vote the ending of each 5 min segment via SMS. The first episode I saw and I was really hoping there would be like "Type Trio_A for the answer all 3 girls walk into the ballroom and a candelier fell onto them", "Type Trio_B for the answer all 3 girls walk into the ballroom and a food cart slam into them" and both choices will kill off all 3 girls and so the end of my daily 5 min torture. This show reinforces two things;
1. pretty skinny girls that speaks accented (as in like Hokkien accented) Cantonese are ultimately bimbos and the only reason why these so called actresses got to act in TV is because they're pretty; and more importantly
2. Malaysian public are one sordid immoral bunch because some endings were like Carmen Soo sleeping in the same tent with a friend even when she has her own, discriminating against lesbians, marrying for money, not work and just spend daddy's money all day and all night, etc etc etc.
Why? Why torture us with this crap? What 3 girls? What a bed? Why not just a bed? I think watching a 5 min clip of a bed is way better than watching these 3 girls fumble through their Cantonese and acting by simply acting dumb, cute and useless. Carmen Soo was the worst. That is not acting; that is Madonna trying to act. I saw 5 min of Swept Away and I knew what is the definition of bad actress although she was bearable in Evita.
Stick FiguresAnyway something happy for once. I found this amazing freeware where you can animate a stick figure like what I did below ... (my stick figure doing exercise, yoga and meditation)
Amazing freeware. I hope you will download it and just send me a link to your masterpiece.
>>
DOWNLOAD PIVOT STICKFIGURE ANIMATORLife in general
I am fine, I am alive and I promise new reviews this weekend. And yes I will try to keep my promise unless that RMVB files got stuck again during conversion.
I must issue this public statement to the public, as in the 2 or 3 people who comes to visit my website like once in a blue moon.
1. I want to thank
Wuchang for something he did for me and no, it wasn't something so bad that it was good but something really nice that took some effort on his part eventhough I have never met him and come to think of it he may be an alien android infiltrating the Singaporean society trying to pass off as human being. If that is the case, I decree him a human being because he answered my desperate calls for help and whilst I have yet to see the outcome of his effort, frankly sometimes it is the thought that counts. So thank you Wuchang for the effort and help.
2. I want to thank
Kidd who also did a few things that made my day although alas my JTTW Cantonese version still eludes me but she actually took the effort to find the torrent files for me. As I am sure I am now permanently banned from AsianFanatics Forum over their torrent files policy which to me does not make sense and I did rudely told them as they had rudely told me off first, I must thank Kidd for doing that something that I shall not reveal as it will incriminate her. Kidd and I have our "arguments" in the past via my posts and her comments. But you know, I realise she was being honest, I was being dumb and she actually helped me in this delicate matter which I shall not reveal. So thank you Kidd for your help.
And a quick shout out to
Pearl on her successful play. I also became almost neurotic and filled with stress as I read
her blog on her path to Theatre Stage thingy. Anyway
CONGRATULATIONS and here to many more such plays in future. Who knows? She may work with Jack Neo and the likes in future.
Which proves one point; if you're good you're good. If you're sincere, you're sincere. I totally do not deserve such goodness because I admit, sometimes I say crappy things. I am not perfect, just 1/2 point short of perfect but you know like I think it was Brandi who sang it, almost is never enough. I mourn for my 1/2 point imperfection.
Ahhhh just kidding. We are all perfect. Love yourself first and only then you can love others.
I LOVE MYSELF THEREFORE I LOVE YOU ALL!!!!! 
5 COMMENTS
Anyway, to the The Academy. I've to say, Sammul's character Wai Pak Kiu was the highlight of the series. He has become one of my favourite tv characters (near the top of the list). He's not perfect. He has his faults, but I just really really like this character. That's why I'm looking forward to The Academy 2 but at the same time also apprehensive about it. I'm afraid that the scriptwriters might butcher Wai Pak Kiu's character. Hope they won't go darken his character or made him annoying just because they don't want/need to promote Sammul anymore (Sammul's not manage by them now).
But, on Sammul's performance, I felt that his potrayal of Wai Pak Kiu was a bit inconsistant. Some of the scenes he just smiled too happily and friendlily. For a loner who liked to keep to himself like WPK, it just did not match his personality. But Sammul did very well in parts where he needed to display his emotion. He finally acquires the skill of talking with one's eyes. The most memorable 'talking eyes' scene for me was when WPK was walking alone and he suddenly heard his mother's favourite song. There was so much emotion in his eyes although other part of his face didn't change much. That was a great moment.
Looking forward to seeing ur new reviews!!
Wait till u see the most disputed exam results in tv series near the end. :D
I've seen many viewers question the exam results in the 3 forums visited.
is there any other way?
thanks