Hog's Breadth Cafe and 投名状

First time went to Hog's Breadth cafe. If you ever want to order the macho nacho as a side dish, make sure you have at least 4 persons. $12 and additional $3/$4 for chicken/beef. Damn huge portion, so after +++ ... about $20 for nachos. But I must say it was good, with the beef toppings, cheese, guacomoe, salsa and cream.

The main was not that fantastic. I got the tex mex combo which was really filling, couldn't finish it. You get a piece of sirloin steak, choice of chicken or beef "popiah", some rice and salad. The steak was quite juicy though abit tough, dun like the popiah, it was a huge wrap with chicken fillings in inside. The skin was slightly sweet.

A small area provide some live music with someone belting out oldies with a guitar, but it was over powered by a group of about 10 people sitting beside the podium whom were laughing like no tomorrow. Sounds more like 苦中作乐 or they just been release from some sort of extreme unhappiness.

Anyway, probably can come back again but won't be the first choice.

投名状 comes next ....

Quite a stir before the movie was shown as 陈可辛 was known for his romantic love movies, his first foray into a war epic brought some 指指点点.

But with superstars on its cast, a certain expectation was hanging in the air.

Any movie with brothers definitely doesn't bore good relationship between them throughout. Confirm will 反目成仇, buay song, influenced by external factors, women, etc.

The battle scenes was quite good though not alot. 千军万马, 刀刀见肉, 血肉模糊, 枪林弹火. Jet li takes the lead in the movie as a general whose troops were all killed after he kena "put pigeon" by his so called ally. He faked death so as not to die, this quite contradict with his death defying heroic actions in his next few battles.

He lived to meet a woman, who was the wife of Andy Lau which will be his soon to be 结拜兄弟. He did not know at first. He met Takeshi who was narrating throughout, felt his voice was so out of place in a epic period drama. Takeshi was giving food out and getting people to join his bandits gang.

Jet Li tagged along and saved Andy and Takeshi in its raid of army ration. But it didn't last long as the army raided their camp and got everything back. Jet li then spurred them on and asked to join the Qing army. So as to believe Jet, they made a 投名状. Some bo liao pact that say you need to kill someone who showed the world you steady pom pi pi with the ones you pact with.

So they joined the Qing army. It wasn't easy at all. It was hard fight throughout as the so called 大人 was playing him along but as Jet was not average person. He captured every city as promised.

Then came 苏州 which he attacked without their permission. A year into the battle, without food and amunnitions. Jet Li went back and begged the 大人 but was rejected. Desperate, he made a pact with his 死对头 general. During his short away, Andy went into 苏州 city with ease, because the general was prepared to surrender on the count that the soldiers and people was spared. He died under Andy's sword.

This was the beginning of the buay song ...

Jet li need to kill the 4000 苏州 soldiers, they have no food for them and need to set off to attacked 南京. But Andy already agreed to spare them, he was dragged away and chained up as the soldiers was arrowed to death.

徐静蕾 was the vase between Andy and Jet Li. But her feelings for Andy probably was just gratefulness and to Jet Li, probably was 一见钟情 and somehow just fell head over heels for him.

Anyway, for a "Long zhong si ka liao" movie, she died in the movie because Takeshi "Kei Gaoi", went to kill her thinking that she was the reason why Jet wanted to kill Andy. Everyone died in the end whom are just pawns to the Qing government.

Andy, the one who died the most KT. He was tricked in going to a place believing that Jet was in trouble but was arrowed to death. And didn't know his wife gave him a big 绿帽 even at his death. Sigh ...

Jet Li was somone who was prepared to sacrifice anyone, but maybe still true to the certain extent that he will protect 老百姓, but if you are a soldier, you must prepared to die. But his ruthlessness, tactless and clueless in playing the political game was evident at the end of the movie. 7/10