charvey in Vietnam

Go Rocky, Go!

Just saw this great quote from Rocky in the film "Rocky Balboa."

"You, me, or nobody is gonna hit as hard as life. But it ain't about how hard ya hit. It's about how hard you can get it and keep moving forward. How much you can take and keep moving forward. That's how winning is done! Now if you know what you're worth then go out and get what you're worth. But ya gotta be willing to take the hits, and not pointing fingers saying you ain't where you wanna be because of him, or her, or anybody! Cowards do that and that ain't you! You're better than that!"

Sly, ya still got it.

Film Review: "Passport to Love"

I saw a hilarious, sweet and a little sad film last night, Passport to Love, aka Chuyện Tình Xa Xứ.  The writer and director is a Vietnamese-American named Victor Vu.  The film was in Vietnamese with English subtitles, and takes place in the present day Saigon and Southern California. 

The central characters are Khang, a spoiled playboy son of a business tycoon, and Hieu, the studious and serious devoted son.  Khang and Hieu go to SoCal to study and the experience changes both.  Khang falls in love with the sexy Viet-American policewoman when she saves his life, then books him for DUI.  His father cuts off his funding and he gets a menial job to support himself and win the policewoman's respect.  Khang is hysterical, always mugging for the camera and stealing scenes with his over-the-top shennanigans.

Meanwhile, Hieu pines for the angelic, too-perfect fiancee he left back in Saigon.  Things get complicated when he falls for the beautiful daughter of his mother's friend when he is hired to tutor her in Vietnamese.  He agonizes -- who to choose? 

The film is well done and contains several scenes that had me doubled-over in laughter.  One great one is when Hieu and Khang move into a cheap room in a bible-thumper's boarding house and the proprietor is lecturing them on the rules of the house.  Fantastic.

I highly recommend this film.  Although some characters are a bit underdeveloped, it is thought-provoking in its exploration of the romantic tangles we sometimes find ourselves in, as well as exploring some themes of maintaining ethnic identity in a new country.  Vu frames his shots artfully and it's frequently laugh-out-loud funny.  Charvey gives two thumbs up!

Hong Kong!

Last weekend I went to the Hong Kong Salsa Festival.  It was a blast!  I learned some cool new moves, gorged on McDonalds and met some excellent peeps.  Check out the pics here.

Don't Watch TV News

Until a few months ago I got my worldwide news from the Internet.  Then a few months ago I made the mistake of getting expanded cable at just about the same time the financial problems started happening.  My new access includes CNN and BBC. 

Good gravy, watching CNN for a few hours would make the happiest, most go-lucky lottery winner want to slit his wrists.  It's a pounding and unrelenting parade of doom and gloom.  These guys carelessly throw around phrases like "biggest fall since the depression" and "Iceland stands at the edge of Europe and the edge of an economic abyss."  Jeez louise, this is ridiculous.  

I still remember the 1980-82 recession when I was a kid.  Inflation hit 13.5% in 1980.  Unemployment hit 10.8% in December 1982.  The prime interest rate was over 21% in 1982.   My dad lost his job and was unemployed for a year.  That was bad recession.

Compare that situation to today, and in every way today is a lot better.  US unemployment is 7.2%, inflation is 3.8% and the prime interest rate is 3.25% as of December 2008.  I mean, come on!!!  The media loves to hype up bad news.  I can't stand 'em. 

Charvey's advice?  Turn off your TV and take a walk in the sunshine.