This was a crazy week, involving rigorous training, school stuff and a new fandom.

Let's start with the training first. Along with the other Trainee Officers (TOs) we were blocked into a theatrette and made to undergoing training on the banking sector and the derivatives it used. Derivatives aren't the kind that you see in maths, but the financial version that involves funky ways of moving money and risk around and go by the terms options and whatnot. It's pretty draining, and that's made even worse by the fact that the theatrette has comfy cushy seats. Exactly like a movie theatre, only with brighter lights.

I have NEVER been so thankful for coffee before. It wasn't that the training was boring; far from it. The trainer was quite interesting and kept us entertained with little stories here and there. But the problem was that we were sitting still for so long, and the seats were too small. I nearly nodded off myself, after exhausting the resources of doodling, singing to myself and my mp3 player.

School stuff: Let's just say that school is being a jerk again and is causing me grief and also to stick my head out. Also, never start a petition, because it is stressful on the heart, what with all the checking and double-checking and worry over whether anyone would sign. I do hope that it is useful.

Now for the most important part. Earlier this week, I went to watch Transformers at Cathay. It was a hallmark in two ways: I FINALLY got to watch a movie at the refurbished Cathay (I had been wanting to since it had reopened last year and I fell in love with the Ben's and Jerry's there) and this was the first movie that I had watched since I started work.

Getting there was quite the adventure. I had work to do, and while doing it I completely forgot to watch the time. It was only when I had 15 minutes to the meeting time that I realised I was late. I hurriedly dashed out of the office to head to Dhoby Ghaut, and actually made it in 10. My parents had been waiting for me inside the MRT station, but I had gone out to wait for them instead. Still, we found each other in the end.

The theatre is quite nice! I really like the seats: they were comfortable and the armrests were just nice. The drink holder was deep enough too. And the sound system was loud without being too loud, which matched nicely as Transformers is an action movie, and action movies are noisy.

Which reminds me. The sound of Transformers transforming? Makes me dissolve into a little puddle of squealy noises. It was a little mortifying, even though I LOVE sounds. In the same way, the entire movie was a little like that. I could see the holes in the movie, I could see the threadbare bits and the bits which they could've gone into but didn't, and yet, I was still all excited and gleeful about it. It's crazy and irrational, this happy gleeing!

The movie handled about 3 story arcs: the main character, the miliatary people in Qatar, and the people back at the Pentagon. It was nice how they all meshed together, but also tight. Things that I wanted to see more of (LIKE ROBOTS YOU CAN NEVER GET ENOUGH ROBOTS) was glossed, but that was alright. I cannot, however, forgive them entirely over the CGI. Yes, it was shiny and bright. Yes, the transformation and animation of the robots was awesome. But no, no NO fights are not supposed to be about the dust and the sound of impact! It's supposed to be about the ACTUAL FISTFIGHTS. OR GUNFIGHTS. YOU GET MY DRIFT.

(Also, I am now more ga-ga over cars than ever.) (Though my colour of choice is still bright red or black. Sorry Bumblebee.)

So anyway. Good characterisation, or at least there were enough traits to make the characters colourful and lively, almost as if they just stepped out of a cartoon or comic and were getting used to the real world. We've already talked about the story and the CGI. So tell me, what gets me into this spastic fannish glee?

The only answer I can think of is possibility. It's like the movie producers came and built us a structure, and right now the fans are clambering around putting up walls and windows and curtains and moving in their furniture. Which is pretty exciting to do as well as watch. I've never been so throughly entertained by so much new fic in such a short time. Not to mention that there's a whole multitude of backstories from the original series to get acquainted with. It's all this potential that keeps my mind (and fannish glee) buzzing along.

In short, I LOVE TRANSFORMERS more than I would like to admit.

I also would definitely go to watch a movie at Cathay again. However, the toilets on the ground floor are a bit scary. Men hover around the passageway on the way to the toilet, and some of them follow you. Luckily, I am skilled in the art of urban strategy against perverts, which is a) walk faster than they do, b) put someone (preferably male) between them and you. Works like a charm.