GTA: Making Crime Pay
Video game developer Rockstar’s latest instalment in the ‘Grand Theft Auto’ series has gamers all revved up, writes Pavan Shamdasani. Three letters are synonymous with all that’s right and wrong in the video game world: GTA. Once a simple, low-budget crime game, the Grand Theft Auto series has evolved into a cultural phenomenon that transcends the medium. […]
Underground Ho Chi Minh City
If Paris is the city of light, Ho Chi Minh is a place of shadows. Tourists may be more familiar with its crowded centre and remnants of a debilitating war, but for locals there exists an underground world where anything is possible. Secret spaces in abandoned buildings, hidden rooftop restaurants, back-alley bars, and the endless […]
Harold & Maude (1971)
Among the many fresh-faced filmmakers who breathed new life into 1970s Hollywood – Steven Spielberg, Francis Ford Coppola, Martin Scorsese – probably none is as under-appreciated as Hal Ashby. In films such as The Last Detail, Shampoo, Coming Home and Being There, the director perfectly captured the era’s confused, carefree zeitgeist, while coaxing award-winning performances […]
Going Underground
Want to escape the music mainstream? Hong Kong’s industrial buildings hide venues hosting drum ‘n’ bass nights, experimental rock and emerging local acts. Pavan Shamdasani presents the top five. Hidden AgendaHidden Agenda was the first on the scene – and the first to face the scrutiny of government officials. Forced to close down its original […]
Hong Kong: In the Belly of the Dragon
Not only does Hong Kong keep some of the world’s most wonderfully exclusive wine-and-dine secrets, but most of its populace don’t know where they exist. Finding a bit of space in Hong Kong isn’t easy. As the most populated city in the world, you’re constantly surrounded by crowds; streets are packed with people, your office […]
A Confederacy of Dunces (1980)
The tragic tale of John Kennedy Toole is well-known in major literary circles, if not entirely commonplace to regular fiction readers. A martyr-like figure whose genius was unrecognised until years after his death, Toole took his own life after facing endless rejection of his novel, A Confederacy of Dunces. But persistence sometimes pays off, and […]
Rise and Shine
Hongkongers are waking up to the delicious aroma of artisan breads, writes Pavan Shamdasani The city’s lack of good bread is a frequent topic of conversation among Hong Kong foodies. Not even fine dining establishments can guarantee a good roll. Simply finding a decent baguette to go with your home-cooked feast can be a chore. […]
Palawan’s Private Islands
We take it for granted here in Hong Kong that the perfect tropical holiday is always just a couple hours away from the city, easily accessed through innumerable budget airlines. But nothing lasts forever, and many once-unspoilt beaches have gradually transformed into overcrowded tourist traps with little regard for preservation. Then there’s Palawan – a […]
Glengarry Glen Ross (1992)
The latest stock market catastrophe again highlighted the volatility of money. It might be the root of all evil, but everyone needs it. Unlike, say, love though, money is rarely tackled in the movies – partly because executives don’t want to depress their economy-escaping audiences and partly because, well, it’s hard for an extremely liquid […]
The Fame Game
It’s becoming a common sight in our vibrant city: a major new restaurant opens up in an expensive part of town, its 10,000-square meter size and stunning menu bringing in foodies from all across town. And above the restaurant sign is one single name: a celebrity chef endorsement.. But from established names like Pierre Gagnaire […]