ANT-MAN

Paul Rudd, one of my favourite comedy male actor from "The Object of My Affection" from yesteryears, played the lead Scott Lang in this new Marvel comic movie Ant-Man. He has always played a non-leading actor role and this movie should be a big break for him to be more than just a second fiddle.

The other main cast includes Michael Douglas as Dr Hank Pym, Evageline Lilly as Pym's daughter Hope Van Dyne and Corey Stoll as Darren Cross. Dr Pym, a leading scientist from S.H.I.E.L.D. resigned in 1989 from the corporation when he found out that they were replicating his shrinking technology in the form of an Ant-Man suit, which he believed would cause mayhem if it fell into the wrong hands. When Darren, a former protege of Dr Pym's, invited him to a preview of his yet to be perfected new technological product the yellow jacket in the present day, a mortified Dr Pym decided to take the next step to prevent the completion of the yellow jacket.

Pym spied on a criminal Scott for some time, tested him and decided he was the best candidate to wear his Ant-Man suit. Scott, who was recently released from prison and was trying to make ends meet so that he can provide child support to his wife in order to secure visitation rights to see his daughter, was finally convinced to help Pym for the sake of his daughter. Hope, who was dating Darren and was also spying on him for Pym, joined in to train Scott to be ready to don the shrinking suit and lead the legion of ants to fight alongside him.

The movie was light-hearted; there were many comedic moments and was action-packed enough to entertain the audience. It gave new meaning to the name Anthony or Antony. There was also mention of Tony Stark and a brief cameo of Sam Wilson or the Falcon, when the Ant-Man attempted to borrow, or steal, a device from the Avenger's headquarters.

As with all other Marvel comic movies, the audience is rewarded if they stay back until after the post-credits. In this movie, there are 2 easter egg segments where they were treated to a preview of the upcoming movies; one on the female wasp and the other on Steve Roger's Captain America and Bucky Barnes' Winter Soldier.

Scott in the Ant-Man suit

the evil Yellow Jacket

Dr Pym explaining to Scott

a bewildered Scott when he learnt his successful break-in was a setup

Hope

an injured Scott

HOUSE GARDEN

I became fascinated by the lizards living amongst my plants in recent years. I have not seen its eggs and do not know where they breed but I have only seen one of this small lizard in the past.


However, the other evening, I saw two of them side by side, seemingly feeding on ants, which is a good thing for me. I used to have a problem with ants that brought with them mealy bugs and decided to let these small lizards alone to do their job in the food chain. I highlighted the severe mealy bugs infestation problem on my Hamelia patens months ago which led me to snip off many of the branches. The problem is not completely eradicated but at least the situation is more under control now, hopefully thanks to these small lizards.


Anyway, it looks like my variegated Hamelia patens is also starting to harbour mealy bugs. Damned! I need to keep a close watch on it.

FORT CANNING PARK

It is the Arts Festival again. But I am not one who visits the festival, ever. Anyway, I was at Fort Canning Park and came across some of these eerie looking displays.

The first few photos are actually of some weird looking cows and birds. Then there were some wired ants and dancing figures, that look more like mummies, tied to trees. If someone has a weak heart, I am afraid the persons would get freaked out by these figurines when they walked around the area.

Down at the stage, they were playing Lady Gaga's 'Telephone' and there were stilt walkers and an Elvis Presley haired balloon sculptor, who posed at the camera for me.