Reportedly, these 3 minutes and 47 seconds of the 84th OSCARS OPENING CEREMONY were not shown on TV.
It is absolutely spectacular!
CLICK HERE to watch.
Thanks to GM for sharing.
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
Showing posts with label movies. Show all posts
"Bus 44" was the first Chinese short film (11 min. long) to win an award in the history of Venice Film Festival and Sundance Film Festival. It was the first-ever Chinese short film to be selected for the Cannes Film Festival Directors' Fortnight.
Watch it AT THIS LINK.
Thanks to Mr LYK for sharing.
I am sure many of us are familiar with the cartoon character "Shrek" but how many of us are aware that the creator of that CGI character modeled Shrek after a real person named Maurice Tillet who was not only very intelligent but was a poet and writer. Maurice mastered 14 languages.
Maurice Tillet (October 23, 1903 – September 4, 1954) was a Russian-born French professional wrestler known as The French Angel. Tillet was a leading box office draw in the early 1940s and was twice recognized world heavyweight champion by the American Wrestling Association run by Paul Bowser in Boston. Tillet was born in the Ural Mountains in Russia to French parents. His mother was a teacher and his father was a railroad engineer. Tillet's father died when he was young. As a child he had a completely normal appearance and Tillet was nicknamed "The Angel" due to his angelic face.
In 1917, Tillet and his mother left Russia due to the Revolution and moved to France, where they settled in Reims. When Tillet was 17, he noticed swelling in his feet, hands, and head, and after visiting a doctor was diagnosed with acromegaly - a condition usually caused by a benign tumor on the pituitary gland, resulting in bone overgrowth and thickening.
He had wanted to become a lawyer, but his acromegaly prevented him from doing so. Tillet served in the French Navy for five years as an engineer.
Professional wrestling career
In February 1937, Tillet met Carl Pojello in Singapore. Pojello was a professional wrestler, and convinced Tillet to enter the business. Tillet and Pojello moved to Paris for training, and Tillet wrestled for two years in France and England until World War II forced them to leave for the United States in 1939.
In Boston, Massachusetts, in 1940, promoter Paul Bowser pushed Tillet, who was wrestling as The French Angel, as a main eventer, and he became a large draw in the area. As a result of his popularity, Tillet was booked as unstoppable, going undefeated for a span of 19 consecutive months. Tillet won the Boston-version of the World Heavyweight Championship in May 1940, holding it until May 1942.
In early 1942, he also held the Montreal-based world heavyweight championship. He regained the Boston-based title for a short time in 1944. As a result of his success, several Angel imitators emerged, including the Tony Angelo (Russian Angel), Super Swedish Angel, Jack Rush (Canadian Angel), Wladislaw Tulin (Polish Angel), Stan Pinto (Czech Angel), Clive Welsh (Irish Angel), Jack Falk (Golden Angel), Gil Guerrero (Black Angel), and Jean Noble (Lady Angel). Tillet actually competed against Tor Johnson billed as The Swedish Angel on several occasions.
By 1945, Tillet's health began to fail and he was no longer booked as unstoppable. In his final wrestling match, in Singapore on February 14, 1953, he lost to Bert Assirati. In 1950, Chicago sculptor Louis Linck befriended Tillet and made a series of plaster busts commemorating him for his wrestling career. One of the busts is in the Chicago’s International Museum of Surgical Science.
Tillet died on September 4, 1954, in France, from heart disease. Tillet is buried at Lithuanian National Cemetery in Justice, Illinois in (Cook County, Illinois)
According to this site, it seems that there were actually three casts, one of which ended up in Iowa (International Wrestling Museum); the second mask went to his friend, and the third one was sent to the York Barbell Museum, where it would allegedly be used as a model to design the popular cartoon character.
CLICK HERE for images of Maurice Tilbert.
CLICK HERE for a video tribute for Maurice Tilbert.
In my entire life, my favourite movie is definitely Cinema Paradiso - a 1988 Italian drama film written and directed by Giuseppe Tornatore who is certainly my favourite film producer as well! If you have yet to watch Cinema Paradiso, you can WATCH THE WHOLE MOVIE IN 13 PARTS HERE. Then, you may begin to realize what it means to live, to love, to chase your dreams and to make peace with your past.
Starring Jacques Perrin, Philippe Noiret, Leopoldo Trieste, Marco Leonardi, Agnese Nano and Salvatore Cascio, Cinema Paradiso was produced by Franco Cristaldi and Giovanna Romagnoli.
It is of particular significance to me because like Salvatore, I spent a big part of my childhood at the cinema with my parents and cousins. As a result of watching sword-fighting epics and other movies, I picked up Cantonese and Mandarin. To me, Cinema Paradiso is a nostalgic reminder of my personal experience at the cinema in the 1960's and a sentimental perspective of how one's priorities can change with age.
From the beginning to the very end, Cinema Paradiso shines because of the fantastic performances from the cast. Brimming with nostalgia, this movie is DEFINITELY a must-watch because almost every aspect from the script, to plot,, cinematography, soundtrack and all you want to see in a film is SUPERB and SUCCESSFUL!
It radiates with its own greatness and splendour with a wonderful cast namely Philippe Noirette and Brigitte Fosey in the key roles. The exquisite cinematography is of exceptional beauty and appeals to those of us who are sentimental because it is about life and of the important moments people face. Although it is in Italian (but with English sub-titles), Cinema Paradiso has romance, drama, humor, marvelous script, direction, good music and cast in the best combination for the BEST MOVIE you can ever hope to experience!
Exuding much simplicity, "Cinema Paradiso" is a film that makes its viewers cry. Personally, it is beyond criticism and is one of the best films ever made. While watching this movie, one cannot help but react personally to the depth, emotion and themes in this movie such as nostagia, sentimentality, the loss of innocence in the rite of passage and the importance of cinematography in society. Naturally, any viewer would look into his/her soul and think about his/her own life.
An endearing film, I love Cinema Paradiso because it is a timely tribute to the magical magnificence of movies - a large part of which has made many of us the creative creatures we are today - at least for me! Recreating the experience of cinema in a small Italian village, Cinema Paradiso shows us the powerful influence of the cinema over not just our lives but wider society. I have watched this film about seven times and at the final scene, I weep! No kidding. Watch it for yourself and experience that unbelievable reaction! It is not something that you can hold back because the cathartic effect hits you just when you least expect it!
For your information, Giuseppe Tornatore, an Italian film director and screenwriter, is also the director of Malena, The Legend of 1900 and a few other notable productions. The soundtrack written by Ennio Morriconeand his son Andrea (Ennio, an Italian composer and conductor, has written music for more than 500 motion pictures and television series, in a career lasting over 50 years) always gives me goosebumps and such a cathartic outburst of tears.
According to Wikipedia:
Cinema Paradiso exists in multiple versions. It was originally released in Italy at 155 minutes, but poor box office performance in its native country led to its being shortened to 123 minutes for international release; it was an instant success.
This international version won the Special Jury Prize at the 1989 Cannes Film Festival and the 1989 Best Foreign Language Film Oscar. In 2002, the director's cut 173-minute version was released (known in the U.S. as Cinema Paradiso: The New Version).
Shot in director Tornatore's hometown Bagheria, Sicily, as well as Cefalù on the Tyrrhenian Sea, and told largely in flashback of a successful film director Salvatore to his childhood years, it also tells the story of the return to his native Sicilian village for the funeral of his old friend Alfredo, who was the projectionist at the local "Cinema Paradiso". Ultimately, Alfredo serves as a wise father figure to his young friend who only wishes the best to see him succeed, even if it means breaking his heart in the process.
Seen as an example of "nostalgic postmodernism", the film intertwines sentimentality with comedy, and nostalgia with pragmaticism. It explores issues of youth, coming of age, and reflections (in adulthood) about the past. The imagery in each scene can be said to reflect Salvatore's idealised memories about his childhood. Cinema Paradiso is also a celebration of films; as a projectionist, young Salvatore (a.k.a. Totò) develops the passion for films that shapes his life path in adulthood. READ MORE HERE.
Hear Josh Groban sing the Love Theme from Cinema Paradiso AT THIS LINK.
Watch Ennio Marricone conduct an orchestra that performed the Theme from Cinema Paradiso in St Mark's square in Venice. Simply astounding!!!!
If you are game for some heavy stuff, CLICK HERE to visit Winona State University's site on Cinema Paradiso.
I love this movie and hope that you will seriously consider watching this movie. You will have no regrets and will surely recommend this to the people you love! Enjoy!
Take care and have a lovely evening!
Watching movies used to be my favourite past-time before blogging mania hit me in 2008. I have an extensive dvd library and book collection. Whilst I have returned to reading after I decided that staying away from politics and any kind of activism would keep me saner and happier, I have yet to return to watching movies. My younger boy is a more voracious reader than I am for this week itself, he has already read three books - and is finishing the third in Isabel Allende's trilogy while I am still plodding on in Siri Hustvedt's "The Blindfold".
To break the monotony of reading, I listened to some music thanks to fellow blogger Shadower and somehow, my mind wandered to Mr. Holland's Opus.
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That movie means a lot to me because it brings together my background in music, career as an educator, struggles and challenges faced and overcome not forgetting the paths that both my boys have taken in their pursuit if musical excellence.
Thanks to YouTube, you can watch the whole movie HERE.
If you only intend to watch ONE movie this year, you HAVE to watch Mr. Holland's Opus!!!
The best clips from the movie that I love are:
An American Symphony - Mr Holland's Opus This is one piece that makes me cry soooo much even though I have watched it so many times!!!!
Rowena's Theme
Someone to Watch Over Me
Play the Sunset I can really connect with this scene and all it means.
Rowena singing the Unfinished Song - The one that makes my hair stand, the one that makes me remember the first time I fell in love decades ago...
According to Wikipedia:
In 1965, Glenn Holland (Richard Dreyfuss) is a talented musician and composer who has been relatively successful in the exhausting life of a professional musical performer. However, in an attempt to enjoy more free time with his young wife, Iris (Glenne Headly), and to enable him to compose a piece of orchestral music, the 30-year-old Holland accepts a teaching position.
Unfortunately for Holland, he is soon forced to realize that his position as a music teacher makes him a marginalized figure in the faculty's hierarchy. For instance, he comes face to face with how seriously he is outranked by the high school's football coach (Jay Thomas), who ultimately becomes his best friend. Administrators either dislike him, such as assistant principal Gene Wolters (William H. Macy), or push him relentlessly, such as principal Helen Jacobs (Olympia Dukakis). It is Ms. Jacobs' scolding that helps Holland turn a corner. He entered the teaching profession with a view toward a temporary "gig," running to his car at the end of the day faster than his students could run to theirs. Reluctantly, he begins to see his students as individuals and finds ways to help them excel.
The film marks the passing decades with newsreels about Vietnam -- corresponding to the tragic combat death of one young man that Holland guided through a stint as marching-band drummer -- and the death of John Lennon in 1980. The passage of time and the mysteries of personal growth are a constant underlying theme in this film.
Holland's lack of quality time with Iris becomes problematic when their son, Cole, is diagnosed as deaf. Glenn reacts with hostility to the news that he can never teach the joys of music to his own child. Iris willingly learns American Sign Language to communicate with her son, but Glenn resists. This causes further estrangement within the family.
Through three decades, Mr. Holland is closer to students at John F. Kennedy High School than he is to his own son. At one point in the film, he is briefly tempted by the shining talent of a young female student, who invites him to leave his stressful, unsatisfying life and run off to New York.
He addresses a series of challenges created by people who are either skeptical of—or hostile towards—the idea of musical excellence within the walls of a typical middle-class American high school. He inspires many students, but never has private time for himself or his family, forever delaying the composition of his own orchestral composition. Ultimately, he reaches an age when it is too late to realistically find financial backing or ever have it performed.
In 1995, the adversaries of the Kennedy High music program win a decisive institutional victory. Holland's longtime adversary Wolters, promoted to school principal when Jacobs retires, works with the school board to eliminate music (along with the rest of the fine arts program) in the name of necessary budget cuts, thereby leading to Mr. Holland's ignominious dismissal at the age of 60. Glenn is a realist who realizes that his working life is over. He believes that his former students have mostly forgotten him.
On his final day as a teacher, the despairing Mr. Holland is led to the school auditorium, where his professional life is surprisingly redeemed. Hearing that their beloved teacher is leaving, hundreds of his pupils have secretly returned to the school to celebrate his life.
Mr. Holland's orchestral piece, never before heard in public, has been put before the musicians by his wife and son. One of his most musically challenged students, Gertrude Lang (Alicia Witt (young) /Joanna Gleason (adult)), who has become governor of the state, sits in with her clarinet. Gertrude and the other alumni ask the retiring teacher to serve as their conductor for the premiere performance of Mr. Holland's Opus ("The American Symphony"). A proud Iris and Cole look on, appreciating the affection and respect that Mr. Holland receives.
I confess I am a die-hard Richard Dreyfuss fan and by far, this movie showcases his BEST performance in his acting career!!! And I guess I am the kind who simply loves hopeful and inspirational movies. I just hope that I have been like Mr Holland to help students achieve their dreams. A touching and moving film, Mr Holland's Opus is definitely an uplifting and life-affirming winner that will surely leave you teary-eyed with lumps in your throat.
Unforgettable!!!
I wonder how many of my readers are Star Wars fans? :-) Wikipedia states that Star Wars is an American epic space opera franchise conceived by George Lucas. The first film in the franchise was originally released on May 25, 1977, by 20th Century Fox, and became a worldwide pop culture phenomenon, followed by two sequels, released at three-year intervals. Sixteen years after the release of the trilogy's final film, the first in a new prequel trilogy of films was released, again released at three-year intervals, with the final film released on May 19, 2005.
As of 2008, the overall box office revenue generated by the six Star Wars films has totalled approximately $5.51 billion, making it the third-highest-grossing film series, behind only the James Bond and Harry Potter films. (How can that be??? Star Wars is better than Bond or Potter films!!! Yea! I am a Star Wars fan alright!)
Yesterday, I put up a post called What If Facebook Existed Many Years Ago? here and also in my Facebook profile. Subsequently, one of my former students, Dr. Adrian, who resides in Perth shared the following link with me called Five Star Wars Status Updates. Please click THIS LINK to visit that hilarious post :-).
Imagine - 124,085 people like that post so you just HAVE to go to that link and enjoy the humor!!!
For the original trailer for Star Wars Episode IV 1977, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
For Star Wars bloopers from Episodes IV, V and VI, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
For the segment where Obi-Wan Kenobi and Qui-Gon Jinn fights Darth Maul, PLEASE CLICK HERE.
Have a nice day and may the Force be with you!! :-) Cheers! Next post will be a sopo post so stay tuned and swing by later. Thanks!
I never played with dolls or soft toys. NEVER. I still remember the time when my mom gave me Lulu, my Steiff teddy bear. I cringed and ran away as far as I could from that monstrosity (I still have it and have not changed my opinion of it either). So what did I play with? Guns, trucks, cars, helicopters, batons,trains and bows and arrows. Perhaps that is why Robin Hood resonates with me. I used to imagine I was Maid Marion of Sherwood Forest and that one day my Robin Hood would come riding through the night to whisk me off to wonder land...Yup - he came alright (my husband that is) but not on a horse, rather on a Yamaha bike haha!) Ok. Back to serious business. Last night, I watched Robin Hood directed by Sir Ridley Scott and starring Russell Crowe. It was released in the United Kingdom on May 12, 2010, after premiering at the 2010 Cannes Film Festival, and was released in the United States on May 14.
The film is set in late 12th century England and Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is a common archer in the Third Crusade. Following the death of Richard the Lionheart in battle, Robin and three other common soldiers, Alan A'Dale, Will Scarlett, and Little John, attempt to return to their homeland, having spent ten years fighting abroad. On their way home, they witness an ambush of the King's guard by Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong), an English Knight with French lineage and allegiance. The King of France had ordered Sir Godfrey to assassinate Richard.
Having discovered the King is already slain Sir Godfrey is chased off by the arrival of Robin and his companions. Aiming to return to England safely and richer in pocket than they left it, Robin and his men steal the armour of the slain Knights and head for the English ships on the coast under the guise of noblemen. Before leaving the scene of slaughter Robin promises a dying Knight, Sir Robert Locksley, to return a sword to the man's father in Nottingham. Heading to Nottingham to honour an oath, he meets Sir Walter (von Sydow) and his feisty daughter-in-law Marian (Blanchett), who are being squeezed out of their land by the Sheriff (Macfadyen). But there are bigger problems, as Godfrey (Strong) marauds through the country with an army of French goons, plotting to steal the country from the vain new King John (Isaac).
To me, Sir Ridley Scott's Robin Hood is realistic because he portrays him as a little less than perfect as Robon Longstride is willing to impersonate a dead knight in order to get back to a home that doesn’t mean that much to him except as a refuge from killing for the sake of killing in a senseless crusade.
I will not say any more lest I spoil the movie for you. Suffice to say Sir Ridley Scott paid remarkably meticulous attention to details and this is one film that you have to watch at the cinema.
Robin Hood is an adventure flick that will appeal to those who enjoy action and also those who enjoy a taste of history. Crowe joined the project despite being initially displeased with the script. He spent 10 months reading books about the character and his historical basis. As he had put on weight for 2008's Body of Lies, Universal considered sending an NBA trainer to Australia to coach him back into fitness. Crowe trained with a bow and arrow for four months and was able to hit a target from 45 meters. (I tried to pick up archery in my younger days. Believe me - it is a very difficult sport to master. It requires patience, strength, concentration and perseverance.)
Previously, director Sir Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe worked together in"Gladiator," which earned five Academy Awards. This time, it's still an entertaining, mostly dramatic romp that puts a face on the legend that has endured for hundreds of years.
Crowe as Robin Longstride is a man haunted not by a past, but by a past he can't remember. Crowe and Cate Blanchett (who plays Maid Marion) create some nice chemistry that smolders without being steamy. Through time, they develop an intricate, intimate relationship that's beautifully fragile and genuine.
The battle scenes are beautifully choreographed (not surprisingly, because Scott is adept at these) and the landscape is simply stunningly poignant for me. It has been 13 years since I last visited UK and the various scenery reminded me of the natural beauty of the countryside.
In this movie, it almost seems that every element is expertly crafted, from the realistic production design to the exceptional cinematography. To my delight, there is the whooshing of arrows, brutal attacks with all kinds of weapons and angry peasants (incidentally - I thought it was pretty realistic that Si Ridley Scott made them look pretty scruffy and grimy) are everywhere. I think what struck me most is the superb digital recreation of medieval which is more than impressive. The dead giveaway would be the unnatural accents of the various actors which do not jive with the region or period.
I reckon what struck me most is how the script writer Helgeland has adapted modern day issues such as financial difficulties, corrupt politicians and unjust tax burdens to bring out the pathos of a cruel regime (sound familiar, Malaysians?) Before the battles play out on a massive scale, there is the need to unite - the Barons unite under Robin Hood much the same way as how the PR component parties united under DSAI (no - I am NOT suggesting that DSAI is a modern day Robin Hood!!!). Then there is the superb assault on a beach that reminds me so much of the cliffs of Dover! The fighting scene is excellent and the set designer did a marvelous job with the design of the wooden boats and primitive oars. As always, Sir Ridley Scott does the epic battle scenes so well!
In between the action there's rather a lot of drama, from bickering in the Tower of England between the crazy new king and his longsuffering and wise mother Eleanor of Aquitaine (Atkins) to the sentimental countryside romance between Robin and Marian. Fortunately, these scenes are extremely well-played, with Blanchett delivering an especially strong performance as a woman far, far ahead of her time - a feminist- sort of character, progressive and yet feminine!
The only downside is that there isn't nearly enough of Robin's merry men, who are lively and funny. In fact, this only happened briefly after the King pronounces Robin to be an outlaw and he and Marion, together with his four buddies live with the young boys in Sherwood Forest. Yes, there are no merry men per se, but there are men of humor. There are no men in tights unlike in the other version and Sherwood Forest is only featured in the conclusion. Presumably, Sir Ridley Scott will have a lot more to work with in the sequel. It is very obvious that there will be a sequel as the story finishes right where most Robin Hood movies start.
So, if you are free - please go on a date with your loved one or take your kids with you to watch "Robin Hood". To be honest, Sir Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood might not be the noble hero of the earlier Robin Hood films, but he is a hero that modern audiences should embrace. You will not be disappointed because this movie will make you realize that this hero lives on and on....in our hearts, in celluloid and films like this! Enjoy!
The film is set in late 12th century England and Robin Longstride (Russell Crowe) is a common archer in the Third Crusade. Following the death of Richard the Lionheart in battle, Robin and three other common soldiers, Alan A'Dale, Will Scarlett, and Little John, attempt to return to their homeland, having spent ten years fighting abroad. On their way home, they witness an ambush of the King's guard by Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong), an English Knight with French lineage and allegiance. The King of France had ordered Sir Godfrey to assassinate Richard.
Having discovered the King is already slain Sir Godfrey is chased off by the arrival of Robin and his companions. Aiming to return to England safely and richer in pocket than they left it, Robin and his men steal the armour of the slain Knights and head for the English ships on the coast under the guise of noblemen. Before leaving the scene of slaughter Robin promises a dying Knight, Sir Robert Locksley, to return a sword to the man's father in Nottingham. Heading to Nottingham to honour an oath, he meets Sir Walter (von Sydow) and his feisty daughter-in-law Marian (Blanchett), who are being squeezed out of their land by the Sheriff (Macfadyen). But there are bigger problems, as Godfrey (Strong) marauds through the country with an army of French goons, plotting to steal the country from the vain new King John (Isaac).
To me, Sir Ridley Scott's Robin Hood is realistic because he portrays him as a little less than perfect as Robon Longstride is willing to impersonate a dead knight in order to get back to a home that doesn’t mean that much to him except as a refuge from killing for the sake of killing in a senseless crusade.
I will not say any more lest I spoil the movie for you. Suffice to say Sir Ridley Scott paid remarkably meticulous attention to details and this is one film that you have to watch at the cinema.
Robin Hood is an adventure flick that will appeal to those who enjoy action and also those who enjoy a taste of history. Crowe joined the project despite being initially displeased with the script. He spent 10 months reading books about the character and his historical basis. As he had put on weight for 2008's Body of Lies, Universal considered sending an NBA trainer to Australia to coach him back into fitness. Crowe trained with a bow and arrow for four months and was able to hit a target from 45 meters. (I tried to pick up archery in my younger days. Believe me - it is a very difficult sport to master. It requires patience, strength, concentration and perseverance.)
Previously, director Sir Ridley Scott and Russell Crowe worked together in"Gladiator," which earned five Academy Awards. This time, it's still an entertaining, mostly dramatic romp that puts a face on the legend that has endured for hundreds of years.
Crowe as Robin Longstride is a man haunted not by a past, but by a past he can't remember. Crowe and Cate Blanchett (who plays Maid Marion) create some nice chemistry that smolders without being steamy. Through time, they develop an intricate, intimate relationship that's beautifully fragile and genuine.
The battle scenes are beautifully choreographed (not surprisingly, because Scott is adept at these) and the landscape is simply stunningly poignant for me. It has been 13 years since I last visited UK and the various scenery reminded me of the natural beauty of the countryside.
In this movie, it almost seems that every element is expertly crafted, from the realistic production design to the exceptional cinematography. To my delight, there is the whooshing of arrows, brutal attacks with all kinds of weapons and angry peasants (incidentally - I thought it was pretty realistic that Si Ridley Scott made them look pretty scruffy and grimy) are everywhere. I think what struck me most is the superb digital recreation of medieval which is more than impressive. The dead giveaway would be the unnatural accents of the various actors which do not jive with the region or period.
I reckon what struck me most is how the script writer Helgeland has adapted modern day issues such as financial difficulties, corrupt politicians and unjust tax burdens to bring out the pathos of a cruel regime (sound familiar, Malaysians?) Before the battles play out on a massive scale, there is the need to unite - the Barons unite under Robin Hood much the same way as how the PR component parties united under DSAI (no - I am NOT suggesting that DSAI is a modern day Robin Hood!!!). Then there is the superb assault on a beach that reminds me so much of the cliffs of Dover! The fighting scene is excellent and the set designer did a marvelous job with the design of the wooden boats and primitive oars. As always, Sir Ridley Scott does the epic battle scenes so well!
In between the action there's rather a lot of drama, from bickering in the Tower of England between the crazy new king and his longsuffering and wise mother Eleanor of Aquitaine (Atkins) to the sentimental countryside romance between Robin and Marian. Fortunately, these scenes are extremely well-played, with Blanchett delivering an especially strong performance as a woman far, far ahead of her time - a feminist- sort of character, progressive and yet feminine!
The only downside is that there isn't nearly enough of Robin's merry men, who are lively and funny. In fact, this only happened briefly after the King pronounces Robin to be an outlaw and he and Marion, together with his four buddies live with the young boys in Sherwood Forest. Yes, there are no merry men per se, but there are men of humor. There are no men in tights unlike in the other version and Sherwood Forest is only featured in the conclusion. Presumably, Sir Ridley Scott will have a lot more to work with in the sequel. It is very obvious that there will be a sequel as the story finishes right where most Robin Hood movies start.
So, if you are free - please go on a date with your loved one or take your kids with you to watch "Robin Hood". To be honest, Sir Ridley Scott’s Robin Hood might not be the noble hero of the earlier Robin Hood films, but he is a hero that modern audiences should embrace. You will not be disappointed because this movie will make you realize that this hero lives on and on....in our hearts, in celluloid and films like this! Enjoy!
One of the best 'A-level' students I have ever taught in my life is Lin Kyaw who is currently doing his final semester in The One Academy. He is a straight 'A' student who could have done medicine but chose to do chemical engineering in New Zealand. He returned to Malaysia two years later to pursue a degree in art instead because of his gifting and heart in that field.
Some of you might have guessed by now that I was a tough cookie in my classes and demanded for nothing but the best from my students. Most complied and I was truly blessed by my former students, in fact spoiled for life. I do not think the current batch of students today would be able to stand the heat I used to give my former students. That is one of the reasons why I do not want to lecture again - the idealist in me who would rather retire and reminisce over the wonderful memories than cry at the deplorable standards that are so obvious at different levels of education today.
I have read Lin's essays many times for the past six years because he writes with much elegance, maturity and a distinctive style of his own. This evening, it is my pleasure to feature his movie review of "Spirited Away" which he submitted in 2003 as a class assignment. Needless to say, I gave him an "A" for this exceptional piece of work for an 18 year old young man.
For your information, I am a die-hard Hayao Miyazaki fan (I have all his movies) and I love to watch anime!!! After reading his essay, I am sure you can appreciate why I always complain about how many students these days CANNOT write or think critically or analytically. Thanks, Lin, for giving me permission to post this review. I have kept his assignment in mint condition because it is truly a very brilliant piece of work!
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For those who used to be ten years old and those who will be ten years old.....
A world where gods and spirits walk among men and women is indeed a fantasy. This world is exactly where Hayao Miyazaki takes us in "Sen to Chihiro no Kamikakushi" or "Spirited Away" to non-Japanese viewers. A critically acclaimed director, Hayao Miyazaki has surprised the world with beautifully rendered tales weaved into magnificent animated worlds. His best works were "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited Away" and both received praises from movie critics and viewers alike. This particular masterpiece won many awards including the Golden Bear Award for Best Film at the 52nd Berlin International Film Festival, Best Picture in the 25th Nippon Academy Awards, Best Asian Film of the Year in the 21st Hong Kong Film Awards, Best Animated Feature Film in the 75th Annual Academy Awards and many other awards (CLICK HERE TO SEE THE LIST).
"Spirited Away" starts with a ten-year old girl, Chihiro and her parents taking a detour that leads them to a mysterious tunnel and a seemingly abandoned town instead of to their new home. Despite her pleas, Chihiro's parents unknowingly venture into the Land of Spirits. Oblivious to their current whereabouts, Chihiro's parents eat from a feast prepared for the gods and spirits and are then transformed into pigs. In order to save them, Chihiro must surrender her name and serve the greedy witch cum ruler, Yubaba.
Luckily, she finds friends and allies quickly, including a mysterious boy Haku and the kindly old man who tends the furnace. Starting as a very scared and nervous girl, Chihiro finds inner strength to rescue herself and her family. Through a series of events involving a River God, the Faceless Evil, and Haku, Chihiro (or Sen as she is now known in the spirit land) embarks on an adventure that will change her life and save her family.
In the end, Chihiro manages to win back her name, save her parents and return to modern day Japan. Even though Chihiro's parents do not know anything that happened during their stay in the mystical world, Chihiro on the other hand, had her life changed forever.
A fairy tale of epical proportions, this animated movie has a perfect setting. Modern day Japan is realistically animated while the surreal plains and backdrops give life to the land of spirits. There has not been a motion picture which has such synchronization with its setting. Hayao Miyazaki indeed has a talent for animation (unofficially earning the title of Master of Anime) and this can be seen in the breathtaking landscapes. The lush green hills placed against an azure sky evoke a feeling of serenity , while the sunken plains (after the rain) truly capture one's imagination. Almost everything in the spirit world is related to the real world. For example, the bathhouse is culturally significant in Japan and the transit train reminds us of its real life counterpart - the famous Japanese subway transit.
With regards to the voice talents used for this movie, Rumi Hiiragi is a very good choice for the role of Chihiro. From a very nervous girl at the beginning of the story, she quickly transforms into a very responsible and confident person. With her shaky and uneasy tone, she convinces us of the deep fear that ten-year old Chihiro feels when first encountering a world full of very bizarre residents. As she begins to accept the way of the spirit world, she becomes braver until at one point, moved by her concern for Haku, she embarks on a long journey into the heart of a swarm. The change in her voice that slowly takes place as the story progresses really adds realism to the movie. Besides, the character animation for emotions and movements are fluid and flawless. Not even a single twitch is overlooked (note how Chihiro clenches her toes whenever she hurts herself). The animation experts in this movie really paid careful attention to such details.
Those who merely labelled "Spirited Away" as a 'cartoon' have failed to see its good qualities which put real life movies to shame with its excellence. There are abundant hidden messages and values behind this beautiful story. The boy named Haku, who sacrificed his identity to the witch Yubaba in order to learn black magic, found himself enslaved to her as he now lives by the name she has given him. He can only be freed from the witch's clutches when he recovers his old name. Perhaps this is an allusion to the teen craze of sacrificing one's identity just to follow trends set by celebrities thereby indirectly teaching us the importance of being ourselves.
Another message is about friendship - that true friendship cannot be bought or demanded. From the time Chihiro meets the Faceless Evil, he keeps following her, seeking her friendship and even tries to buy the companionship of the bathhouse employees by offering them gold but unfortunately, they were interested in the gold and not him. He offers Chihiro gold as well but she declines and befriends him in the end without the need of financial motivation. Even the issue of pollution is highlighted in this movie when the bathhouse employees pull out all kinds of rubbish from the River God.
Hayao Miyazaki's works has the tendency to deviate from mainstream plots. As demonstrated in his latest animations "Princess Mononoke" and "Spirited "Away", his stories do not have a good guy-bad guy theme. In the former, it was a fight for survival between man and nature and both were as wrong and as right as the other.
"Spirited Away' is more like a visually and emotionally astounding narration of how a weak child grows to be independent. There is neither a megalomaniac hell-bent on world domination nor a knight in shining armour defending thousands of innocent lives. The closest to an antagonist is the witch Yubaba but the only bad thing about her is her fanatical desire to gain riches and to be frank. Every character you meet in "Spirited Away" is an example of characters whom we will or have met in life - from Yubaba to the lonely, attention-craving Faceless Evil and Ling the ignorant but well-meaning friend.
Of notable mention is the composer of the soundtrack - Joe Hisashi. From the romantic slow beat of the opening theme, "Ano Natsu He" (One Summer's Day) to the more inspiring tune of "Futatabi" (Reprisal), Joe Hisashi has blessed the already visually rich animation with a superb musical score. I was truly touched by how well the music synchronizes with the scenery to breathe a truly fantastic atmosphere. In fact, those were the two factors that influenced me to watch the movie again.
On a more personal note, I believe that "Spirited Away" has been underestimated because Miyazaki chose to deliver his excellent story line in pen and paint. Due to parochial and prejudiced perspectives, many have disregarded this movie without any realization of what they have missed in life. Never before has any movie of any genre touched me so deeply to the extent that I reviewed my thoughts and renewed my perspective to life. If you chose not to watch this movie, you cannot imagine the magnitude of your error. Take my word - get yourself a copy of the movie, sit down and watch it with an open heart and I assure you that your time will be well spent. Too often, we judge a book by its cover until we cannot assess our loss. I implore you now - do not allow yourself to repeat this old and foolish mistake. Watch "Spirited Away" and you will really be spirited away....
*written by Lin Kyaw
*edited by masterwordsmith
*graphics selected by mws and taken from photobucket
Other essays by my former students featured in this blog include:
The American Beauty by Melissa Kuo
Woofy in my Heart by Lim Zhi-Xuan (7 years old)
My Grandfather by Eugene Huang (aged 16 years)
My son's story - Blakely's Journey to Noblicle
The Analogy Technique in Writing by Hobart Lim(18 years old)
Have a lovely evening, dear reader!
I cannot believe that I watched four movies today. Yea - madness I know. My son's exams ended last week and we had been waiting for this weekend when we could sit down together to be enthralled by the dvds which we had put aside for ages.
We started off with Hotel for Dogs, a recent release directed by Thor Freudenthal. This movie is based on Lois Duncan’s children’s book HOTEL FOR DOGS. Sixteen-year old Andi (Emma Roberts) and her younger brother, Bruce (Jake T. Austin), are orphans living with their foster parents (Lisa Kudrow and Kevin Dillon), two washed-up musicians.
Desperate to keep what’s left of their family together, Andi and Bruce have secretly been caring for their family dog, Friday, on the sly for the last few years. One evening, they follow their beloved pet into an abandoned hotel and find stray dogs living there, so the two brave siblings decide to round up all the strays in the city and expand their family. With the help of Dave (Johnny Simmons) and Heather (Kyla Pratt), two teens who work at the local pet store, they transform the abandoned hotel into a canine wonderland, using young Bruce’s skills as an inventor to make an automated feeding system, doggie restrooms, and some fun amusements, such as a car-ride simulation and a fetching machine. If ever anyone discovered this hideout, all the residents of the hotel will be taken to the pound, and it’s up to Andi and Bruce to save their new family.
Believe me - I was overcome with emotion at the end when I realized the secret message of this movie. These two siblings were rejected by one potential set of foster parents after another but they did not let rejection rob them of their capacity to love and their desire to create their own family with dogs. In their own way, when they had no family, they created their own haven with the doggies. This heartwarming tale reinforces the importance of family and the idea that families can come in many shapes and sizes. Although the inventions/gadgets are pretty far-fetched, it’s still loads of fun to see the gadgets and gizmos that Bruce creates to keep the dogs fed, in shape, and content. Roberts and Austin have the right bond on-screen as brother and sister while Kudrow and Dillon are amusing as washed-up '80s rockers. Don Cheadle also appears as the compassionate social worker assigned to Andi and Bruce’s case.
Well, if you are a doggie-lover and if you have kids who love digs - this is one movie which you must not miss.
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After a while, we went on to watch X-MEN ORIGINS: WOLVERINE. I must confess I watched this one for to reasons - I am a die-hard X-Men fan and I believe Hugh Jackman is probably one of the three most handsome men in the world today!!! :-)
Basically, the movie is the back story of the fiery and conflicted Wolverine (James Logan), whose mutant powers include killer claws that shoot from his knuckles and a regenerative ability that allows him to live seemingly forever. Initially, the movie did not appeal to me because the director took a few mild liberties from the original story but remained relatively faithful to the comic-book source material.
ORIGINS follows Logan from his first recognition of his mutant powers as a young child up through his infamous rebirth and the total memory loss that would subsequently fuel his angry quest. Wolverine’s story has enough intriguing details to allow for a grown-up psychodrama in the mold of THE DARK KNIGHT, and the actors on hand--including Danny Huston as Stryker and Liev Schreiber as Logan’s half-brother, Victor (aka Sabretooth) are really very three-dimensional characters! Unfortunately, Gavin Hood used cinematic razzle-dazzle heavy on John Woo-style action-ballet and CGI glitz to jazz up this movie. There's enough swordplay, suspense, the usual dose of romantic drama and the climatic fight scene in the film’s finale to give us the usual adrenalin rush.
Hugh Jackman with his glorious sideburns :-) is PERFECTO for the role - macho, muscular, handsome, with so much character and integrity. Yup. The director definitely capitalised on Hugh Jackman and the sum of his parts - muscle, brains, looks, stature etc make for an unobtainable whole. This movie has certainly elevated him into a fantasy figure. Just as we equate Superman with Christopher Reeves, Wolverine is Hugh Jackman personified.
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Just before dinner, we watched "Marley and Me". I did a post on the book on April 20th over at THIS LINK. As far as possible, I try to read the book first before watching the movie and of course, if I wept while reading the book, I do not have to tell you what happened to my boy and I while watching the movie.
Based on the hit memoir by John Grogan, MARLEY AND ME chronicles the relationship of John (Owen Wilson) and Jen (Jennifer Aniston) as they face the challenges of marriage and work to start a family. The star of the show is their beloved dog, Marley, who can chew through drywall, got expelled of obedience school, and never met a leg he didn't like.
Marley's antics remind me of the unexpected challenges that everyone faces in adulthood, and the film is ultimately a paean to unconditional love. While others may see Marley as the "world's worst dog," but throughout it all, he proves to be the couple's most faithful friend. MARLEY AND ME is shot in sumptuous sets that look too good to be true in typical Hallmark card style.
Although I am not a Jennifer Aniston fan, she is radiant in this role and Wilson can admittedly make me go a bit weak in my knees with his lovable comedic persona. The other stars give almost stellar performance but in the end, the movie belongs to the dogs. Warning - watch it with a packet or two of tissues. This is one film that will surely make you crack up and crying. Trust me - once you watch it, MARLEY AND ME will become your family favorite.
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At the point of doing this post, I am halfway through INKHEART. For once, I am watching a movie based on a novel of the same title whichI have not yet read. *blush* I am sitting through this movie because of my son and not because of Brendan Fraser or the storyline...
Cornelia Funke’s best-selling novel, INKHEART, comes to life in director Iain Softley’s feature-film adaptation of the same name. For 12 years, bookbinder Mo (Brendan Fraser) and his daughter, Meggie (Eliza Hope Bennett), have been traveling the world, poking around secondhand bookstores. Meggie correctly assumes that her father is looking for her mother, Resa (Sienna Guillory), who disappeared without a trace.
Meggie doesn’t know is that her dad is a Silvertongue that is to say when he reads a story aloud, the details and characters come to vivid life. But when a character comes out of a book, someone has to go back into the story.
The movie is about Mo is searching a copy of the book, titled "Inkheart," into which Resa literally disappeared. When Mo read the story aloud, unaware of his powers, she was sucked into the story, and the fantastical novel’s villainous characters were released. Now, Mo and Meggie have to keep evil Capricorn and his henchmen from realizing their diabolical plot, and send everyone back where they belong.
I have been watching 55 minutes of the movie so far and have yet to reach the end. Definitely not my cup of tea - the book and the movie but I must say many teens and kids will love the plot and the sets (largely filmed in Italy). Girls seem to like this film which is quite similar to The Never Ending Story. As such, this is a typical family movie with rich layers and familiar characters and worlds to look for here that can be enjoyed by all.
If I still have enough energy, "Milk" is next on the list - I am definitely a Sean Penn fan!! Do leave a comment, especially if you have watched any of the movies mentioned here. Am I mad? Yes, sometimes - especially after a very challenging week. Gosh - am I glad tomorrow is Sunday! Have a pleasant evening and enjoy the rest of the weekend. Good night.
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Update: I finished watching Inkheart (I would give it a C rating) and am now watching "BEDTIME STORIES", a 2008 American family-fantasy-comedy film directed by Adam Shankman that stars Adam Sandler (his first appearance in a family oriented film). Sandler's production company Happy Madison and Andrew Gunn's company Gunn Films produced the film, and is distributed byWalt Disney Pictures. At the point of writing this, I have only watched 10 minutes of this movie but from what I have seen so far, BEDTIME STORIES is an uplifting family fable that can be appreciated by parents and children alike. Well, I guess it is not a very objective view as I am an Adam Sandler fan....;)
As an anime fan :), I enjoy watching beautiful clips such as this one, apart from continuously appreciating the anime movies of Hayao Miyazaki (I have the complete collection of his movies including Grave of the Fireflies, Howl's Moving Castle,Spirited Away, Princess Mononoke, Nausica etc. and his son's Tales from Earthsea).
I am posting the following video Draw With Me, produced by Mike Inel from Philippines featuring the music of Ai Otsuka for a specific reason in relation to the madness that we can see in Perak. Think metaphorically when you watch the clip and you will begin to see the underlying meaning that I am trying to convey.
Personally, I have reached a point when I am nauseated to the core of my being and am both aghast and appalled that such a series of events has led once again to an impasse. What a crying shame that the sudden euphoria from the court judgement yesterday is more than short-lived in this game that leaves all parties crying in shame, anger and indignation. Think of those who have been hurt just because of those monsters with malevolent schemes, monsters with absolutely no conscience or respect for anything or anyone.
I can almost hear the donkeys braying "Hee-Haw Hee-Haw" (pun intended) in this see-saw of comic tragedy which has led to people moving out, moving in, moving out repeatedly in a drama played out at the Perak State Secretariat in the full presence of the FRU for all the world to see.
When I see the series of events unfolding before my eyes, I am not surprised at all that in many parts of society today, there are so many people in many segments of society who are ruthless in the way they relate to/treat people, how they are relentless in achieving their aims and how they have forgotten how to be kind, how they know not how to receive and reciprocate in kindness and love. I do not know what sort of society we have today. It is so difficult to be human and to reach out to others when the leaders themselves are setting such a bad example of how the name of the game is vendetta and intrigue. It is so easy to be swept away by this madness and to be part of this circus of monkeys with their conniving tricks - all in the name of the pursuit of their own selfish ambitions!!
I am in such a rage that tonight I am going bowling and I am going to imagine that the pins are the heads of ************************************. Grrrrrr! Sorry - that is just a cathartic outburst of madness...*sigh*
This video is about a girl and a boy who are separated by a glass wall and they try to the best of their ability to break the wall.
Each time they succeed, the wall grows and mends by itself.
In the end, the girl(who is right-handed) chops off her own left hand hand and gives it to the boy(who is left-handed). She was ready to make the sacrifice and both were hurt without ever realizing that all they had to do was to REMOVE the wall...the same way all they need to do is to DISSOLVE the state assembly...But alas, life is not so simple.
So many people have been hurt, are hurting just as the girl had to suffer..and both of them missed the chance for happiness just as the people of Perak missed the grand chance to develop because of a few unscrupulous characters bent on achieving their diabolical aims.
Please watch this clip, appreciate the beautiful artwork, music and depth of meaning....Have a nice day!
The Bear, (1988) known as L'Ours in its original release, is a feature film directed by Jean-Jacques Annaud. The screenplay by Gérard Brach was adapted from the novel The Grizzly King by James Oliver Curwood.
Set in late 19th century British Columbia, Canada, the film tells the story of an orphaned bear cub befriended and protected by an adult male grizzly as hunters pursue them through the wilds.
Though the film did not enjoy overwhelming commercial success with its North American release, it was acclaimed in France, and was nominated for and won numerous international film awards.
I have selected two of my favorite video clips from this movie to show that even bears can behave than some people who can have the audacity of dragging people from their rightful seats and robbing the people of the government that they elected. Love, tolerance and the willingness to help in time of need prevail in the animal kingdom but not in another place where some behave worse than animals.
In the first clip. we see a grizzly bear cub (Douce) who is suffering from the death of his mother from a rock slide. Soon the young cub meets a large male grizzly (Bart the Bear) and attempts to soothe a bullet wound inflicted by a pair of hunters (Jack Wallace and Tcheky Karyo). A friendship forms between the two bears.
In the second clip, the bear cub is confronted by a cougar and tries to defend himself. As the cougar nears, the cub turns to find his older friend and protector. They embrace. A very moving scene indeed.
If even animals can seek to protect their own, why can't man learn to live in harmony with each other? Are they like the cougar, ever ready to pounce on their unsuspecting prey? Food for thought.
As a little girl growing up in the 60's, my main pursuit was devouring books, classics and also comics including Batman, Superman, Spiderman, Green Lantern, X-Men, Fantastic Four, Mighty Thor, Archie comics etc. I must confess that I have a sizeable collection of comic book hero figurines that I bought for my son but sometimes, I wonder if I bought them for myself :-) to remind me of the best moments of childhood. It saddens me to see how the current generation are not aware of the wonderful heritage of comics and books as many choose to live in the world of Play Station, Nintendo games, online games or other frivolous pursuits. As a teenager, my limited pocket money was spent on vinyl discs and renting books. I do lament that to feed my insatiable need to read, I had to sell my comics and other books to the second-hand bookstore owner along Macalister Road.
When gleaning news of current events in the country, my heart is filled with dread, apprehension and much uncertainty. I can either live in blissful ignorance or to cope with my reaction by replacing those negative vibes with hope. Sometimes, I go on 'strike' by not reading the news and not surfing my usual haunts but can only abstain for a few hours. The current scenario reminds me of the people of Gotham...as such, I have rewritten my review of "The Dark Knight" which I posted last year to reflect on its relevance to the prevailing trends. Please leave a comment if you wish because I would love to hear your view...Thanks and have a nice day!
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Based on the DC Comics character Batman, "The Dark Knight" is a 2008 American superhero film co-written by Christian Nolan, Jonathan Nolan and David Goyer and directed by Christopher Nolan.
Many may not be aware of the themes and moral implications of this movie. To me, it has a meaty screenplay and yet one that is dark, disturbing, complex, amazingly nihilistic, so richly layered that I cannot imagine how a comic that became gothic transformed into a psychotic movie that is a grim portrait of our own paranoia, sense of hopelessness and selfishness. The best part is Nolan does it so subtly that it simply seers into the core of our being and consciousness and will go down in history as THE BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE OF ALL TIME!!!
As a sequel to "Batman Begins" (2005), the movie is an absolutely spectacular stunner with feverish action, dazzling effects and provocative themes because unlike all other comic-book movies, this one razor cuts through a deeper dimension of the human psyche to paint a dual picture of our human condition.
Nolan has given all of us a virtual dissertation on the nature of good and evil, as well as the thin line that sometimes separates them. Nolan makes us think about the choices that we have to make and the consequent depravity of the human condition when we succumb to obsessions.
This is seen so clearly in the moral ambiguities of the main characters namely Bruce Wayne (Christian Bale), the Joker (Heath Ledger), Harvey Dent (Aaron Eckhart), Rachel Dawes (Maggie Gyllenhaal). It sets itself apart from other movies because while exuding a sense of dread and suspense, it tugs at our nerves, moves our conscience in such a way that it both delights and disturbs us.
Believe me, "The Dark Knight" is a film steeped in tragedy, sacrifice, and heroism, and the eternal struggle at its heart will resonate through the ages. Shining in these areas, "The Dark Knight" is an artistic achievement in its own league that none can compare and if you think far and deep enough, it explores issues that are particularly relevant in today's society, when crime is up and terrorism is a constant fear. This is not just a movie about a superhero fighting a maniacal bad guy; it's about our nation's need for a hero in troubling times, as well as our frequent inability to find one who's trustworthy and incorruptible. At this point, does it not sound too close to home in the light of the events that are happening in our own country? Don't we need a hero? Some of us could be feeling very down, in the dark abyss of despair like the Gothamites and we may have already resigned ourselves to a horrible downhill journey and we could feel that whatever effort made by the unsung heroes have gone to the dumps. Honestly, I do feel like this sometimes but I push such negative thoughts aside and believe that somehow, things have to get worse before it gets better...but the question is how long are we to wonder in the desert of despair and hopelessness while witnessing how the evil plans in the plot are being dramatized by seasoned actors?
Being a dreamer, I derive much delight in imagining different possibilities such what would happen if a person decided to strap on a super-suit and save us all!!! Movies offer this opportunity for us to slip into a world of fantasy as we lose ourselves to a make-believe world where anything can happen when good triumps over evil but alas, if only life can be as simple as this.
In this vein of thought, you can imagine the ecstasy I felt when the hero and his alter-ego of "The Dark Knight" is thrust into a world where Wayne's frivolity is as despised as Batman's vigilantism. More important than this, however, is the idea that Batman is not just a guy in a suit, but a symbol and there are people in the film – most notably The Joker – who want to destroy that symbol. Don't I wish there is a 'Batman' where I live to .........*sigh*
While Batman's identity remains secret and his motives unknown to Gothamites, he represents hope in a city that has little to spare and embodies a pursuit of justice – and further, a code of behavior – that quite literally threatens these criminals' way of life. By throwing Gotham into chaos and testing the limits to which Batman holds himself, The Joker is not merely plying death and destruction but willfully destroying the philosophical foundations of organized society. Somehow, this scenario seems awfully familiar except we have no dark knight or do we?
The closest such examination another comic book-oriented film has ever attempted was the emotional through line of the Spider-Man films. Peter Parker's struggle was almost exclusively personal, whereas Wayne not only has to find a way to maintain his moral compass, but consider what the repercussions of his heroism are to both the public and the criminals themselves.
With endless surprises you never really know where the end is going or what evil and mischief the villains will create next. Then, it is all over. The sure sign of a blockbuster? After all two and a half hours of the emotional angst and exhaustion of the Dark Knight, we are left revved up with energy and adrenaline and are already hoping for the next Batman film. Sans Ledger, sadly, but you will notice, we never have to see the Joker die so perhaps... just maybe...he lives on.
As we know, Heath Ledger won a posthumous Academy Award for his role. Christian Bale also gives a brilliant performance as the character of Bruce Wayne/Batman has layers of subtlety to it. Bale's portrayal of the superhero is so grounded in reality that you almost take it for granted, especially if you are being distracted by the sinister pyrotechnics of his nemesis.
To me, I can review "The Dark Knight"in four words: BEST SUPERHERO MOVIE EVER!!.The film ends on a surprising and intriguing note - one that I never expected, but which paves the way for a third installment that promises to be just as deep, ambitious, and penetrating as this one. While I hope for a sequel, yet I hope there is none for it would not do justice to "The Dark Knight'. Tell me, how can you beat perfection? And "The Dark Knight' certainly reeks perfection all the way from start to finish! Have you watched it yet? I have watched it five times already :-). If you have not, don't miss it! In the mean time, I will have to comfort myself with the hope that one dark knight can save us all...
I miss lecturing. I really do BUT I love my free and easy lifestyle too much to ever return. Besides, if I do go back, I will lament the deplorable standard of education and thinking skills of many students today - which is why I left in the first place. I decided in 2005 that I would retire, live a simple lifestyle and remember the wonderful students that I taught than to lament the deterioration in the standards.
This morning, I missed marking assignments so much that I dug out my collection of best essays and assignments which I collected over the years. Frankly, I have been very lucky in my teaching career and taught thousands of brilliant minds, most of whom have at least a masters degree and a significant number with PhDs from ivy league universities. Many have become famous in their choice of vocation and quite a few have started at least one company. A few went on to become famous writers including Natasha Rudra who initially had a tough time adjusting to college education after being home schooled for many years- but I never doubted her writing abilities. She now writes for the Canberra Times, Inside Story. I still remember how I used to remind her to construct shorter sentences. :-) Natasha, if you are reading this - know that I think of you fondly and always believed in my heart that you would make it one day and am really proud of you - that you reached out to become what you always wanted to be, in your dad's footsteps!
Another student whom I will never forget is Melissa Kua. Needless to say, not only did she score A for my General Paper and the other A-level subjects she took in May 2001, she went on to win the Cambridge Special Award(cash award plus certificate) for displaying the highest standard of English in the A level examination amongst all the international candidates.
I always believe that the greatest reward I can obtain in teaching is the knowledge that my students have gone on to make a mark in this world and that they can write better than me. I always tell all my kids not to use me or their cohort as a benchmark but that they had to be better than all of us combined and the only way they could do that was to compete against the unknown. Indeed, I look back and am glad I had a chance to teach my former students and still miss all of them, even the cheeky ones!
This afternoon, it is my pleasure to feature Melissa's review of American Beauty which she submitted as a weekly assignment for my A-level General Paper class in 2001. She went on to an ivy league university and I have since lost touch with her. She is definitely a fantastic writer and poet.
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MOVIE REVIEW OF 'AMERICAN BEAUTY" written by Melissa Kua
"My name ...is Lester Burnham. In less than a year, I'll be dead," the protagonist of this film declares matter-of-factly. A picture-perfect American suburb appears, and from here, we are treated to Lester Burnham's self-narration of his last life in flashback. Moments later, we see Lester getting out of bed as we hear him say, as if as an afterthought, "In a way, I'm already dead."
"Look at me, jerking off in the shower. This will be the high point of my day," Lester remarks dully at the beginning of the film. As he narrates the most dismal happenings, he goes through a typical day and we begin to feel a sense of deja vu. Eventually, it strikes us - Lester Burnham is you and me. On film, he is portrayed as a nobody, but to the viewer, he is Everyman. Despite the pathetic state of his life, his lack of enthusiasm for generally everything, the average viewer feels an affinity for him. All of us can identify with some part of Lester Burnham.
Meet the low-profile but very real evil twin of the American Dream - the Ordinary American Nightmare. Lester Burnham(Kevin Spacey) is a dissatisfied husband, distant father, insignificant writer for an insignificant magazine and self-proclaimed loser. Completing his so-called life are Carolyn (Annette Bening), his materialistic, career-driven wife who sells real estate and Jane (Thora Birch), his broody, "I'm-so-alienated-my-parents-will-never-understand-me" adolescent daughter. Together, they embody the dysfunctional American family, a product of the effects of the rat race, facades and self delusion in modern society.
One day, Lester meets his daughter's absolutely luscious best friend, Angela Hayes (Mena Suvari). He starts lusting after her, painfully aware that his infatuation is hopeless. At this point, he decides to rejuvenate his life and makes changes - he quits his job, buys a new car and starts working out to impress Angela. His new way of life infuriates Carolyn and drives her into the arms of a hot-shot real estate king (peter Gallagher) whom Jane couldn't care less.
Things get more interesting when the Fitts family moves in next to the Burnhams. Jane becomes fascinated with Ricky Fitts (Wes Bentley), a weirdo who has a penchant for videotaping things, especially Jane. Ricky's dad (Chris Cooper) is a stiff, militaristic man, while his mother (Allison Janney) is an emotionally empty zombie. The interaction between the film's potpourri of deliciously strange characters eventually leads to the film's climax, which is at once harrowing and touching.
American Beauty has many things going for it - an excellent script, a superb cast and tight direction. Screenwriter Alan Ball manages to assimilate drama and comedy without causing the film to appear uneven. The dialogues of the characters are in turn amusing, thought-provoking and downright funny, delighting viewers as they realise, "Hey, I could have said that!"
The sterling performances of the actors add substantial strength to this film. Kevin Spacey fully immerses himself in his role as the loserish ordinary man stuck in a rut, so much so that he is not just able to evoke genuine sympathy from viewers, but empathy as well. Annette Bening is excellent as the miserable wife who tries to cope with the lack of depth in her life by becoming a work maniac and listening to self-help tapes. The role of Jane, the angstful reclusive teenage daughter, is saved from becoming a cliched character due to a heartfelt portrayal by Thora Birch, a relative newcomer.
Sam Mendes' superb direction elevates this film to its near-flawless heights. Infusing elements of fantasia while making us acutely aware of the sombre reality of the characters' lives, he brings across the message that we all need something, anything to dream about and hold onto. His voyeuristic take on the story enhances the beauty of this film - his use of flashbacks and fantasies add depth to the already-interesting script.
The highlights of the film are reason enough to watch it. A particularly beautiful scene to watch out for is the one of the floating plastic bag, shown by Rocky to Jane as he attempts to explain why he thinks it is the most beautiful thing he has ever captured on camera. The sight of the discarded bag buoyed by the autumn wind is plain yet ethereal and leaves a deep impression on the perceptive viewer. The fight at the dinner table between Lester and Carolyn is another noteworthy moment - the unravelling of their frustration and resentment is released in a few forceful moments with maximum impact. In another scene, the expression on Lester's face as he pumps iron in the nude is darkly hilarious.
The brilliance of this film is its ability to touch the man in the street. It showcases the average man's emotions, and in doing so, strikes a resounding chord in the heart of viewers. Disillusionment, self-deprecation, indifference, absurdity, desire, rejuvenation - a myriad of elements interlace gracefully to form a film of substance.
The effect of American Beauty is potent - the display of broken relationships, dreams that will never be and the bittersweet dose of life's realities haunt the viewer long after the film ends. Perhaps the most important thing about this film is this: it leaves each viewer with new insight, and allows one to reflect on the real value of his ideals of the perfect life.
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During the summer of 1992, I was in Barcelona just two days before the Olympics began. The streets were crowded with babes and hunks and I was just mesmerized and at a total loss as to what I should look at - the architectural wonders of Antoni Gaudi in the form of the Sagrada Familia or the beautiful women or the handsome guys with them or just to immerse myself in the cultural diversity of Spain. Barcelona was my fourth stop after Madrid, Zaragoza and Valencia and I will never forget the surreal feeling of looking at Gaudi's magnificent stone carvings and the Casa Mila. Thus when I came across the movie Vicky Cristina Barcelona, I watched it hoping to relive those magical moments in that beautiful Spanish town and I was not disappointed at all.
Vicky Cristina Barcelona is a 2008 film written and directed by Woody Allen. The film stars Javier Bardem, Penélope Cruz and Scarlett Johansson, and Rebecca Hall.
The plot centers around two American women, Vicky and Cristina, spending a summer in Barcelona, where they meet an artist who is attracted to both of them while still enamored of his mentally and emotionally unstable ex-wife María Elena. The film was shot in Avilés, Barcelona, and Oviedo, and was Allen's fourth consecutive film shot outside of the United States.
The film premiered at the 2008 Cannes Film Festival, then received a rolling worldwide general release that started in August 2008 in the USA, and continued in various countries each month until the June 2009 release in Japan. Penelope Cruz won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in this movie.
Although Vicky Cristina trips along winningly from the start to about 50% of the story, I believe its winning points include the beauty of its locations and stars - and all the gauzy romanticism of those enchanted places and reverberates with implacable melancholy and a sense of loss.
Most of you know I am a hopeless sentimental romantic and I am sure you will forgive me when I say that for all its meditations on romantic disappointments ( I cannot reveal too much), this is a slight, sunny film. Anyone in need of some superior escapism should see it straightaway. Dreamers like me might be disappointed. I wasn't. Not really. At least it addressed certain issues which many films would avoid like the plague!
Vicky Cristina constantly plays America against Europe, security against passion, the need for dependency against the desire to follow artistic and emotional whims. If this sounds programmatic, it isn’t, mostly due to the vibrant performances of the main players. In the liberated corner, Scarlett Johansson breezes by on her unique mix of charm, restlessness and sensuality. In the sensible corner, Allen seems to have channelled his own persona through a female character in Vicky, who is by turns neurotic and open, panicked and longing, trapped between her dull lawyer fiancé and a glimpse of a romantically fulfilled life — Rebecca Hall conveys it all and more.
Frankly, I believe Allen successfully projected the Spanish conquistadors in Vicky Cristina Barcelona. The sexy protagonist Bardem imbues his artist with tenderness and virility — he has enough charisma to nail the most resolute nun on a vow of chastity, let alone convince two Yank tourists to come away with him. I think I would have melted like Hall did haha! But this is Cruz’s movie. At the most opportune moment (just when I was wondering where the heck is Penelope Cruz in this movie!) Cruz as Maria Elena blows the entire film apart. She is impetuous (watch her seduce Johansson), touching and introspective, spinning from jubilant peaks to moody lows in a heartbeat and 100 per cent convincing — exactly the kind of thing that walks off with Best Supporting Actress awards.
From a literary and artistic viewpoint, I opine that the film's lack of substance doesn’t matter, because it is a lovely journey into a summer fantasy - and all of us deserve a fantasy of some sort once on a while. - at least I think so ;)!
Woody Allen gives us a city filled with beautiful women, handsome artist types, charming little sweet shops and wonderful restaurants where interesting people talk about art and love, and drink delicious wine, not forgetting the lovely romantic guitar music and the ambiance of alfresco dining. It’s the triumph of lifestyle over life with wonderful vistas and music that is so sublime and romantic!!!!
It also has a wonderful cast. Rebecca Hall moves effortlessly between gawkiness and loveliness, capturing perfectly a woman torn between realism and romance. She’s going to be one of the great British actresses. It is not easy to play a sexy artist without looking like an idiot, but Bardem, with his doleful eyes and soft voice, does it brilliantly and although he is not my type at all, I must say that there were moments in the movie when my knees went weak and not from the way he kisses but more his expressions and those EYES!!! And Cruz’s Maria goes beyond the cliché of the crazy wife; she’s a beautiful monster who is too romantic for love and too artistic for art. I am not a Penelope Cruz fan but I have to admit she gave a stellar performance here.
The weak link is Johansson. Cristina is a cold fish whose character doesn’t seem fully constructed. She’s meant to be open to life, but seems blasé and indifferent to it. Johansson has the look of her character, but never finds the voice. She was much better in other movies and somehow, her performance here pales in comparison to her previous efforts.
Ultimately, in exploring this distended romantic triangle, Allen never comes down on the side of either the dull stability of marriage or the unpredictability of the boho threesome, but his position remains clear. Vicky Cristina Barcelona is another in his persuasive arguments that love, for all the complexities and pain it throws up, is still worth chasing. And along with art, perhaps the only thing worth chasing.
The movie has a nagging question that some would not want to answer - Do you love the one in your life or are you in love with him/her? Is there a difference? What do you think, dear reader? Which is greater?
Whatever your answer, I have to say this - watch Vicky Cristina Barcelona - feast your eyes on the beautiful locales; take an ambivalent look at human relationships and enjoy great performances, especially from Cruz. If you have already watched it, please leave a comment to share your views.
In the mean time, enjoy the following trailer of Vicky Cristina Barcelona. Buenos Dias estimado lector! Viva Espana!
