Les Misérables

  

19^th century. Revolution. Powerful musical.

I was half-hearted to watch Les Miserables for two reasons: one, I promised my best friend that I’ll be watching it with her and two, I was mentally spent by exam earlier that I don’t want to watch anything that might require my thinking faculty. But since I don’t like going home straight after school, I gave in to my classmate's pang-aaya. So we went to Trinoma and head to cinema floor right away. We were both pissed when we found that Les Miserables tickets were all sold out (like wtf? Its only 3pm). Blah. Blah. Blah. I must stop ranting here before this post turns into a rage post. Anyway, were able to secure tickets from SM (they've got it all for us, apparently) hah! :)

Okay, I knew from the beginning that Les Miserables won’t be an easy film to watch but I never thought it would require too much patience (for me anyway) to finish it. The opening scene with all the slaves working reminds me of The Prince of Egypt for some reason. Anyway, I thought it was a cute opening, really catchy. The first hour of the movie’s alright. Hugh Jackman who played Jean Valjean was a revelation (I didn’t know Wolverine could sing, hahaha!) On the other hand, Anne Hathaway’s appearances were little yet she really made an impact. Hathaway (Fantine) will surely break your heart. The scene where she had to sell her hair, two front teeth and resort to prostitution after being kicked off her job served as emo-drainage for me. Her singing of I dreamed a dream is just something I really felt. Overall, I think Anne Hathaway’s portrayal was profound. Although I’m Amanda Seyfried’s fan, her character (Cosette) didn’t appeal to me, at all.  The movie in totality is beautiful. I just don’t get why they have to sing practically every dialogue. I know its meant to be musical but I think that characters could have given more emotion on some scenes if dialogues were spoken, not sung. But hey, that’s just me. 

A Slice of Pi

A boy of many faiths. A 450-pound Bengal tiger.

A shipwreck. A lifeboat. The Pacific Ocean.

I never thought I would like love the movie since I didn’t really enjoy the novel (I didn’t even made it halfway) but since I don’t have anything better to do, I watched it anyway. Eye-popping, thought-provoking would best describe the movie, I think. Overall, it wasn’t perfect but there are couple of scenes where I found myself lost with my own thoughts. I don’t know about the “story that would make you believe in God” (snot like I need any story to believe in God) but I didn’t really find it as something religious or anything in the least, or maybe it’s just me. I’ve already told my company to tap me if he ever see sleeping (were doing LFS, hey!) but it was such a visual feast, I was up the whole time. In any case, I’ve gotta say that it is one of the best movies I’ve seen. Style and substance rolled in one, how can I possibly not love it? Hah! :)

Pi -at wit's end. :(

I have two favourite scenes in the movie. First would be when dolphins showed up and he saw a ship nearby, he shoot in hopes of being rescued but his attempts have failed. I find this scene sad and real. I thought hey, life’s really like that. There’d be times where everything’s just messed up you don’t know what to do. You’d sink into depression; you’d seek help only to realize no one could really help you but yourself. I think it tries to convey that there are things in life that we must do alone. My second favourite was when he found the floating island of trees –the temporary salvation. Feel free to judge me of over reading but I think the island symbolizes the idea of settling for something seemingly good when in reality, there’s something better (only it would be risky, of course). For someone whose gone hungry for days, it would be very tempting to just stay in the island which offers unlimited food, water and shelter. Then again, we all know what would eventually happen to him. The algae island is simply an allegory to crossroad between mere existing and living, on how one decides to spend his life.

As for ending, I don’t really know which version I like better…yet. The first story is very appealing though. Guess I’m reading the whole thing, after all.

awesomenimity

It felt like it was just yesterday when I was crazily waiting for 2012 to come, hoping and praying for a bigger and brighter year; now I’m bidding it goodbye. Ah, how time flies.

Twenty twelve has been a tough year. It was demanding, it was stressful; not a second of it was easy but it was all worth it. Troubles here and there were well paid off by kilig everywhere (hihihi) so, blah. I’ve learnt a lot and I’ve come to see life in new light. There’s just heap of good things and people that have come to my life (yays for that) that I’ve actually forgotten the things I wanted to complain about. Hoho.

Anywhooo, a new year has come. Let’s all leave whatever baggage we have in the past and start fwesh. 

Cheers to life that keeps getting sweeter and better! <3