The second and last parts though, were a surprise. Light-hearted and openly playing on stereotypes, they showed depth where it was needed and relevant while remembering the importance of good fun. The roles were played by the right people, props especially to the girl playing "Elisabeth" (i think thats how it was spelt), the role certainly suited her well.
That was something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue.
Now something good is that i took part in the passion run this morning. While only a mere 15km, I hadn't run anything close to that distance in over 2 years. Despite that, and the admitted lack of suitable training, I managed to complete it in just under an hour forty-five minutes. Pretty good considering I thought it'd take me over two hours.
And I visited Juinwenns house. Hmm. Probably about 3 times the size of mine. Or more. haha.
Wow. This is impressive. I can feel my brain melting already.
But, nahhh..
Would have been interesting if I'd actually stayed here duing my VJ days though, the room might've been a little small, but THE VIEW. Not to mention its 20 minutes from school, 15 minutes from town, 10 minutes from paddling. Oh and did I mention the view?
As per the last time, it was red wine, parma ham, escargot (during which I was too busy eating to whip the phone out) and of course, steak. Now I like my steak medium rare, so cooking it myself is usually a bitch when I use screwy pans (its been a while. argh). Luckily, my uncle "loves his pans more than he loves his wife", as my aunt amusedly stated, so I managed to get my steak agreeably rare. Plus he has english mustard! Which IMHO is the only sauce (apart from what its cooked in) you use for good steak.
Thanks for all the way-over-my-budget meals! Happy 52nd!
Being unprepared for anything more special than a dinner, I didn't prepare a camera, so the "usefulness" of a camera phone really manifested here. Though the photos do kinda suck. = (
On another note, i returned home to this! The promotional DVD for White Lies, direct from UMG New York! I didn't order it, and neither do I remember ever having signed up for anything that might result in this. So that makes it quite that they'd send me a USD$1 DVD when the postage is like..USD$5?!?
Well. not that I'm complaining.
Plus this is my first post where i actually put a few photos up. doubt the layout will turn out well but..argh its probably better than blogger.
Excellent. There might be spoilers below, as much as I always try to maintain spoiler-free posts.
There are few films/shows that can re-use a scene more than 3 times with such success. In fact, my favourite scene was just a 3-second one, which probably encapsulated the whole breadth of the movie. Its a simple story, straightforward and idealistic, sweet and gripping. But that is what makes the best of movies. To capture the most basic of principles, the most common of all human reactions and emotions, and to package it into a story anyone around the world can understand - even if they know nothing about India, or the slums.
I've seen reviews that it is "poverty porn". Before I can protest that there aren't enough people who are so sick in the mind, that slumdog would see the success it has just for it, I realise that there Are probably enough people who Are sick bastards. But after watching it, I personally feel Slumdog Millionare is not poverty porn. You can call it a cliche rags-to-riches, love-of-my-life story, and for that reason, the view of poverty can be said as a means to an end. It does not over-glamourise the scenes of violence and begging, they are concise and are depicted as chillingly unprocessed as inhumane acts can be depicted in film.
What I must really commend is the cinematography. I fell in love in the first 10 minutes of the film, truly I did.
I suppose thats all I can gush about the it. To me, the truly best are simply too great for words or explanations, they simply grip your heart and don't let go.
The 81st Academy Awards are today. Slumdog has 10 nominations compared to Benjamin Button's 13, but I get the feeling it'll bring home more awards. I've watched both, Button impressed, but the Slumdog made my heart quiver.
The instructor was nice and we spent most of the 2 hours talking cock about his reservist, work, and other mundane yet amusing nonsense. I liked how I was driving and handling the car, I liked how I was picking up and implementing new ideas well. I liked it and I thought I'd be happy. You know, that warm glow that starts in your chest, 4 fingers above your solar plexus, and radiates that fuzzy happy warmth that only almost spreads to your shoulders. But I didnt feel it, I liked what I'd done, I'd enjoyed the lesson, but I didn't get that warm feeling.
And then I realised that I haven't been really, truly happy in a long, long while.
This is the first Hindi movie I've watched in...7 years?
It wasn't a particularly good movie, and it felt way more "mainstream" than what I remembered. Though, I suppose it still kept its Bollywood roots in the form of a somewhat epic family tragedy with love and revenge mixed in. And synchronised in-the-middle-of-speech dancing and singing.
Which brings me to the confession.
I've realised/rediscovered that I do quite like Bollywood movies, never mind that I don't understand a word they're saying (thank you, subtitles!).
=/
Haha if you might realise form this how little i'm "writing" these days. haiz
Its like I have this lack of will do do anything, I didn't even have that impulse to write something about wallaby, 8 weeks ago. Yea, thats the time LJ shows me, 8 weeks since my last post. Thats..long I think, considering my obnoxious, conceited, talkative personality...I think.
Despite how crappy I feel, the solitude at home right now seems just nice in some sick way, alone in a box for six.
I feel helpless. Its funny how I can never save myself. I can always help others when they feel shitty, or try, at the very least. I'm not a saint, I wish I could feel better. I wish I could be happier. But wishes are just wishes.
This feeling is familiar though. Its like...that time when Uncle Arun passed away and I never got to say goodbye, or see him once more.
I wrote about it once, a long time ago...
But nobody has died. Or maybe somewhere in me, that hole found itself and swallowed me.
what the fuck am I writing anyway.
That seemed to disappear as no news came, not up till 2 months past when zongda told me it'd come. Then there was the initial rejection, which later became a big maybe. While I'm choice 2, choice 1 has a big stumbling block in that his condition is a slipped disk, and on top of that he had transfered base as he claimed the long travel time caused his back to hurt. So management had an issue of "so if a 17 minute bus ride gives you trouble..what about a 17 hour flight? Plus the apartment is a long drive from the base.."
Of course, being half blind does mean I do have stumbling blocks, since they might be concerned about sand and my eye. So the biggest question in my mind now is why the two of us are the first two choices, when mr choice 3:
1) drives
2) is 22 (we're 19)
3) is 'fittest' according to medical classification
Not that I'm complaining.
It would be a bummer to get rejected at this point since I've already done a whole bunch of medical tests for this already, but well, only one can go.
Though him being on the 'inside' would be having a much easier time filling the fucking US medical embassy form that I'm staring at =s
- Location:junction
- Mood:
apathetic - Music:December - Lydia
But I am bitter. I am almost angry.
Maybe its because of the fact I'm E9L9, and I just can't help that. Maybe its cause the guy who got it was, well, on the inside. Maybe its cause the requirement for going over is "mahjong".
Probably the last more than anything. The interview in general was a joke. They (well, actually it was 2 women, of which only one actually asked any questions) made a conference call to the states, with something like a 5 second delay, so there were weird interruptions and stutters from both sides. The questions they asked were simple and irrelevant to the job, life abroad, and the military. When the question
"Do you gamble?" came, i was a little confused. I said no.
"So you don't play mahjong...?" I decided to say no, since its been a while.
And the odd woman on the other side gave a silly, disappointed look, and said "Oh...ok."
Well, I'm not sure what I'm supposed to make of that. But whats done is done. Maybe PV would work.
I almost sound desperate.
- Mood:
and bitter - Music:Hearts Burst Into Fire - Bullet For My Valentine
He stood as casually as he could. Just don't pick me last, Josh. Tony and his younger brother were the captains, picking players, and it was only when his brother was captain, that Ryan could hope for a shred of dignity. Pick me already, damnit.
Soccer for the 17 year old was a painful experience. He had no ball sense, and he had little balance. Ryan had succeeded to appear like he loved the game, but his lack of talent at it meant he was always last to be chosen. He did not like that. He had pride. Only three left. Ryan bitterly hoped his brother would give him some face. "Tan, here," said his brother. "OK you take Ryan, Koks mine." Tony responded.
That didn’t really sound like I was picked last. But still…
“Why didn’t you choose me before Tan!?”
“Shut up la, you still play right, Tans better than Kok in any case, of course choose him first.”
It’s not cause I suck, its cause Kok sucks. I knew it.
----------------------------------------
At school, life was spent between classes and outings, where he’d awkwardly try to fit in. It wasn’t so much that he was weird, it was just the damnable lack of personality that he had. I have stories to tell..If they listen. But whenever he tried they never met him with much more than a patronizing smile that scathes him into silence and stuttering.
Someone said something about bush. I’ve got something. Something about his brain..what was it.. They might actually be interested; they didn’t give me that condescending look just now. OK, I should cu-…
But the conversation had shifted to another topic, and so he slipped back into forgetfulness again. Waiting for something he could say.
----------------------------------------
Their father was a stocky man, tenacious in business and words. The widower could turn grown men into shivering lumps of putty with just a sentence and it was no wonder he was exceedingly successful in his work. He was a rich man, not filthily so, but rich nonetheless. Being a practical father, he had savings, “fortunes for a rainy day”, as he always said.
Ryan was proud of his father. He loves me a lot, even if he doesn’t say so. Guys don’t say the four-letter word.
He would tell people of how his father made money. And how his father always bought him stuff. And how his father was always there for them. He missed graduation because he had to work. Work is important. Josh’s graduation was on a Sunday, not a Saturday like mine, that’s why he could go.
Ryan loved his father.
----------------------------------------
He put the thoughts out of his mind. No point thinking about that now..
He turned the last corner before house. Damn its hot tod-
----------------------------------------
What the fuck. What the fuck?!
When he woke he was blindfolded, gagged and, given by how he couldn't move, bound in some manner. What the fuck, this is Singapore, this doesn't happen. Whats that smell, did I wet myself, why am I-
He flicked his head around in panic, and nausea overtook him.
He wet his front with acid, wait, i don't feel like i'm clothed. What the hell man, this isn't happening. This isn't happening.
After wetting his front, someone spoke from his side "Its interesting how easy it is to kidnap someone, because of the disgustingly strict penalties. Unexpected, wouldn't you say?"
Kidnapped?! No way, this is Singapore, this doesn't happen. He doesn't sound local, he doesn't sound anything, I don't know. Oh my god. This is Singapore.
"Don't worry, we just want your father's money, but since he called the cops we'll kill you after he transfers the money to us.
What the hell, but it doesn't work that way. What the hell, why are the ropes so tight?! Oh my god..
"Don't be angry at him, though, we would have thrown you overboard if he obediently paid us. You see, this isn't some television show where we meet him and let you go. This isn't some show where the cops will bust us when we do a trade. Of course, most of the families called the cops. Silly trust."
Overboard?! What the fuck where am I!?
Some shouting in the background.
"Anyway, you're the last one left, your father is quite the negotiator. Calm, too. Impressive."
Light returned to Ryan as the blindfold was taken off. As his eyes refocus, he finds himself looking at a wiry middle-aged chinese man, with smile of perfect white teeth and Oh my god.
And bodies in the background, tied to the pipes along the wall like him. with red streaks down their chest. Am I sitting in blood?
Ryan puked, though he had nothing left in him. Dad won't let me die, surely he knows how to deal with these people. Surely he'd know where to find them. Surely hes made a deal with them. Surely..
"Hahaha, don't worry you'll join them soon. Oh, your father is quite the stingy man too, isn't he? Hahaha"
What?
And he smiled and walked out, closing the steel door and Ryan's light.
Dad would come, of course. Thats what he meant.
And there he is, tearing the door down. I wonder how hes lifting me so easily. I knew he'd come. He always c..
----------------------------------------
The chinese man wiped his knife clean as he walked to the deck. The last boy was interesting, he thought, smiling away, even as I popped his heart.
He made a mental note that rooms 3 and 4 ought to be cleared soon, and forgot all about the boy, in the endless corridors of the tanker.
----------------------------------------
I have no clue what that was. I'm bored, and I'm kinda stoned. Apologies for the lousy story.
- Location:Home
- Mood:
bored - Music:Kings of Leon
Profile
![[info]](http://l-stat.livejournal.com/img/userinfo.gif?v=88.8)
slipperdan- nothingness is relative
Syndicate
