A Moment To Remember

Too good to miss. What makes a film good? To me, everything, I believe. This Korean film, to start off with, has quite a good script though the premise is pretty much simple. The focus of the whole film is mainly their two lead characters and what is going on between them, but it is that simplicity and the subtlety in film that is hard to capture and transfer those intended feelings onto the audience which make this a special one. This definitely has that - all the combined good quality of a film worth watching. Here's a short writing about the film:-

"A Moment to Remember is the latest representative of Korea's stunningly popular tragic drama genre, and features two of the region's brightest stars. Son Yae-Jin shines as the tragically afflicted Su-Jin, and Jung Woo-Sung brings photogenic cool to the role of the supportive and loving Chol-Su."

If you want to know more, you just have to watch it yourself.

A Moment to Remember (2004)

Directed by Lee Jae-han

Starring Son Yae Jin and Jung Woo-Sung

Have You A Dance Partner?

Marriage is somewhat like dAnCiNg itself, both of you need to move to the same rhythm and tempo. It takes lots of practice and loads of energy to perfect the steps. It can even be frustrating at times. I believe, eventually, it is still a journey worth taking.

So, have you found your perfect MuSiC?

Crying Out Love In The Centre of The World

Japanese, 2004

Director: Isao Yukisada

Screenplay: Shinobu Yaguichi, Junko Yaguich

Casts: Takao Osawa, Kou Shibasaki, Masami Nagasawa, Mirai Moriyama, Tsutomo Yamazaki, Kondo Yoshisawa

Young love can be as real as it gets, at least, it rings true in this Japanese film. It has very much to do with the excellent performances by their two young lead actors. Beautifully told, in a poetic manner, breathtaking cinematography, and creative juxtaposition of present and past of events occurred in the actors' lives are some of the elements that make this film work in ways you could only understand if you watch it with your heart. Who could forget their very first love, at times, it is like a shadow that follows you wherever you go in life, no matter which stage in life you are. There is a sense of nostalgia, the stubbornness to persevere and to rise against all odds in your very first love in life which pulls you deeper into the film as it moves along for it is something that one could almost relate to. Tragic but meaningful nonetheless.

Innocent Steps

Innocent Steps (2005), Korean

Directed by Park Young-hoon

starring Park Gun-Hyung as Na Yong-sae, Moon Geun Young as Jang Chae-rin

My first time watching a korean film on a big screen. What makes the film interesting to me is the fact that the premise is based on dancing itself. Of course, Moon was great as the innocent young Chae-rin who fled from China to Korea in replace of her world class champion dancer sister due to unforeseen circumstances. Both of them move with great ease and agility in the film (must have done great deal of practices) when they dance. Moon is definitely a more convincing actor than Park in this film, nonetheless, I do believe the chemistry between the two, if I were to compare this film to the Hollywood flick Shall We Dance, featuring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez, which treads on the same theme. "When you dance, you are in love with me, even though you may not be in real life..." I wonder if this is true for all dance partners out there? Do they purely move in the same rhythm and breathe the same air of passion for dancing simply because for dancing per se or it definitely needs some real love between the two to make it all real and magnificent? Whatever it may be, I do believe that the greatest dance in life is utmost magical and exhilarating only when you are able to share it with the one you truly love.

Tanya's Amphibian

Am now listening to her album. Makes me wonder aren't most of us at times, transform ourselves into these creatures - highly adaptable and sophisticated. In this album of hers, she is referring to the game of love most urban people play, the choice to be in love, yet yearns the flexibility to be free from attachments and commitments. Maybe, most of us just want to have enough space to maneuver between familiar areas.

X-Treme

Push the limits... it was indeed that. It was by chance that we got into the show in Genting recently. They had a casts full of talented and dare-daring performers, ranging from Pole Flying Trapeze to flamenco dancers. The stunts were impressive and could make your heart jump a thousand beat faster. Everyone in the audience had to hold their breath to witness them put their lives in danger just to entertain us. It is a living for them, but to us, a show to be entertained. The thought of loosing one's life up there, to me, was difficult to comprehend. Such precision and focus one's need to make each stunt a success. Stage design, lighting effects and music was beautifully coordinated. I was particularly impressed with the dance numbers, especially the flamenco dancers. My hubby and myself walked away feeling alive after the show. I secretly told myself that I would have to take up dancing lessons when I have a chance to do so in the future!

Loving You Loving Me

Why are we here? To steal a kiss from you, of course. What makes you think that you could? It's not a matter of question of whether I could, it's just that I know you would allow me to. What arrogance! It's called confidence. Come here my darling. Hhhmmm...the wind is too strong. Who cares, now that I have you in my arms. The rain is coming in...don't say a word now...sshhh...Aarrhhh...NOOoooo...Aarrhhh...sspLASHHHH

FaLLinG In LovE...hUrTs

Stories in Dreams - continue

Life is like moving images, at times you see it, sometimes, you miss. It is always in frames, in seconds, always fragmented, yet, continuous when you look at it from a bigger perspective. Like memories, dreams are selected images of our fragmented life. We live, we die in our own dreams. Memories survive through time, yet to be drowned by our own stubbornness to hold on.

Stories in Dreams

A young woman walks into an old dilapidated building, it looks abandoned

Door shrieks open, dust floats in the moist air

She walks towards the staircase, looks up, goes up, very slowly

Certain floors upstairs give way, collapse

She avoids and strolls into another hallway

Suddenly

she sees this gollum-like creature appear, gesturing her to follow

Walks into a different portion of the mansion

opens to reveal a wider area

A man is sitting, looking at the wall, lights shine on it,

as if a picture is showing

A woman in cheongsam is standing near the wall

where the picture is moving

- Dream ends -

to be continued...

The Feeling of Flying

The rain the night before deterred us from flying at Sky Venture at Genting, but the next day was a promising one. My hubby was so excited that he could not wait to go into the training room that morning. Suit, helmet, protecting knee and elbow pads, all things checked. The only thing left to do was to go into that big and seemingly "intimidating" looking fan-ventilated enclosed flying area - to go for our first flying experience. Gosh, that two-minute of exhilarating and heart pounding flying motion was indescribable. I had such fun, was glad that Patrick actually persuaded me to try but I came back the next day with a full backache...when we came down from Genting, we had our vegetarian lunch at a nearby Chinese temple...good food. My boys really enjoyed the trip this time around. I guess it's worth more than spending some extra money after all.

Missing Puzzle

am I your missing puzzle?
I don't know
what do you think?
take this..
and your life will be complete
Will it?
Yes, trust me
I am that puzzle
you have been looking for

Full House Original Soundtrack

They say we stay in houses, but only love makes a comfy home. The idea of a home can be as concrete as what tiles you want your kitchen to have, how much light you would want to let in, or it could be as abstract as how often you leave a light on for the one you love to come back, in the middle of the night? The soundtrack to Full House, to me, would have been great if it is not for the one song I don't quite like. It seems to capture the mood of this Korean series quite well. I especially love the slow versions of the main theme song, the acoustic guitar version of it works even much better if you listen to it with ear phones, in the dead of the night, one of those nights that you could not sleep and just want to please your ears and let the melody lull you into a dreamland. Good tunes.

Come Sit Beside Me

There is an empty space at the small table
a chair pulled up nicely
tugged in comfortably
would you take a seat beside me?

From a distance I could see you
approaching as I gaze over the table
Looking the way you should look
just simply you
I put my legs up on the table and

suck in the fresh air that
smells like tulips or is it the sweet scent
of grapes that climb?

I just love the way the sun shines
to create lines of shadow that
seem to envelope me and you
As we exchange conversations
we could almost tell each other
this is simply a morning
to remember...
would you again
take a seat beside me

The next time we meet?