A Date With Destiny

Lined up and wired, you are predestined to walk this path, or are you? Some of us believe in the notion of a bigger force seemingly guiding us along our walk of life, almost everything that have happened, going to happen have already been set, yet, there also seems to be certain areas of our lives we feel we are in control of, or are we? I belong to those who believe in both, the bigger picture and the smaller puzzles which needed to be assembled by ONESELF in order to enjoy the beauty of the whole. I may not know what's in stored for me just yet, but making a change in life can bring about a different set of results (at least, that was what my hubby told me when we decided to move, it did change our lives). I love the whole notion of the film - The Adjustment Bureau, taking on a subject matter that is so delicate and heavy, yet the director is approaching it in such a grounded and realistic manner that it made me wanting for more. One will definitely be absorbed by the incidents that are revealing themselves as we follow these two amazing characters played by Matt Damon and Emily Blunt along their quest of "changing their fate and destiny". By the way, great chemistry there I must say. It makes an engrossing love story. Which woman would not fall for a man who takes the bus every single day for the next three years hoping to meet you again?? Gosh! I would melt:) I simply love the sense of realness in the film. It successfully marries dramatic storytelling and a brilliant love element in one nicely presented film. Definitely one of my favourite philosophically inclined love stories this year, so far. I think my life is being adjusted as I write:)

Lost In Time

Lost in time, writing has become a stranger of a lost soul, a soul that drifted in the daily grind of pursuing what is necessary, but longing that much more for a glimpse of space, a space to be free to let the thoughts just flow, to just be. It was never the intention of the writer to do so, but it just naturally did, unconsciously. She tries so very the hard to regain that little of control over time, but some times, it just slips through her fragile little fingers. She was never to remember why she started writing in the first place, yet she can't seem to forget the pleasure and satisfaction that comes with it. Stressed, pressured, those intense moments are emotions that she fear not to be left alone, for now she is bestowed with that much more of responsibilities to do more, and more, each time she moves on with her life. She feels helpless, weighed down with such great expectation, yet she could not seem to release herself of such tasks. It makes her wonder if there is more to life than just what it is now? It is forever an on going quest, a burning question still left unanswered. Let there be an end to all these, let there be a purpose to it all.

Black Swan

Directed by Darren Aronofsky, starring Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis and Vincent Cassel.

The inner yearning to excel in one's own craft feeds so deeply that it hurts right down to the core of the heart and soul of an artist. The burning desire to BE the part fuels her to do whatever it takes to achieve such high quality of performance and showmanship. Such intensely psychological reflection of her and her split personality buries dark revelations of hopes, disappointments, expectations and commitments and reveals the best and worst of a human being. Is she being wrong for searching for perfection in her craft and attainment to be the impeccable White Swan, Princess Odette? Or is she being right for dwelling deeper and deeper into the dark soul of her evil character, Odille, Black Swan and eventually brings the show to the ultimate pinnacle of success? Fashionably stylised, brutally real yet intimately voyeuristic, we fall hard and fast into the magnetic and poignant life of a ballad dancer. flawlessly played by the talented Oscar winner actor, Natalie Portman. I love her in most of the roles she played, from the overly adult kid role in THE PROFESSIONAL, to an intensely free-spirited-lover in CLOSER. She exudes such grace and emotions that not many female lead is capable of, at her age. I can't help but feel helpless for Nina, we rejoice with her for getting the lead role in Swan Lake, yet my heart aches to see her fall more and more into the abyss of her own created illusion of perfection. Such powerful performance that the film left me speechless and breathless at the same time. The only time I felt such great suffocation, pain and heaviness from a film was when I watched Swedish director, Ingmar Bergman's PERSONA. It left me with such a big hole in my heart that it can't seem to heal itself after a few days. Intoxicated, intense, psychological and brave - these are some words that I could think of for such an amazing film.

The King's Speech

Long long long pauses, silence fills the air, sips through the spaces between those rambling thoughts of not worthiness of a position bestowed upon him, it must have been deafening and alarming at the same time. Sometimes, we don't really have the best in life, but things can always be changed and improved upon, as long as we have the will to do so. Watching Colin Firth playing this part is utterly empathetic and excruciatingly painful, yet, it yields the most fulfilling feeling that one can triumph over physical predicament after all. I believe the bigger obstacle that Colin's character has to overcome was never his stutter, but of meeting the expectation which was put upon him from the very beginning, of living up to that standard required of him, as a public figure. It must have been tremendously mortifying. I felt all these feelings while watching the film. Such great acting of his, and not forgetting, Geoffrey Rush! The sparring between the two was extremely amazing, such fine acting from both of them. I absolutely adore the art direction, the set design (the peeled wall in Geoffreys' clinic) and the whole look and feel of the entire film - such romantically hopeless in its colour palate, yet so warm in its element of humanity. Definitely worthy of an Oscar Best Actor Award and Best Director! I guess we all need to find our own place in this world, and in this life time ultimately, be it you are the king or just mere mortals like you and me:)

Fallen

Was working on a trailer last Sunday night, not realizing it was way pass sleeping time, but I don't like to stop when I know I can finish it in one session as it was quite short a video. Ended up having sore throat the next day...am still having it, hope to recover soon. Creative work is indeed exciting, as well as exhausting at the same time...but all is well, I love the outcome of it, and I am glad that my client feels the same way too...maybe what I need now is a nice cup of warm tea to soothe my itching throat and ease my stress of working on preparing proposals and planning for our next move in the very near future...moving place is never a fun thing for me, but moving into a new space could be something good for a change...instead of looking over the city skyline and shopping malls, will be facing the greenery's of the hills instead, a nice refreshing change, maybe?

What Women Want

Gong Li, my favourite actress, hence brought me to the cinema for this show, What Women Want, a remake of the Hollywood version played by Mel Gibson and Helen Hunt. Have not seen the Hollywood version, but watching Andy Lau and Gong Li as a couple seems a little odd, for me. Nonetheless, I was willing to give the film a try since it features one of my favourite female leads. Separately, both look stunning for the part, Andy Lau very lean and slim, Gong Li gorgeous and at her top fit form, being a women at her age, yet, both together, something seems to be missing. Not that I expect a great deal out of a romantic comedy, in terms of story and what not, but the chemistry and the relationship part has to be just right. Maybe as a film, it tries a little too hard to be funny? But having being able to read a woman's mind and thoughts is good enough to know a woman well, I wonder? What women really wants out of men or even their lives for that matter beats me, though I am a woman myself. But there are some things in life that we do know for sure what we want and don't. You will need to go the extra mile to find out if you are the opposite sex. By the way, Happy Valentine's Day.

The Eve of Lunar New Year

It's that time of the year now, my memory of Chinese New Year back in our small hometown was filled with activities like spring cleaning, putting up CNY ornaments (CNY new year cards received, paper cut-outs, ang pows, Chinese Calligraphy written by my dad, or at times me and my twin sister, hanging up lanterns), cooking and baking (flipping and folding kueh kapik in white gloves, in front of the steamy hot stove, cookies and more), visiting relatives and friends all around town and collecting ang pows. Chinese New Year has since evolved into something more subtle and less chaotic, with some of us not in town these days, family get together got a little smaller and simpler. Funny in a way, when you have more people and bigger family together, things tend to be merrier and so much more fun...I guess Chinese New Year celebration can still be fun, as long as you celebrate it with your love ones. It may not be as exciting as I remembered as a small little kid, but nonetheless, meaningful. Let's put on your best cheongsam, a bright smile on your face and go celebrate this 2011 Lunar New Year in great style and fashion. Talking about cheongsam, it will always remind me of Maggie Cheung clad in her beautifully body hugging one in my favourite film, In The Mood For Love. My old post on the film and 2046 here. Have a fabulous year of the BUNNY and may it be a prosperous one for everyone out there xoxo GONG XI FA CAI

Close My Eyes For Better Days

Out of all the anger, frustration and disappointment lately, just feel like watching a heart-warming love story on big screen (again, the foolishness of liking to be fooled and disillusioned). Why should we not live a beautiful love story in real life when you can fabricate all things pretty in an alternate world of fantasy and images, which is never close to real after all. But real love in real life is never as simple as being portrayed in the make believe world of empty promises. Why should there be expectation, why should there be commitments and responsibilities, why should there be obligations, why can't it be just doing it out of love, out of pure care and genuine concern for the other person? Why should it be told, why should it be requested, why should it be asked? Tired, exhausted, disappointed, fatigue and utterly speechless all rolled into one big balloon of questionable doubt, are all these still worth while after all these years? Who am I doing this for and why I am doing this again? Let's get onto the hot air balloon of wishful thinking and just float away, far far away, into the land of no return, away from all these meaningless expectations...away, away, away, away, away, away from it all, away from mySELF, away, just go, go, go away...that's all I need, that's all I want, that's all, that's just all. Too much? Never...

Tangled I See The Light

Such a beautiful song xoxo

Tangled in Beauty

Tangled, The Rapunzel Tale is most beloved, one of the most beautiful animation films I have seen of late, laced with enchanting music and songs, filled with amazingly mesmerizing scenes, and topped with a little whip cream of laughters! A perfect mix for a perfect family viewing. Disney does make all dreams come true...and on dreams, I have recently also discovered some really beautiful blogs to have some crushes on - Modern Day Vintage, Lace and Tea and Inspiration. All shares very similar passion, the love for all things beautiful in life. Such moments in life are truly moments worth take a break and ponder on...life can be beautiful if you want it to, REALLY..