October 29, 2008
marc foster directing new bond movie?!
I am a bit nervous.
Posted by renh at 06:10 PM | Comments (0)
September 01, 2008
iron man
Marvel started to produce its own movies - iron man and the incredible hulk.
I like the actors for both movies. The performance was very good, especially RD in iron man. Of the two movies, I like IM better. It's well-written. The dialog was much better than TIH. The special effects were marvelous. It is also more related to the current war situation.
"Tony Stark: I never got to say goodbye to my father. There's questions I would've asked him. I would've asked him how he felt about what his company did, if he was conflicted, if he ever had doubts. Or maybe he was every inch of man we remember from the newsreels. I saw young Americans killed by the very weapons I created to defend them and protect them. And I saw that I had become part of a system that is comfortable with zero-accountability.
Press Reporter #1: Mr. Stark, what happened over there?
Tony Stark: I had my eyes opened. I came to realize that I had more to offer this world than just making things that blow up. And that is why, effective immediately, I am shutting down the weapons manufacturing division of Stark Industries."
Posted by renh at 08:20 PM | Comments (0)
July 25, 2008
about RP
I am sad to hear the news. I watch youtube a lot. But, rarely had I come upon something so inspirational.
You cannot change the cards you are dealt. Just how you play the hand.
Don't complain. Just work harder.
Luck is truly where preparation meets opportunity.
Experience is what you get when you didn't get what you wanted.
The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick walls are not there to keep us out; the brick walls are there to give us a chance to show how badly we want something. The brick walls are there to stop the people who don't want it badly enough.
"If your kids want to paint their bedrooms, as a favor to me, let 'em do it."
Posted by renh at 07:19 PM | Comments (0)
July 20, 2008
I watched TIH. It is good entertaining, but it is not the kind of film I truly enjoys or would long linger in my mind.
Fair play to those who dare to dream.
Posted by renh at 05:12 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2008
Beyond mountains there are mountains. - Haitian proverb.
... And right action is freedom
From past and future also.
For most of us, this is the aim
Never here to be realised;
Who are only undefeated
Because we have gone on trying
T.S. Eliot, " The Dry Salvages"
Posted by renh at 03:11 PM | Comments (0)
May 18, 2008
1. the diving bell and the butterfly
It's good and artsy, not overwhelmingly sentimental. I kinda like his humor and how candid he described his feeling.
2. the other boleyn girl
Based on a history fiction, it is good. I was moved to tears at the ending part. Good performance delivered by the actors. I am very interested in the Tudor era.
Posted by renh at 03:34 PM | Comments (0)
April 27, 2008
once
I just watched ONCE.
I bought the album from itune before I saw the movie. I thought the movie could be good, but never thought it could be this good, because obviously I missed that primal show time in theaters and now have to rent a DVD to watch it.
At the movie rental place I was debating among the Darjeeling limited, miss potter and Once. Now I am pretty sure that I made the right choice. The first time I heard him singing "say it to me now", I had tears in my eyes. That was the beginning of the movie. I don't know why, maybe the music is really touching. Watching the movie totally gave me a new definition of the songs from the soundtrack. There wasn't much dialog in the movie probably because the music was a perfect fit.
I like the girl better than the guy in the movie. Obviously, he is talented at what he is doing. I absolutely respect him for that. But, I just feel he is more blunt and probably a little more interpersonal skills would be helpful. The girl on the other hand is strong, kind, and positive. I kinda like the ending. I don't quite agree the movie is more about their romantic relationship, instead, I think they have a good friendship - a better understanding and mutual help/support for each other. The girl did not display her intense emotion as frequently as the guy, but this didn't mean she's not talented. Actually when I listened to the album first, her two solos were my favorites. I remember when they got the oscar reward - he was really passionate and almost neglected his partner so as not to give her a little time to say something. I was happy that John steward (or someone else) asked the girl to come back later.
Other things I really like about the movie - you fight for your dream and put your heart and soul into it, then you would get help on your way pursuing your dream: "let me show you something" and the loan manager pulled out a guitar and started to sing; the other street musicians joined the group; the studio recording guy started to record seriously; "it's f brilliant" said Da.
Posted by renh at 11:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 23, 2008
strange days on planet earth
all right, I have to say I watched it because EN is the host. But I am glad I watched the program. It's not the typical preaching environmental protection style.
Ghana's wild life population change is linked with the fishing?! It's hard to perceive at first, but I thought the data was pretty convincing. The graphs correlate with each other very well. In the end, it makes sense the more fish was available the less bush meat was in demand. The person who conducted the research was a biology PhD from Berkeley, " a doctor, but not the kind who helps people." lol
I watched "bag the bag". I am happy that I have already started to re-use the paper bags for grocery shopping. I don't think it is necessary to get new bags each time. The bags are pretty durable, and the stores actually give you back a dime or two for re-using the bags. At the beginning, it's easy for me to forget to bring the bags with me. After some time, I figured that I wouldn't forget the bags if I put them into the trunk of the car. I am happy that I can contribute a tiny bit for saving the planet. But I guess I probably would hesitate if I have to curb my appetite or daily activity. I like seafood. To conserve the natural stock of fish, we have to limit the amount of the catch, and thus the price will go up. I, the consumer, wouldn't be happy to see the retail price creeping up. Another thing I've noticed was I could hardly get halibut at the grocery store nowadays. Is it because the halibut is vanishing from the ocean or merely a seasonal variation thing? I would feel the pain for ocean conservation thing as a consumer, but I would support this, because once species are gone they are gone.
Posted by renh at 09:24 PM | Comments (0)
April 18, 2008
last lecture
I watched it on youtube. It is definitely a VOW.
Here is how to download it.
go to itunes
on the left, find the "iTunes U" section among music, movie, podcast, etc.
find carnegie mellon university
in the experience carnegie mellon section, click "spotlight: Randy Pausch"
then you can find the link to download it.
Both RP and WB's lectures are life-benefiting, but one is in a more inspirational way, while the other is in a more pragmatic way.
some thoughts after watching "really achieving childhood dreams". RP did achieve some of his dreams, and he chose a career path that allow him to do something close to his dream - imagineer. My childhood career dreams - 1) criminal justice lawyer. not the corporate lawyer, not the patent lawyer, not the type who can just make big money. It has to be about restoring democracy and justice system in the society. It's more about my father's dream. There were two magazines I grew up with - Democracy and Justice & Environmental Protection brought home by my parents. 2) a career in movie industry. not director, not actor, not photographer, but computer-generated imagery. I got this idea after I saw a series of documentaries about how the movie titanic was made and computer technology involved in it. I chose not to watch the movie, because I felt it's hard to watch the "digitalized ocean". But I did think it's cool to create a "digitalized ocean". Now looking back, I find myself drifting from my childhood dreams further and further away.
Posted by renh at 10:09 AM | Comments (1)
April 04, 2008
enchanted
I watched No Country for Old Man several days ago. I totally didn't get it. What the hell is the movie trying tell? I couldn't see the point.
Then I watched Enchanted yesterday. Actually, I felt it is the right movie for me. Why? because Robert is a divorce lawyer! When I saw the stats for divorce rate in US and China is climbing up, I thought it must be a good career. So, I mentioned this notion to several people. Their facial expressions varied - stunned, surprised, and confused. My reason is that when the couple go to a divorce lawyer, they are already done with their relationship, and you are just trying to help them to sort things out. I don't think this is an evil career to profit out of others' misery.
This is a charming Disney movie. It quite funny. It's a perfect ending that the couples swapped partners. It's just too painful to watch Robert and Giselle fell in love but couldn't express themselves. In reality, stories don't always get this kind of fairy-tale ending. I empathized with Robert at the beginning, but was happily delighted when he was changed by Giselle.
Maybe I don't have taste, but I really think no country for old man is pure rubbish.
Posted by renh at 01:40 PM | Comments (0)
March 14, 2008
I read the WB 07 letter. I laughed over some of the funny jokes. But my major impression was I knew too little about what he is talking about. Sure, I understand the reasoning and number thing. But the thinking behind these is something too deep for me to understand at the surface.
His notion about the stock market really gave me a chill. I've never thought about it in this way. Maybe this is what separates him from the others. There is no easy way out. You'll have to make honest investment in good business. And, you'll have to understand it. You may get infatuated with certain concept or "business", but you don't really know them. After I read the o6 letter, I was willing to bet on B. Somehow I decided to stay keep watching, and today I am glad I did so. This is an exact example of the situation above.
Seems that he's got some candidates lining up. I hope the board pick up someone with brain, passion, and integrity.
Posted by renh at 11:10 AM | Comments (0)
January 14, 2008
It's a strange and quiet year for the golden globe winners. I kinda miss the show.
Golden globe best foreign language film
THE DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY – FRANCE AND USA
Posted by renh at 09:39 PM | Comments (0)
December 31, 2007
the kite runner
I just put the poster of the kite runner into the empty frame.
I didn't do research before watching the film. As soon as I knew it was directed by Marc Forster, I made up my mind to see it. I still vividly remember the ending scene in Finding Neverland - Johnny Depp told teary-eyed Freddie Highmore that it's OK to let the emotions out. I was deeply moved by this film and admired Marc Forster's directing skills.
Overall, I like TKR. But it did not impress me as much as FN. I've not read the book before I saw the film. Books are usually better than movies. I don't want to go to the movie with a baggage from the book. I was happy about the ending, but for Afghanistan as a nation when will there be a way to be good again? Maybe Marc Forster wasn't good at showing the bloody cruel scenes, the impact of the soviet invasion and civil war on the country and the people was crystal clear. The part that touched me most was their visit to the orphanage. I found it hard to see those innocent helpless eyes of the orphans. But, at the same time, can you really blame the orphanage director for he's done or has not done? It's hard to be righteous and judgmental at the same time sitting at a nice theatre.
One thing lingered long in my mind is the beautiful friendship between the two kids. On the poster, two kids shoulder to shoulder were watching the kite. I consider myself lucky to have a continued childhood friendship. We've grown up quite a bit and chosen different paths. But, it is the pure precious friendship that I treasure most. One reason I didn't like Amir was that (in the movie) he wouldn't go to find Hassan's son before he heard they were blood related. For such a loyal friend as Hassan was, Amir should have shown more guts and responsibility.
Posted by renh at 10:15 PM | Comments (0)
October 21, 2007
ratatouille and elizabeth
Anton Ego: In many ways, the work of a critic is easy. We risk very little yet enjoy a position over those who offer up their work and their selves to our judgment. We thrive on negative criticism, which is fun to write and to read. But the bitter truth we critics must face is that, in the grand scheme of things, the average piece of junk is more meaningful than our criticism designating it so. But there are times when a critic truly risks something, and that is in the discovery and defense of the new. Last night, I experienced something new, an extraordinary meal from a singularly unexpected source. To say that both the meal and its maker have challenged my preconceptions is a gross understatement. They have rocked me to my core. In the past, I have made no secret of my disdain for Chef Gusteau's famous motto: Anyone can cook. But I realize that only now do I truly understand what he meant. Not everyone can become a great artist, but a great artist can come from anywhere. It is difficult to imagine more humble origins than those of the genius now cooking at Gusteau's, who is, in this critic's opinion, nothing less than the finest chef in France. I will be returning to Gusteau's soon, hungry for more.
I went to see ratatouille in briawood mall this afternoon. The ticket was only 1 dollar. But, I think it was the most well spent dollar. This is a movie that I truly enjoy. It's warm and good-humored, but nor overly cheesy. It's a well-written story, a movie with good pace. I especially loved Ego's critics in the end, that I cited it above. The movie is family friendly, which is relatively rare nowadays. cooking and movies are my favourties. Now these are put together, how can I not like it. Remy is a great inspiration. Anyone can cook. I love the message!
I recently saw Elizabeth the golden age in Michigan theatre. It's OK. I like Cate Blanchett, and she delivered a solid performance again. The costumes were stunning, which I think is historically correct. It sort of reminded me of I, Elizabeth. I wish the movie could have less romantic part and more political/military parts. Like one review on IMDB said, it tried to put every genre together in one movie. And I aslo think it score could have been toned down a little bit.
Posted by renh at 09:53 PM | Comments (0)
August 26, 2007
youtube video
Hand of Sorrow - Portrait of the Half-Blood Prince
great video,
the lyrics suits Severus Snape perfectly
The child without a name grew up to be the hand
to wach you, to shield you or kill on demand.
The choise he'd made he could not comprehend
His blood a grim secret they had to command
He's torn between his honour and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
CHORUS:
So many dreams were broken and so much was sacrified
Was it worth the ones we loved and had to leave behind?
So many years have past, who are the noble and the wise?
Will all our sins be justified?
The curse of his powers tormented his life
Obeying the crown was a sinister price
His soul was tortured by love and by pain
He surely would flee but the oath made him stay
He's torn between his honour and the true love of his life
He prayed for both but was denied
CHORUS: So many dreams etc.
Please forgive me for the sorrow, for leaving you in fear
For the dreams we had to silence, that´s all they´ll ever be
Still I´ll be the hand that serves you
Though you'll not see that it is me.
CHORUS: So many dreams etc.
Posted by renh at 06:21 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2007
Larry King live
I watched last night's Larry King live - Paris Hilton interview
"Don't serve the time; let the time serve you," Hilton said. "I have a new outlook on life."
"But I don't know. Even though I hate it, I'm glad it happened in a way because this really changed my life forever, and I feel stronger than ever."
Personally, I think she is a very shrewd business woman much to the contrast of the giggling moron image she portrayed on the simple life. Larry was a good interviewer, and I wonder how he came up with the question about "your favourite bible passage".
Posted by renh at 11:15 AM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2007
a movie to watch
with all the summer blockbuster movies and sequels especially, yet I find it hard to find a real movie to look forward to. don't get me wrong, shrek 3, ocean's thirteen, pirates 3, spiderman 3 and fantastic something are good, and the evidential support comes from the box office record. however, i am looking for something "serious and makes you think a lot", not something "lighthearted and happy ending" kind of thing.
Recently, I am thinking maybe Sicko could be the next movie to watch. Maybe. "A mighty heart" sounds decent. but i probably won't watch it in theatres.
Posted by renh at 12:49 PM | Comments (0)
May 25, 2007
finding neverland
i don't know, but for some reason i watched some video at youtube about finding neverland.
pirates of the caribbean 3 just came out. a lot of people like the pirates movies, including me. but i just cannot forget finding neverland. it's understated, but i happy to find out that it's in the top 250 imdb movies.
it's a movie about the author of peter pan and a family and the creation of peter pan. it's a very sad movie. the little boy's performance was impressive. toward the end, when he finally let the emotion out, he looked at the Jonny Depp with tears in the eyes, it's heartwrentching.
it's good to stay forever young. it's impossible, but it's feasible to keep a young mind. to be happy, positive, find new hobbies, make new friends, be creative, active, and imaginative. and the real young ones, it's equally important to enjoy the childhood, because it is a wonderful thing.
Posted by renh at 12:38 PM | Comments (0)
May 15, 2007
motherless brooklyn
i finished the book on Monday. I knew I had a meeting to prepare for the next day. I still decided to finish the book first.
the book is a thriller/suspension kind of story. It was a little slow to begin with, partly because somehow the story was watered down by the tourette's syndrom. as the story developed, the book became more intense and interesting to read. i like how the author tells the story from the perspective of Lionel, free human freakshow. the story itself is rather simple. two brothers, italian gang, japenese yakusa, two confused women, four orphans, policemen. the characters are well portrayed and have layers.
now, why did i pick the book up at the first place? it's because edward norton is going to translate the book into a movie. i like this idea. the book is good, but i can see it as a great movie. i'm a little concerned about the tourette's syndrome and how it is going to be portrayed. i hope edward does the book justice. the best scences i can picture in my mind are the beginning and the ending. the beginning part, they were driving to the hospital with minna wounded badly, while Lionel telling jokes. the ending part, the light house scence, i was kinda shocked with whole book ended. it was sad for him to figure everything out. with those dead, the LL became cleaner, everything took a turn for a new direction, so i felt good for him to go through all these emotional ordeals. what has been revealed will never be concealed back. what's done is done, there is no way to undo it. to stand up and face the truth can sometimes be very hard, at this moment, it might be easier if the person can gaze into the open ocean and breathe the salty air.
i am expecting it to be made into a movie by edward norton. i don't know how long we have to wait. thinking about it took him 7 years to put the painted veil into production is a little...
i can see this movie, if ever made, will be good for edward to play this very challenging character. one thing i think i think we all ought to learn from this actor is that he researches/studies and seeks roles/movies that he wants and actively pushes the project forward. having listened to several his interviews on youtube, i realized that he had good understanding about the movie, sometimes politics, sometimes religion, sometimes relationships. an actor with vivid vision about the movies that he was involved in, ie knowing what one is doing, is good a thing for the audience.
Posted by renh at 07:28 PM | Comments (0)
May 09, 2007
spiderman 3 just broke the opening record.
about the hulk, i think it's not bad for edward norton. because good or bad, it will increase his publicity, which might help to fund his movie projects and/or get some award. it did seem odd to me, when i first heard the news. but i guess we will have to wait and see when the movie comes out.
for some reason, people like to see the super-hero fun movie. i think most times we, the general public still like movies for pure entertainment purpose. some great movies do press us to think, but they are not necessarily blockbusters. i had the same feeling, when comparing the painted veil with the illusionist.
Posted by renh at 08:18 PM | Comments (0)
May 01, 2007
edward norton (continued)
movie list finished, reviews to be followed.
1. the painted veil
interesting movie, i wouldn't say 10 out of 10 though. the story and the message it delivered were intriguing. edward norton's accent was ok, and did look like a scientist. i wouldn't elaborate here again.
2. american history x
great movie. i like it. it makes the audience think. a lot of times, there is no absolute right or wrong. one thing can be both the reason and the consequence. "hate is bagage, life is too short to be pissed off all the time." "United by hate, divided by truth" "See reality in your eyes when hate makes you blind"
some thoughts about the justice system. derek killed two people and got three years in prison. lamont stole a TV and got 6 years. remember when derek and devina argued over the table about the race/crime statistics. when derek heard this from lamont, denial was his first response and then silence followed. ... actually, i think what would happen if he's got a "capable" lawyer.
3. fight club
I like the message the movie conveyed. mordern days, the prevalence of consumerism is ever increasing. i remember some talks with friends before. some people say to buy stuff is essential to keep them happy. I don't necessarily agree. the sad part is that this opinion is more popular with girls. just look at the market, the products targeted for female consumers generally have more varieties and higher prices. "girls" and "shopping" are two concepts often tied together. to make this happen, it must take generations of efforts to educate and influence the female consumers to establish this unhealthy consumer metality. the same logic can be applied to the narrator's type - corporate white collars. to work the job one doesn't necessarily like, to buy the stuff one doesn't necessarily need. i don't think destroy the financial district or the credit card companies is a reasonable solution. often, the problem is caused by the devil resided within a person. delusions can only be fixed when it is directly faced.
4. illusionist
it is interesting to compare the painted veil with the illusionist. both are good movies. the illusionist was a sleeper hit, a clear success at the box office. the painted veil did not do nearly as well as the illusionist. the illusionist tells a more intriguing story. but the the painted veil will hunt you long after the movie was viewed, which i think it's more like the norton movie.
5. 25th hour
of all the movies listed here, this is the only movie that made me cry inconsolable. yes, i was sympathetic for monty, the drug dealer going to prison. but, that itself wouldn't make me so emotional. the exact reason why i wasn't sure. just remember, two years ago i went back. i met my family and friends. i had a good time and also a complicated feeling. "7 years is a long time". 7 years later i may come back. but i know i won't be same person they once knew.
6. primal fear
good movie as a thriller. i liked it. one thing interesting though, edward norton was norminated for oscar twice, each time his nomination was the only one for that particular movie.
trivia: there was an interesting question in the IMDB edward norton board. "what will you do when you meet him?" there were answers: passionate, fervent, cool, reasonable, ... i thought for a while, and decided my answer would be "i am going to start my residency in the neuro-oncology branch at Johns Hopkins University".
Posted by renh at 02:18 PM | Comments (0)
April 11, 2007
edward norton
I had no idea of who is edward norton until i watched the painted veil. i became very interested in that particular movie when i saw its trailer in the theatre. I like how the story developed and enjoyed the performance by the leading actors. edward norton portayed a bacteriologist "walter" with little personal skills, ie a nerd. the movie did NOT impress me as a whole piece, maybe it is because i had known too much of it and anticipated too much of it before i went to the theatre. the stuff i read from its official site about its production lingered long in my mind. i could understand and imagine how difficult it was to make most of the movie in a remote village in mainland China. It was really couragous for them to take on this project. from the stuff i read on the web, it seemed that edward norton was the one who really pushed the project into production. i still did not know much about edward norton at that time.
"i think walter and kiti's story resonates, b/c it's a story that is timeless. it's a story about forgiveness, and, uh, two people coming to understand each other better. but on a political level, i think this film resonates or the story resonates b/c it's about clash of cultures and all the interesting things that happen when one culture is trying in an essence to shape another culture in its image." - youtube
"i think that's the challenge. the challenge is going from your romantic ideals about love into (what) realizing that nobody is going to have to work at it."
“If you’re going to make a film set in China during the period,” he begins intelligently. “I think there’s got to be a reason for doing it other than the inherent romanticism of the location. On a political level, it’s about a clash of cultures. It’s about the things that happen when one culture is trying to shape another in its image.”
then i remember i talked to pia about this film, and she asked me about the actors. she said she liked edward norton and his acting in American history X. I did not check out AHX right away. instead i only watched it about 10 days ago. the reasons could be: a, i saw part of keeping the faith on tv and did a bit research about EN, then i became interested; b, i got really bored and needed new stimuli.
AHX really impressed me. I was literally shocked after watching it. i think this movie defined what REAL movies should be like. it is a serious and kinda depressing movie without a happy ending. it tackled on a real and sensitive problems/issues - racism, affirmative action and illegal immigration. it wasn't like- preaching, atonement and harmonious happy ending. instead it is a tragedy. it is about hatred and the detrimental consequences associated with that. racism is something we cann't avoid here. people from different races have different looks, life styles, and religions, and sometimes it is hard to adjust one's mind to accept others from a different culture background.
the reason that i like EN is that he studies acting, treats it seriously, and guards his privacy. he takes on different projects rather than busy making news to feed the media. i admire his professionalism. i just watched american history x. it's a great movie. it made me think and ashamed of some of thoughts that i had before (something i saved as "future", but i'll never publish it here). i plan to watch fight club, 25th hour, illusionist, and primal fear in the future. also, almost equally important for me is that he made good and meaningful documentations. i like his interviews on youtube, however, i was somehow bothered by some of the "EN fans" comments. i guess most of those comments were posted by girls, and i just wanted to say that genuine appreciation for his art is much more important than infatuation.
You gave us a book you love, A Soldier of the Great War, by Mark Helprin. There is a quote from it: "The spark of life is not gain, nor is it luxury. The spark of life is movement, color, love, and furthermore... if you really want to enjoy life, you must work quietly and humbly and realize your delusions of grandeur." Does this apply to your life?
Yeah, um, definitely. I think it's healthy to admit exactly what is built into Helprin's quote, which is: Everybody has these dreams, everybody has these delusions of grandeur. Everyone has these aspirations and practices their Oscar speeches. Because those are your dreams. But the maturity comes in the understanding that you have to accept these feelings, embrace them, let them run through you and then put them to the side. And try to work from a more solitary place. A place that is more internal.
high line project-
"one of the most beautiful things about the whole story is that it shows you that the thing is that it ought to be and can be, if you just have the will to pursue them. I find that incredibly inspiring."
Posted by renh at 01:56 AM | Comments (2)
March 05, 2007
a good website
http://andersen.com.ua/english.html
A new student from Denmark came to the lab today. His origin reminded me of the tales of Han's Christian Andersen that I read when I was a kid. Some of his stories are so well-known, like the ugly duckling and the emperor's new suit. But, what has touched me deeply are some of his less well-known stories, like the toad, she was good for nothing and a leaf from heaven. When I first read those, I guess I was too young that I was not able to understand the meaning behind the stories. I thought they were boring. But I tried to read them again when I was in junior high or high school. I found they were such good stories, sad, but good. Today, I searched the web and got this website. It has links to a lot of the fairy tales. Maybe it is time to refresh my memory and read the english version.
I am having a hard time to finish the book, Marley and Me. It was interesting, but I am simply not motivated to read it. I was thinking about what could be the next book for me. I thought about suite francaise for a while, but could not decide. Now, since I have this website, maybe I'll do some light reading.
Posted by renh at 12:51 PM | Comments (0)
January 08, 2007
Dick and Jane
very sad story for the victims of the corporate crimes.
lessons learned: diversify the portfolio.
Posted by renh at 02:28 AM | Comments (0)
December 29, 2006
Sometimes the greatest journey is the distance between two people
Finally I got to see it - the painted veil.
I have to say I am a little disappointed, which I have already expected, - my expectation was too simply high. I like both the actor and the actress, Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. The scenery is beautiful, this is the real China, which was rarely seen in a western movie.
First, I admire the producers including Edward Norton. They took on a heroic task to shoot the entire movie in China, in the rural village of Guangxi Province not somewhere like the imperial palace. I saw real Chinese people and real Chinese talking in the movie. Sometimes I would laugh, but the audience beside me were quiet, which is kinda awkward. The depiction about that particular part of Chinese history is fairly well, much better than I had expected. The little cute and shy children, the stupid and arrogant general, the old and quiet housekeeper,...... all look real to me. And I recognized a Chinese model- lv yan. I remember back in college my roommate talking about her, the controversial model, ugly in Chinese eye yet insanely attractive in Western view.
Second, I like how the story developed. It's about revenge and final redemption. Sometimes, it is hard to realize the virtures or real beauty when you are surrounded by the busy and flamboyant environment. When Walter and Kiti packed up and left Shanghai, they had no idea of what may lie ahead of them- the hardship of life in the rural China, the consequences of cholera epidemic, the limited social activity, the simple help one can offer and the joy and fulfilled feeling that come along as return. Kiti taught kids how to dance, which she's good at. Walter watched quietly outside of the door, which reminded him of the first glimpse of Kiti in London. As the film went on, I found the Kitty and Walter rather likable and cared about them. It's sad that when Walter died of Cholera and probably the son Kitty was carrying was not theirs. But life went on. And I was somehow relieved and happy to see Kitti call the little boy Walter.
Posted by renh at 04:15 PM | Comments (0)
November 26, 2006
The Queen 2006
I saw The Queen yesterday. It's a good movie, great performance. Touching but not overwhelmingly sentimental.
Two things I want to mention here. First, Diana died in 1997, when I was still in high school. I saw the news at noon when having lunch at home. I was shocked and told my classmates later that afternoon. But it seemed that they did not believe me at the moment. I guess it must be unexpected for the Royal family, too. The other is why I wanted to see this movie. My interest in the British Monarchy started when I began to read I, Elizabeth. Elizabeth I was depicted as a passionate, brave and fearless queen in the old days, who married England, sacrificed for England, and refused to panic when England was in grave danger. Elizabeth I is already history now. Elizabeth II is still alive. I am happy after I saw the movie, because Helen Mirren's performance was superb. Elizabeth II may seem to be kind of cold and stubborn to the public, but Helen's portait successfully conveyed a reserved queen who cares about the British people (or their opinion) at heart and takes great pride to be who she is.
Diana died unexpectedly. Blair got popularity by refering Diana as the People's Princess. Meanwhile the Royal family gave no public statement and tried to keep everything private, which stirred quite some uneasiness. Eventually the queen accepted the “advise” from Blair. Initially the public took blame on the queen for being cold to Diana’s death. But I believe it’s not because “she hates Diana”, but because the queen cherishes the values of her generation. I believe she’s also in grave pain upon the bad news, although she never said so explicitly. I wonder what she wrote in her diary that night when she decided to devote extra time to write it. I think I finally understand or was convinced or was moved by the deer hunting scene. Queen Elizabeth drove the jeep to pass a river, but unfortunately the car broke down in the middle. She called the Buckingham Palace and sat on a rock at the riverside, looking distressed. All of a sudden, she caught a sight of this gorgeous deer. It’s quiet with mountains grass tainted with beautiful fall color at a far distance. The deer was ease, totally unaware of the hunters nearby. Elizabeth fixed her eyes on the deer and seemed to be moved by his beauty. There were tears in the Queen’s eyes. I know she loved the deer. Suddenly, gun shots. The queen gestured the deer to run away. I know she worried about the deer was in danger. The next moment the deer was gone nowhere to be seen. The queen was relieved and smiled. Then some time later, she got a phone call and rushed out. I did not what she was informed by the caller or what happened. But from her grave expression I know this could not be something good. The car stopped. It was the hunting service place- some guests got it, the deer. Its strong body was hanging upside down, its head cut off laying on the table, and wounded on the cheek. It’s a tough deer, took them quite some efforts to finally put it down. The guy said, while the queen quietly and gently looked at the deer. I know she was mourning the deer. Then she left the room passing compliment to the guests’ hunting, without saying anything about the deer. For some reason, I was deeply moved. Now I think the deer was a symbol for Diana. Both beautiful, both being chased around, both alerted by the Queen, both tough, both with tragic ending, both stirred the Queen’s emotion. The queen might seen be stone cold in time of Diana’s death, because she thought as a Queen she should not put her feelings on the sleeve, she reserved the feeling for herself. But the public should not be blamed for not being to understand her, either. The queen was isolated from her people, it’s implossible for people to understand her deep feeling from that far a distance, ironically even people physically close to her did not completely understand her. But maybe it is something magic about the monarchy, when she finally showed up at the piled flowers at the Buckingham front gate, people kind of forgot the grudge. “Can I put these flowers for you?” She asked the little girls with white flowers. No was the answer. Momentarily there was embarrassment. “These are for you.” “Oh, thank you.” It was relief out of expectation. Then, there was curtsey after curtsey. She was still their queen.
After the publicly broadcasted statement, she met with Blair again. This time Blair was much happier and light-hearted. To see them walking in the garden while talking about modernization is delightful. It’s an ending that gives the audience hope and joy.
Posted by renh at 01:06 PM | Comments (0)
August 25, 2006
I, Elizabeth
Just finished I, Elizabeth by Rosalind Miles. The book is good, but maybe not top notch. To me, it seems that Elizabeth was more like an emotional woman than the Queen. This is the part I do not like very much. But the book does offer very detailed descriptions about the British court life in her era. It's obvious that the author spent a lot of time on researching that particular period of history.
I think I forgot the part I read before the accident. What I can remember now is that young Elizabeth grew up in fear (of her life), confusion (bastard or not), and anger (of her father). It's good that I wrote a review about the first half of the book before. Basically, I agree with what I thought before. :)
The second half of the book has more love affairs b/w the Queen and her lords. It hurts to read their betrayals to her. The book sort of depicts a pathetic old lady yearning for a normal family life. I am sorry to say this, b/c I kinda like the Queen, but...... I do not like the last part about the lord of Essex. But I like the ending - Elizabeth lost the love of Essex, but she won as the Queen. Sigh, a fair ending for a queen devoted for her country.
Posted by renh at 11:05 AM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2006
A Prairie Home Companion
06.14.06 7-9pm Michigan Theater
Finally got to see the Fitzgerald Theater! Have been listening to the show for along time, and have been always wondering what the home of the show looks like. It seemed real to me, the stage, the dressing rooms, and all the people in the show. Like the Angel said, she listened to the show every week and felt the people in the show are like her friends. And how excited it would be to finally meet them!
It's a movie about death, a bleak picture of the radio industry - the Fitzgerald Theater is going to be torn down to become a parking structure in downtown St. Paul, and this is the last show of PHC; an old man died after his performance in this last show; the Johnson girls talked about death in their dressing room and sang for their dead mother in the show; Lohan wrote a poem about suicide; the Angel of Death/Dangerous Woman strolled around the stage all the time. But I did not feel sad throughout the movie, it's actually quite funny, and "there is always hope" "it could be worse".
The movie has wonderful actors and actresses. I love Meryl Streep's performance as Yolanda Johnson, the country music siren. I like her way of talking, laughing, hugging Rhonda while singing a beautiful yet sad song, babbling before singing the song, unleashing her anger to GK, and singing in tears to mourn her mother and Chuck. I enjoyed the music of the Guy's All-Star Shoe Band, especially Jearlyn Steele' Black Coffee. Lindsay Lohan is not bad at all. I had thought putting her out there was just the company's desperate effort to make the movie more appealing to the younger population. I also like the singing cowboys and their "Bad Jokes". It's hilarious. Now, besides the ensemble cast, I like Molly, stone-faced, pregnant single mother chewing gum while maticulously maintaining the operation of the show. Such a character!
I kinda miss Keillor's usual "News from Lake Wobegon" monologue and the ketchup skit. But I like that scene - he tried to stretch time with the commercial for American Duct Tape Council, while Molly fumbling the files to get the right page for him.
Finally, I really liked the fact that I went to the Michigan Theater to watch this movie. This place seems to be so out-of-date. They start to sell tickets half an hour before the show in front of the theater. The guys with red bow tie and white shirt standing in the glass ticket office, the old popcorn machine at the door of the theater poping out popcorns and giving off wonderful smell, the antique ceiling with beautiful chandeliers above the head and Persian carpet on the ground - all of these echo well with the Fitzgerald theater on the screen. It's really a great experience for me.
Posted by renh at 09:58 AM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2006
half way through E. I.
Well, half way through Elizabeth I by Rosalind Miles. I am kinda disappointed about the book. Agree with the review " Miles is at her best in describing everyday Elizabethan life--religion, food, dress, illness. But her Elizabeth lacks the charisma to carry this lengthy chronicle..." "As an entertaining look at Reformation England, this novel succeeds, but it fails at the more immediate task of creating memorable fictional characters from the leavings of history". It's entertaining, and the description is rather detailed. But in my view this book is rather a romance book than a history fiction about the charismatic virgin queen. Miles took a lot of effort to describe the love affairs between the Queen and her lovers, while she simply skipped important political events happened in the court and parliament. Elizabeth was portrayed more like an innocent young girl rather than a queen with great political ambition. (This reminded me of Empress Orchid.) Personally, I do not believe this. Growing up in such a complicated environment, she must be wise enough to know how to survive. She could not just got the idea to become the queen only when Mary was dying and should not have treated it like a game at the beginning. It is utterly bewildering to read this in the book. I have to constantly battle the lines I am reading with the reasonable thinking of my mind.
But, the book struck me yesterday. It's about the Queen and Robin. The Queen finally noticed Robin only had the honoristic title "Lord" but living in poverty, yet Robin never complained anything to her. The council pressed her to get married and more importantly to gain political ally and capital. Being a passionate queen, she would not marry against her will. She sought for comfort from her friend Robin. I kinda want to believe they were in love, but they could not marry, which was a cruel reality. In other people's eye, Robin was "quite a flatterer" (Cecile) and "new man", but the Queen took him as her true friend. And I agree with her on that. Remember, when she was in the toughest and darkest time in the Tower, it was Robin who sent the flowers with the "ragged robin"; when Mary was dying and Elizabeth was strengthening power, it was Robin who sold his land and sent her the money; it was Robin who always joyfully attended her even after all the trarma he had endured. It was a tragic yet powerful story. Maybe making politically correct choice is always a constant companion of growing-up.
Posted by renh at 05:37 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2006
A walk across America
A Walk Across America - by Peter Jenkins
There are two types of books for my reading. One is that I will happily and eagerly read, but will hardly touch after finishing it (A). The other type is that I will take my time and slowly read, but I will often think about it or even quote from it after I read it (B).
A brief classification of the books I read recently:
A: Empress Orchid, Memoirs of a Geisha, Da Vin ci Code
B: Schindler's list (-ing), Elizabeth I (-ing), to Kill a mocking bird
And A Walk Across America does not fall into either of these categories. At the beginning, I will probably put it into the B category, but toward the end, I think I'll classify it as type A. I think the reason is all about the book itself, the walking story of Peter Jenkins in the 1970s' America. I'll explain the reason why.
Peter Jenkins was a college graduate and had beening living a typical suburn life. He was an angery young man and ready to give up on America. Nevertheless, he gave his country the last chance and decided to know the country and the people by walking across America. He spent a great length of book on the rural life of America. I really like the characters - Homer, Preacher family and the black family. Homer is like a hermit. He basically makes everything by himself, from the wooden cabin to the everyday food. It's interesting to read the part that Peter ate the meat prepared by Homer, b/c Peter was a strict vegetarian. His reason was that there are a lof of starving people in the world everyday; people should eat grains and veggie; therefore more food would be available for the starving. But after he saw how Homer makes a living, he realized that he had stupid ideas and what's important is not what you eat but how you eat. Both the Preacher family and the black family treated Peter as their own son, but their ways of living was a sharp contrast. Preacher and his wife had a small farm, and their food was almost all organic and nutritious. The black family had a more Americanized way of living - all store bought food high in sugar low in nutrients. It was 1970s, but the black family embraced Peter generously, they even would risk their lives to fight the bootleggers for Peter. Peter helped them to be more self-sustainable, what I liked most was that he talked the idea of education into the head of his black brother.
So, it is rather a simple book, not written in a very sophisticated way. Simple but pure idea. I kinda enjoyed it. But at the same time I was looking forward to something with more depth.
Posted by renh at 06:55 PM | Comments (0)