God hath not promised skies always blue, flower-strewn pathways all our lives through. But God hath promised strength for the day, rest for the labor, light for the way...
This was a night spent under the colorfully lighted up skies of the Singapore National Museum. Heritage Festival 2016 was underway where street food stalls ply the compound, and patrons ate away on wooden tables and chairs. It was lovely. If you need more glittering photos of the night, see here.
We were here for the public screening of 7 Letters - A local film made up of "seven short stories that tell of our heartland and its people through tales of lost love, identity, inter-generational familial bonds and tensions, unlikely neighbours, and even references to traditional folklore." The project was timely; celebrating Singapore’s 50th year of Independence. Being conscious of our difficult independence, and how the country had evolved over the last 50 years; the film serves as a good reflection. Surely, it meant different things to each one of us. It felt sentimental, right from the first story. And it continues to tug at the heart-strings till tears flow free.
Fully supported by the Singapore Film Commission (SFC), the film was never ticketed. So catch it when you can.
THE paradox of vengefulness is that it makes men dependent upon those who have harmed them, believing that their release from pain will come only when they make their tormentors suffer. In seeking the Bird's death to free himself, Louie had chained himself, once again, to his tyrant.
---
RESTING in the shade and the stillness, Louie felt profound peace. When he thought of his history, what resonated with him now was not all that he had suffered but the divine love that he believed and intervened to save him. He was not the worthless, broken, forsaken man that the Bird had striven to make of him. In a single, silent moment, his rage, his fear, his humiliation and helplessness, had fallen away. That morning, he believed, he was a new creation.
Softly, he wept.
- Laura Hillenbrand, November 16, 2010
(Unbroken: A World War II Story of Survival, Resilience, and Redemption)
Motion picture: Unbroken (2014).
Waris Dirie (portrayed by Liya Kebede, left) and Waris Dirie hug on the set of Desert Flower.
Sometimes, good films slip us by. And the "Dessert Flower" is such.
"Dessert Flower" was filmed based on the autobiography of Waris Dirie, an international supermodel who writes in 1997. What's extraordinary isn't her shot to fame, but the case of her circumcision. How can female be circumcise? We gasped!
Something that says "female genital mutilation". And the horrific act that follows on her wedding night...
I applauded Waris Dirie who in the prime of her career, chose to tell her shameful story - of a woman without female genitals, to help the woman in Somalia - where she came from, and woman all over the world.
The film leaves an unsettling effect, a long lingering heaviness about this inhumane custom that has no religious basis, but is still being practice in many African countries today.
Waris Dirie's autobiography, 1997
Read here for the Waris Dirie Story from the Reader's Digest, June 1999.
We watched the Blackfish movie based on true life account about the captivity of Killer Whales and how they later live out in constrained Marine Parks - which explained their backlash against their human trainer.
It is a rude awakening to our inhumane act.
Following this, i become interested to catch The Cove.
Also about marine mammals, but this is a far worst case where Japanese at Taiji Dolphin Hunt looted the sea of friendly Dolphins - selling them to Marine Parks around the world; killing the remaining 'stock' which doesn't sell, including the young ones who refuses to swim away! I was dumbfounded with disgust...!
Mom was unsurprised; for their action rationale with their practice of mass killing during the Japanese Occupation, World War II.
We come to understand the many public petitions for "Free the Dolphins" and changes the way we now looked at Marine Parks. Our most direct protest would be staying away from Japanese restaurant... and definitely the Oceanarium.
Not another documentary pressing on the cruelty of us being the carnivore, but one that tells the carnivore the food that it is eating -
especially yucky if you are taking in lots of factory processed food.
The film touches only briefly, and does not build on your sympathy for these cultivated animals for food; but once you understand that there are things more intolerant than the killing, it is enough to put you off the next Fast food meal or packaged meat from factory farming.
This is one important film to watch. Now i know where, and how those food on the supermarket shelves comes about; and i could make the choice. And no matter how tasty the burger, fast food will meant just the fries, a sundae or an apple pie.
It's Valentine's Day and i want a romance story. Been a long time since a movie touch me; so much i want to pen it. And very rarely, a British production.
About Time is a well-acted and written story about time-travel, family and love; but doesn't make you wish to travel back in time to change your life. Think you want to relive any moments to make your life perfect? The movie simply inspires you to "Try to live everyday as if it's was the final day. My extraordinary, ordinary life." Some imperfect moments too, can be beautifully memorable - being drenched by strong wind and rain at your outdoor wedding...
If there's an opportunity, i would love catching this again - the second half of the philosophical movie, actually. The original movie soundtracks are nice too, listen to them here.
It's been weeks of watching movies that failed to move me, and i was dead wishing for one to come sweep me off my feet. Don't you like that? Well, GLove does exactly that last night. I cried, laughed, and cried harder again. It felt great.
Based on a true story of the Chungju Sung-Shim baseball team, located in North Chungcheong Province, Korea. It recounts how 10 baseball players, who were deaf, strive to excel in the game, overcoming their inferior complex of their handicap, learnt to stand up for themselves, their belief and dreams.
You don't have to love baseball to catch the movie; it will grow on you after.
My Sassy Girl (2001) acquaints us with Korean movies. It was our first Korean movie and impresses that the Korean has some good script writing - giving a twist to the plot, stirs the soul and induces laughter from their wealth of Korean humor.
Thus begins my relationship with Korean films. Below were 5 memorable ones i wish you watch, including of course, My Sassy Girl.
Hello Ghost (2010), 开心家族
The story started off with a man's multiple failed suicide attempts and after the most recent one, began seeing a family of ghosts.
It seems a simple enough plot and i didn't see it coming until nearing the finish. Not wishing a spoiler for you, let's leave the story to unfold itself. A heart-warming comedy.
Champ (2011), 冠军
Champ is about a former race horse jockey who became partially blind after losing his wife in an accident. A limping horse stood by him as they race to win their last Cup.
Inspired by real-life story of Korean racehorse Luna (露娜) who debuted in 2004 at the Pusan Gyeongnam Race Park and went on to win 13 of 33 races, this is an inspiring and touching story.
For once, i realized that encouraging words are more helpful than comforting ones. It was said, "Life is not Giving up; be Steadfast and Persistent". 人生是不放弃坚持到底。
The Classic (2003), 假如爱有天意
A romantic film that was beautifully shot to tell the love story of a mother and her daughter. A bitter-sweet ending to the mother's romance while the daughter's completed the circle.
Below's the full movie, Youtube.
Spellbound (2011), 我的见鬼女友
Spellbound is a horror, romantic and comedy, all in one. While one couldn't imagine running good horror element in a romantic story, this film director does it relatively well. It fact, the idea was refreshing.
A magician falling in love with a woman who is haunted by ghosts. A seriously revengeful ghost. Now, what does it take for love to overcome fears?
The Front Line (2011), 高地战
It was said that the earth was divided by invisible lines that separated the countries; lines that determine territories and were guarded at all costs. Thus sets the scene for this story at Aerok Hills where the hills determine the dividing line between North and South Korea.
For this reason, fighting for the control of Aerok Hills continue despite ceasefire negotiations - the 1953 negotiation that dragged on for over 2 years. With the hope of end war dangling on one end; getting killed on any other day seems more real. This was the tormenting reality for the soldiers.
I have had my share of war films; including the recent TV series of The Pacific, 2010 (HBO). The Front Line can be equally good, or better than most English production. No doubt the best making from Asia.
Ailileen, the domestic help listened on as her employee made racist remarks openly.
Living in our modern society, historic relationship between the Blacks and Whites during the Civil Rights era (America, early 1960s) felt like unreal reality. Over my growing up years, i've seen several 'slave films' but none nailed the discrimination quite as plainly, real and direct - with examples taken from normal homes in the communities.
It is baffling to note that while the Whites found it detestable to use the same toilet, drink from the same water fountain as the Blacks, they enjoyed being served hand and foot by them. Eating food prepared and having their children dressed and fed by the Blacks? There were such clear contradictions.
Typically, such film is a tear-jerker but The Help was entertaining and engaging with light moments of levity for a dramatic relief. I was attuned to the subject matter and really enjoyed the movie.
Maybe it trivializes the extent of the actual discrimination and injustices without mentioning the common cases of sexual harassment, but the film was sufficed to set you thinking.
Q: Could you bring yourself to kill a friend who saved your life?
A: No.
Q: Could you bring yourself to kill your lover?
A: No.
Q: Could you kill a defenseless twelve years old?
A: How to?
Q: Then, you are out of the Hunger Games?
A: If I'm going to die, i want to still be me.
Isn't this how we could choose to survive in our own 'Hunger Games'? Ruthless rules of the game were set - that there could only be 1 survivor out of the 24. But cleverly, choose to survive without sacrificing the basic moral of humanity. And in turn taunt the system, the gamemaker.
Being particularly cool towards frictional stories, this one reads a senseless plot, started off silly but kept me at the edge of my seat with suspenses and anticipation. If you are looking for some excitement for a dull weekend, this is it.
"Movie reviews are generally among my easiest articles to write but this has definitely been one of the most difficult. Why? Because Silenced was both a fabulously well-made movie and one of the most powerful and disturbing movies I’ve ever seen. I almost feel guilty saying good things about it because it’s about such a horrible topic..." Review extract from Banana Times
Young human rights lawyer shielding the child from reading the sign language of the defense lawyer - vaginal sores of the 5 years old was caused by self masturbation!
I didn't like heavy movies, like everyone else i had preferred 'happy ending' story. But go watch this show that was extremely well filmed and acted; given the weightiness of the subject.
Go watch it, and you'll be immediately transported to the reality of a dark, immoral world that's unimaginable to us living in simple, law-abiding Singapore. Get out of the well.
Go watch this movie based on a true story of abuse at a school for hearing-impaired children in Gwangju, South Korea. A movie that prompted a national outcry and the ensuing tighter laws against sex offenders in Korea.
I had thought this would be another juvenile plot from Walt Disney but it turned out to be a rather intense story based on a true 1958 Winter Expedition for a Japanese Antarctic Surveying Team.
Bulk of Eight Below involves how 8 sled dogs tried surviving on their own the treacherous winter and a guilt-ridden guide's attempts to get back to the Antarctic to rescue his fury paws. I too would be racked with guilt for leaving them behind.
Not in days, the pack were left on their own, but a distressing 8 months.
Based on records, an average husky can only live in such conditions for about one month. In this optimistic film, 6 managed to survive while in the actual 1958 event, it was 2 out of the 15 dogs.
An old veteran in the movie said, "Never underestimate a living spirit's will to survive, especially when they're surrounded by family."
What really stirred after watching the show was the demonstrations of bravery, leadership, compassion and selflessness among the sledge dogs - sharing the scarcity of food and watching out for one another.
Can the noble human forms took on such role in a similar predicament? I pondered. These thoughts kept me awake from sleeping the night.
Famous Norwegian polar explorer Helmer Hanssen once reported,
"Dogs like that, which share man's hard times and strenuous work, cannot be looked upon merely as animals. They are supporters and friends. There is no such thing as making a pet out of a sledge dog;
these animals are worth much more than that."
The exact of how you would feel after watching this movie.
Will Smith's stirring moments - after successfully repaired a medical equipment by replacing damaged parts bought with money from selling blood. The equipment when sold would be their food expenses for a month.
We had heard the saying, "When you hit rock bottom, the only way is up". But that doesn't translate to real life when heart-wrenching true-life events of Chris Gardner (featured Will Smith) just seems to go under without seeing an end in his Pursuit of Happyness.
Yet pride and self esteem probably held him back from revealing his difficult circumstances to his co-workers and clients - he was homeless and penniless with a young child. He did not voiced excuses on the pretext of gaining sympathies or job leeways from anyone.
The show was not happy to watch. At one point, i thought the man would break. Often he was quiet, shedding silence tears in the night or in church. But never giving up, faithfully earnest in all that he does.
In a society where we expect one to be sympathetic or accommodating with our difficulties, Chris exposed our lameness and fairy-tale conjecture that success is a surety with hard work; especially after you had made some big sacrifices. Hard truth was, nobody owns you a living.
Go watch this 2006 American biographical film that may shed some lights in our pursuit of happiness. And yes, Chris did finally caught up his happiness.
Watching a near 2hrs documentary of 家园, Home (2009 film) in my air-conditioned room; made every breath of cool air, guilty. And the heart burdened with knowledge that humanity is seriously threatening the ecological balance of the planet earth. Humanity - Me & You.
Sure it takes more than singing a song to revert the damages we had inflict on the earth, but it is a timely campaign and reminder to us all. That in the pursue of our individual wants and ambitions, we need to slower our paces, give a second thought to better management of our environment and resources.
Conserve our natural resources wherever possible. Reduce. Reuse. Recycle. Starting with ourselves; our habits and actions. Be a responsible consumer. Think about what we buy?
And educate our young generations by playing the complete movie for them. The future belongs to them.
Everyone needs a push sometimes, an encouragement; someone who believes in them. And most time, only people who truly loves you does that. Believing in a person can help them believe in themselves; spur them endeavoring on.
But success don't happen overnight.
From "the dumbest kid in the world" to one of world's most famous Neurosurgeon, Gifted Hands was based on such a unbelievable life story of Ben Carson. A fast paced motivational storyline with awe-inspiring medicinal theories; we got to know an amazing character today.
8 mins movie excerpts from Gifted Hands
"You can do anything that anyone can do; only you can do it better." This was what Ben's illiterate mom been encouraging him since he's a neighbourhood boy, even after he become an accomplished doctor later in life.
Here for more inspirational quotes from Dr Ben Carson.
After reading the movie review of Courageous from IeatIshootIpost, i finally got to watch it with Ric today. And if you talk about New Year Resolutions; Yes, i think i have 1 now. Or 2.
1. Learn to do difficult things.
2. Be couragous; when facing life's decisions.
In living out these resolutions, i seem to see glimpses of a triumphant life..
Produced by Sherwood Pictures, an American Christian film production company in Georgia, under the Sherwood Baptist Church, the story attains a similarly aspirational objectives like any American movies - i was very much encouraged by the film to live out my new resolutions; which serves as an all year boosting when the going gets tough.
Especially remembering 'Javier' who was jobless but shown much gratitude and diligence in his every new found job. Thanks for the character of Javier, he is such a motivation!
"I wish i become a stone bridge, enduring 500 years of ruthless wind, 500 years of burning sun, 500 years of freezing rain, for as long as the girl walks across this bridge..."
Movie Trailer
The above were the touching verses from John Woo's latest movie Reign of Assassins that were etched in my mind... long after i left the theater. But how surreal is this degree of love in our sophisticated society...?
I had gone for the show in my admiration for the female lead actress, Michelle Yeoh. And she lived up to our expectations. Yeah, i don't like just pretty faces... Michelle has a classy aura ;)
After John Woo's box-office record for Battle at Red Cliff, the Reign of Assassins showcase sleek sword playing and a beautiful love story, on top of skilled cinematic craftsmanship. It's a "feel good" plot great for lovers and family viewing; pity for a missing love theme song to the motion picture though, else it would have touches more hearts.
No, we were not keen on watching a 3 hours movie on 3D spectacles. We watched ours just, months late on home monitor.
It was just as good, i believe. As emotional as anyone had warned. It does remind me of "Dances with Wolves".
The story touches me and teaches me 2 things:
Avator Movie Trailer on Youtube. GREEN Theme. When was the last time you deal with Nature in comfort, just like how the 'Blue people' does? Living in harmony with harmless flies instead of showering all over with insecticide is the very lest we can do. It's time, really, that we try to live as peaceable with our environment as we can. Embrace the tolerable Singapore Summer heat and give the air a break from air-conditioning hot exhaust. Do not rape or deplete the earth nature resources from all other living things. You should not possess everything with money.
LOVE Theme. Love as you would sincerely. The outcome of things may seem bleak or even impossible for love to blossom between a human and the 'blue'. But, if with that in mind from the very beginning, there wouldn't be the touching and blissful ending for them. Love with no regret Life is a journey, of both joy and sorrow. But never let it be a plain piece of paper...
We were 4 years late in watching the 11 episodes Japanese TV drama of "Ichi rittoru no Namida" 2005, 1 Litre of Tears, also called A Diary with Tears.
A real life story that tells a 15 yrs old girl diagnosed with an incurable degenerative disease (Spinocerebellar ataxia), but had courageously continue her life until her death at age 25.
The Drama is not the teary Korean type love story.
It is heart-warming and touching, cheering people for the simple fact they are alive, and giving hope to those who suffers from diseases, making them think positive about living and not giving up easily.
Below are 2 of my favorite theme songs from the serial that were beautifully emotional.
Sangatsu Kokonoka (9th March)
Another, also by Group Remioromen , titled Konayuki 粉雪.
I wish, we have health.
Else, at least the courage and love to live it through.
Smokey is our family 1st when he accompanied us through schooling, dating and career stages. He was most unfortunate to be there when we were immature and often busy, preoccupied with our activities to care for him.
Time spent on him was little. And we had abruptly decided to put him to sleep in his old sickly age of 16 years. High medical expenses were the other push factor.
It was sad that many a times; our most loyal friend was neglected of his feelings and basic needs, taken for granted, as a foil in our 'busy' short living time frame.
As portrayed in the movie, a 'troublesome' dog maybe the first thing we would put away in the face of our hectic day agenda.
As in Life, it is imperfect, and often messy with many trying moments of unforeseen circumstances. A dog helps sprinkled that genuine sweetness and humor between the saccharine and all the sadness.
Playing ball, giving him a good rub, a pat or a cuddling session is more often our needs than his.
Amid the natural wear-and-tear of the many relationships we have, the one with the dog is unceasing. Be it a reprimand session or after an abandon act, he never bores resentment and greets you with his wettest kiss when he sees you again.
This is the compelling charm a dog exudes, in their most innocent & honest display.
Marley & Me isn't cinema, it relates to everyday people like you & me in our mediocre life, real and without being dull.
