Movies.........and movies

Went for my elective today and watched Formula 17. It is a gay romantic comedy made in Taiwan and was released in 2004. Singapore had banned this movie as it "promotes alternative sexual lifestyle". In recent years, there have been quite some movies which revolves around homosexuality. Most notably is the Golden Globe award winner Brokeback Mountain which garnered Best Picture and Best Director this year.

This relates to what the lecturer had been teaching last week which includes materialistic feminism, the most recent development of feminism that disregard all notions of gender (stereotypes of gender). For example, a woman can be the breadwinner of her family while the husband can take care of the children in present day and not be insulted unless this were to happen in the past. Metrosexuality is popular and it is now not considered queer if guys go for facials and slimming centres, etc. The development of this form of feminism and the demolishing of the ancient binary system has empowered the gay, lesbian, transexuals, etc community. This is one of the reasons why Formula 17 was chosen to be one of the movies to be screened as we had to examine the "Queer Theory".

Back to the movie, some guys in the lecture theatre cringed at the sight of two guys kissing, but the movie's numerous jokes eventually won them over. Personally, i do not like the movie a lot as the storyline is too simple and idealistic. Lan Yu was a much more resonant movie that is more in touch with the pragmatic present-day society. Stereotypical gays who wear tight-fitting, bright tops and speak in effeminate voices are added into Formula 17 for comedic effect. If this movie was rewritten for a straight romance, i'm sure it will be a romantic disaster as we would have seen this type of movies a trillion times before.

Went out with Clarence and Derrick to watch Le Grand Voyage in the evening at Orchard. It is a father & son road trip all the way from France to Mecca for pilgrimage. They disagree over small matters along the way and have different sets of thinking. The impetuous son gradually come to terms with his headstrong but wise father after crossing national borders, and overcoming the numerous difficulties that they encounter. The two leads are superb in their protrayal of each character, and the story is moving and thoughtful. We get to experience the pilgrimage along with them and have a panoramic view as well. We also get to see Belgrade, Sofia, Istanbul, Mecca and the Saudi Arabian desert. Intriguing, entertaining and affecting, this film is indeed a rare movie-going experience. Highly recommended.