gUnZ reFleCtiOnS

Slumdog Millionaire

>> Sunday, February 15, 2009

Watched Slumdog Millionaire with Derrick on sat. The synopsis and review are as follows.

The story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a staggering 20 million rupees on India's "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating. Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of vicious encounters with local gangs, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show's questions.

Slumdog Millionaire tells the story of Jamal, his brother and Latika living in poverty but happily playing with other kids, searching through rubbish for useful items, and even stealing from other people. Things started to change when they get older but not Jamal's feelings for Latika. Danny Boyle has created a fascinating tale of finding happiness even in poverty and i particularly enjoyed the policeman chasing scene in the slums of Mumbai.

The story about a rags to riches slumdog is visually entertaining and absorbing. Slumdog Millionaire is an upbeat, mesmorizing film with unique storyline and cinematography although I still have some reservations on the rather far-fetched plot. Brilliant direction from director Danny Boyle though.

***1/2

Had a drinking session at Selegie pub with Gs and Terence after the movie. The four of us consumed a total of around 6.2 litres of beer that day.

Heineken beer tower

Waltz with Bashir

Watched Waltz With Bashir on DVD on friday night. The synopsis and review are as follows.

One night at a bar, an old friend tells director Ari about a recurring nightmare in which he is chased by 26 vicious dogs. Every night, the same number of beasts. The two men conclude that there is a connection to their Israeli Army mission in the first Lebanon War of the early eighties. Ari is surprised that he can't remember a thing anymore about that period of his life. Intrigued by this riddle, he decides to meet and interview old friends and comrades around the world. He needs to discover the truth about that time and about himself. As Ari delves deeper and deeper into the mystery, his memory begins to creep up in surreal images.

Waltz With Bashir is definitely a haunting and resonating animation movie. The war themes in the movie are powerful yet depressing at the same time. The light flares over the city of Beirut strike a stark and vivid imagery which is even more significant given that the movie is based on real life war events. The 1982 Lebanon War and the Sabra and Shatila Massacre were events that many of us were unfamiliar with and the movie brought to audiences to light the immense suffering and pain that some Lebanese and Palestinian refugees went through.

Winner of Golden Globe Best Foreign Film, this Israel animation on war brims with unspeakable regret and events that the parties involved will never forget.

****

Defiance

>> Friday, February 13, 2009

Went for Sakae Sushi buffet at NTU with Edwin and Terence in the afternoon today. We had a very full lunch + dinner and i am starting to get sick of jap food. Don't think i'll go back again in the near future.

Went to watch Defiance with Qy and Ys in the evening. The synopsis and review are as follows.

Based on a true story of four Jewish brothers living in Nazi occupied Poland that escape into the forest where they join up with Russian resistance fighters in battling the Nazis. Throughout the war, they built a village inside the forest and saved the lives of more than 1200 other Jews.

Coming from the hands of Edward Zwick, this film is a disappointment for me. Blood Diamond and The Last Samurai were miles better. The story of the Jewish brothers who saved the lives of countless other Jews should be an inspirational one as it is based on a true story but I hardly felt a whiff of inspiration. The pace of the movie felt too calm and there were not enough intense moments to make the story more compelling.

The characters and themes in the movie were not very well developed and we often get a half-baked result. The theme vengeance begets vengeance that Tuvia was vehemently against became lost somewhere in the middle of the movie. The result is a straightforward war movie replicating the actual events that took place, with insertions of some trivial events like infighting within the group for more dramatic effect.

**1/2

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

>> Wednesday, February 11, 2009

Watched The Curious Case of Benjamin Button with Derrick and Stephen in the evening. The synopsis and review are as follows.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button is adapted from the 1920s story by F. Scott Fitzgerald about a man who is born in his eighties and ages backwards: a man, like any of us, who is unable to stop time. We follow his story, set in New Orleans from the end of World War I in 1918, into the 21st century, following his journey that is as unusual as any man's life can be.

The Curious Case of Benjamin Button has gorgeous sets, beautiful cinematography, lovely score, impressive cast and a very unique story at its core. We follow through the entire lifetime of Benjamin Button, from his birth as an aged elderly man to his final moments as an infant. The character development is wonderful and Brad Pitt is assured and comfortable in his role as the cheeky old man, matured middle-age man, and charming and dashing young man. The supporting cast does a good job as well which include Taraji P. Henson as the maternal and caring mother of Benjamin, and Cate Blanchett as the childhood sweetheart who blossoms into a beautiful dancer.

You might imagine that it would be great if everyone gets older while you get younger. Mortality is the key theme of this movie and it supplements the emotional core of this movie. Growing younger may bring about more grief instead of happiness as one might see their loved ones going one by one. This story has impeccable attention to detail and perhaps it can do so with lesser details with the rather lengthy screen time of 2 hrs 47 mins. I would describe the pace of the movie as steady and it gets a tad staid in the middle of the movie.

The technical accomplishments of the movie are also impressive with the wrinkles, or the lack thereof, the skin pigmentations, the hair, etc. The movie is an epic fantasy tale that is intimate in its details, captivating with its unique storyline, and enriching with its charismatic characters.

***1/2

Last Week of CNY

>> Sunday, February 08, 2009

Went to my brother-in-law's factory for CNY lunch and there was a lot of food! Felt so full that i fell asleep in the car afterwards. Had my final CNY relative visitations for this year after the lunch.

Dragon Dance Troupe

A closer view

Lucky numbers

Just got the group photos of the CNY dinner at Bernard's house and they are below.

Queuing for the food

Eating our dinner

In the living room

Bernard's house CNY dinner and gathering

>> Saturday, February 07, 2009

Went through a writing skills test, analysis test, reasoning test and situational judgement test today. It was quite mentally draining and i do hope to get to the final stage and clear it eventually.

Bernard invited some of us to his house for CNY dinner and gathering in the evening. Many of us were amazed at some of the things in his house.

Indoor Jacuzzi!

4th level rooftop with suntan bed and mahjong etc

Some of us went to help to set up the chocolate fondue and cut the fruits.

The fruit platter designed by Hh

Kv kissing the dog!

We had our dinner and went upstairs to the entertainment room for some games.

Playing Jenga

We played mahjong and sang ktv after that.

Chandeliers

Thanks to Bernard for hosting the dinner.

Doubt

>> Thursday, February 05, 2009

Went to NTU's career fair earlier today and talked to quite a few companies.

Went to watch Doubt with Qy and Ys at The Cathay after school. The synopsis and review are as follows.

Principal Sister Aloysius Beuvier (Meryl Streep) of a Bronx Catholic High School accuses Father Flynn (Philip Seymour Hoffman) of paedophilia. When the school has just accepted its first black student - Donald, Father Flynn and him have been spending an unusual amount of time together in the church rectory. The righteous headmistress begins a merciless crusade to reveal the priest as a child molester and have him permanently expunged from the school. Without a shard of proof besides her moral certainty, Sister Aloysius locks into a battle of wills with Father Flynn.

This church drama unfolds with the superb cast of Meryl Streep as the uncompromising and intolerant Principal Sister (nominated for Oscar Best Actress), Philip Seymour Hoffman as the seemingly guilty Father accused of paedophilia (nominated for Oscar Best Supporting Actor), Amy Adams as the naive and young teacher Sister (nominated for Oscar Best Supporting Actress), and Viola Davis as the mother of Donald who loves her child deeply (nominated for Oscar Best Supporting Actress). Meryl Streep absolutely shines in her role and her performance is definitely top notch.

The story doesn't transfer brilliantly from the stage to the big screen though. The movie mainly contains narratives and storyline is not very cinematic. However, the incredible cast pushes the story forward and audiences are still able to be engaged within the power struggle and the intense arguments between the Principal Sister and Father Flynn. You will be wondering "did he or did he not do it?" throughout the movie.

***1/2