Thursday, May 31, 2012

Movie Hitlist

Okay, my end-of-year movies to watch are growing. So far, the main contenders are:


- The Great Gatsby
- Les Miserables
- Life of Pi


I am beginning to feel unsure about Gatsby since the trailer was released. I mean, I know Baz Luhrmann's style from the red curtain trilogy was uncoventional and I found it effective in Moulin Rouge, but how can he give that kind of voice to Gatsby? I am curious to see what he makes of it and how he will turn it to his advantage because I have never imagined Gatsby filmed in this way.










Life of Pi is a must. It's being directed  by Ang Lee, possible one of my favourite directors. His "Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon" was very beautiful and I am eager to see a film adaption of one of my most beloved books. I am interested to see how he will display the conflict between Pi and the tiger and how he chooses to interpret it because the beauty in the book is the reader's own ability in needling out their own interpretations. Obviously, with a movie, that is a lot harder to do because everything we see is how the director sees it. It takes a skilled director to give the film the same amount of ambiguity that the book has, but I have great faith in Lee. The Trailer has not yet been released.


It only recently came to my attention that Les Miserables was getting a remake this year after I wikipedia-ed it after I watched the fantastic 25th anniversary concert. I have been let down by all previous versions of the musical - my favourite musical of all time - and I am pleasantly surprised by the ensemble cast line-up. Here, just to name a few:


Javert - Russell Crowe
Valjean - Hugh Jackman
Fantine - Anne Hathaway
Cosette - Amanda Seyfriend
Eponine - Samantha Barks
Marius - Eddie Redmayne
Master Thenadier - Sacha Baron Cohen
Madame Thenadier - Helena Bonham Carter
Enjolras - Aaron Tveit


I KNOW ALL THESE PEOPLE! It must be a first for a movie where the many leading roles are all being played by people I know! This is because I am not very pop-culturally diverse. I think the cast has been spot on. Admittedly, I was hoping that the role of Eponine would go to Lea Michele just because she sings so beautifully and actually did one of Eponine's songs (On My Own) on Glee and she just looks like how I imagined Eponine. But Samantha Barks sang the part of Eponine in the 25th anniversary concert and I was blown away. I am still very happy with the casting. 


Anna Hathaway sang "I Dreamed a Dream" in the trailer and from what I can see from the clip montage, the acting looks very promising and Hathaway does this rendition very poignantly. I think the best casting decision of all goes towards Master and Mme. Thenadier. The roles are perfect for the two actors! They previously worked together on Sweeney Todd and the performances they gave to their roles in that film more than convinces me on their performance here. I am bursting with excitement just to see their rapport with each other and with the screen. In no version, musical or film-wise, have I ever liked Cosette. She's always too good and too sweet and has everything to be likeable. I much prefer Eponine whom I can empathize with. But I like Amanda Seyfried and she's proved she can sing with "Mamma Mia!", so who knows? Maybe she can change my mind. Eddie Redmayne I know from "The Other Boleyn Girl". He also starred in the acclaimed biopic "My Week With Marilyn", but I've really only seen him in a very minor role. But he looks as I imagined Marius would, so there is much potential in this character. Aaron Tveit comes from "Gossip Girl". I greatly enjoyed his character on the show, and heard him in clips where he played Roger in "Rent", another musical and one I really enjoy. He has a strong voice which will fit nicely with the passion and vigour of Enjolras, I think.


And as for our two leads - well! Russell Crowe has the stern look DOWN. He will be a fantastic Javert. I've never heard him sing, but from his many roles (Gladiator, A Beautiful Mind), he will have no problem showing Javert in a relatable way so the audience will be able to understand his fragility and reasons for being so rigid. As for Hugh Jackman, Mr. Wolverine will be tackling the role of 24601. I must say, I never really had an idea of what Valjean was supposed to look like, so Jackman fits it as nicely as many other diverse actors. I can easily believe him as Valjean. I haven't seen that much of his work, so I don't know how he will portray him, but honestly I do not think the character of Valjean is as complex and Javert.








It looks like a great Christmas and New Years for 2012!

Returning and Leaving

I''ve almost forgotten I had this blog. It has been a very long time since I wrote anything. Mostly, I think it's because I don't have much to say anymore. Rather, I think too much and I can't type fast enough to share it. It's an awful feeling.


I think it is safe to say our lives are governed by fear. We are lucky to be afraid of the things we are nowadays - Biology exam, getting into tertiary study, finding a job. The problem with us - these inhabitants of first world countries, myself included, is that we constantly forget our opportunity and our liberty and the infinite possibility of hope. We complain and laze around and make excuses, but we are the fortunate ones.


I have been whining about my misfortunes lately and worrying about my own future. But in the end, a friend helped me realize it doesn't matter - none of it. In the end, things will work out. I think there is much truth in that statement. I am afraid now of not "making it" or "failing", but more so, the chance that when I do, nobody will help me and nobody will understand and I will receive nothing my false sympathy and judgement.


Who cares?


Of course, it is easy to put on a brave front about it, but if I can thicken my hide enough, that's all it comes down to - what does this mean to me? And if it means nothing, then it's nothing!


I have been watching Dance Academy lately. It's an Australian Young Adults TV Show. The acting is not to a terribly high calibre and I know more than more person who would not classify as particularly quality television. But I actually really enjoy it. Of course, it has the aforementioned faults, but there are some very touching messages in the amongst the many relationships and convoluted plots.


First of all, it tackles the idea of death in a very mature way. I was surprised. To be honest, when that episode came up, I was almost dreading it because something TV never does well is death. Here, not everything is perfect, but something to remember is the idea that it would be nice to know just the instant before death, that you were here, you were loved and you existed. This is a comforting thought to me.


I am still very much the scared little person afraid of death and what comes after this life is over. But, with this wording, I can furthermore believe that it doesn't matter. It's like falling asleep - our consciousness has completely switched off. We aren't aware of anything. What we are afraid of is the process. Hamlet said it well. We are more afraid of the unknown, so we prefer to stick with our lot in life, no matter how miserable.


Other great ideas conveyed in the show is the idea that after you experience true grief, you no longer long to "fly". You know better now. You live life with your feet on the ground and your eyes open. And that is a fantastic philosophy. Granted, I don't believe I have experienced any life-crushing grief yet. There have been tears, no doubt, but nothing to change or really shape me as a person (unless I just haven't realised it). But it's so beautiful to understand that whatever happens, we accept it and embrace it like a sibling to become part of yourself and become a better person in the process.


So, continue judging me, self-proclaimed hipster friends! I will unabashedly watch my trashy TV and feel happier because of it. And, as part of my new self-appreciating programme, I will not care!


Here's hoping I will develop another coherent thought soon so I can make another post.