FILMtalk : Walk The Line

I’ve finally walked the line.

After a long wait, a copy of ‘Walk The Line’ finally arrived in my mailbox. Here’s one thing about online DVD rental, when you feel like watching a particular movie, you have to wait at least 3 days, whereas you can actually go to the video rental store which is probably only five minutes from the comfort of your home, pick up a copy, pay at the counter and rush back. No so much of a hassle, no wait… but there’s LATE FEES! So, to sum it all, online renting works best for me and I’m sticking to it. After all, in case of films like “Walk The Line”, online or conventional; there is still a long wait. When I dumped in the film in my queue on Blockbuster Online, I was in for a ‘short’ wait in which apparently turned out to be a 2 weeks affair. I went to a couple of video stores around to look for this film but the shelves were empty. Well, I could’ve bought the DVD for $9.90 at Wal-Mart but I don’t think I’d invest on an NTSC copy when I’m already heading back to Malaysia in two months. So, I waited like a drug addict craving for cocaine.

So my copy arrived in the mailbox today, watched it right away. And as expected – the film just blew me away.

Being a person with no knowledge in country music whatsoever, I was totally clueless of who was Johnny Cash and June Carter Cash or anyone in country music of that era. I saw the film just as a drama rather than a biography. Joaquin Phoenix portrayed Johnny Cash very well. So did Reese Witherspoon who played June Carter Cash. After watching the performances, I came to understand how Reese won the Oscars. Not only that she was a good actress, she’s not bad at all as a singer! When watching this film, I didn’t see Reese Witherspoon in brown hair or anything Reese. I saw her as June Carter. While watching this film, like many of my friends feel, I couldn’t see any relation of the actress who’s playing June Carter with the actress who played blond chic Elle Woods in Legally Blonde. It’s like a total different person, also not anyone else but June Carter. Joaquin Phoenix however is kind of new to me so I could see him as “Joaquin Phoenix the Johnny Cash”. Just like how till today is see “James Franco the James Dean”. I might be pro Reese ever since the film ‘Election’ but honestly, deserves the Golden Globe and Oscars for such a stunning performance.

Johnny Cash was an American music legend. He had a hard time growing up as his father didn’t favor him that much. His older brother Jack was the more favorable one and when Jack died at an early age after an accident while cutting wood for extra money, his father even hated him even more. I recall his father saying “He took the wrong son. It should have been you at the saw”. Long story short (well, I’m not going to write his whole life story here, am I?), he became a famous country singer with his band, the Tennessee Three. Unfortunately, like many music legend, he was caught in the Rock n Roll syndrome – sex, drugs and alcohol.

June Carter was born in a musical family. Her family was already in the business for, well I’m not so sure but I’m pretty sure it was before she was even born. At 10 she was already singing on radios. Aside from singing, June Carter was also a comedian. There’s always a story as to why one is what one is. June was made believe that she wasn’t the musically talented one among her siblings. Her sister Anita was. June thought she needed to be worth something so she took up comedy. All that aside, she did made a record with Elvis and some other music legends, so she was a good singer after all!! John had always adored June Carter as a singer since he was a very young boy.

Johnny Cash and June Carter met at a tour. When they met, both were married to two different people. They became friends, very close friends indeed. They’ve always had this chemistry and some kind of attraction. John in fact, came on to June several times but was rejected every time. They were both very attracted to one another but they both had values that rooted them on the ground. Both had families and it was just not appropriate.

It took them 12 years before they finally got married. Many things had happened throughout the courtship. John proposed to June something like 40 times, maybe. Not so sure of the number. So, they got married and lived happily ever after.

Personally, I thought this is a very well presented and well expressed love story. A story so unordinary yet makes sense in every way.

I found a resemblance between this film and “Brokeback Mountain” - the subject of public perception when it comes to the subject about love.

In this film, John and June didn’t get together because it wasn’t appropriate for them to be together because both had families – spouses and children. It wasn’t right to the public eye to see them affectionate with one another. They loved each other so dearly but could only keep it behind doors, behind reality, most of the time behind their own hearts. As a result, they had to suffer to make what looks nice in the eyes of the people around them.

In Brokeback Mountain, this was expressed in a different perspective. Two guys who had their heart for each other. Both parted and went on with life. They both got married, had kids of their own but their love was so deep that it was killing them slowly. Heath Ledger’s character was the less expressive one so he suffered the most. Having to live in the 60s, they both knew no one could ever accept their love other than themselves. Well, even if they were living today, I don’t think it is acceptable still.

I guess what people think does matter in the subject love. In many cases, not just love, you have to put public acceptance in front of anything else. It is sad to know that what is acceptable tops the truth. Well, then again not every time or rather not everyone has to go through hiding behind the curtains when struck by love angels.

Well, maybe I’m talking about extreme scenarios. Ok then, talk about common situations shall we? Why does one desire the hottest chic in the room rather than the nerdish looking girl sitting at the other end? You know that if you go up to that girl, she’ll talk to you and in fact, she’ll appreciate the time you took to talk to her. Often times, you’ll be surprised of how she’s more prepared for the world than you. But you still want to try your luck chatting up the pretty girl who has five more other guys like you in line. Is it because you’d rather be caught talking to the hottie? Or maybe if romance happens to spark, you’ll be spotted hands in hands with such a beauty even though you have a face of a scarecrow? So among your friends, you’ll be ‘The Man’ because you got the girl everyone wanted? Doesn't that comes down to public perception?

ANYWAY, that aside...

This film is definitely a 'must-watch'. If you grew up listening to Johnny Cash, then you'd probably going to watch it anyway. But if you've never heard of the name, just go. Watch it. Enjoy it like you're watching a fictional drama. Enjoy it like you enjoyed "That Thing You Do".

An Overseas Degree - Cool!... At home?

I was flipping through New Straits Time Online yesterday and there was this article titled “Excuse Me Doc, Do You Know What You’re Doing?” Politicians are debating over the issue of the rapid growth of private colleges offering medical degrees. In a nutshell, the infrastructure of most private colleges in Malaysia is nothing as compared to proper universities. Maybe with the exception of Multimedia University (MMU), Universiti Tenaga Nasional(UTP) and Universiti Teknologi Petronas (UTP), and maybe some others too, just to be safe. As for the rest, it is typically just a building or two with very limited facilities for hands-on, in-class training. The issue came about when many private colleges that offers medical degrees. With the facilities as pictured, continuous practical in-class training for students is merely impossible. So how do these doctors-to-be get through med school? Theory… theory... theory... I was surprised to learn that there are actually fresh graduate doctors out there with no clinical training, whatsoever. Pretty scary isn’t it?

For me, the issue doesn’t just stop at medical degrees.

Private colleges have pretty much made every sensible teenager’s ambition possible and parents’ dreams come true. Since the booming of private colleges back in the 90s, the programs offered in these colleges have become more and more competitive. Today, there are so many programs offering overseas degrees. US, Australia, UK, you name it. It's actually good in a way, cause it gives deserving students an opportunity to graduate with a degree from an overseas university. Notice how i say "graduate with a..." and not "receive an overseas education at home" or even "study for an overseas degree" ? The question goes down to - Is it comparable? What about the standards?

Here's my take --

Here's the picture.. Your lecturer is a Malaysian. Even though your lectures are in English (American or British English depending on your program), often slangs like "-lah" pops out in the middle of the lecture from your instructor's mouth. Even worse, if you do not know how to speak english, you'll still get away with it. I mean, who is there to pinalize you for poor english right? After all, you are in college not high school. You can ask your instructor a question in a thickest of Manglish accent during a class discussion in Calculus class.. something like "Sir ah, why the graph like that one? Because when i integrate x kuasa dua i get this woh. How come ah?" and your instructor will still understand what you're trying to say and without a doubt, he's able to answer your question. Here's the thing, often when u have a degree from a foreign university, people expect you to speak better English. At least your prospective employers do. And often, foreign university graduates are given more consideration for hire. In this case, with the quality that is.. is it fair to graduates of local universities? Hmm.. maybe this is a small matter.

Ok, how about this.. As mentioned before, the facilities aren't quite as comparable as what it is in the main campus abroad. Then, issue was about medical students. But how about engineers, biotechnologist and many other majors that require some hands-on lab experience too?

Go Figure.

Awaken

Hi y'all! As u can see, i haven't been writing for a while now. The last entry was sometime is November. To be exact, mid november. That was when I was pratically crushed like a semut hitam yang dipijak manusia yang berkasut tumit tinggi 3 inci. Y'know how high heels punya base tu. The heels tu.. the thin, pointy heels tu. Yeah.. y'know what is the probability of the base of the pointy heels yang diameternya persis diameter duit syiling 5 sen tu pijak on a specific point of a surface? I don't know the exact figure but i'm pretty sure its pretty small of a number. And bila semut tu dipijak.. itu yang di namakan "Malang Tidak Berbau" .. Tetapi, asid formik yang dikeluarkan dari badan semut tentunya berbau..

Happy to say.. i'm up again.
*Thanks to my buddies Firhad, Teck Maan, Moe, Shahmi dan Shafinaz yang telah sudi melayan kedukaan ku dan menaikkan semula semangatku sebagai seorang AKU...

And i guess there's a lot of catching up to do.

Ok.. classes have started. It's been 2 weeks already. Biasalah, nothing too exciting except the fact that it's my last semester and that I have more time than ever. So what does a "work-aholic" do when she has some extra time time in hand? WORK MORE lah!! HAHHA.. Collect some money in USD and bring it back to Malaysia and experience the "Anak Orang Kaya" life for a bit before going totally broke in Malaysia.

What else? Erm.. How's your New Years Resolution holding on? Mine's doin fine, i guess.. Well, at i'd like to think so. Anyway, in my list are :
1.To have a better relationship with my family especially my sister - I've always been close to my parents and brother. Only wif my sister, there seems to be a gap and i'd like to fix it. Especially knowing the fact that she'll be leaving for college this year and I'll be heading home instead.
2. To have a better relationship wif my cousins. - These are the dudes and dudets i grew up with and i trully miss them while i'm away. Hmm..Maybe after graduation i should hang out with my cousin in New Zealand for a bit.
3. To have a better relationship with my best friend - I've screwd up many times already. So, I wanna make things better for her simply because she's just a wonderful person.
4. To have a better relationship with my old friends - Especially the 3 gals from da hood (You know who u are!).Getting to spend time wif them while in Malaysia makes me realize that they are the reason why i am what i am today and that only they understand.
5. To have a better relationship with Allah - That includes no Pork.. No Sex, Drugs and Alcohol. HAHHA.. like it effects me?!!
6. To be nicer to my Ex-es - To all the have beens, you are in a lucky year.
7. To get closer to my dreams and aspirations.

Whatever it is, i personally think you can always set your goals or in this matter, resolution at any point of time. It doesnt always have to be at the turning of a year. it all goes down to your intentions. Niat yang datang dari dalam hati yang mencorak tindakan yang akan kita ambil dan menjadi pengukur sejauh mana kita akan berusaha untuk mencapai sesuatu. Dari niatlah keazaman dan kemahuan kita bermula. Segalanya bermula dari dalam sanubari kita sendiri.

It's not how good you are, but how good you want to be.

LIFE - My Winter Sonata

The beginning...

November 17, 2005

The first snowflake dropped in front of my very on eyes. "Hmm... in November?", i thought. I was just a few steps away from my car. The car i've been driving for the whole 3 years that i was here. I thank my dad for the car. My very own car. My first car. The car that had brought me to places. The car that had brought my friends to places. I remember the countless numbers of road trips especially when we went from Michigan to Illinois to Wisconsin to Minnesota and back... That was the summer I learn who my friends are.

But that was summer... 2 years ago...

Summer is all about late night outings and early morning breakfast hang-outs.. Summer is about enjoying the outdoor, relax, feel free, have fun, yi-yi ya-ya.. Summer is about losing track of time. The sun sets at 10pm so when you're done with your evening workout', it's already time for Late Night with Conan O'Brien. Ooops.. You missed Will and Grace again!! Sorry.. I enjoy summers especially when a few of my girlfriends and I usually get together to play soccer every other evening and just have fun.

Summer, for me... (speaking in a Computer Engineering languange) is a bunch of "Don't Cares"...

But today... It's officially winter.

This winter will be the loneliest ever.. When your loved one is far at home.. you don't really feel like experiencing winter. Winter is like - anti-summer. If summer is about being carefree and all that.. Well, winter is not. Winter is when you get very sensitive to your surroundings. The weather will get very 'bitchy' - and so are you. Some may even get SAD (Seasonal Affective Disorder), which is actually just another fancy name for pure depression.

I was talking about winter with a good guy friend of mine. How he misses having a girlfriend this time around of the year. The cuddlings.. the romatic evening.. For me, its the company.. I don't really care about the cuddling and all that mushy-mushy stuff.. The idea of the cold gloomy weekend with nothing to do. You can go out to the malls but the again, your car is covered with 4-5 inches of snow and your tires are burried in the white thick carpet of fluffy snow.. The only way to go anywhere is to plow that snow off the car, off the road.. off the door, in fact! SO... I'd rather stay home with my loved one and just spend the evening watching a good movie, with a bowl of hot 'Mamak Style Sup Kambing' dipped with slices of fresh baguette in my hands.. Or maybe a cup of mint hot chocolate or a cup of homemade Teh Tarik.. Just enjoy each other's company.. spend hours chit chatting about anything.. the laughter, the weeps..

How i miss that..

Today is the first day of snow, yet i could hear the sounds of melancholy. This winter is surely gonna be different.. I have been missing the company from the first day i arrived in Kazoo after spending a truly memorable summer in Malaysia.. and I know i'm gonna miss it more and more as it gets colder and whiter..

Today is the beginning of My Winter Sonata..

My Raya Treat No. 2 - "Gitulah Raya..."

Last night I finally got to watch "Gitulah Raya" and the night before "AF Rumah Terbuka".. Thanx to Syaz-aora... heheh... When you're this far from home, your only hope to these things are your friends and file-sharing applications. And only when you're this far from home that you appreciate these stuffs.. ;)

Ok, first up - AF Rumah Terbuka - To majority of my friends who would probably have no clue what i'm talking about.. AF Rumah Terbuka is a raya telemovie-musical featuring all of the 14 Akademi Fantasia stars. Don't know what is Akademi Fantasia? Google it.. :)

And to those who happen to surf this site.. and doesnt' know me, whatsoever.. i have to tell you that this is really not a site to look for AF news or any news on any particular AF star. This is just an entry that talks about AF. This blog talks about anything.. whatever i feel like.. :)

Ok.. back to the topic..

In general, i think they could have done a better job producing this telemovie. It was entertaining just some parts lack intelligence. Personally, i think.. bila mereka start 'nyanyi' lagu masing-masing, it looks very static. Contohnya macam lagu Amylea, " Pulang Di Hari Raya".. dengan gubahan yang agak rock tu.. dibazirkan dengan hanya menyanyi di dalam rumah ketika memasang langsir.. Dan membuatkan Amylea kelihatan agak kaku semasa 'menyanyikan' lagu tu. I know Amylea is better than that.. The songs sung by these kids can be presented better than just standing and moving around certain area, i think.

However, i'm not gonna condemn the whole production. I have to say, certain parts memang bagus penyampaiannya.. contohnya scene Felix jumpa Akma.. It's just hillarious.. hahha.. But from the AF days i find that Felix(duh!) and Akma both have good sense of humor.. Credits to than and to them who did well presenting. ;)

Next up - Gitulah Raya... Every raya (except the last 3 rayas that i've been away) .. i always look forward to watch the raya comedies.. So far the best is still 'Lontong' which came out in 1995 (when i was in standard 6) directed by Azwan Ali (if not Aznil Nawawi, but i'm positive it's Azwan).. ingat lagi watak Wak Tong and Lonyah lakonan Salleh Yaakob dan Ogy Ahmad Daud.How i miss those slapstick humor 'ala Senario' which has always been the essence to these telemovies... Jalil Hamid also produced some raya comedy skits that same year and it was good too. I hope Afdlin comes out with his version as he is one helluva 'Cip Kodok'..

So, this year it's 'Gitulah Raya' featuring Felix and Marsha of.. ehemm... AF3! (Oooh-- C'mon guys! Gimme a break will ya?!). I must say it's 'sedap' lah.. but don't compare too much with 'Lontong'.. Lontong was more 'selamba'... But the fact that this is my 4th raya overseas and I miss those raya pertama TV shows.. I must say this is just finger lickin' good!...

Like in previous my entries, i am not gonna summarize the film for you unless it's that bad that I feel that i could do you a favor by saving your time from watching it.. This time i'm more interested in talking about the performances of my 2 favourite AF Stars.. Ehemm.. Felix and Marsha..

You know those characters... The jock's bestfriend. The second to the 'mat-perasan', yeah.. the other 'mat perasan'. The one who tries to get the girl but fails and some random looser wins. No, not the same girl as the jock's interest but the other girl. The friend of the girl... yeah, the one who often stands on the right, slightly behind the jock. (There's actually a reason why it's always potrayed this way , mis-en-scene)... The one who is also 'ingat bagus'.. yeah, him...

Well, that was Felix in this film.


He did a good job potraying the character. It's a character that is not too strong nor too mellow. With his slow-pace-talking style, he has the typical "kaki ngorat" touch in him... However, i do find him a bit stiff. In other words..

One of the earlier scenes : Felix and the girl of his interest.. ehemm.. Marsha

As for Marsha, I must say.. for a first timer, she did very well.. ada potensi..

Above : A dramatic scene where Marsha and Apek had to part. In this film, Apek left for KL to pursue a singing career. I won't tell you what exactly sent him to KL as i really want you to watch this comedy.

FYI : This is not one of my artwork..

This a montaj for Gitulah Raya. It reminds me of the scrapbooks I use to make back in the school days. Y'know, the one where you cut out every single pictures of you and your friends and paste it on a piece of paper then cut it again and then paste in on a black paper. Yeah, those things.. And then as you grow older you wonder you u did that. You wish you hadn't done that because now you don't have any pictures of the best days of your life. HAHAAHHAH!!

I just have to include a screenshot of the montaj in here for its significant meaning.. Not because of Marsha okay.. (Iyelah tu.. hahahah!!)

LIFE - Salam Aidilfitri wishes to all...

Selamat Hari Raya.. Happy Eid Mubarak.. And Maaf Zahir Batin..

First of all, i'd like to wish my family.. Selamat Hari Raya.. Tahun ni tak hantar ucapan kat Utusan, so jangan cari!.. Hhahah.. Maaf Zahir Batin.. I don't know why it is really hard for anyone to say sorry to the people they love most..

Also, my raya wish goes to :

My cousins yang berderet-deret..

My friends around the world - Shafinaz, Alis, Fiyad, Sasha, Ayu, Salmi, Nadira, Irma, Hanisah, Ainul, Pedah, Kabe, Sazlan, Ann, Saufi, Shana (well Shana u fall into my family catagory lah actually..), Moe, Ghaffir, Tajul, Tini, Izwan, Shahmi, Nik, Dean, Salina, Hanim, Liyana, Faizah, Amal... Okaylah, i think the list would never end.. hahaha.. So to those of you whose name is not mentioned here, I appologize... I will make sure your name is on next year's list.. hehhe..

My new friends ( You can call it an after math of my summer holidays in Malaysia.. hhehehe) -- Yuria, Kak Yusnita, Kak Mila, Eira, Najmi, Syaz, Iwan, Nida.. nice knowing you guys.. I never usually make this many friends in such a short period of time, to tell you the truth.. (Well, someone deserves a big THANK YOU for this.. ;p)

All the 352 friends on my Friendster list.

All muslims around the world..

FILM - Les Choristes (The Chorus)

What are the similarities of films such as "Dead Poet Society", "Mr Holland's Opus", "Sister Act and "Music of the Heart"?

Audiences love films about underdogs that overcome. One of the most beloved sub-genres in film history involves a seemingly controversial or unorthodox schoolteacher sparking the inspiration of students to rise above and achieve greatness. Les Choristes or in English, The Chorus is a new edition to this film genre.

I've been waiting for the chance to watch this film and finally, I got my copy from Netflix. The fact that I was fasting, I had every reason to dedicate my evening for a film.

This is pretty impressive for a first feature film by director and composer Christophe Barratier, who adapted the screenplay from a little known film called The Cage of the Nightingales. Les Choristes is set in post-World War II France, a time of social restructuring and economic recovery from German occupation. To understand the scenario in this film is to go back to French history.... As we all know, WWII was mainly about the Nazis and the Germans occupied France once upon a time... Long story short, many children were orphaned as a result... Due to that, the French government instated correctional houses designed to discipline boys with military strictness.

L'Fond de L'Etang, is a school of such military strictness.When mild-mannered Clement Mathieu arrives to take a position as the new assistant teacher, he is immediately plunged into an educational system nightmare. His colleagues humorously introduce themselves by giving the names of the worst troublemakers. Headmaster Rachin has the cold, hard demeanor of a warden, delivering swift punishment to anyone caught inciting trouble. And the boys behave as if discipline were an alien concept, pouring their efforts into driving the new teacher away for the next one in line to arrive. As yo might have guessed.. Mathieu changes the prospect of the school.. la di da.. bla bla bla.. typical.

I don't really feel like talking about the whole story as i think it is really worth watching.. So, I suggest you watch this film...


While the story line might be of sumthing very predictable, the film itself is not. By that i mean the art of it.. Each and every plot was well presented, utilizing every concept of mis-en-scene.. I remembered a scene in the film when the boys were put to sleep and Mathieu returned to his 'room' to compose a song for the chorus... Every single element as seen on the screen has a reason to be there.. The dorm was all dark and gloomy... The boys were all soundly asleep, at the back of all that you could see Mathieu's room lit and his shadow behind the curtains.. In cinematographic language, we're talking about deep focus photography.. The camera pulls back slowly as the background music began to ease in the film as Mathieu composes his music through the night... This brings the emotions of a new hope to the screen hence to the audience. This is just a small example of the artistic touch of this film.


Les Choristes is a film of great beauty and sweet intentions, offering a strong theme of grace vs. punishment—compassion of the heart in contrast to the hard discipline of the law... How one seemingly small act can transform so many lives, treating the kids like people instead of criminals. Les Choristes plays its audience like a violin. Some may end up being caught up in the emotions, sweetness, and touching message at the film's heart. For the rest, well.. might just find this film too artsy..