Love Hurts

On the subject of movies and books, I’d like to discuss another two novels I absolutely love. One has already been adapted into a movie recently, the other, I’m hoping will follow suit very soon. P.S. I Love You and Rosie Dunne.
P.S. I Love You is a total chick flick thanks to its sappiness and deep romance. I mean, your husband—who, by the way, seems to portray a realistic prince charming of every girl’s dreams—dies and you’re still in mourning and you find out he’s left you ‘a message from the beyond’. So late Gerry leaves his wife, Holly, ten letters to which she is only allowed to open one each month (making it a total of ten months, obviously). In each letter, he gives her instructions on what to do. I’m not talking about chore-like stuff, but things like: ‘Go to the karaoke bar and make up for the last time you made a fool of yourself’ or ‘Have a girls night out and go crazy’ or things that Holly has a harder time doing like ‘Take all my clothes and give it out to charity, don’t leave them lying around the cupboard’. It was just tears, tears and tears from the very beginning. Especially Gerry’s last letter. OMG. It just killed me. I can’t imagine going through the death of someone I love, moreover having them send me letters telling me to get over them. The title derives from how Gerry always writes a postscript at the end of every letter saying those three magical words any girl would love to hear.
Rosie Dunne is about this girl who has a best friend (Alex, I think his name is) that she’s known ever since they could barely talk. They went through kindergarten, primary, secondary and high school together and they were just planning to spend college together (in their own paths, but still together) when tragedy strikes. Rosie gets knocked up out of mere frustration and she parts ways with Alex. Basically, they have feelings for each other but neither would confess and they stay in the whole ‘friendship’ realm. They get married, lead their own different lives, occasionally crossing one another’s paths (like how Rosie became ‘Best Woman’ at Alex’s wedding as opposed to him having a best man). They live through years of denial and frustration without really coming into terms as to what they mean to one another. Only when they both turn fifty and they’ve pretty much got nowhere else to go, nothing more to achieve do they finally fall into each other’s arms. There is a reason why this story means a lot to me, but I’m not gonna elaborate here. I just think it’s touching though rather stupid that they have to wait ‘till they reach their middle-ages before they gain what they’ve long desired.
P.S. I Love You’s been adapted as a movie with the same title, starring Hillary Swank and Gerard Butler. I cried in the very first scene. Pathetic, I know. But it was beautiful, no doubt about that. For those of you who haven’t read the book or seen the movie, I suggest you do so. IMMEDIATELY. But for those who have nothing but a heart of stone (guys, men, any other person with overly large amounts of testosterone, this means YOU), this is not the book/movie for you. One thing that these books teach you is that love does hurt. Whether you have experienced it then lost it (like in the case of Holly) or you keep suppressing it, knowing exposure would only hurt you even more (i.e. Rosie), love hurts. But still, people choose to feel it.

Luv n all, ppl.

mi@ngel

The Chronicles of Narnia: Prince Caspian

Today I finally got around to watching one of the most anticipated movies this year (for me anyway) and I gotta tell you, it was well worth the wait. Patience really does pay off. This movie totally ROCKED!!!!!!!!! It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G in every possible way: the special effects, the acting, the cinematography, the storyline…everything. And it doesn’t hurt that the Prince Caspian himself (Ben Barnes) is a total HUNK!
It was much better than the first movie. Not that the first one sucked or anything, but I would only give it ‘a satisfying nod’. I think it had something to do with the fact that I’ve grown up reading The Lion, The Witch and The Wardrobe so many times and I’ve seen the older version of the movie that the first movie brought no surprises. But unlike other novel-adapted movies (i.e. Harry Potter, The Golden Compass, Eragon), this one was absolutely amazing. The only better adaptation from an epic novel would have to be The Lord of the Rings (who in the world could ever top the LOTR movies?). Narnia’s still no comparison, but it sure is on the way to making movie history.
So basically this second movie is about how Prince Caspian tries to regain his rightful throne after his uncle (Lord Miraz) tries to kill him (now that he’s got an heir to take the throne himself). What we’ve seen and come to know in the first Narnia movie is that the land of Narnia is full of magical beings and beasts and its practically a place of fairytale. But in this second part, Narnia has become what we, as viewers, acknowledge it: a myth. Nothing more. Basically, humans (“sons of Adam” and “daughters of Eve”) have banished the Narnians (centaurs, dwarves and talking animals alike) and it has become nothing more than a legend that Aslan’s kingdom once existed. Turns out they still exist, just in hiding. So Prince Caspian runs into a few Narnians and promises them their peace and freedom if they helped him regain his throne.
Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy fall into the picture when Prince Caspian unintentionally blows Susan’s horn and calls them back into their land. When they realize what has become of Narnia, they immediately build forces with Prince Caspian and the remaining Narnians to try and bring down Lord Miraz’s regime. Lucy believes they should seek Aslan for aid considering the limited power they have, but Peter and Susan believe it best to strike at first chance, and not relying on a lion who’s still-existence is highly questionable.
Their first attempt to takeover the kingdom, although seemingly successful at first, falls into pieces and, predictably, takes more unnecessary victims. I hate these sort of scenes. Not because it was overly melodramatic and typical of an epic movie, but because it was just plainly heartwrenching to see even centaurs and minotaurs so willingly give up their lives for their kings and queens. Lord Miraz’s army striked back and the Narnians are forced to fight back. At first it seems they might have the advantage, but then they realize they’re outnumbered and they get cornered, etc. etc. etc. You know, the typical climax of a movie where the hero doesn’t seem to have a chance of winning. But the only difference with this battle is that they actually trust Lucy and send her off to find Aslan. The mighty lion comes at the right time and saves everyone and everybody lives happily ever after.
That’s pretty much the big outline of things. One addition to this movie is that there’s a spark of love between Susan and Prince Caspian (it’s bound to happen sooner or later). To be frank, I’ve only read the book of the first movie. I would LOVE to get my hands on the rest of CS Lewis’ masterpiece. Unfortunately, however, I CAN’T FIND ANY OF THE ORIGINAL ENGLISH EDITIONS HERE!!!!!!!!!!! So that’s highly frustrating. I really, really, really wanna get my hands on them. Fingers crossed I do managed to find them one day.
Anyhow, it was utterly awesome! I mean, I thought British actors (especially young actors) were lame (take Daniel Radcliffe for example—no offence) but I gotta hand it to these guys, they totally ROCKED!!!!!! I can’t wait for the third installment!!!!! I sincerely hope Prince Caspian shows up in the third movie. I mean, come on! Good looks, a sexy accent, a heart of gold, chivalry and a whole KINGDOM?!?! What more could you ask for?

*dreamy sigh*

mi@ngel

Debating, it’s addictive

So back in the tenth grade a senior of mine pushed me into joining this Central Java High School Debating Competition thing. To cut a long story short, it totally sucked. Probably one of the worst experiences I’ve had in any competition. I got struck down at the very first match and I totally sucked. But amazingly, far from avoiding future debating, I actually got more involved in it. I really don’t know how it happened, but it was probably due to the fact that there weren’t that many other candidates who were willing to be pushed as I was into something like debating. So I gave debating another shot and I gotta tell you, it was well worth the first disastrous experience. I got selected for an all-state competition and I’ve been doing nothing else since.
Fast forward 4 years (it’s been that long?), I’m still tirelessly debating. Varsity debates are a whole lot tougher than your regular high school debate. And I’ve been having a go at it for more than a year without any significant results. Not that I’ve cared much ‘cuz I know to be able to ‘conquer’ the varsity debating world is close to impossible—but we’re getting there!
Only last weekend did I have my most recent competition. It was a regional competition but would follow-up at a national level for the first and second champions. For once in all my varsity debating career (ha! As if it could eva be considered a career!), I got into the finals!!!!!! It wasn’t easy getting into the top four and there were a few bumps along the way, but we managed it.
So there I was, thinking, crap, finale, economy motion, I am sooooo dead. When we got the Opening Government position and got the motion, I was even more like, shit! This sucks! So I was pretty much satisfied by just getting into the finals without any higher hopes. But then the actual debate took place and my confidence just soared up to the skies (without me going all cocky and snobby or anything) ‘cuz apart from one team who I knew from the very beginning would take home the champions trophy, the others were only vaguely significant in the debate. Not only were they only repressively responsive, but the cases they brought along just seemed to be shunted aside. So then I thought, wow, we have a pretty good chance at getting second place at the least.
I wasn’t being one of those idiots who thought that I literally ruled the universe and had every right to rule the competition, but when the results came out and I found out we came in third (3rd!!!!!), I was like, WHAT?! So I’m sitting there, astounded, disbelief running through my head, and I realize I wasn’t the only one feeling that way. Other people thought we deserved to get second place too! And I still can’t understand, even now, how we managed to let second place slip from our fingers when we had it firm in our grasp!
But anyway, that’s just one of the two most pissing off moments throughout my whole debating career (let’s call it that for the sake of this entry). Prior to that competition, I was actually in a place where debating had an anticlimax on me and I was ready to quit altogether (if it hadn’t been for the fact that so many people were relying on me). I just felt that I was getting nowhere. But then, like a breath of fresh air, we finally acted upon our long-hoped-for incentive to invite an outside coach and that really brightened the dim light in our heads. Turns out we were really groping in the dark all this time and that two-day coaching session (although brief) really brought a new light in the way we debated (kudos, Nando!). I really, really, REALLY hope we only improve for the future.
What I’ve been rambling about here pretty much proves how addictive debating can be. Because you can hate it all you want, but you just keep coming back for more. It is so satisfying when you get to prove your superiority over others by proving just how wrong they can be in logic (LOL!). Four years I’ve been doing this and I really don’t know when I’ll ever stop. Seriously. It’s not contagious, but it really is drug-like. People say debaters don’t have a life and that we’re idiots for arguing over something we don’t act upon, but hey, this IS our life. Apart from the normal, ordinary, social life we lead every other day of the year, I mean. So to KiQ, Buna (god, we’ve been together n debating for THIS long???), Permai, Resha, Pipit, Muse, Ary (Bali, anyone?), Satrio, Fathah, Muji (welcome to the crazy world of Undip’s Debating Society!), Mb’ Ayu, Mb’ Rizky, Mas Dhonny, Mas Adri, Mas Ari, Mas Tony, Mb’ Rista (oldies goldies, eh?) and anyone else whose life has been harshly taken away by debating, let’s rock this house and show that debaters are humans too! More human, perhaps, than most people.

LOL.
OK. Peace out!

mi@ngel

The Beginning

So, basically, there are two reasons why I started up this blog:

1. Because I've always wanted to

2. Because a friend's nagging encouragements have gotten the better of me.

There are also two reasons why I haven't actually started a blog before this:

1. Because I've always delayed by saying I don't have time

2. Because I've always had some excuse or rather to postpone myself if reason #1 was not the case.

Basically, now I've overcome myself and finally gotten around to doing this. What I plan to put here is not, as generally done by others, reports of my daily going-ons, but my perspectives on certain respects I consider of importance. I'm hoping to post a couple of my short stories too. In return, I hope everyone who drops by and reads will be able to provide feedback, comments, etc. I welcome ANYTHING so long as it is openminded and not one-sided or undermines others.

I look forward to posting something that's been bugging me for quite a while now as soon as I have enough time (there goes the time excuse again....).

Peace out peepz!

mi@ngel