Director: Michel Gondry Writers: Charlie Kaufman (story) & Michel Gondry (story), etc. Release Date: 19 March 2004 (USA) Genre: Drama | Romance Awards: yeah, lots of nominations!
Cast: Jim Carrey as Joel Barish Kate Winslet as Clementine Kruczynski Elijah Wood as Patrick Mark Ruffalo as Stan Kirsten Dunst as Mary, etc.
Plot: A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. (IMDB)
Comment: Completely star-studded! And mind you, this has been the first Jim Carrey movie I've seen where his role isn't to make you rolling on the floor and laughing your heart out. But of course, he never missed to make you giggle once or twice. The plotine? Very sophisticated. This film would keep you on a rollercoaster ride until the end, and you'd be utterly confused most of the time. Why would you not? This film talks about digging into one's mind and erasing those "bad" memories you got there, but what if you changed your mind and doesn't want them to be erased anymore? hahaha, confused already? you just better watch this one.
Director: Marc Forster Writers: Allan Knee (play) David Magee (screenplay) Release Date: 13 April 2005 (Philippines) Genre: Biography | Drama | Family
Cast: Johnny Depp as Sir James Matthew Barrie Kate Winslet as Sylvia Llewelyn Davies Julie Christie as Mrs. Emma du Maurier Radha Mitchell as Mary Ansell Barrie Dustin Hoffman as Charles Frohman Freddie Highmore as Peter Llewelyn Davies, etc.
Plot: This movie is the story of J.M. Barrie's friendship with a family who inspired him to create Peter Pan. *no spoilers
Comments: The character of Sir J.M. Barrie was somewhat complicated in the sense that there was a bit of childishness in it to appeal to his playmates and at the same time having a touch of maturity to work out his marital relations and to that of his financer...but it was brilliantly played by Johnny Depp! Kate Winslet looked nice and she appeared more mature being the mother of 4 boys. Forgive me, but I wasn't able to recognize that Dustin Hoffman was there in the movie. That beard and facial hair concealed his identity really well.
I'd like to give credit to a young actor's performance in this movie. Freddie Highmore who played the character of Peter Llewelyn Davies gave an astonishing dramatic act. I first saw his movies, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory (2005)and August Rush (2007), and was impressed by him ever since. This time, he's done it again, though, obviously Finding Neverland came way before than those 2 other movies. Nevertheless, he's such a cute and talented kid. Kudos to you, boy! No wonder he's got nominations for the Best Performance by a Younger Actor. Look for more awards of the movie here.
Cast: Sarah Polley as Ann Amanda Plummer as Laurie Scott Speedman as Don Leonor Watling as Ann, the Neighbor Deborah Harry as Ann's Mother, etc.
Plot: A young woman conceals the fact of her terminal cancer to live her life with a passion she never had before. (IMDB)
Comments: A very sad movie...but despite that, it somehow shows a wonderful perspective about dying. Though dying per se isn't a good perspective in itself, it gives light in the famous saying that goes...live life to the fullest because we may never see tomorrow. I may not have gotten that right, but you get the idea. A very calm and sad movie, but I liked it overall. Look, it garnered some awards!
Plot: Two girlfriends on a summer holiday in Spain become enamored with the same painter, unaware that his ex-wife, with whom he has a tempestuous relationship, is about to re-enter the picture. (IMDB)
Comments: When watching this one, you need to have an open mind and a crazier imagination to be able to appreciate the storyline and jive with the writer/director's point of view - very unique and wilder opinion of life. It opens you to an imperfect yet, enjoyable life, and it suggests new versions of love relationships which you never have deemed to be ever possible. I enjoyed watching this one. It actually garnered lots of awards! Well, this is a good movie, but not which i couldn't forget the rest of my life...hopefully not.
Director: Michael Bay Writers: Ehren Kruger (written by) Roberto Orci (written by) Alex Kurtzman(written by Release Date: 24 June 2009 (Philippines) Genre: Action, Adventure, Sci-Fi
Cast: Shia LaBeouf as Sam Witwicky Megan Fox as Mikaela Banes Josh Duhamel as Major Lennox, etc.
Plot: * I won't provide any spoilers.
Decepticon forces return to Earth on a mission to take Sam Witwicky prisoner, after the young hero learns the truth about the ancient origins of the Transformers. Joining the mission to protect humankind is Optimus Prime, who forms an alliance with international armies for a second epic battle. (from IMDB)
Comments: * Extremely awesome action scenes, though there's nothing much about the plot and storyline. The acting was kind of lame, and I personally don't like those twin racist robots and their dialogue. But, the special effects were spectacular. If you are looking for movies with high-end digital effects rather than focusing on the acting skills of the casts, then this one is for you. I was even more entertained on the robots' dramatic show than the live ones, hehehhe. peace ya all... Nonetheless, it still entertained me and a lot of people worldwide.
Director: Jessie Nelson Writers: Kristine Johnson (written by) & Jessie Nelson (written by) Release Date: 25 January 2002 (USA) Genre: Drama
Cast: Sean Penn as Sam Dawson Michelle Pfeiffer as Rita Harrison Williams Dakota Fanning as Lucy Diamond Dawson, etc.
Plot: A mentally-retarded, loving father fought against life and people who would attempt to separate him from his sweet 7-year old daughter. He would do everything that it takes to prove to the court that he alone could provide the kind of care and love his daughter needed to go through life's challenges as she grow up to be a young lady. And those people who never believed he'd be capable to do so, him having just a mental capacity that of a 7-year-old were all taken aback as he showed them that love is all you need to raise a child so dear to your heart. Sam Dawson sends inspiration to his lawyer, to his mentally retarded friends, to his daughter's foster parents and to all the people who witnessed how he struggled to claim his daughter back.
* I actually cried a lot of times while watching the movie. Yes, yes...you might think it's too sentimental or pathetic of me to do so. But, really, I just can't help myself. This movie speaks more of life and makes us see one of the things that we usually have taken for granted...our dad's love for us. I know that sometimes, we'd wish we have a different dad and not the one we already have. Sometimes we'd wish he wouldn't be that nosy or strict or overprotective or close-minded. And just because we couldn't conform to what he desired and wanted for us, we'd ravage and wish he'd be gone. But, we shouldn't be doing these. For at least, we've had the chance to know our dad, get to see him and live with him. We've had the opportunity to dine with him, cuddle with him, laugh at his jokes, watch movies with him, get to taste his cooking, and just even enjoy his company. We are fortunate enough to experience his presence, because not all the people in the world know where their dad is or if they do, not given the chance to get to know him.
Sam may not be a perfect dad, just like our dads. They all have flaws and weaknesses, and we may never knew it but they may also be hammering their heads and working hard on how to be a better dad to their kids. Yet, most of the time, we overlook at their efforts to provide us decent livings, we oversee their worries as we go home late at night and we resent their good advices to better our lives.
Before it is too late, let us all look back at what we've done to our dads and on how much we give importance to them. They deserve more than our attention, our care and our love in return...and I think Father's Day shouldn't just be a one-day affair. We should be celebrating that everyday of our lives so long as we look up to a father who nurtured us to who we are now...whether he be biological or not.
Director: Anne Fletcher Writer: Aline Brosh McKenna (written by) Release Date: 30 January 2008 (Philippines) Genre: Comedy | Romance
Cast: Katherine Heigl as Jane James Marsden as Kevin, etc.
Plot: Having been a bridesmaid for 27 times, Jane couldn't say no to friends as she selflessly and effectively plan for their wedding. She even could not say no to hand over her secret love to her beloved spoiled baby sister, Tess. Now, what is she gonna prioritize as she became her sister's maid of honor and at the same time warding off the cynical, but handsome "Commitments" columnist who came tailing after her to get the outstanding story of the week? Who will she pursue: her 20 years of secret love or the new attraction towards the new guy whom she found out that they may have something in common after all?
* I am no big fan with Tagalog movies, I admit, but I actually have seen a few of them. This movie reminds me of Claudine Barreto and Rico Yan's movie about her being always a bridesmaid. I forgot the title for that, it was somewhat cheesy, I think.. hehhhe, peace. But, surprisingly, it was one of the few Tagalog movies that I finished watching from the start till the end. Though the storyline for 27 Dresses are somewhat different from the plot of the other movie, still, the theme and general idea was similar.
27 Dresses is a hilarious romantic comedy about love, sisterhood and relationships. The person we secretly love for so long now may actually be not the exact person that we've been looking for after all. And the person we so despise may turn out to be the one, we just never knew. Weddings are very serious events where "I dos" have more to it than just the mere blurting out of words. There's the commitment and promise to be with someone the rest of time no matter what..and that's no ordinary saying of vows, it has to be fulfilled every day of one's married life. Scary, right? But i believe, once you're truly in love and found the person you've decided to spend time with, it wouldn't be that difficult and scary after all. You'll just enjoy each moment together and relive them over and over again.
Director: Petter Næss Writer: Ronald Bass (written by) Release Date: 2 February 2006 (Thailand) Genre: Comedy | Drama | Romance
Cast: Josh Hartnett as Donald Morton Radha Mitchell as Isabelle Sorenson, etc.
Plot: A dramatic-comedy, inspired by the lives of two people with Asperger's Syndrome, a form of autism, whose emotional dysfunctions threaten to sabotage their budding romance. Donald is a good-natured but hapless taxi driver with a love of birds and a superhuman knack for numbers. Like many people with AS, he likes patterns and routines. But when the beautiful but complicated Isabel joins the autism support group he leads, his life - and his heart - are turned upside down. Written by Anonymous
Memorable quotes: Donald Morton: Excuse me. Do you know when the next bus, uh 217, runs? Man at bus stop: Sorry. Donald Morton: I'm chasing someone. Man at bus stop: By bus? Donald Morton: Well, it's important. Man at bus stop: Important enough to take the bus? Donald Morton: Yeah. My girlfriend left me because I wanted to get married and she wanted to stay just friends. Man at bus stop: Ah. The slower this chase, the better. Donald Morton: Yeah.
Isabelle Sorenson: All this time, and you didn't call. Donald Morton: I was gonna call. Isabelle Sorenson: You were? Donald Morton: Well just to tell you that I wasn't gonna call so that you wouldn't be aggravated, sitting around waiting and wondering when I was Isabelle Sorenson: gonna call? Donald Morton: Yeah. But in the end I figured that forcing myself into your life was probably not right. I would always do that. So the only nice thing I had left to give was just not to call. Isabelle Sorenson: I hated you for not calling. Because you were always gonna be there, and when you weren't, it was as if you didn't love me anymore. Donald Morton: So go home, I'll call ya.
Donald Morton: People with Asperger's want contact with other people very much; we're just pathetically clueless at it, that's all.
Isabelle Sorenson: Be my friend Donald, be my best friend, please, because I really need you. I always felt like you wanted us to get married or something. Donald Morton: I never said that. Isabelle Sorenson: Not with words. But instead of that, do you want to just be my friend? Donald Morton: Without the sex? Isabelle Sorenson: Without the pressure. My friendship is all I have to give. Do you want it?
trivia: The project was originally planned for Steven Spielberg, but due to his workload it eventually landed in the hands of critically acclaimed Norwegian director Petter Næss. This became his first US production.
The film is based on the story of Jerry and Mary Newport. They were profiled in 1995 in an LA Times article.
Talking about Asperger's Syndrome: Asperger syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder (ASD), and people with it therefore show significant difficulties in social interaction and restricted, stereotyped patterns of behavior and interests.
It is named after the Austrian pediatrician Hans Asperger who, in 1944, described children in his practice who lacked nonverbal communication skills, demonstrated limited empathy with their peers, and were physically clumsy.
The exact cause is unknown, although research supports the likelihood of a genetic basis; brain imaging techniques have not identified a clear common pathology.
The lack of demonstrated empathy is possibly the most dysfunctional aspect of Asperger syndrome. Individuals with AS experience difficulties in basic elements of social interaction, which may include a failure to develop friendships or to seek shared enjoyments or achievements with others (for example, showing others objects of interest), a lack of social or emotional reciprocity, and impaired nonverbal behaviors in areas such as eye contact, facial expression, posture, and gesture. Unlike those with autism, people with AS are not usually withdrawn around others; they approach others, even if awkwardly.
People with Asperger syndrome often display behavior, interests, and activities that are restricted and repetitive and are sometimes abnormally intense or focused. They may stick to inflexible routines, move in stereotyped and repetitive ways, or preoccupy themselves with parts of objects.
This book helped me understand a lot of things. It witnessed the most devastating events of my life, it was there when i smiled and it scooped my tears when i cried.
I noted on the important lessons it taught me:
Everyone seems to have a clear idea of how other people should lead their lives, but none about his or her own.
If you start out by promising what you don't even have yet, you'll lose your desire to work toward getting it.
When each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises.
Making a decision was only the beginning of things. When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision.
The closer one gets to realizing his destiny, the more that destiny becomes his true reason for being.
No matter how many detours and adjustments it made, the caravan moved toward the same compass point. Once obstacles were overcome, it returned to its course, sighting on a star that indicated the location of the oasis.
People need not fear the unknown if they are capable of achieving what they need and want.
We are afraid of losing what we have, whether it's our life or our possessions and property. But this fear evaporates when we understand that our life stories and the history of the world were written by the same hand.
Once you get into the desert, there's no going back. And, when you can't go back, you have to worry only about the best way of moving forward. The rest is up to Allah, including the danger.
You must understand that love never keeps a man from pursuing his destiny. If he abandons that pursuit, it's because it wasn't true love...the love that speaks of the Language of the World.
One is loved because one is loved. No reason is needed for loving.
If what one finds is made of pure matter, it will never spoil. And one can always come back. If what you had found was only a moment of light, like the explosion of a star, you would find nothing on you return.
The wise men understood that this natural world is only an image and a copy of paradise. The existence of this world is simply a guarantee that there exists a world that is perfect. God created the world so that, through its visible objects, men could understand his spiritual teachings and the marvels of his wisdom.
Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came form the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.
Wherever your heart is, that is where you'll find your treasure.
You will never again be able to keep it quiet. Even if you pretend not to have heard what it tells you, it will always be there inside you, repeating to you what you're thinking about life and about the world.
You will never be able to escape from your heart. So it's better to listen to what it has to say. That way, you'll never have to fear an unanticipated blow.
"Even though I complain sometimes," it said, "it's because I'm the heart of a person, and people's hearts are that way. People are afraid to pursue their most important dreams, because they feel that they don't deserve them, or that they'll be unable to achieve them. We, their hearts, become fearful just thinking of loved ones who go away forever, or of moments that could have been good but weren't, or of treasures that might have been found but were forever hidden in the sands. Because, when these things happen, we suffer terribly."
Every second of the search is an encounter with God. When I have been truly searching for my treasure, every day has been luminous, because I've known that every hour was a part of the dream that I would find it. When I have been truly searching for my treasure, I've discovered things along the way that I never would have seen had I not had the courage to try things that seemed impossible for a shepherd to achieve.
"Everyone on earth has a treasure that awaits him," his heart said. "We, people's hearts, seldom say much about those treasures, because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later, we simply let life proceed, in its own direction, toward its own fate. But, unfortunately, very few follow the path laid out for them - the path to their destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place, and because they do, the world turns out, indeed, to be a threatening place."
From then on, the boy understood his heart. He asked it, please, never to stop speaking to him. He asked that, when he wandered far from his dreams, his heart press him and sound the alarm. The boy swore that, every time he heard the alarm, he would heed its message.
Before a dream is realized, the Soul of the World tests everything that was learned along the way. It does this not because it is evil, but so that we can, in addition to realizing our dreams, master the lessons we've learned as we've moved toward that dream. That's the point at which most people give up. It's the point at which, as we say in the language of the desert, one dies of thirst just when the palm trees have appeared on the horizon.
Every search begins with a beginner's luck. And every search ends with the victor's being severely tested.
When you possess great treasures within you, and try to tell others of them, seldom are you believed.
Your eyes show the strength of your soul.
If a person is living out his destiny, he knows everything he needs to know. There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.
Then you'll die in the midst of trying to realize your destiny. That's a lot better than dying like millions of other people, who never even knew what their destinies were.
Usually, the threat of death makes people a lot more aware of their lives.
"You could have died later on," a soldier said to the body of one of his companions. "You could have died after peace had been declared. But, in any case, you were going to die."
When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there's no need at all to understand what's happening, because everything happens within you, and even men can turn themselves into the wind. As long as the wind helps, of course.
Because it's not love to be static like the desert, nor is it love to roam the world like the wind. And it's not lvoe to see everything from a distance, like you do. Love is the force that transforms and improves the Soul of the World. When I first reached through to it, I though the Soul of the World was perfect. But later, I could see that it was like other aspects of creation, and had its owns passions and wars. It is we who nourish the Soul of the World, and the world we live in will be either better or worse, depending on whether we become better or worse. And that's where the power of love comes in. Because when we love, we always strive to become better than we are.
Everything that happens once can never happen again. But everything that happens twice will surely happen a third time.
No matter what he does, every person on earth plays a central role in the history of the world. And normally he doesn't know it.
As he was about to climb yet another dune, his heart whispered, "Be aware of the place where you are brought to tears. That's where I am, and that's where your treasure is."
Coelho, Paulo. The Alchemist. Published 1992. Translated by Alan R. Clarke. ISBN 0-7225-3292-8.
Plot: Mo has the special talent to bring characters out of books. One night he brings out three characters from Inkheart, a story set in medieval times and filled with magical beings. Capricorn and Basta, two villains, and Dustfinger, a fire-eater. Now, 10 years later Meggie discovers the truth and it's up to her to escape Capricorn's evil grasp. Written by Gloria
Trivia: *Brendan Fraser was Cornelia Funke's personal choice for the role of Silvertongue, as he was her inspiration for the character. She even dedicated the second novel of the trilogy to him and sent him a signed copy. The producers originally wanted a bigger Hollywood star but on the insistence of Funke they gave in and accepted him in the role.
* The exterior scenes were shot in Italy, where the story takes place, while most of the interiors were shot in England.
* Director/producer Iain Softley said he wanted to do the film because it was a story that opened a door between the real world and our imagination.
Memorable Quotes: Narrator: Since the dawn of time, storytellers have enchanted audiences with their words. But there is an even rarer gift. There are those, who by reading out loud, can bring characters to life. Out of books and into our world. Most of these Silvertongues, as they are know prefer to keep their skills a secret but some do not even know this gift is theirs, until it is too late.
Plot: At his daughter's wedding, time-management specialist Frank Allen corners the reluctant groom and tells him a long story: about the night his wife chose him, and then, about eight years later, when a missed ferry, a corporate groupie, a panicked expectant mother, and a medical test brought Frank's marriage to a crisis. In the midst of the crisis were Frank, his wife Susan, their daughter Jesse, and Frank's best friend, the feckless Buddy. Things come to a head at a lake when Frank, armed with a shotgun, decides to cross something permanently from one of his time-management lists. Is there ever room for whim and chaos? Written by {jhailey@hotmail.com}
Memorable quote: Frank Allen: Ever heard Chaos theory Ed! Its a science, tries to determine underlying patterns in chaotic systems like weather, ocean currents, blood flow sort of things. But it turns out that are few things more chaotic in the beat of a human heart. Its beating up, slowing down. Pretty face, flirty stares. Its always changing on whats happening to ourselves out there its erratic sound of a bitch. But underneath all of that bump to bump mess, there is in fact a pattern, the truth, and its love. Most important thing about love is that we choose to give it, and we choose to receive it. Making it the least random act in the entire Universe. It transcends blood, it transcends betrayal and all the dirt and makes us human.
That there are no random acts. That we are all connected. That you can no more separate one life from another than you can separate a breeze from a wind.
-blue man-
Strangers are just family you have yet to come to know.
No life is a waste. The only time we waste is the time we spend thinking we are alone.
The 2nd Lesson:
Sacrifice is a part of life. It's supposed to be. It's not something to regret. It's something to aspire to. Little sacrifices. Big sacrifices.
-the captain-
Sometimes when you sacrifice something precious, you're not really losing it. You're just passing it on to someone else.
The 3rd Lesson:
Holding anger is a poison. It eats you from inside. We think that hating is a weapon that attacks the person who harmed us. But hatred is a curved blade. And the harm we do, we do to ourselves.
-Ruby-
The 4th Lesson:
Lost love is still love. It takes a different form, that's all. You can't see their smile or bring them food or tousle their hair or move them around a dance floor. But when those senses weaken, another heightens. Memory. Memory becomes your partner. You nurture it. You hold it. You dance with it.
-Marguerite-
Life has to end, but love doesn't.
The 5th Lesson:
*... ? where you're supposed to be? ... *... ? what is the reason for your existence? ...
-tala-
from the book, The 5 People You Meet in Heaven by Mitch Albom *quotes not derived from the book...my own interpretation.
Most of our lives is a series of images. They pass us like towns in a highway, but sometimes the moment stuns us as it happens. We know that this instance is more than just a fleeting image. We know that this moment, every part of it will live on forever.
Some of us live our lives in a rush... We go through our busy routines, spend our free time indulging in our passion, and just do anything to pleasure us. We meet strangers, shake hands with superiors, embrace old acquaintances, go to parties, enjoy the beach, delight ourselves with out-of-town adventures. Some memories were just fleeting images in our minds, some were stored to be remembered.
But, have you experienced a moment where you seemed to want to remember each detail in it? ...to try to memorize all that happened, not allowing a speck of event to be overseen? ...to relish over and over that instance until you'd virtually play that role again? It would find you dazed for such a moment to be happening...that you'd wish it would not end, However, even if it really would end...you'd know, you'll always be reliving that moment for the rest of time.
Director: Randall Miller Writers: Christopher Reed (written by) & Cynthia Carle (written by) Release Date: 28 March 1997 (USA) Genre: Comedy | Drama | Fantasy | Sport Cast: Marlon Wayans as Kenny Tyler Kadeem Hardison as Antoine Tyler David Paymer as Coach Pederson, etc. Plot: *Antoine and Kenny Tyler are NCAA college basketball players, and Antoine is the star. Suddenly Antoine dies of heart attack and Kenny has to fill his shoes as leader of team. Some time later, Antoine returns as a ghost and helps Kenny in game and in life, but Kenny changes in the process and doesn't quite like it. Written by Anonymous
Funny, hilarious...gets your stomach tickled until the end of the game...err, movie. hehehe, learning more about sportsmanship, brotherhood and friendship...
Plot: Capt. Caleb Holt lives by the old firefighter's adage: Never leave your partner behind. Inside burning buildings, it's his natural instinct. In the cooling embers of his marriage, it's another story.
After seven years of marriage, Caleb and Catherine Holt have drifted so far apart that they are ready to move on without each other. Yet as they prepare to enter divorce proceedings, Caleb's dad asks his son to try an experiment: The Love Dare.
While hoping The Love Dare has nothing to do with his parents' newfound faith, Caleb commits to the challenge. But can he attempt to love his wife while avoiding God's love for him? Will he be able to demonstrate love over and over again to a person that's no longer receptive to his love? Or is this just another marriage destined to go up in smoke?
- this movie is for those marriages at the brink of the cliffside..teaches a lot about needing Jesus to work out relationships.
Trivia: *Kirk Cameron, a Christian evangelist, refuses to kiss any woman other than his wife. To film a scene in which his character in this movie kisses his wife, the filmmakers had to dress Cameron's real-life wife, Chelsea Noble, as the wife character (played throughout the rest of the movie by Erin Bethea) and shoot the kissing scene in shadow so the difference between Noble and Bethea would not be as evident on screen.
*Instead of a fee for starring in the film,Kirk Cameronaccepted a donation to his charity, Camp Firefly.
Memorable quotes: Caleb Holt: Marriage isn't fireproof. Michael Simmons: Fireproof doesn't mean the fire will never come. It means when the fire comes that you will be able to withstand i
John Holt: Has she thanked you for anything you've done the last 20 days? Caleb Holt: No! And you'd think after I washed the car, I've changed the oil, do the dishes, cleaned the house, that she would try to show me a little bit of gratitude. But she doesn't! In fact, when I come home, she makes me like I'm - like I'm an enemy! I'm not even welcome in my own home, Dad. That is what really ticks me off! Dad, for the last three weeks, I have bent over backwards for her. I have tried to demonstrate that I still care about this relationship. I bought her flowers, which she threw away. I have taken her insults and her sarcasm, but last night was it. I made dinner for her. I did everything I could to demonstrate that I care about her, to show value for her, and she spat in my face! She does not deserve this, Dad. I'm not doing it anymore! How am I supposed to show love to somebody over and over and over who constantly rejects me? John Holt: [touches, then leans against cross] That's a good question.
Plot: *Walt Kowalski is a widower who holds onto his prejudices despite the changes in his Michigan neighborhood and the world around him. Kowalski is a grumpy, tough-minded, unhappy old man, who can't get along with either his kids or his neighbors. He is a Korean War veteran whose prize possession is a 1972 Gran Torino he keeps in mint condition. When his neighbor Tao, a young Hmong teenager under pressure from his gang member cousin, tries to steal his Gran Torino, Kowalski sets out to reform the youth. Drawn against his will into the life of Thao's family, Kowalski is soon taking steps to protect them from the gangs that infest their neighborhood. Written by alfiehitchie
I actually cried in this movie! no joke, hehehe. Wonderful! Very wonderful! You'd learn more about what Life and Death means.
Trivia: * Clint Eastwoodencouraged the Hmong actors to ad-lib in the Hmong language.
*The rifle Walt Kowalski (Clint Eastwood) uses in the film is an American M1 Garand, a 9.5lb .30-06 gas operated rifle. It was first issued during WWII and was again issued in Korea before being phased out by the M14 selective fire .308 rifle. The pistol Kowalski uses is an M1911A1, a .45 ACP semi automatic handgun also issued during the Korean war. It would seem Kowalski's gun collection consists of the weapons he used in service.
*Clint Eastwoodstated that this will be his last movie as an actor.
*Clint Eastwood's character's name, Walt Kowalski, is the real name of legendary wrestler, Walter "Killer" Kowalski. Memorable quotes: Walt Kowalski: [about Thao] I don't care about him. Sue Lor: You hang out with him, you teach him to fix things, you saved him from that fucked cousin of ours. Walt Kowalski: Watch your language, lady. Sue Lor: And you're a better man to him than our own father was. You're a good man.
Walt Kowalski: You know, Thao and Sue are never going to find peace in this world as long as that gang's around.
Walt Kowalski: [to Father Janovich] I think you're an overeducated 27-year-old virgin who likes to hold the hands of superstitious old ladies and promise them everlasting life.
Walt Kowalski: You can keep the Gran Torino, on the condition you don't chop-top the roof like one of those beaners, don't paint any idiotic flames on it like some white trash hillbilly, and don't put a gay spoiler on the rear end like you see on all of the other zipperheads' cars, it just looks like hell.
Plot: *In 1929 an impoverished nine-year-old named Chiyo from a fishing village is sold to a geisha house in Kyoto's Gion district and subjected to cruel treatment from the owners and the head geisha Hatsumomo. Her stunning beauty attracts the vindictive jealousy of Hatsumomo, until she is rescued by and taken under the wing of Hatsumomo's bitter rival, Mameha. Under Mameha's mentorship, Chiyo becomes the geisha named Sayuri, trained in all the artistic and social skills a geisha must master in order to survive in her society. As a renowned geisha she enters a society of wealth, privilege, and political intrigue. As World War II looms Japan and the geisha's world are forever changed by the onslaught of history. Written by dumpster_cakes
- a very astounding movie! Zhang Ziyi was all so elegant and beautiful in this film.
Trivia: *Ziyi Zhangwas allergic to the contact lenses that she had to wear for her role as Sayuri.
*Neither 'Li Gong (I)' orSuzuka Ohgocould speak English at the time of filming.
*The film was banned in China because Chinese actresses play Japanese geisha. The national film board and the Office for the Administration of Radio, Film and Television claimed that it was banned because the storyline is "too sensitive".
Memorable quotes: Mameha: [in voiceover] Remember, Chiyo, geisha are not courtesans. And we are not wives. We sell our skills, not our bodies. We create another secret world, a place only of beauty. The very word "geisha" means artist and to be a geisha is to be judged as a moving work of art.
Sayuri Narration: [as Chiyo watches the Chairman leave with geisha] In that moment, I changed from a girl facing nothing but emptiness, to someone with purpose. I saw that to be a geisha could be a stepping stone to something else... a place in his world.
Sayuri Narration: You cannot say to the sun, "More sun." Or to the rain, "Less rain." To a man, geisha can only be half a wife. We are the wives of nightfall. And yet, to learn kindness after so much unkindness, to understand that a little girl with more courage than she knew, would find her prayers were answered, can that not be called happiness? After all these are not the memoirs of an empress, nor of a queen. These are memoirs of another kind.
Plot: An ancient struggle re-erupts on Earth between two extraterrestrial clans, the heroic Autobots and the evil Decepticons, with a clue to the ultimate power held by a young teenager. Will they ever save humankind and give them the freedom to choose for themselves?
Memorable Quotes: Ironhide: Why are we fighting to save the humans? They're a primitive and violent race. Optimus Prime: Were we so different? They're a young species. They have much to learn. But I've seen goodness in them. Freedom is the right of all sentient beings. You all know there's only one way to end this war: we must destroy the Cube. If all else fails, I will unite it with the spark in my chest. Ratchet: That's suicide! The Cube is raw power, it could destroy you both! Optimus Prime: A necessary sacrifice to bring peace to this planet. We cannot let the humans pay for our mistakes. It's been an honor serving with you all. Autobots, ROLL OUT! Jazz: WE ROLLIN'!
Plot: This is the life story of Benjamin Button, who had a very rare disease called Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome which makes his body appear too old and deteriorating despite his young age. He was born wrinkled and with arthritis...died like a newly-born baby.You'll be wondering if such a disease actually existed. What would you feel if you were aging backwards, seeing other people suffer the demise of aging while you appear younger each year?
*The second Hollywood feature film, afterDenzel Washington's Deja Vu(2006), to film in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina. *Brad Pittstated it took 5 hours each day to complete the make-up required for the role.
*The look thatDavid Fincher, visual-effects supervisor Eric Barba and special makeup-effects artist Greg Cannomdevised for Benjamin as a child resemble the later stages of progeria, a condition technically named Hutchinson-Gilford Progeria Syndrome, a rare disease that makes its young sufferers appear aged. Those who didn't attend medical school may be most familiar with it from the Ralph MacchioTV movie _The Three Wishes of Billy Grier (1984) (TV)_. And Robin Williamshad a fictional version of progeria inJack(1996).
*The name of Benjamin's sailboat is Button Up.
Memorable Quotes: Benjamin Button: Along the way you bump into people who make a dent on your life. Some are born to sit by a river. Some get struck by lightning. Some have an ear for music. Some are artists. Some swim. Some know buttons. Some know Shakespeare. Some are mothers. And some people...dance.
Benjamin Button:It's a funny thing about comin' home. Looks the same, smells the same, feels the same. You'll realize what's changed is you.
Mrs. Maple: Benjamin, we're meant to lose the people we love. How else would we know how important they are to us?
Captain Mike: You can be as mad as a mad dog at the way things went. You could swear, curse the fates, but when it comes to the end, you have to let go. Queenie: You never know what's comin' for ya.
Benjamin Button: Our lives are defined by opportunities, even the ones we miss.
Mr. Daws: Blinded in one eye; can't hardly hear. I get twitches and shakes out of nowhere; always losing my line of thought. But you know what? God keeps reminding me I'm lucky to be alive.
Benjamin Button: Momma? Momma? Some days, I feel different than the day before. Queenie: Everyone feels different about themselves one way or another, but we all goin' the same way.
Plot Summary: *Minkey, a super-spy primate, and his partner Mike were the two best spies in the business. For years, they made every mission possible... But when Mike retired to raise his baby girl, Amelia, he never predicted that life would come full circle. Ten years later, Amelia -- who has invented a revolutionary chemical drill -- is kidnapped and whisked off to Japan by her hero, Dr. Farley, who is planning a highly dangerous experiment that could cause a massive earthquake and destroy the entire world. Mike and Minkey partner up one last time for their most important mission ever: saving Amelia -- and the world -- from the clutches of the evil Dr. Farley. Written by Anna McRoberts
Plot: *A Mumbai teen who grew up in the slums, becomes a contestant on the Indian version of "Who Wants To Be A Millionaire?" He is arrested under suspicion of cheating, and while being interrogated, events from his life history are shown which explain why he knows the answers.
A very wonderful movie! It depicts what true life in Mumbai could be, living in the slum areas with stray dogs and piles of garbage...yet, it also shows how one can survive such life. The movie isn't pretentious on how boldly a man can go through all the challenges to get through life still breathing, to be reunited with his childhood love and get to see his brother again. Who Wants to be a Millionaire could be the only escape, as Latika said. Well, it could be that winning the game has already been written.
Excellent music and sound editing! This could be the best cinematography of the year! No wonder they got the nominations and awards! A must-see! Two-thumbs up!
Plot: *High school student Nick O'Leary, member of the Queercore band The Jerk Offs, meets college-bound Norah Silverberg and she asks him to be her boyfriend for five minutes.
"Movies should be about the creation and expansion of a spark of magic--not about giving you exactly what you expect or want. The perfection of the movie lives in its imperfections." -Jobi14 from United States
Plot: *Set during World War II, a story seen through the innocent eyes of Bruno, the eight-year-old son of the commandant at a concentration camp, whose forbidden friendship with a Jewish boy on the other side of the camp fence has startling and unexpected consequences.
After the movie, I sat firmly and stared blankly in space. It's seemingly very stunning! With great minds from the author of the novel to the director's creativity and ingenuity comes a very exceptional movie on how a young boy loses his childhood innocence when he befriended an enemy.
Plot: *Embarking on a journey to fulfill her dreams as a dancer, a young girl discovers a new style of dance that will prove to be the source of both conflict and self-discovery.
This movie will surely make you grip the edge of your seat to stop yourself from dancing...or you can opt to dance with them. Pick your choice. Either way, watching the film will keep your groovy moves checked.
Nominated for Romantic Times Reviewers' Choice -Best Historical Romance in a Series 1999
Excerpt:
"He will father your children..."
When Catriona Hennessy, honorable Scottish Lady of the Vale, received this prediction, she was exceedingly aghast. How could she unite with a rake like Richard Cynster--a masterful man with a scandalous reputation? More shocking still was her guardian's will that decreed she and Richard be wed within a week! Though charmed by his commanding presence, and wooed by his heated kisses, she would not--could not--give up her independence.
So she formed a plan to get the heir she needed without taking wedding vows.Richard was just as stunned by the will's command. Marriage had not previously been on his agenda, but lately he'd been feeling rather...restless. Perhaps taming the lady was just the challenge he needed. But can he have the rights of the marriage bed without making any revealing promises of love?
"4½ STARS, EXCEPTIONAL! - A TOP PICK! And a K.I.S.S. Hero! Get ready to have your heart stolen by another Cynster in this wonderfully written, delightful tale that sizzles with sensuality. Stephanie Laurens knows how to enchant readers, not only with her steamy love scenes, but with her wonderfully real and memorable characters, as well. Thanks goodness there will be more Cynsters and more breathtaking romances to come from one of the most talented authors on the scene today." Romantic Times
