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26 November 2007
Irony
1 How beautiful you are, my darling!
Oh, how beautiful!
Your eyes behind your veil are doves.
Your hair is like a flock of goats
descending from Mount Gilead.
~SONG OF SONGS 3:1
MOONLIGHT
I want you to see me
But I don't want you to know.
My thoughts are beyond reason
My intentions are greater than desire.
I hide my smile
I conceal my joy.
My own clouds shroud my heart
'Cause when revealed gates of hell open.
Until when will the moon hide?
Until when will the clouds stay?
When day breaks, you see nothing
When night envelops, I am but a faint.
Music:
Mika Nakashima - Glamorous Sky
17:15 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
22 November 2007
With all honesty, I lied.
but accurate weights are his delight.
2 When pride comes, then comes disgrace,
but with humility comes wisdom.
How can I face you with all honesty when I am wearing a mask?
Will you still believe everything I said when I have been trying to lie to myself?
Will you still stay as my friend inspite of this weakness you know yet you do not know?
08:50 Posted in Blog | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
10 November 2007
13 Qs and As
1. Why do you want to become a doctor?
- Because I don't want to wear a uniform.
2. Seriously?
- I am serious.
3. Okay. What are you listening to right now?
- Ever After
4. Can you share a line from that song?
- Coz life is a pleasure with you by my side
5. Did you dream of being a nurse?
- Never. But I said I want to become a nurse during our kindergarden graduation. I only had teacher and nurse as options. And don't ask me why because I don't know.
6. How about now, do you want to be a nurse?
- Four years of bloody college, of course I do.
7. Would you like to pursue Medicine?
- If I have the money and opportunity, sure.
8. Are there any reasons for you not to pursue Medicine?
- Reservations
9. How come?
- I have reasons.
10. What are they?
- I don't like making the call.
- I don't like breaking bad news to patients and relatives.
- Especially telling people about death.
- I am not rich.
- I need to earn money for my family.
- I am not sure if I'll still be able to deal with school's pressures.
11. I see.
- Yeah.
12. But is there a reason you can hold on to pursue medicine and not give up no matter what?
- I need a reason to live.
13. Thank you.
- You're welcome.
11:57 Posted in Leisure | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
02 November 2007
The Last Samurai
CASTTom Cruise - Captain Nathan Algren
The whole movie was a beautiful piece to capture. Every scene was a photographer's dream scenario. The people, activities, landscape and every thing that has breath as well as those that have none were too wonderful to capture.
My personal favourite scenes, with regards to photography, were the sun's illuminating rays, the horses with their strong legs ready for battle, the mountains, the green fields, Taka plowing the field, the swordsman, the swords, the samurai during their moments of training, and the sakura or cherry blossoms at the time when Katsumoto-san held his last breath. I am not even sure if I have the complete list. I would love to take pictures as much as I can find in this movie.
The transition of scenes was also not mediocre. I have nothing but praise for the cinematography of this movie. If there is any flaw found by other people yet I have overlooked, then let it be known.
The movie has an ambience of what someone would feel depending on where he stands. During the first battle of the civil army and the samurai, it was cold. It may be externally cold, but it was also internally cold. It reminded me of General Maximus in The Gladiator.
MUSIC
A movie without music background is like a body without spirit. There was a scene when Algren fought with Ujio. It was raining and the music just added to the melancholic mood of the situation.
COSTUME
In my humble opinion, the American officers' uniform were too simple. I am aware that there was no need to flaunt the medals and honours during trainings and battles, but it was so plain. I am aware that Americans have concern about ranks yet it was not shown in the movie.
It was easy to spot who were the commoners in the movie. The peasants were even obvious. The clothes the nihonjin or Japanese wore were simple, like what it is ought to be. This is not a negative comment.
Brian Doerksen - Faithful Father
10:06 Posted in Screen | Permalink | Comments (0) | Email this
Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love
30 August 2007
I. Technical Features
Director: Mira Nair
Producers: Caroline Baron
Lydia Dean Pilcher
Mira Nair
Tina Di Feliciantonio
Dinaz Stafford
Michiyo Yoshizaki
Writers: Helena Kriel
Mira Nair
Wajida Tabassuh
Cinematographer: Declan Quinn
Venue: India
Release Date: 11 September 1996 – Canada (Toronto Film Festival)
28 February 1997 - USA
20 June 1997 - UK
Cast: Indira Varma - Maya
Sarita Choudhury - Tara
Naveen Andrews - Raj Singh
Ramon Tikaram - Jai Kumar
Rekha - Rasa Devi
Running Time: 117 min.
Awards: Golden Seashell (1996) – nominated
Independent Spirit Award (1998) – Best Cinematography – won
II. Historical Background
The film was set in 16th Century India when the country was under the Mughal Empire, one of the greatest empires of India. It was also the time when many monuments were built, including Taja Mahal in Agra.
The Mughals had taste for the fine things in life - for beautifully designed artifacts and the enjoyment and appreciation of cultural activities. The Mughals borrowed as much as they gave - both the Hindu and Muslim traditions of India were huge influences on their interpretation of culture and court style. These were notable in the film, especially during the wedding ceremony of Tara and Raj Singh.
III. Summary
Maya (Indira Varma), a servant girl, grows up as a friend of Princess Tara (Sarita Choudhury), who is to marry the prince (Naveen Andrews). But the night of the wedding, Maya betrays her friend and seduces him.
Maya was labeled a whore. Banished from court, she finds refuge with Rasa Devi (Rekha) who teaches the "Kama Sutra," a manual of lessons in love. This wise woman believes that sexuality can be a wellspring of spiritual unfolding. She teaches Maya about intimacy, pleasure, play, and self-empowerment.
With her new knowledge, she becomes a courtesan at court. Maya meets Tara again who blames Maya for the downfall of her marriage. She tries to persuade her friend who is now a queen. But the dispute continues.
Maya finds love with a sculptor, Jai, (Ramon Tikaram) who risks his life to be with her. But with the king’s power they have failed to be together. Jai was even chained in the mountains.
Through Maya’s efforts to prove her desire to amend what she has done, eventually the heroine reconciles with Tara.
The movie ends with the execution of Jai and the attack of the king’s political opponent.
IV. Reaction
Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love used English, which is not uncommon in India although Indians mix it with their languages, e.g. Hindi and Tamil.
The costumes were beautiful, an evidence of Mughal influence. But I did notice that Maya rarely change her clothes, which made me wonder if the movie was out of budget for costumes or it was still part of the Indian culture.
There was also a part in the movie when Maya wanted to see a whorehouse. Jai told her that she must dress like a man. This tells me that a dress, in India, is an indicator if a person is a man or woman.
Watching the movie made me think how Indian women were taught to please their husbands-to-be. And Indian women live that with that idea, no matter the cost.
During one of the copulation scenes of Maya and Jai, some desserts were available. It may be part of the Kama Sutra or an Indian way of foreplay, for which I am not sure. But what was uncanny in that part was the food itself. The place where they engaged had copulation was like a storehouse and they did not plan having coitus there. If food or dessert is part of Kama Sutra, how come there was food? Perhaps there was already food there and they thought it would be nice to please each other with some dessert.
Kama Sutra mostly teaches about the erotic part of copulation, for the pleasure of mankind. It may be taught in a class-setting, as what was shown in the movie. There was a scene where a woman did head-stand, which made me really amazed. The possibility was indescribable, given the knowledge of what the body goes through during sex. I asked a friend if such position does exist and is being used. He said yes. The confirmation made me even more amazed. In that position, the head bears the weight of the woman’s body while she is going through intensive activity. Perhaps it is just part of the foreplay. But still, the skill of balance is amazing.
There was a scene where women fell in line and had a steam between their feet before they could enter the room. The steam went up between their legs, but the purpose was not clear or stated. It reminded me of a sitz bath.
During a battle scene, the background music was contemporary. There was no sign of Hindu music. And such music, I believe, did not exist in 16th Century India.
Kama Sutra: A Tale of Love may have shown what life was like during the Mughal Empire, but it is not enough for a viewer to tell that the movie belongs to such era. It lacks a distinct quality of a Mughal Era.
Hillsong United - Take All of Me
09:47 Posted in Screen | Permalink | Comments (2) | Email this