hsiang June 5th, 2008
This movie was brilliant! The most refreshing I’ve seen in a long time. The thing I liked most about it was the oddness of the whole thing. There wasn’t the false pretence of “perfection” that one often finds in Hollywood movie families. Instead, the three that form the Wetherhold family were a collection of completely different personalities, drawn together only by their kinship and the unexpected problems that life brings.
So much of the movie could have been a reflection of reality. The characters each have their own personality, brought to life by some excellent acting, directing and scripting. As time passes in the movie, each character realises something new about life, and yet clings like a rubber-band to their personalities. They don’t dramatically fall into some magical realisation of “the Truth”, but instead grow and develop slowly (as most people do) as life progresses.
Dennis Quaid plays the cliched professor who clearly knows his stuff, but lacks the social skills to impart his knowledge. In fact, there have been many a times when I’ve sat in my philosophy lecture wondering whether the person yapping away in the front of the hall had a life outside “office hours”. Ellen Page was a genius at her work, playing the unhappy, bitter, incredibly intelligent girl. I am told she plays a similar role in Juno, and was remarkable in that movie as well. Although I cannot remember Page in any other movies, I found out that she played Kitty Pryde in the third X-Men movie.
The only criticism I have to make is the choice to cast Sarah Jessica Parker. She clearly does not belong in the category of “serious movie” and should very much remain in the fairy-tale genre that has made her so famous. Like many actors and actresses who become instantly famous by a TV Series or movie, she will forever be acquainted with Carrie from Sex and the City. She will either have to change her face or improve her acting to break from this bubble.
hsiang June 3rd, 2008
I’m really excited by the launch of the new iPhone that’s to be announced on June 9th. It’s supposed to be thinner, has more battery life and have way more functions than its predecessor. I was pretty convinced I’d be going for the Blackberry Bold in September, but since Apple is sneakily launching the iPhone 2 this early summer, I may well consider choosing the Steve Jobs option. The only thing I hope is that I can afford this beauty!
Link
hsiang June 3rd, 2008
So it’s time to start afresh. I’ve just renewed my website URL and hosting, and I might as well make the most of it! More to come in the next few days…
hsiang June 2nd, 2008
Reine said to me “It’s a pity you don’t blog anymore”. So here I am, for the umpteenth time. Let’s try again.
I know I stopped writing because I had this fear of unknown people reading my posts and learning things about me I didn’t want to be learnt. But the answer isn’t to stop writing, but rather to post topics of general interest that couldn’t possibly have a huge impact if someone found out. Fine.
But, what would I want to say here?
Right in front of me are my very final set of exams. Four papers, 9 days, 9 exam hours later, and I will be done with my student life. It’ll be official.
I’m trying to figure out how many papers I’ve actually set throughout my entire academic career. The answer is that I simply do not know because there have just been that many! I have this file called my “Record of Achievement” file which contains my academic certificates since I left school. I could look through this file, but those only span back about 8 years. And I’ve been taking exams barely a few years after I learnt to write.
Is it good to look forward to the next stage? The time of your life where the only exam you take is the exam of life: Where your “grades” get released the day you die and you’re judged for every little thing you’ve done throughout that time. Sure, the day before my school exam, it’s easy to say I’d prefer to be over and done with these papers. But I do feel that way. I just want to start a new phase in my life.
It’ll be tough, but if I am confident, I’m sure I can get where I want to be. When judgment day arrives, I’ll be ready with my Records of Achievement.