Movie Break

Friday, February 27, 2009

Two movies.
The first is an unexpected watch: Valkyrie. An adaptation of a true story that happened during World War II, where a group of high-ranking officers in Hitler's Nazi Germany secretly plotted to assassinate Hitler and put an end to his tyrannical regime. The movie is quite long, (about 2 hours plus) although it does have its intense segments which are skillfully manoeuvred such that the riveting moments are brought out even when there is little action, although the downside will be the rather melodramatic bits like putting eerie background score and dimming the lights each time Hitler made an appearance on the set, which really punctures the credibility of the "true story reference".

The costume and set, however, deserves commendable mention. The costumes served as good indexes in distinguishing the differences in rank, department and ministries in the Nazi government, aiding the audience identification of the different parties involved.

"Suspect X" was great, a simple story with an elaborate, beautifully constructed plot. Having watched the Galileo series, the comedic pairing of Masaharu Fukuyama and Shibasaki Kou is no longer a refreshing surprise but I still like the camaraderie which more often than not, reflects a sense of wit and humour not unlike those commonly found in Japanese shows.

For those who don't know what the movie is about, it goes something like this: Genius mathematician and high school teacher Tetsuya Ishigami (Shinichi Tsutsumi) secretly holds the torch for his neighbour, Hanaoka Yasuko, a lady working at a bento store. When he learns that Yasuko and her daughter have killed a person, he then helps the two of them to construct the perfect alibi, through logic and precise calculations. The police investigation runs into difficulty and Detective Kaoru Utsumi (Kou Shibasaki) seeks the advice of her friend, the brilliant physicist Manabu Yukawa (Masaharu Fukuyama). Ishigami is Yukawa's college friend. A fierce battle of wits ensues between the genius mathematician and genius physicist, but what is at stake here may not just be the uncovered truth, but the friendship between two formidable opponents in a game of chess.

What is particularly gripping is the manifestation of love in the show. Like Yukawa said, "How would you go so far to help the person you love?" But it is probably true that people do go to incredible lengths when there is a strong will to, driven by sentimentality than logic.

令人赞叹又唏嘘的，自然就是两大天才之间君子之交淡如水的友谊，同样都是沉默寡言个性，只能通过理论与学问互相了解、沟通，却比任何知己还要相知相惜。毕竟，对天才而言，话不投机半句多。所以一向理性的‘伽利略’也面临了情谊与正义的考验，怎不会叫人感伤？

But if the movie does inspire one thing, it is that trick questions always work in life, or maybe because life is full of trick questions. Such that a functions question is masked as a geometry question.. But sometimes, we are just too tired to think.

Envoy of the Stars @ 9:14 PM
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叛逆的千里马

Saturday, February 21, 2009

从来没看过一场演唱会是表演者说话让人如入五里雾，摸不着头脑。
从来没看过一场演唱会是表演者翻唱别人的歌比唱自己的歌还多的。
从来没看过一场演唱会是嘉宾如此抢戏，却又抢得恰到好处。
从来没看过一场演唱会是表演者如此不断诚心诚意感谢工作人员的。（几乎每一首歌唱完后都说声谢谢）

就那三小时，深陷林宥嘉的迷宫，体验了他的随性、率直、诚恳，论台风，他可能不及一些演唱会老手那么老练，但绝对新鲜有活力，会有种让人想看下去的感觉。只是对于他的歌曲选项还真的有点纳闷，不是说我不喜欢非主流，但有几首抒情曲营造的气氛都差不多、即使岔开来唱，也容易让人产生“重复”感觉。但有他唱《青苹果乐园》、《躺在你的衣柜》，算是个意外的惊喜。另外也很享受他唱的快歌组曲，跳舞方面我倒觉得还不错，只是有时显得稍为不自然，但绝对值得鼓励。表演嘉宾Olivia的歌声听得让人非常舒服有格调，希望她也能再唱出更动听的歌，早日脱离娘惹光环，确立自我形象。另一组嘉宾SHE就不用说了，最能带动全场气氛的。Ella的话还是那么多，Selina能串场，Hebe就依然耐看。听她们的现场，好像也进步了不少，隐约感觉到了她们即将再次办演唱会的那种山雨欲来之势，算一算时间，也刚好快到了。

其实真正让我坐起来认真聆听的是他enchore时唱的歌。他的声音的穿透力在这时更能感受得到，音量的掌控也比较得心应手，可以说是到了他声音全开，状态渐入佳境的时候。但他的enchore居然持续了两次，颇有千呼万唤始出来的味道，但他就是死都不要唱相信是全场都很想听到的《伯乐》！他一首接一首地唱，专辑里的歌曲都唱遍了，就是这首歌没唱。可能是不想唱吧，毕竟也唱了那么多次了。只是不唱毕竟有点奇怪，散场时有点若有所失。可能不完美，才完美。虽然说我是来听他唱《伯乐》的！！！但千里马也有叛逆之时吧... ...

多亏了他的“慢慢走”，我在回家的路上还真的慢慢走了一大段路，只是没有残酷月光，却有默然垂首的路灯和几点闪烁的星光伴我左右。

Envoy of the Stars @ 2:03 AM
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读村上

Wednesday, February 18, 2009

读村上，没有朝圣的心情，虽然似乎听过不少人对他的书都表示一致好评，不知是我的幻听太严重，还是梦做得过火了。反正佛洛伊德也不能帮我解。我说的是村上春树，如果你“哦”了一下，那就是说他还蛮有名的，如果第一时间涌上心头的是“什么东西”，那还是去听吴克群吧... ... 开玩笑。

说读村上，但汗颜的是，只完成了一本《挪威的森林》，同样是不知哪里听来的说这本书是挺经典的爱情小说。诚然，在许久未碰小说后一口气读完这本书给我的印象就是的确是引人入胜得很，写感情写得如此赤裸裸的，文字时而纯真浪漫、天方夜谭，时而洋溢着澎湃激情、朝云暮雨。但个人认为它更多的是本有关寂寞与处理寂寞的书。这种看似“黄书”与“情书”参半的小说，其实有种非现实的现实性。情节的展现既让我觉得（至少跟我的生活）遥远而飘渺，却偏偏踏实得让人深陷其中，身临其境。爱情小说多少是风花雪月之作，其理想化的发展都往往太过“巧合”（不就是由万能的作者主宰的巧合），而虽然读者有时就是要在小说中寻找现实中太过缺乏的巧合，但太多“巧合”就显得太虚幻。《挪》呈现的无奈、怅惘、甜蜜，时而含蓄时而率直，我的情绪也跟着起伏不定，和主角陷入同样的迷思。这与人物性格塑造的成功不无关系。比较吸引我的是那对于寂寞的玩味；我想也只有与孤独长相厮守的个中能手有所感触。对于作者徘徊于两女间的情感拉扯，他如何的排遣寂寞，“排泄”情欲，其实就是欲望的平衡、内心的不断调适、人生定位的不断找寻。

可能会让人意外的是，我非常欣赏爱情小说，因为爱与情绝非那么容易就能描摹、勾勒，不对其持有体悟、感悟，是说不出来的，更何况是写。而成功的爱情小说予人的是荡气回肠，久久不能自己，不管结局是悲是喜，它的感染力就像是后坐力十足的Long Island Tea，那慢慢侵袭体内神经的酒精是这样一点一滴的征服你，然后在结尾嘎然而止的最后一个句号上不见了影踪，只留下被掏空了的情绪，就像和你吻别的恋人离你远去，而且一去不复返。这样的作品，决不是时下什么什么情歌的俗气歌词所能传达的。什么“爱来爱去”的说好听是“浅白易懂”，说难听就是“以为别人什么都不懂”。

以上不合规格的文字仅是本人一家之言，自然不是为了推销这本书或作者，书写只不过是把些如骨鲠在喉的话语用文字写出来看得清楚一点而已，也仅是种欲望的满足。而欲望这种东西，我选择浅尝辄止。

Envoy of the Stars @ 9:38 PM
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Jungle Fever

Sunday, February 15, 2009

Nature embraced the four chosen ones who whimsically turned their backs on civilisation (for the day) and decided to trek the long forgotten part of M*laysia that lies in the very confines of our lovely nation. Yes, it is a section flourishing with natural greenery, and no, it is a part of Mal*ysia that does not require a passport. With an enigmatic sense of glee and an enthusiasm much misplaced (especially after having trekked so much in ar^y already) mounting within, we ventured into the welcoming hands of the Bukit Timah Railway Tracks.

We baked ourselves in the sweltering heat, soaked ourselves in our sweat, bashed through thickets, smelled the fresh scent of forestry... All just to trek along the forsaken and now defunct railway track that runs along Clementi, next to AYE.

Much as we tried to avoid a reenactment of our stint in ar*y, we still found ourselvs stuck in situations where we were sinking into mud because there was just no dry land to continue on our path, which makes me appreciate the saying "a path is carved out by Man" even more.

Our pilgrimage was however, hindered and eventually truncated by the presence of DOGS after passing the Jurong Industrial area... A pack of them charged at us out of nowhere when we were nearing this mini dumping site that probably was the 5 class hotel they were safeguarding. Nonetheless, it allowed us an early retreat to the comforts of civilisation once again. And we were back to talking about random stuff once again.

Doing crazy things are just part and parcel of life and with friends like mine, they become the idea of fun as well, no matter how crazy it may sound. So Boo, Laoda and Isaac, we shall continue overloading the world with fun.. Haha.

Envoy of the Stars @ 10:51 PM
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That's just life

Saturday, February 14, 2009

感性握着我的心，理性握着我的笔。写出来的，就这样不知是什么东西。等着你化验读取，投入自己的翻译。

无奈

人生怎会没无奈？无奈像是及时赶到车站却看着最后一趟巴士扬长而去，随着意识到要露宿街头那样。这时变成了井底深处的青蛙，兴味索然地看着井口大小的天空只能一直发呆，或许能消磨些等待，也能平空筑建多几座空中楼阁，为下个契机铺好蓝图。

街

街头是很冷漠的，只有人才带给了它热闹氛围。在它的公然见证下，凝聚后又飘散了多少欢喜多少忧、多少暧昧莫名三缄其口。有时走着走着，熟悉的街道被不熟悉的情绪感染，突然变得遥远得像云深不知处的山路，而昨日在路上遗漏的一丝感慨，也泥牛入海般消散在街道上，与其他行人的情感相融合了，沧海桑田，便成了这条街特有的，吸引人的磁性。我还在寻找，那条经过时心中会泛起涟漪的街道，可能会发现站在街角一边的人和自己的相遇并非命运的接续，而是情感的相连。

茶香

如往常看着面前的格雷伯爵茶，茶叶沉淀在杯底、渐渐绽开，但不懂占卜的我也解释不出什么未来。弥漫着的茶香包裹着我，沐浴在夕阳余晖下，站在染上斑斑橙黄的大草原上。这似是而非却又如此温暖的场景，我是身在画中，还是在欣赏这幅画？

幸せになってくる

好感是幸福的种子，至于用什么来浇灌，自己的灌溉的幸福会否夭折、还是茁壮成长，是看技术与耐心的。任何园丁都会这么回答。什么礼物、浪漫、惊喜，都只是表现的方式，可以很花俏。可以很平实，但都包含着一份用心。只是，方法是共享共用的，以别人的幸福为指南，很可能会被弄得不知去向。

但只要这一刻实实在在的，幸福是属于两个人的。一个人的，却可以独享快乐。

Envoy of the Stars @ 10:03 PM
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放.假

Thursday, February 12, 2009

人与人的交情是陪伴是羁绊

可能我们都喜欢

正常地合群带来的心安

在彼此眼光隧道中往返

善于模仿一样又一样

然后看着一个又一个翻版

时间使人习惯粉饰不自然

同时和内心玩捉迷藏

不知不觉为笑容上了彩妆

面具一天戴到晚

成长这理由如此冠冕堂皇

却不知长成什么样

只能向往

偶尔一意孤行放假

到个可以让我不识大体的地方

把一丝丝虚假带去流放

Envoy of the Stars @ 5:43 PM
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On acting

Wednesday, February 04, 2009

"I can take any empty space and call it a bare stage. A man walks across this empty space whilst someone else is watching him, and this is all that is needed for an act of theatre to be engaged".
- Peter Brook, The Empty Space

Acting is really a very much integral part of daily life, so perfectly melded into it that we can rarely notice it, let alone tell apart from the "truth" or the "real deal", which is a mystery itself more often than not. The fact we play many different roles and act out the requirements befitting of those roles points to the very fact that acting is very much in each of us.

But as for acting in theatre, a given place, a designated stage, at a certain time, in a certain context, in front of an audience, I only remember doing that about 3 times. Officially that is, "official" here meaning there was a hauptext (written script) and nebentext. (a given set of stage directions) Of course those other trivial skits and what-not are either too ludicrous and hence undeserving of mention (in my humble opinion) or the memories have become too decayed to trigger recollections. The first two were both during sec 1, and some who have fortunately or unfortunately but by sheer probability, shared, to date, a decade of their life in my presence, still might be able to remember. (Simply because some of them have kindly reminded me of such minute displays of frivolity I once displayed) The funny thing was I starred for 15 minutes in one and 15 seconds in another, and more people remembered my appearance in the latter with much relish, something not entirely unfathomable, but nonetheless surprising. The roles are of course, a secret, unless one should be so cunningly voyeuristic as to seek out the right sources for answers.

The third will be during JC and this should be more familiar to some. That was the first time I spent so much time getting into a role, one that was so unexpected and and admittedly was one that ignited me with such passion for acting I have never experienced that it felt like a brand new challenge everyday, with the desire to surpass the existing "self" burning stronger with each scene and each rehersal. It also made me realise that the magic comes when one can truly let go of other's opinions towards oneself (like how crazy or how exaggerating you look) but keep in mind everything else about the character.

I remembered drinking in the atmosphere, listening intently to the audience: the laughter, the occasional outbursts of random comments, the suspended silence, the final applause. To some, acting may just be imitating. To others, a form of text-conveying. To me, it is slipping into a being, and living with his thoughts and feelings.

Envoy of the Stars @ 7:58 PM
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On anime

Sunday, February 01, 2009

Anime, at the end of the day, is just a series of animated pictures engaged in story-telling, what some unfamiliar with it will feel more comfortable terming as "cartoons", all in the name of reducing uncertainty and making sense of things. Why does watching cartoons evoke certain emotions that other forms of drama presentation which come closer to 'real life' may not be able to, can be a mystery to some, but not to those involved. Of course, like many forms of drama that is but a fictional remake of events in the 'real' or imagined world alike, one has to get involved to really know.

The audience has to be convinced, of the things that are happening, of the feelings that are being transmitted and interpreted. Otherwise, you can be seeing someone fall right next to you but still not be convinced except that this is all a mere act, something a significant amount of indifference and cynicism can get you.

I feel the idea here is that anime is a continuation of dreams, be it childhood dreams, daydreams, bittersweet dreams, happy endings... And although it may not be a direct realisation of these dreams, it is like seeing another world from your own, as an onlooker, a third-person, who joins the pact spiritually by trading his or her own emotions and imagination. If one thinks about it this way, it is an alternative actualization of dreams. And for one I think those who believe, feed on dreams. For now, I am a believer, be it a willing or willful one at that. Understanding comes with appreciation, and this probably goes both ways. If one wants to understand something then it will be a part of him or her, but of course there is no loss incurred where there is a lack of interest, for there are always other worlds out there waiting to be understood. Only when one traipses off thinking that they understand without even being involved before can there truly be a loss. Though that still is his or her personal freedom until it trespasses on another's.

At the end of the day, anime, to me, just provides another means of perception of a world. Yes, not the world, but a world. And yes, it is entertainment but no, it is not just entertainment.

Envoy of the Stars @ 6:30 PM
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