Jiro Dreams of Sushi

Always doing what you are told, doesn't mean you will succeed in life. - Jiro Ono

Image courtesy of http://jhfirefestival.org/

 

Just watched one of the incredible documentary about Jiro Ono, the world's greatest sushi chef. Who would have thought that this 85yo man, who was abandoned since he was 9yo, will turn out to be one of the best in his field. His passion for sushi and spirit of "kaizen" (continuous improvement), not only made him one of the most unique 3-star Michelin chef with only 10 seats in his restaurant but also convinced majority of the cinema goers to crave for sushi after that. I was one of the victim.

The title 'Jiro Dreams of Sushi' is not merely words put together but literally Jiro does dream about sushi. When he receives inspirations through his dreams, he will wake up to make sure he doesn't lose it. He loves perfecting his sushi which many critics already thought his craft is perfection.

What I admire the most about him are the following:

Passion

No doubt he's passionate and in love with what he is doing. The only time he has his holiday will be when there is an emergency and national holidays. He would rather be in his restaurant than anywhere else in the world. I doubt he has any travel plans to see the world because the world of sushi is simply inexhaustible to him. That's when you know you love something so much that you don't need other type of distractions in life anymore, because you've already arrived.

Sense of Humour

Apparently he used to be quite a prankster at school. He still carries his sense of humour behind the serious facade he puts on while at work. You can see it appearing sometimes in the movie. Subtle, but it's there. Truly, a man who's still young at heart.

Rebel

He mentioned he was asked to give a talk in school. He was really perplexed on what advice he should give. He was a rebel. But he couldn't ask the kids to be a rebel and not to study, that may create chaos in the school. Look at his own path, even though he used to be one who doesn't pay attention in class, he has changed and become a successful man in his own field.

Truly a league of his own and I really wonder how do the min SGD500 sushis taste like. You can really be assured that whatever you will be eating on that plate have been thought through with 100% passion, dedication and sheer hard work accompanied with the finest and most suitable ingredients one can ever think of. Every single piece of the sushi is served à la minute.


When will he retire? He said, when his customers find him too hideous to be in the restaurant or if he goes senile. Truly a remarkable man who's still living among us. Catch the show if you have the chance. Watching it in big screen, will make you salivate more. You have been warned. :)

Even at my age, in my work... I haven't reached perfection.- Jiro Ono

Marvel’s The Avengers

Finally another heroic movie that's worth waiting for. I was just telling my friend about this movie and about who is my favourite Avengers superhero and now I have the chance to blog about it too.

Honestly, I am not familiar with all the characters but I know clearly who's my one and only favourite, Anthony Edward "Tony" Stark - Iron Man. He is the billionaire playboy, entrepreneur and an engineer and he has the look not just mere brainiac. However, to me, the most impressive thing in the first movie of Iron Man was his classy abode! Check it out below. He's truly a hero with great taste.

Albeit his unpleasant attitude may irk you sometimes, but his bad boy charm covers his flaws easily. Casting Robert Downey, Jr. for the role has proven to be one of the best decision ever. Tapping to his own turbulent life, Downey has definitely embraced the role as authentically as possible.

How about you? Who's your favourite one in The Avengers?

Image courtesy of http://www.home-designing.com/2010/05/iron-mans-house




Catch Marvel’s The Avengers in cinemas this 1 May 2012 and like the Official Marvel’s The Avengers Singapore Facebook Page and subscribe to Marvel Singapore YouTube Channel!”

For the Brave Women (and some Men) Out There

I just finished watching North Country right now on TV and my blood has never boiled to the roof like this before. Though what was being depicted in the movie was not BASED on a true story, it was only INSPIRED by a true story. But I can not imagine anybody was able to endure such treatments in their work places.

For those of you who are interested in the movie, North Country is about an iron mining female worker (played by Charlize Theron who was nominated for Oscars for this role) who was sexually harassed by her male co-workers. She fought the battle all alone with almost zero person supporting her except her lawyer at first. The rest was history.

The movie was inspired by a real case - Jenson versus Eveleth Teconite Co. It took 10-20 years of courage and public display to the private lives of the plaintifs to finally get what they deserve, a protection at their work place and of course, some compensations.

This, is only one case. How many cases are there throughout the history where women endure the pain and fought against all odds that make us - women who are breathing and living now - have what we have and live the way we live? I am seriously clueless and ashamed.

May be that's why in a way we were thought history at school (one of the subject I hated the most and now kinda regret that I didn't pay too much attention at school) so that we know who have pathed the way for us. Yes, some of the information may have been twisted and distorted, and some seriously, who knows they are simply fables and tales. But history is part of us, they made us who we are today.

Hence, this post is dedicated to people, especially women (and maybe there were also some men) who have made it possible for us, women, to live a safe life and of equal rights (at least at most part of the world at the moment). I believe without these great people we would not be able to talk as we like, walk as we like, work as we like, have what we like and even think as we like. From the bottom of my heart, thank you. And I hope to learn more about each and everyone of you as my life goes by and hopefully you will always leave your heartprints to the next generations to come. You have carved out life paths for us, I hope we will continue to do so and make the paths bigger and better.

10 Promises to My Dog

10 Promises to My Dog is a Japanese movie (based on book written by Hare Kawaguchi) I've never heard of until Phenny told me about it. (Thank you, Phenny :-))

The plot, as taken from www.eiga.wikia.com is about a 12-year-old girl named Akari gets a puppy and names it Socks. She loves Socks and spends practically every moment with him. However, as she gets older she's able to spend less and less time with him, due to a busy life and having to move away. She leaves socks with a childhood friend but eventually she's reminded of the promises she made to him as a child.

Simple and straightforward story and I believe most will know what the ending will be. I have been warned to prepare tissue for the show and .... yep, let me warn any of you who are going to watch this show, please bring tissue and get it ready on your hand. I must admit I tried really hard not to burst into tears (I TRIED SOOOO HARD) and I failed miserably! It's one of the show that I was on that thin line to cry like a baby. Lucky I didn't do that if not I must been kicked out from the cinema. Don't be ashamed of the crying, you can trust me, you'll not be the only one. You will soon hear and observe the following:

• people unzipping their bags for tissue
• the sound of a packet of tissue crunching somewhere
• people's hands tend to be doing the movement of wiping tears away
• and occasionally you may hear someone who really cried it out loud in silence (erm, go figure)

Why it was such a emotional roller coaster to me it's because there are so many points in the movie that I can personally can relate to:

• the main character's dad is a doctor (my parents are doctors)
  
• she's the only child (ME TOO!!!!)
  
• she got her dog when she was 12 (I was 11 ... almost around the same lar)
  
• at one point of her life she needed to be away from her dog and couldn't do anything about it (Yes, it happened to me when I was 17)
  

As you know I love my Kiky dearly. She is above all else. And the fact that this show has so much in common with my own lives just made me cringed inside but I'm glad I went through that and it's another chance to relive the memory and say thank you Kiky for all the beautiful time you've given me.

In the show, the main emphasis was put on the 10 promises that were made to the dog - initialized by the late mother of the main character. As she was reading out the 10 promises, I was silently checking whether I was doing all the things mentioned. The promises (speaking from the dog's point of view) are:

1. Give me time to understand what you want of me
2. Place your trust in me. It's crucial to my well-being.
3. Be aware that however you treat me, I'll never forget it.
4. Before you scold me for being lazy, ask yourself if something might be bothering me.
5. Talk to me sometimes. Even if I don't understand your words, I do understand your voice when it's speaking to me.
6. Remember before you hit me, I have teeth that could hurt you, but that I choose not to bite you.
7. Take care of me when I get old.
8. You have your work, your entertainment, and your friends. I have only you.
   
9. My life is likely to last 10-15 years. Any separation from you will be painful for me.
10. Go with me on difficult journeys. Everything is easier for me when you are there. Remember I love you ...

So, how do I fare?

#1:
I wonder if I've given her time to understand what she really wants, may be sometimes I don't. I know she always wanted food but I really played that hard on her. :p

#2:
I do trust her except when the time I stepped on her pee. Hmm ... I don't trust her in that area.

#3:
She remembers the way I treat her ...? No wonder she prefers my dad than me because I always made it hard on her to get food. Aiyah!!!!!

#4:
I never scold her for being lazy. Hmm ... She's never lazy except when she was really old. :( She can hardly climb up and down the stairs. That, I understand. So, I didn't scold her for being lazy. :-)

#5:
Talk to her sometimes??? I talked to her all the time! Literally. When I studied, I'd ask her to help me revised. I even asked her to study what I studied. Sometimes she got it right. Sometimes she got it wrong. They were multiple choice questions, you see. I even talked to her on the phone especially when I'm so far away from her since 1998-2005. :( :( :(

#6:
Hitting her ... I definitely did. Yep, when she's pooing and peeing everywhere. But well, after a while I'll play with her again. How can you not forgive when you see those droopy eyes?????

#7:
I didn't pass this one for sure. I didn't really take care of her when she got old. I have both of my parents to thank in this area. I failed as I was too far away to take care of her. Sorry, Kiky. I wish I could. :(

#8:
Yes. I have my other areas of my life to count on and she only had me but then again, she had my family. Again, I have to thank my parents for the best work they've done in taking care of Kiky.

#9:
Separation is painful for both parties. I seriously dreaded every time I parted with her. When I knew she was really aging, every moment I held in mind that she might just leave me. Hence every single second is cherished dearly. The last time I saw her I took 100 over photos of her. My parents called me nuts. I call myself a genius though I wish I would have taken better pictures though. But I didn't regret what I've done. I wish I had videotaped her even though her brown hair had turned white which made her looked like a mini inverted Siberian Husky. :p

#10:
Go with her in difficult journey. This ... is one of the thing I regretted the most. My gut was telling me to go back 1 week earlier, should I have done so, I would have been there for her when she moved on. But I went back 1 week later when she's already resting well in her grave. No use. I'm sorry for not being there when you said bye bye. What more can I ask? You chose Sunday to be your parting day and yet I was not there :(

To remember her once again, I decide to put the passages I used to write on my friendster when she died on 17th April 2005 in this blog.

Hope you don't mind the nostalgic path I'm taking today. Thanks for reading. ;-)

When Death Simply Can't Wait

Kiky

(17 August 1991 - 17 April 2005)

An 8-year-old boy and 11-year-old gal saw a pair of miniature pinscher at the backyard. Fighting for food, running away from water and hiding from the fierce maid. Knowing that they were brothers and sisters, the boy and gal decided to name them Kiky and Koko after more than 10 minutes of name-picking discussion.

Kiky, the younger one, a female 1 year old minpin when I discovered her. My uncle decided to give it to my family, since her brother, Koko, seemed to always bully her as she was smaller in size. That's when my journey with my first ever dog began and I will never regret nor forget a single moment I've spent with her. She has been marvellous.

Kiky travelled by car for 3 days and 3 nights from Jakarta to Pematangsiantar, the place where she eventually called her home. She has been a great quiet passenger, even though she has to sleep at such a strange place, she knows she's in for a great journey. It's such a relief when she found out we have stopped by at some eating place or a hotel where she could get more comfort than the crummy car. But well, the journey paid off and she arrived at my house happily.

My family has never had any dog before. Well, we seriously have no idea how we are supposed to bring up a dog, but guess, it shouldn't be much different from treating a human ... so since then Kiky has been part of our family. We spoke Mandarin to her and even gave her Chinese herbal soup, and she simply loves it. She slept on the bed with me every night but sometimes she prefered my parents bed as it's so much bigger -_-!

Time after time, there are so many things to be discovered from this little soul. She could sing ... well, when I was howling like a wolf for fun, she actually copied me and howled along ... and since then the whole town know there's a singing dog exists. People actually flock at my parents' clinic to look at her performance. Haha ... :-)

She knows how to kiss when you ask her too ... and she definitely know who's the best person to get food from. And that's definitely not me :) It's my dad who has transformed her from a skinny underweight minpin to a small little piglet!!! -_-! Overweight by 3x the standard weight she's supposed to be. Aih ...

Despite of the fame and pamper she's received, she has never been arrogant for once! She is still the humble and strong little Kiky we have seen when she fought with her brother. She never back out. She stood still and fought on and that's how she fought with her death. For one month she refused to eat and her bleeding won't stop too but she persisted. Until this morning, she woke my dad up by making some noise, guess she knew her time's almost up. My dad fed her some milk, wiped her face ... and she fainted. The end ....

She chose a Sunday early morning to say goodbye because she knows Sunday is the only day my parents don't need to work and able to bring her to the burial straightaway without leaving the clinic. Even at the point of her death, she's still such a understanding soul.

Thank you, Kiky for what you've given to my family and me personally. I'm really sorry for not being able to spend more time with you as I've to study and work overseas. But all these while you've always been in my thought and heart. I love you more than anyone and anything you can ever imagine. Guess we won't be able to find anyone like you in this life. No way. It's almost impossible to replace you. I can't wait to see you again, Kiky. To see your cheeky smile and nottie pee-ing all over places activities. I even miss the time when I did step on your pee pee as you found a new place to do that -_- ... and I never notice. But well, you've been great and it's time for you to rest well and stop suffering from any illness. I'll visit your small little "tomb" soon, Kiky.

You are always alive in my heart. Love you.

:-)

I know ... I've been absent for a while ... though there are just so many things have been discovered and needs to be shared but .... I've been in such a hibernating mode that my friend called me "Donnuah" .... Nuah because I am super slack ... Nuah ... Nuah ... Nuah ... and that's all I've been doing ... mentally and physically. Euww ... -.-

So, thought of dropping by and leaving a short note and encourage everyone to watch .. Ocean's Thirteen. This is not a movie review post ... and FYI, I didn't have any intention to watch that movie.

Why?

I watched a very bad quality Ocean's 11 ... and didn't have the mood to watch Ocean's 12. But oh boy .... I'm glad I didn't miss Ocean's 13!!!! Not a single blood cell of mine ... Was intrigued by the preview because George Clooney was tearing up and Brad Pitt was teasing him ... Clooney was trying to hide his embarrassing activity that caused him to tear up but Pitt discovered it and oh well, it's Oprah that caused Clooney to have teary eyes. So, that's what I saw in the preview but I didn't expect anything more than that short simple scene.

Who knows, surprise came in such a nice package :-) And for me, Oprah's fan, it made hell of my day. I was high till the next day ... my friends couldn't stand me ... still.

:-)

So, dropping a note to share that hehe ... will pop by when my "nuah" mode has gone ... hopefully soon. Thank you for still having your eyes here once in a while. It means a lot to me. :-)

The Line Game

Didn't I warn you that I may have more than one post on Freedom Writers? :p

Anyway, I think what I'm going to share below is more suitable to teachers or anyone who's handling a group of diverse people and trying hard to unite them together.

The Line Game was initiated by Erin Gruwell when was cracking her head to bring the multi-racial class together. It's to find a common ground over the diversities among all the races. This is what she did.

She drew a line (using masking tape) to divide the class into two. Then she asked half of the students to stand on the left and other half on the right. (Like the picture below)


Image source - www.spiritualityandpractice.com

Then she asked series of questions, whenever the answer is yes, the students from both sides must step on to the line.

At first the questions are fun based ... like who owns the latest album of Snoop Dog. And then the questions got personal ... like who stays with mom and dad. And then it got serious, and this is the turning point for the students ... question such as:
- who lost someone on gang fight?
- who lost more than 1 person?
- who lost more than 3 ppl?

And when they see so many of them actually experiencing the same pains, regardless of their races, they understood there and then that they are all the same. They felt the same pain. They had the same hardships.

This technique plus others are mapped out clearly in Erin Gruwell's book - The Freedom Writers' Diary Teachers' Guide.



And I managed to take a sneak peek from the website I found. :p Inside they shared 11 pages of details of how The Line Game works and another technique for creative teaching called - Toast for Change (Pic below).


Image source - www.spiritualityandpractice.com

You can check it out too at this link. Hope it'll be useful for you.

A Dream (Soundtrack to Freedom Writers)

It's the first time that I blog about a movie that I just watched into 2 posts (and possibly more) ... Freedom Writers Rocks!

I just watched the MTV to the soundtrack and it's a piece of art. Where else can you find Dr. Martin Luther King Jr's I Have A Dream speech + Holocaust events in an MTV? This is the first. I'm glad I watched it. Hope you'll enjoy the song and the lyrics.



Title: A Dream
By: Common

featuring Will.i.am

I am happy
I am I am happy

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out

[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

A search for brighter days
I ride through the maze of the madness
struggle is my address
where pain and crack lives
gunshots coming from sounds of blackness
given this game with no time to practice
born on the blacklist
told I'm a little average
A life with no cabbage
that's no money if you're from where I'm from
funny,
I just want some of yours son
dark clouds seem to follow me
alcohol that my pops swallowed bottle me
no apology
I walk with a boulder on my shoulder
it's a cold war
I'm a colder shoulder
I fight the same fight that made Martin Luther the king
I ain't usin' it for the right thing
in-Between lean and the fiends
hustle and the schemes
I put together pieces of a dream
I still have one

I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[ these lyrics found on http://www.completealbumlyrics.com ]
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
I'ma look deeper than myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

The world see me lookin' in the mirror
images of me gettin' much clearer
dear self,
I wrote a letter just to better my soul
if I don't express it,
then forever I hold inside
I'm from a side where we outta control
rap music and the hood play a fatherly role
my story like yours, yo, gotta be told
tryin' to make it from a gangsta to a Godlier role
and Jewish people in cold caves
hate has no color or age
flip the page
now my rage became freedom right
write dreams in the dark
they far, but I can see em
I believe in heaven more than hell
blessings more than jail
In the ghetto, let love prevail
with a story to tell
my eyes see the glory of, well,
the world waitin' for me to yell
I have a dream

I am happy
I am I am happy
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[One day]
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out oh oh
We gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
We gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out oh oh
we gonna work it out
[Soundclip: I have a dream]
I got a dream
[that one day]
that one day
all of the people and myself
are gonna find a better way
My dream is to be free
my dream is to be
my dream my dream is to be
my dream is to be
my dream is to be free

----------------------------------

Another video on how the real Freedom Writer felt when he met Common & Will.I.Am for the song production.

Freedom Writers

A lot of people drew similarity between Dangerous Minds and Freedom Writers because of the lives portrayed between gangsta' students and their white heroic teacher. But hell, they are wrong.

Although both are true stores but both teachers (heroines) took different approach in reaching out to the students. I'm not saying which one is better than which but since I'm writing about Freedom Writers, and I'll focus on its lessons and make my $ paid for the movie worthwhile.

What I know after watching the movie, my movie partner - the cooking pot and I actually ran to the bookshop and grabbed The Freedom Writers Diary straightaway. Yep. We both have our own copies even though we stayed under one roof. To us, it's that good. They have definitely reached us. And guess what, I've finished the Diary in 1 day. :-). now I got those panda eyes -.- ... bleh. But it's worth it.

Synopsis

Erin Gruwell (Ms. G) was a new teacher in Woodrow Wilson High School who didn't expect to have gangster's members in her class 203. To be exact there are 3 tribes ... the Latinos, the Asians and the African American. Some even brought guns inside the classroom. Amazing. -.- She has planned her lesson before hand but all those didn't work out that well. In fact her lesson plan was folded into an airplane and flew back to her.

Constant fighting and demeaning about the other tribes were the daily attraction in her class but the turning point was when one of the student (African American) was mocked by the entire class over a hand-drawn image of him having a big lips. He didn't retaliate (surprisingly) he just sat there and felt really sad.

Ms G managed to get the drawing and actually put it in the book and she shared about she saw a similar drawing in the museum before. It's when the Nazis were trying to demean the Jewish and created very ugly portrayals of the Jewish and in the end killed millions in Holocaust. When asked whether any of the students know what Holocaust is ... none of them know except the one and only white boy in the class. She knew then that she has to totally changed her curriculum and made history came to life through the lives of the students.

What went from there was Ms G constant effort and sacrifices in bringing the students what the school system couldn't provide, such as opportunity for field trip and even books. When Ms G suggested to let them read The Diary of Anne Frank to the department head, she was quickly shunned down by comments like ... the students didn't deserve it, they'll tear the book anyway, the books are too difficult for them since they even have reading disabilities. Ms G didn't give up. She took up 2 more part-time jobs (selling bra + concierge for Marriott) in order to buy new books for the students. It did make a difference. When the student had those new books on their hands ... they felt noticed, acknowledged and most importantly cared. Since then, books have been their best friends, especially those who were written by teens and survived the ordeal like Zlata Filipović (who survived Bosnian war and being called Anne Frank of Sarajevo) and even progressed to books by Shakespeare like Romeo and Juliet which the stupid gang fights the student can relate and also found it really stupid.

When you think that the journey ended for the students who finally made reading is their number one hobby, you were wrong. They (with Ms G efforts of course) took one step further and actually inviting people such as Zlata herself and Miep Gies (the lady who hid Anne Frank and preserved Anne Frank's diary for publishing) to come to the school and talked to them. Those moments were just priceless.

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

Actually the turning point of the students was not only while reading, it's actually by writing - and hence they are called the Freedom Writers. Ms G gave each one of them a notebook. She asked them to write an entry every day, be it only one paragraph or one sentence, they have to make a commitment to write everyday. If they wanted it to be read by Ms G, they were allowed to put it in a locked shelf where only Ms G had access. To her surprise, majority put it there. And that's when Ms G knew all their stories, hardships, shame, feelings, families, drugs, killings, etc. And the act of writing itself has freed the students from the tyranny of being caged inside their own tragedy. Once they let out ... things have never been the same again.

And to my surprise, the diary does exist. They compiled it ... and it has become a book and it's on my hand. Inside I can find the entries from various souls, who have voices to be heard and I just want to tell that ... hey, I'm from Singapore and I heard ya.

Another touching moments to me and to the students was when Ms G brought them to the Museum of Tolerance. As Wikipidea puts it, The Museum of Tolerance is a multimedia museum in Los Angeles, California, with an associated museum in New York City, designed to examine racism and prejudice in the United States and the world with a strong focus on the history of the Holocaust. When they entered the Holocaust section, each of them will get a card of about a kid that's related to Holocaust. By the end of the trip, they can scan it to a computer and find out whether the kid they got is alive or dead. If they are dead, they can find out how they are dead. You can even print out the results. (So cool ....) Even though I'm not there to take the card personally, I can just feel how horrifying when you got a 5 yr old girl's photo and by the end of the trip you realized, the girl was put to death in the gas chamber. it's horrifying. Though you may not know the kid but you could just feel a wave of sadness swayed through your heart.

Guess my entire lesson from this movie is the word - Tolerance. Ms G has definitely taken the class to a bigger plane where the students of different races are finally come to terms and helping each other. What amazed me is that in my own small little life ... in the same races that I am ... I still see people can't tolerate each other due to even more stupid reasons. I'm ashamed as I may be part of that too. Do I really need the "near-the-bullet-shot" experience that what I think matters now actually will not matters in years to come? Do I really need to experience how it is like to live thinking that you may just die tomorrow due to some gang fights and stray bullets and then I'll realize that what I have right now is actually one of the best experience on earth?

Tell me about it.

Hall of Fame


The Freedom Writers - Image source www.gruwellproject.org


Zlata Filipović - Image source http://shreveport.blogspot.com


Miss Erin Gruwell - Image source www.freedomwritersfoundation.org

Miep Gies - Image source www.miepgies.dk


Hillary Swank and Erin Gruwell - Image source www.washingtonpost.com

Videos

Trailer


Be Heard: Erin Gruwell on Her First Year of Teaching


Be Heard: Erin on Bonding with Her Students


Be Heard: Erin on the Freedom Writers' Journals


Be Heard: Erin on Her Students' Perspective

Volver

Volver is one of the show that I seriously can't tell too much ... it'll spoil its beauty. Though I was quite disappointed with the ending, too short ... but the whole movie was very beautifully made. Blossoming its characters just at the right time with the right twist.

Super Short Synopsis

I shall write the synopsis by introducing who are involved in the show:

Raimunda (Penelope Cruz):
A mother of Paula, daughter of Irene and wife of Paco who lives in Madrid. Her life is not as simple as it seems.

Sole:
Raimunda's sister who lives alone and works as a hairstylist. She's the clown of this show ... Love her lots.

Aunt Paula:
Another hilarious character who's old and frail and slightly "delusional".

Agustina:
Aunt Paula's neighbor in the small village they lived in.

The story revolves around these few characters though Aunt Paula had less screen time than the rest.

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

The title - "Volver" means to return. I was thinking ... to return what? A piece of clothes? Haha. Wrong. It has much more profound meaning than that and it was sure described well by Raimunda when she was singing the song "Volver" in the show. (You just can't miss that!).

It is trying to portray, whatever you have done in the past will find its way to return back to you. Hence the title, Volver.

Really, interesting concept.

BTW, Penelope was very very gorgeous. Not to mention how many times she needed to show her cleavage -.- .... But not as comparable as The Curse of Golden Flower though haha.

Trailer



"Volver" - The Song


Thanks to Broom, my dearest friend, for the translated version.

Volver (To Return)
written by Carlos Gardel, performed by Estrella Morente

Yo adivino el parpadeo (I predict a flickering)
de las luces que a lo lejos van marcando mi retorno
(of the lights that went further, marking my return)

Son las mismas que alumbraron (They are the same light that illuminated)
con sus pálidos reflejos hondas horas de dolor (with their pale reflection in deep hours of pain)

Y aunque no quise el regreso, siempre se vuelve al primer amor
(And although I did not want the return, one always return to the first love)

La vieja calle donde me cobijo (The old street where I shelter)
tuya es su vida (yours is her life)
tuyo es su querer (yours is hers to want)

Bajo el burlón mirar de las estrellas (Under the mocking looking at the stars)
que con indiferencia hoy me ven volver (that see me return today with indifference )

Volver (To return)
con la frente marchita (with withered forehead)
las nieves del tiempo (the winds of time)
platearon mi sien (silverplated my forehead)

Sentir (To feel)
que es un soplo la vida (that life is a swift)
que veinte años no es nada (that 20 years is nothing)
que febril la mirada errante en las sombras te busca y te nombra (how feverish, that nomadic glance in the shades looks for you and calls for you)

Vivir (To live)
con la alma aferrada (with a soul that perseveres)
a un dulce recuerdo (to a sweet memory)
que lloro otra vez (that makes me cry once more)

Tengo miedo del encuentro (I am afraid to encounter)
con el pasado que vuelve (the past that returns)
a enfrentarse con mi vida (to clash with my life)

Tengo miedo de las noches (I am afraid of the nights)
que pobladas de recuerdos (that are populated by memories)
encadenen mi soñar (that chained my dreams)

Pero el viajero que huye (But the foreigner that passes by)
tarde o temprano (sooner or later)
detiene su andar (stop her walking)

Y aunque el olvido todo destruye, haya matado mi vieja ilusión,
(And although forgetfullness destroyes everything, my old illusion has been killed)

Guardo escondida una esperanza humilde (I keep a humble hope hidden)
que es toda la fortuna de mi corazón (that it is all the fortune of my heart)

Volver (To return)
con la frente marchita (with withered forehead)
las nieves del tiempo (the winds of time)
platearon mi sien (silverplated my forehead)

Sentir (To feel)
que es un soplo la vida (that life is a swift)
que veinte años no es nada (that 20 years is nothing)
que febril la mirada errante en las sombras te busca y te nombra (how feverish, that nomadic glance in the shades looks for you and calls for you)

Vivir (To live)
con la alma aferrada (with a soul that perseveres)
a un dulce recuerdo (to a sweet memory)
que lloro otra vez (that makes me cry once more)

D.D.'s Rating
8.8/10
1.2 for a better way in ending the show -.-

The Pursuit of Happyness

Put yourself in this man's shoes:

• No money
• No education
• No house
• No wife (Wife chose to leave)

So, what did he have?

• A son a.k.a "a will to survive"
  
• A life a.k.a "a vehicle to survive"
  
• A golden attitude a.k.a "the ultimate weapon towards any hardships in life"

How will your life turn out to be?

Super Short Synopsis

This is inspired by a true story of Chris Gardner, acted well by Will Smith and introducing his own son, Jaden Smith. 99.9% of the story is about his struggle and what he's doing about it.

What he'll do to get money (nothing illegal and harmful, BTW). And where he'll stay when there's no money to paid for an accommodation. To name a few .... public toilet, public train, public buses, etc. It's truly jaw dropping to see such scene and be grateful over the roof we have over our head.

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

He came to a job interview totally under dressed. With body full of paints. (He was painting his house the day before and caught in jail because he couldn't pay for his fine). So, with whatever he had on his body, he braced himself up to the interview.

One of the panel of interviewer asked him,"If I hire someone who doesn't have his shirt on, what will you say?"

Chris said,"I believe he must have had a great pants, Sir."

He's hired.

What's there to learn there?
Think out of the box. Focus on the bright side. And just be yourself. Don't try to be smart alec because most of the time your guts has the right answer all along.

Videos

Well, I have more than just trailer to share this time. I have the video interview with the real Chris Gardner. So, enjoy. :-)

Trailer


Video Interview
Part 1


Part 2


D.D.'s Rating
9/10

Related Items

DVD




Autobigraphy


There's a promise that Chris Gardner has made to himself that he has decided to put it at the cover of his book (as seen above) and it says,"I hold one thing dearer than all else, my commitment to my son." Why did he make such commitment? Because he had an abusive father and grew up in a way that he didn't really know who his father is.

Music

Just Follow Law

HA HA HA HA HA ....
I've not had a good laugh in the most "down-to-earth" way for quite sometime and Just Follow Law did it!

Super Short Synopsis

"Civil servant mentality" is what this movie is trying to portray. People who are just so afraid to break the rules that they follow everything law by law. Word by word. In the most hillarious way possible, this movie has really showed us that our fear and laziness in thinking out of the box will jeopardize ourselves in the long run. If you could understand "Hok Kien" that will be a plus point in enjoying the show. But even the subtitle is hillarious :-) (Yep ... I was multi-tasking. Listening and reading at the same time. Can't help it though I understand the language completely).

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

Whatever the main characters experienced towards the path of getting approval from government bodies, I too have been there and done that. You'll be so amazed that one can go from one to the next one and then go back to the same point.

My take from this show is not about breaking the rules or not. But about focusing on the solutions and not the problems. Rules are guidelines but do they solve problems at time in need? If no, what can we do?

There's this part in the show when the security guard did not allow firemen to park their truck on the "VIP" spot just because his supervisor has asked him to guard that spot with his life and not to let anyone except the "VIP" to occupy the spot. He followed the rule word-by-word and even wheel clamped the fire engine truck!

MAN!

Oh ya ... another thing. Age shouldn't be a barrier to learning and designing your life. There's an senior citizen in the show that has even created a blog after attending her computer course. You can check it out at www.laozhabor.blogspot.com. Though I don't really think it's her that writes it but the idea still kick-ass.

Trailer





D.D.'s Rating
8.8/10
(Chinese love number 8 :p I love 8 ... I'll give it 2 8s)

The Fountain

Thank you Isabelle for accompanying me (with me treating) in watching this super confusing show .... :p ....

Super Short Synopsis

Tommy (Hugh Jackman) and Izzy (Rachel Weisz) were playing parts in 3 different world and era. It's a story about love, death, life, spirituality and .... honestly I was confused after the movie -.- So many repetitions of the same scene (lots of time) ...... Please forgive me if I really don't have much to say about this show until ....

D.D.'s A-HA Moments
My "moments" were not gathered while and after I watched the show ... but I finally grasped the meaning of it after I've read some beautiful posts in the IMDB forum.

It made you think about how human views death as such a scary act ... and that death is the end of life but to the Mayan, "Death is the Road to Awe". Very profound indeed.

Although each lifetimes the main character is trying so hard to escape and prevent the death of his loved one but each time he failed ... and the only time where he finally understood everything is he let go of the concept of death. He accepted his own death and his loved ones ... and realized through deaths ... bigger creations are in the making and that it'll awe you when you realized death is a beautiful thing.

Trailer



D.D.'s Rating
5/10 for the movie ... it made me confused totally and kept adjusting my posture ... (means I was bored)

9/10 for its profoundness after reading explanation from the forum :p .... (I'll still see good stuffs no matter what ... humf humf) :p

Jennifer Hudson

Image source www.theflickchicks.com

Yay ... she won the Oscar. So happy for her ... whether her acting deserves an Oscar or not, I can't be the judge and I don't think anyone can. I must be honest secretly I'm hoping little Abigail Breslin would win though. Little Miss Sunshine has left deeper imprint than Dreamgirls but well, I was not in the panel of judges for Oscar, so, great job, Jennifer.

What impressed me most was ... bringing myself back watching her on American Idol. Just simply by hearing her voice gave me some chills. That voice was so unforgettable, though deep inside I knew then it was quite impossible for her to win American Idol ... but who can resist such voice?

Apparently, Dreamgirls producer or even the casting director must have had the same feeling too ... hence out of hundreds of applicants (including Fantasia, so I heard). When I watched the movie, honestly I was confused who's the lead actress in the show? I thought it's Jennifer Hudson. Her acting and singing talents have overshadowed Beyonce's so much that after watching the movie, I only remember Hudson. And it seems like I was listening to great divas of old time like Aretha Franklin, Whitney Houston, etc ... time was really turned back when I heard her opened up her mouth.

What can I learn from her? Guess Jennifer Hudson is the real Dream Girl. In her we see that dreams do come true in the most miraculous way possible. She was an American Idol reject ... has no experience in acting and yet she won the Golden Globe & now ... Academy Awards!!! If that's not some kind of miracle despite all the nasty words some people give .. then I have no idea what it is anymore.

I love what she said to Chicago Tribune - "I haven't changed," she said. "My life has." We'll see how her life will evolve further after this. :) Must be an interesting journey for her.

Academy Awards 2007 Winners

And the winner goes to ....

Best Motion Picture of the Year

Winner: The Departed (2006) - Graham King

Best Achievement in Directing

Winner: Martin Scorsese for The Departed (2006)

Best Performance by an Actor in a Leading Role

Winner: Forest Whitaker for The Last King of Scotland (2006)

Best Performance by an Actress in a Leading Role

Winner: Helen Mirren for The Queen (2006)

Best Achievement in Editing

Winner: The Departed (2006) - Thelma Schoonmaker

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Song

Winner: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - Melissa Etheridge("I Need To Wake Up")

Best Writing, Screenplay Written Directly for the Screen

Winner: Little Miss Sunshine (2006) - Michael Arndt

Best Achievement in Music Written for Motion Pictures, Original Score

Winner: Babel (2006) - Gustavo Santaolalla

Best Documentary, Features

Winner: An Inconvenient Truth (2006) - Davis Guggenheim

Best Documentary, Short Subjects

Winner: The Blood of Yingzhou District (2006) - Ruby Yang, Thomas Lennon

Best Performance by an Actress in a Supporting Role

Winner: Jennifer Hudson for Dreamgirls (2006)

Best Foreign Language Film of the Year

Winner: Leben der Anderen, Das (2006)(Germany)

Best Achievement in Visual Effects

Winner: Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Man's Chest (2006) - John Knoll, Hal T. Hickel, Charles Gibson, Allen Hall

Best Achievement in Cinematography

Winner: Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006) - Guillermo Navarro

Best Achievement in Costume Design

Winner: Marie Antoinette (2006) - Milena Canonero

Best Writing, Screenplay Based on Material Previously Produced or Published

Winner: The Departed (2006) - William Monahan

Best Animated Feature Film of the Year

Winner: Happy Feet (2006) - George Miller

Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role

Winner: Alan Arkin for Little Miss Sunshine (2006)

Best Achievement in Sound

Winner: Dreamgirls (2006) - Michael Minkler, Bob Beemer, Willie D. Burton

Best Achievement in Sound Editing

Winner: Letters from Iwo Jima (2006) - Alan Robert Murray, Bub Asman

Best Short Film, Live Action

Winner: West Bank Story (2005) - Ari Sandel

Best Short Film, Animated

Winner: The Danish Poet (2006) - Torill Kove

Best Achievement in Makeup

Winner: Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006) - David Martí, Montse Ribé

Best Achievement in Art Direction

Winner: Laberinto del Fauno, El (2006) - Eugenio Caballero, Pilar Revuelta

Source: www.imdb.com

Desu nôto (Death Note)

I know I'm a bit too late in watching this show but it's still worth every second of it.

Super Short Synopsis

What if you have a "Death Note" that whose name written on it will be dead. Will you do good? Will you be appreciated? Will things get worse? Find out in Death Note. The intelligent strategies between black and white were just amazing.

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

The Death God or Shinigami portrayed in this show is really one of my favorite character. Though his look is quite scary at first but after you got to know him ... you'll realize he's a nice heart too :p ... And he's healthy ... eats only apple. Cute. What do I get from here is that at times we tend to put the blame so much on the devils that we forget may be we humans are the real devil in this world and create so much sufferings and turmoil. Anyway ... just my own A-Ha. Not here to debate with any religions or beliefs. Life is too short for debating such stuff.

Video

Can you believe it that you can watch the whole video online? You better believe it ...



D.D.'s Rating
9/10
Clever clever clever ....

Movie: Miss Potter

I've no idea why I had the urge to watch Miss Potter alone. So I did and it's been great. :-)



Super Short Synopsis

Why is the title called Miss Potter and not Beatrix Potter (her full name)? There's a reason behind it. In that era, when women above 30s are still single, when they were being called "Miss", it's actually pretty sarcastic remark Beatrix Potter? She's actually a famous author a quite a lot of children books especially The Tale of Peter Rabbit and many many more which I'll be sharing later.

This movie is about her career, her love life, her passion and most importantly her purpose in life and how she's lived her life without knowing what to do next and yet still go through it with open minds all the time. Though she's brought up in a very well-to-do family, but her perseverance to beat the odds and follow her own path was very strong and in the it bedazzled not only people around her but the world through her paintings and story telling skills. You should watch more to find out how. :-)

D.D.'s A-HA Moments

1. Miss Potter started and ended the movie with the following quote,"There's something quite delicious about writing the first words of a story." Why? Because the way she lived her life was always in the moment and most importantly, living it in her own imaginative ways. Though there were so many tough times too, she still held on to her passion and imaginations no matter how ridiculous they may seem. And in the end, she has created something greater than her parents could have ever imagined for a girl who only knew how to draw animals.
2. She could stay with her parents and be pampered till the day she died but she chose to take control of her own life, moved to a countryside, bought her own farm house with no maids around and be totally independent be it emotionally, mentally and financially. How? By drawing and telling stories. Something she has done best since she was a little girl.
   
3. With the money she earned from royalties, she finally found a purpose that's greater than life itself. She regularly bid for farmland and preserved it from greedy developers who wanted to steal away those source of inspirations through breath taking views of the nature. For more than 8 years, she had acquired around 4000 acres of farmland and preserved them from nature's vultures.
4. Even though things didn't go as her wishes, she didn't blame anyone for it. Not even those that we, as viewers, think should be blamed. She took the full responsibility, dusted off herself and moved on. Amazing attitude.
   
5. When you believe in yourself so much, the universe will send someone who believes in you as much as you do. And together you'll discover a journey that you'll never imagine even though it may seem absurd at first.
   
6. Lastly, doing something you love and good at, can never fail you. Guess almost all great stories have this lesson. :)
   

Trailer



Beatrix Potter's Creations




and many oh many more .... feel free to check out her complete collection at www.amazon.com. They sell it cheaper in amazon than Kinokuniya, Singapre. Trust me, I've checked! -.- ... Tempted to buy the whole collection ... huu ... huuu ....

D.D.'s Ratings
8.88 / 10 Diamonds (it doesn't need to be stars all the time, right? :p)

Blood Diamond

This is the movie that I've heard lots about, read lots about and know lots about and I've kinda "sworn" not to watch as the usual comment that I have, "Aiyah ... I know what's all about already."

That statement is true though. I've heard about it from Oprah's interview with Leonardo DiCaprio & Djimon Hounsou. Then, a friend of mine has also told me about the story from the beginning till the end complete with its gory details (thinking that I will not going to watch it). And hence, I really know about the movie ... or at least the story about it.

But it's not by chance why I ended up watching this movie. I was supposed to watch "The King" with my friend - The Cooking Pot, my awesome student and her friend. As I was buying the ticket, the sales person told me that it's R21 (only people 21 yrs old and above are allowed to watch) ... then I was shocked. As my students are only ... 18. Hence we finally decided to watch Blood Diamond.

How's my experience with it?
Simply put, it's an eye opener and I don't regret watching a single bit of it even though I know all about the story line and details. Yeah, it's that good. And most importantly the movie carries an important message that needs to be heard by most diamond consumers in the world.

Super Short Synopsis
If you've seen the trailer or even heard about it. It's a journey of 2 men with 2 different objectives but both are related with the pink diamond. Danny Archer (Leonardo DiCaprio) a smuggler who needs the diamond to pay his debts and of course to make much much more money. Solomon Vandy (Djimon Hounsou), a fisherman who's in desperate mode to find his family. Both are working together by looking for the big diamond that Solomon hid during his slavery in the diamond mine.



Tips

• Don't be shocked when you encountered the gruesome facts of civil war, child soldiers and the blood diamond itself. It's necessary and you can't miss any bit of it no matter how horrific it may seem. Because you may be having one of them on your body.
• Appreciate the great talent from Leonardo DiCaprio. His accent is so convincing that at one moment I really forgot that he's Leo the Romeo. Haha.
  

My Take

• Being aware of what people can do just to attain material wealth even though it may cause other people blood and even civil war.
• Child soldier is cruelty. No wonder there's reason why we need to be children first before we become adults.
  
• Sometimes the people you are accused of something are not really the main culprits. One very powerful scene that meant a lot to me from this movie was when Maddy Bowen (Jennifer Connelly) spite Leonardo for being a smuggler and whether he feels anything for the cause of so many people's life in his quest of wealth. But he said, the real people to be blamed are people who consume the blood diamonds. People who dream about fairy tale wedding and to have that piece of rock on their fingers. People who saved a year of that salary just to make their dreams come true. So profound.

Trailer


Related Link

See how this 17 year old girl lost her both hands to rebels shootings at Sierra Leone and more information on Conflict Diamonds.

Perfume: The Story of A Murderer

I've been in a movie marathon this weekend. Caught 3 movies in total:

1. Blood Diamond
   
2. Babel
3. Perfume: The Story of A Murderer
   

I'll be sharing all in this blog but for now I'd like to start with Perfume: The Story of a Murderer, because ... it's the last one that I watched :p.

Super Short Synopsis
Based on the best-selling novel, Perfume: The Story of a Murderer by Patrick Suskind, about a man, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille, whose olfactory (smelling) sense is the strongest of all and his quest in preserving those smell that captivated him, forever.



Tips for those who hasn't watched the movie:

• Be there with open mind. I can't stress how important and crucial this is. There are some stuffs that most people who just can't accept especially morally. Take it you are watching a piece of art and sometimes, art just doesn't know boundary. If you think you can't take it, don't watch. It's pointless to bitch and be so unhappy about a show after you've paid money for it
• As this is a movie about scent and smell, it's definitely to capture its essence and experience through our visual and auditory elements. But try to feel which ever way you can. Be creative and most importantly, be imaginative. Including those which looked super gross ... it's an interesting experience if you just let it be
  
• There are few creepy scenes. Though it's not a horror show but it still gives you the creeps. It's fun though haha ... Better than lousy horror movies for sure. :p ...
  

(WARNING: Spoilers may be lurking but not to the extent it'll spoil your enjoyment if you choose to watch the show)

The Super Short Flow
The first scene, Jean- Baptiste Grenouille, was announced to be sentenced in front of the public by destroying all his limbs on the cross. What happened after that, was his journey towards his goal in creating the ultimate perfume and the continuation from the gruesome announcement.

My Take
I haven't read the novel before but it's so acclaimed that the novel is really good. So I took a look at the last chapter of it yesterday. :p .... And the words are so profound and captivating. But the movie has done it a justice (at least for the last chapter) though there are a few sentences that I think should have been included in. But oh well ... you can go to any book store and read about the last page. As it sums up about the moral of the story.

So what do I learn from this movie:

• Even though you have that invincible power that may allow you to control the world, it all will fall apart when you don't have the ability to love and to be loved
• Self identity is another important message this movie trying to tell. You've to know who you are in whichever way you are defining it and not based on others' definitions. Because when you are not, when even a dog can't sniff the essence of you, you are just another lost soul.
  

Beautiful Quotes
I may not have captured it correctly, but it says something along the line of ...
"The soul of every being, lies in its sense."

Trailer:



Related Link
If you are interested in how the perfumes are being made, I've found a website that went back to Grasse (where the movie took place) and followed the footsteps of Jean-Baptiste Grenouille.