Chasing time on Wednesday, March 29, 2006...
Haha it's intriguing how one film can lead to so many differing opinions, there's never a film that I can plug saying it's a MUST-SEE, for somehow a few always manage to SEE it otherwise :p Matrix was controversial, but I loved it XD
SPOILER WARNING. Please, for your greatest marginal enjoyment when spending 9.50 to watch the film, skip this part. Oh, and isn't it amazing that no one made a noise when movie tickets rose a buck, but a hell of a ruckus when coffee rose 10 cents? o_O
And V was great, the way the lighting portrayed the noirish comic-styled grittiness, the dead delineated blockish architecture, and dull colors blended onto everything, contrasted with the bright reds of the party signs and powerful fury etched lines of Sutler. The way they made the same mask reflect so emotive you swear the mask looks different, with lightings colors and intensities, camera angles and the fantastic performance by Weaving. These together make the mask so humanised; warm colors making him seem meloncholic and brings out the unseen furrows, while cool colors emphasises the perpetual grin etched into ceramic, particularly during the swashbuckling scenes. The way he stills, then lowers his head in response; you can almost feel his shame, taste his doubt, hear him weep.
The uncertainties portrayed, the greyness inherent, the duality of all: the government, the police, the citizens, and V the paragon of it, one letter mirrored opposite and still itself. Peace and mechanical modus operandi, verses upheavals and haphazard culture anarchy? What is the price for stability, and is there too high a price to pay? (How relevant!) Who will guard the guards? Who is to stop the law from breaking the law? The average civilian, silently against but quiet for fear? And the very same civilian, now deemed non-average and persecuted, wouldn't he rise against his tormentors?
Terrorist bomb wielding maniac or freedom fighter? Merciless killer, or cultured farsighted planner? In the long run, does anything matter? Is there even a right or wrong, or just power and the subservient?
Let's not forget the masterful performance put forth by this wonderful cast. Hugo in his mask, as already lauded. Portman in her phoenix trial-by-fire rebirth and her subtle actions that make her so real. Hurt, who looked every bit the conservative and power mad Sutler he portrayed, yet so visibly shaken after being plucked roughly from his ivory tower. And Stephen, playing Finch, puts up a convincing show of a man harrowed and torn by reality and the unreal, holding on to a unravelling knot of truth too painful to unveil nor bear.
And of course, the utter eye and ear candies of the show. Blowing up of Baileys. The serpentine stiletto strikes, the graceful economy of moves, the wakes of light reflected off the blade digitally enhanced to make seen V's speed and agility - I really loved the dance-like blade scenes, swift and elegant and packing so much into so little time. Gut-kicking wow factor from the matter-of-fact yet insouciant replies. Coolness multipled by occasional relevant classics quote.
"Who is but the form following the function of what... and what I am is a man in a mask."
"I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
And my favourite...
"No, what you've have are bullets, and the hope that when your guns are empty I will no longer be standing, because if I am you will all be dead before you've reloaded. "
Not to forget, the climactic build up in the last part, that really left me gripping my bag as fists clenched for balance, as if an invisible force is emnating from the screen, overwhelming the senses, yet resolutely the mind wishes not to retreat but take it all in. The wonderful play of falling dominos signifying the inevitable chain of events set into motion, intersperced with the rolling crowds, the power of unity and belief, marching on undeterred; you could feel it beyond the screen, hear the echoes of the resonant steps, as it seems to urges you to rise and join. The hapless soldiers, passing gently into, and beyond the mass of Fawkes; that Power does not only grow out of the barrel of a gun. With the strains of warnings of Sutler promising all the levels of hell, bellowing in the background; ended abruptly, contrastingly shivering and shell shocked. Of bulletproof ideas that lie behind the mask. Of symbolic change that a trainload of ammonium nitrate can bring to the people. And fittingly, a resolution in the form of a perfectly chereographed demolition of the Parliament to a fitting Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, replete with a complementary fireworks show: the old and ugly gone, replaced with unfilled ideas, and isn't it going to be beautiful.
Actually felt that the fight scenes earlier on were too poorly lit and the action too blurred to appreciate. Also, V's strike often does not carry through in sight, but ends up out of view, exacerbating the blur.
Ho hum. I think my attempt to highlight some positive and fine points the film has lead verily to a vichyssoise of verbiage that veers most verbose vis-a-vis a review, albeit a gushing and partisan one. Please watch V if you haven't!! :) But if you haven't, why did you read this!!
Oh, in a completely separate note, I bought a GPS to link with my phone or dear Charcolette :) Come think of it, it was quite on whim, not an utter essential but rather a comfort item. Hmm, though I'm sure I can come up with some use for that for my projects XD -attempts to exonerate self from guilt-
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:17 am
Haha it's intriguing how one film can lead to so many differing opinions, there's never a film that I can plug saying it's a MUST-SEE, for somehow a few always manage to SEE it otherwise :p Matrix was controversial, but I loved it XD
SPOILER WARNING. Please, for your greatest marginal enjoyment when spending 9.50 to watch the film, skip this part. Oh, and isn't it amazing that no one made a noise when movie tickets rose a buck, but a hell of a ruckus when coffee rose 10 cents? o_O
And V was great, the way the lighting portrayed the noirish comic-styled grittiness, the dead delineated blockish architecture, and dull colors blended onto everything, contrasted with the bright reds of the party signs and powerful fury etched lines of Sutler. The way they made the same mask reflect so emotive you swear the mask looks different, with lightings colors and intensities, camera angles and the fantastic performance by Weaving. These together make the mask so humanised; warm colors making him seem meloncholic and brings out the unseen furrows, while cool colors emphasises the perpetual grin etched into ceramic, particularly during the swashbuckling scenes. The way he stills, then lowers his head in response; you can almost feel his shame, taste his doubt, hear him weep.
The uncertainties portrayed, the greyness inherent, the duality of all: the government, the police, the citizens, and V the paragon of it, one letter mirrored opposite and still itself. Peace and mechanical modus operandi, verses upheavals and haphazard culture anarchy? What is the price for stability, and is there too high a price to pay? (How relevant!) Who will guard the guards? Who is to stop the law from breaking the law? The average civilian, silently against but quiet for fear? And the very same civilian, now deemed non-average and persecuted, wouldn't he rise against his tormentors?
Terrorist bomb wielding maniac or freedom fighter? Merciless killer, or cultured farsighted planner? In the long run, does anything matter? Is there even a right or wrong, or just power and the subservient?
Let's not forget the masterful performance put forth by this wonderful cast. Hugo in his mask, as already lauded. Portman in her phoenix trial-by-fire rebirth and her subtle actions that make her so real. Hurt, who looked every bit the conservative and power mad Sutler he portrayed, yet so visibly shaken after being plucked roughly from his ivory tower. And Stephen, playing Finch, puts up a convincing show of a man harrowed and torn by reality and the unreal, holding on to a unravelling knot of truth too painful to unveil nor bear.
And of course, the utter eye and ear candies of the show. Blowing up of Baileys. The serpentine stiletto strikes, the graceful economy of moves, the wakes of light reflected off the blade digitally enhanced to make seen V's speed and agility - I really loved the dance-like blade scenes, swift and elegant and packing so much into so little time. Gut-kicking wow factor from the matter-of-fact yet insouciant replies. Coolness multipled by occasional relevant classics quote.
"Who is but the form following the function of what... and what I am is a man in a mask."
"I'm not questioning your powers of observation, I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is."
And my favourite...
"No, what you've have are bullets, and the hope that when your guns are empty I will no longer be standing, because if I am you will all be dead before you've reloaded. "
Not to forget, the climactic build up in the last part, that really left me gripping my bag as fists clenched for balance, as if an invisible force is emnating from the screen, overwhelming the senses, yet resolutely the mind wishes not to retreat but take it all in. The wonderful play of falling dominos signifying the inevitable chain of events set into motion, intersperced with the rolling crowds, the power of unity and belief, marching on undeterred; you could feel it beyond the screen, hear the echoes of the resonant steps, as it seems to urges you to rise and join. The hapless soldiers, passing gently into, and beyond the mass of Fawkes; that Power does not only grow out of the barrel of a gun. With the strains of warnings of Sutler promising all the levels of hell, bellowing in the background; ended abruptly, contrastingly shivering and shell shocked. Of bulletproof ideas that lie behind the mask. Of symbolic change that a trainload of ammonium nitrate can bring to the people. And fittingly, a resolution in the form of a perfectly chereographed demolition of the Parliament to a fitting Tchaikovsky's 1812 Overture, replete with a complementary fireworks show: the old and ugly gone, replaced with unfilled ideas, and isn't it going to be beautiful.
Actually felt that the fight scenes earlier on were too poorly lit and the action too blurred to appreciate. Also, V's strike often does not carry through in sight, but ends up out of view, exacerbating the blur.
Ho hum. I think my attempt to highlight some positive and fine points the film has lead verily to a vichyssoise of verbiage that veers most verbose vis-a-vis a review, albeit a gushing and partisan one. Please watch V if you haven't!! :) But if you haven't, why did you read this!!
Oh, in a completely separate note, I bought a GPS to link with my phone or dear Charcolette :) Come think of it, it was quite on whim, not an utter essential but rather a comfort item. Hmm, though I'm sure I can come up with some use for that for my projects XD -attempts to exonerate self from guilt-
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:17 am
Chasing time on Friday, March 24, 2006...
Not much of help, and it's probably because I had too much time :D But e ability to doodle on it acts much like memory aids.. hmm. Perhaps need to pick a heftier topic to practice on.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 02:20 pm
Not much of help, and it's probably because I had too much time :D But e ability to doodle on it acts much like memory aids.. hmm. Perhaps need to pick a heftier topic to practice on.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 02:20 pm
Chasing time on Thursday, March 23, 2006...
Downloaded a study aid that promises to help you optimise your study.
Figured that since I've all the time in the world, I might as well get a headstart in using the software in preparation of university :D
Target of study? V's introduction speech, of course.
Voila! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate.
This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished; a vital voice once venerated, now vilified.
However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation now stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violent, vicious, and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance... A vendetta, held as votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and virtuous.
Yet verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very great honor to meet you , and you may call me V.
Will report back to see if it's useful :D
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 05:02 pm
Downloaded a study aid that promises to help you optimise your study.
Figured that since I've all the time in the world, I might as well get a headstart in using the software in preparation of university :D
Target of study? V's introduction speech, of course.
Voila! In view, a humble vaudevillian veteran, cast vicariously as both victim and villain by the vicissitudes of Fate.
This visage, no mere veneer of vanity, is a vestige of the vox populi, now vacant, vanished; a vital voice once venerated, now vilified.
However, this valorous visitation of a bygone vexation now stands vivified, and has vowed to vanquish these venal and virulent vermin vanguarding vice and vouchsafing the violent, vicious, and voracious violation of volition.
The only verdict is vengeance... A vendetta, held as votive, not in vain, for the value and veracity of such shall one day vindicate the vigilant and virtuous.
Yet verily, this vichyssoise of verbiage veers most verbose, so let me simply add that it is my very great honor to meet you , and you may call me V.
Will report back to see if it's useful :D
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 05:02 pm
Chasing time on Wednesday, March 15, 2006...
Somehow living got too boring, so I've taken to dreams recently.
A somewhat believer in insightful flashes from dreams, I went to sleep with nothing but an open mind, hoping to grasp some life changing vision. Dreamweaved three separate parts today, for a embarrassingly excessive total of 12 hours of sleep.
I remember nothing now; you do remember snatches of events and the occasional plotline, if you immediately probe the moment you wake up, but the brain is often insistent on dumping the dream away, as if somewhat abashed by the absurdity of its version of reality. But you do remember your analysis, and I know that they're pretty boring flicks, of poor direction and production, not exactly Wachowski Bro's, but hey, they're mine.
And again, the Dream World beckons for me to close myself to reality, drop the inhibitions, and put on my directing cap. Shall see if there's anything inspiring, interesting, Hollywood grade production. My apologies if it was great, the technology to copy it out isn't around yet :p
Recall I do, parts that matter; at least I get dreams now that are of the positive nature, things that don't happen in real world :)
No longer deemed unworthy, nor self condemning.
In that ice skating rink two days ago, with grace and freedom in movement, a liberation on ice unfelt ever.
In that place of unknown whereabouts, where I knew my part, and where I fit, despite it not being what I envisioned; but it didn't matter, context-wise.
No wonder I sleep so much. Sometimes, it's intoxicating, somewhat.
to face my uncertainties head-on, and not procrastinate anymore. need to clear up the entire queues of things that should have been done years ago, so I can finally settle into the schedule. all messed up. i don't want to do. but i WILL.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 02:10 am
Somehow living got too boring, so I've taken to dreams recently.
A somewhat believer in insightful flashes from dreams, I went to sleep with nothing but an open mind, hoping to grasp some life changing vision. Dreamweaved three separate parts today, for a embarrassingly excessive total of 12 hours of sleep.
I remember nothing now; you do remember snatches of events and the occasional plotline, if you immediately probe the moment you wake up, but the brain is often insistent on dumping the dream away, as if somewhat abashed by the absurdity of its version of reality. But you do remember your analysis, and I know that they're pretty boring flicks, of poor direction and production, not exactly Wachowski Bro's, but hey, they're mine.
And again, the Dream World beckons for me to close myself to reality, drop the inhibitions, and put on my directing cap. Shall see if there's anything inspiring, interesting, Hollywood grade production. My apologies if it was great, the technology to copy it out isn't around yet :p
Recall I do, parts that matter; at least I get dreams now that are of the positive nature, things that don't happen in real world :)
No longer deemed unworthy, nor self condemning.
In that ice skating rink two days ago, with grace and freedom in movement, a liberation on ice unfelt ever.
In that place of unknown whereabouts, where I knew my part, and where I fit, despite it not being what I envisioned; but it didn't matter, context-wise.
No wonder I sleep so much. Sometimes, it's intoxicating, somewhat.
to face my uncertainties head-on, and not procrastinate anymore. need to clear up the entire queues of things that should have been done years ago, so I can finally settle into the schedule. all messed up. i don't want to do. but i WILL.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 02:10 am
Chasing time on Tuesday, March 7, 2006...
The choices have all resurfaced, and the shimmering haze part to reveal nothing but paths snaking out towards the horizon, without anything between.
I'm perturbed again. As pointed out, I can only write when slightly unhinged. Was somewhat surprised yesterday by the sudden urge to blog, but managed to diagnose it today as a case of bad vibes.
So I might as well catch up with the missing posts, and make full use of this ill mood.
Still a facedown between Comp Engine and Science, would be grateful for any advice to break the deadlock between the three choices. All equally tempting and delicious, I see no point to break the status quo. Or is it just the lazy me within, insidiously justifying all indolent thoughts, while happily having a drink with inertia.
Off to lunch, then more worrying and weighing to be done later. Oh yes, writing too. All the W-headed letters are spiralling abou me now >_<
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:26 pm
The choices have all resurfaced, and the shimmering haze part to reveal nothing but paths snaking out towards the horizon, without anything between.
I'm perturbed again. As pointed out, I can only write when slightly unhinged. Was somewhat surprised yesterday by the sudden urge to blog, but managed to diagnose it today as a case of bad vibes.
So I might as well catch up with the missing posts, and make full use of this ill mood.
Still a facedown between Comp Engine and Science, would be grateful for any advice to break the deadlock between the three choices. All equally tempting and delicious, I see no point to break the status quo. Or is it just the lazy me within, insidiously justifying all indolent thoughts, while happily having a drink with inertia.
Off to lunch, then more worrying and weighing to be done later. Oh yes, writing too. All the W-headed letters are spiralling abou me now >_<
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:26 pm
Chasing time on Tuesday, March 7, 2006...
(Or, a dream of a past I've never been to)
The buzz in the ears, the weight on my chest.
You might feel a numbing breeze onto your face.
I unconsciously hold my breath.
The fuzzy stillness of the moment.
The weight of history in my hands.
Mishmash of emotions; yearning & confusion, plus a bucket of cold water from the logician's department, which dried quickly under the dreamer's sunrays. Unidentifiable sources. Atavistic longing.
Will continue if further probing reveals anything.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 01:47 am
(Or, a dream of a past I've never been to)
The buzz in the ears, the weight on my chest.
You might feel a numbing breeze onto your face.
I unconsciously hold my breath.
The fuzzy stillness of the moment.
The weight of history in my hands.
Mishmash of emotions; yearning & confusion, plus a bucket of cold water from the logician's department, which dried quickly under the dreamer's sunrays. Unidentifiable sources. Atavistic longing.
Will continue if further probing reveals anything.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 01:47 am
Chasing time on Tuesday, March 7, 2006...
Had the piggiest day ever, perhaps driven by the sudden offset in sleep, but that's just the brain's excuse :p Around half was slept away; but had the most intriguing dream about time travelling, of all places, on campus. No recollection of the mean, but it felt good to be back in school, even in dreams :)
Was roughly 15 years back, ascertained by of course asking around for the class numbers, and ended up doing an ancestry trace. Of all questions a time traveller could ask, I tried to bring back the class birthdays of my senior classes -_- Don't ask how it appeared coherent; somehow all the crucial "Hey this is a dream!" points are masked very well, and well developed early on, even as I think back sober. Deliver pretty good excuses, and justify well I can, yes :)
Wakes up with a fuzzy feeling of nostalgia; the very same you get as you open the school yearbook, or in my case, the 2002 Student's handbook. Yep; having felt them both in a space of 24hrs, I can be assured they are quite the same, though finding the null hypothesis and a suitable statistical test would be quite difficult given the subjectivity :D
Oh well. I better be off to sleep. Will give an account of the amusing barium enema when I get to it ^^
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 01:47 am
Had the piggiest day ever, perhaps driven by the sudden offset in sleep, but that's just the brain's excuse :p Around half was slept away; but had the most intriguing dream about time travelling, of all places, on campus. No recollection of the mean, but it felt good to be back in school, even in dreams :)
Was roughly 15 years back, ascertained by of course asking around for the class numbers, and ended up doing an ancestry trace. Of all questions a time traveller could ask, I tried to bring back the class birthdays of my senior classes -_- Don't ask how it appeared coherent; somehow all the crucial "Hey this is a dream!" points are masked very well, and well developed early on, even as I think back sober. Deliver pretty good excuses, and justify well I can, yes :)
Wakes up with a fuzzy feeling of nostalgia; the very same you get as you open the school yearbook, or in my case, the 2002 Student's handbook. Yep; having felt them both in a space of 24hrs, I can be assured they are quite the same, though finding the null hypothesis and a suitable statistical test would be quite difficult given the subjectivity :D
Oh well. I better be off to sleep. Will give an account of the amusing barium enema when I get to it ^^
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 01:47 am
Chasing time on Friday, March 3, 2006...
BH dinner to send off Mi'er; where we dined at the 4th level food court in Wista Atria, followed by a dessert, part I, at Xu Liu Shan healthy dessert stall, and dessert part II at Big O, Wheelock. Photos are of healthy dessert stall facade, intriguing teapot at Big O, as well as the Cheesecake, which couldn't match up to the NYDC impression.
Dinner picnic at Pasir Ris park
Dinner at Brewerks, followed by catching the end of CNY's fireworks, and celebrating the Jan/Feb birthdays.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:09 am
BH dinner to send off Mi'er; where we dined at the 4th level food court in Wista Atria, followed by a dessert, part I, at Xu Liu Shan healthy dessert stall, and dessert part II at Big O, Wheelock. Photos are of healthy dessert stall facade, intriguing teapot at Big O, as well as the Cheesecake, which couldn't match up to the NYDC impression.
Dinner picnic at Pasir Ris park
Dinner at Brewerks, followed by catching the end of CNY's fireworks, and celebrating the Jan/Feb birthdays.
...panting, staring bleakly ahead at the dust trail, and gave up at 12:09 am
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