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Not to sound sexist here, but it seems that females take the 'Dear John' route a tad more often than the males, Saying that you are non-confrontational is just an excuse, okay? At least have the courtesy to see the your partner face to face to discuss this matter. Or a phone call if a meeting is not possible. Don't shove your choice in their faces, without even considering the other's feelings and judgment.
Today, it's more of 'Dear John' email or text message. Which is just as bad, maybe even worse. You could even argue that in the past, a letter was handwritten, which amounted to some time and effort in this composition. Texting it? 30 seconds tops. Bam! A relationship sent to the dogs.
Ladies, never ever ever write a 'Dear John' letter. It reflects badly on your character and your whether you were devoted to your lover in the first place. Guys? If you ever wrote a letter like that to end a relationship, shame on you. Grow a couple of balls before starting one again.
- Mood:
pissed off
When standing at the crossroads, what does one choose?
- Mood:
curious
Thoughts on fashion... let's see...
Fashion is all about selling images and styles that people admire and want to declare as their own, yet on a macro level, it is all about following a look that the majority defines as 'in'. Even 'punk styles', which was supposed to be counter-culture in the past, has its niche in the fashion industry today. So much for rebelling against the stuffed shirts only to turn around two or three decades later and sell out to them. Why bother piercing your face if all you want is to be noticed in a crowd? You might as well paint your face red, gets attention better.
Another thing about fashion? It goes in cycles, as something that went out of fashion 10-20 years ago can come back in vogue today. Ripped jeans, anyone?
Yeah... fashion is a multi-billion dollar industry with merits every decade/season (Though did we really need puffy sleeves and shoulder-pads?), Seeing people agonising over which shade of blue/turquoise/cerulean they need to release each season makes me want shake my head in disbelief. (However, Meryl Streep absolutely nailed the soft sarcasm of Miranda in The Devil Wears Prada, that sinister snarky tone is something I hope to achieve one day). It does make you think that blind followers of fashion their individuality in self-expression decided by the whims of certain well-known people and their opinions.
Personally I can take it or leave it when it comes to brand names in fashion. People fussing over the what most glam brands they possess is just plain irritating. So you can afford a $2000 dollar handbag. Big deal.
- Mood:
snarky
A script should explain things to reduce the confusion of an audience, not add to it.
- Mood: contemplative
Warning: Contains spoilers.
The Count of Monte Cristo is one of the most epic tales of revenge I have ever read. It has romance, treasure hunting, family ties, philosophical themes and most of all, a tale of vengeance executed by a master puppeteer and magnificent bastard.
Edmond Dantes, the protagonist, seems to have everything he ever wanted. An able sailor, he was about to be captain of the ship he was on. He loves his father and his fiancee dearly, and is about to be married when he falls victim of a plot against him made by his jealous enemies. He is then imprisoned on an island prison for fourteen years. However, while in prison, he befriends an Italian priest, who bestows upon his immense wealth on his dying bed. Dantes then escapes and makes himself the Count of Monte Cristo. He first rewards his old friend and employer, and then seeks revenge on those who imprisoned him.
What I liked: The characters, the plot, just about everything this tale Dumas offers. Dantes/Count of Monte Cristo is able to manipulate events such as creating false news to make one enemy lose money, sets up con men and bandits to do his bidding and also saving those who needed his help in the nick of time. And he has a few different personas he takes up. One would almost compare him a nineteenth century Batman, (Though you may argue that this character inspired Batman) only a lot more vengeful and cold-hearted.
The themes were quite thought provoking, especially involving the topics of wealth and happiness. There are people who are poor even when they have millions of francs (the currency in this book), and there are people who are contented with what they have even when they are not well-off. One such quote that stays with me, derived from the last few lines of the novel:
“There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only the comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness.”
Yet the irony of those words is reflected in Monte Cristo himself, a man who possesses more wealth than anybody, yet is never content with just living the good life but wanting to see people suffer.Though he does mellow quite a bit at the end. Showing that even the path he chose is not all about single minded destruction.
Another theme is of vengeance falling on the family members, those that have not participated in the heinous acts themselves, is it fair to let pain and suffering fall on innocent people? Monte Cristo sees himself as justice and quotes lines from the Bible to justify the extent of his vengeance, yet one such act is carried too far, destroying a family utterly.
The reader would be inclined to sympathise with Monte Cristo, after seeing what he has been through, and that his victims were pretty evil themselves.
What I didn't like: The constant whining of Maximilian Morrel! I mean, I understand his passion for his beloved, but Edmond Dantes has been through fourteen years of confinement for a crime he did not do, and had his loved ones taken away from him in one way or another.
That is some serious crap he has been through, yet he never reminds the reader of his pain ever chapter about it! He stays stoic and grim, managing to emerge from his incarceration and destroy his enemies one by one, holding his resolve for his goal. I would have wanted Albert Morcerf to become the companion of Monte Cristo, but considering his family ties, its pretty impossible.
I would strongly recommend this book for people to read. If you are a fan of Alexandre Dumas, then you definitely have to pick up this book.
- Mood:
impressed
- Mood:
silly
Epic fail is epic fail.
- Mood:
grumpy
So I guess the advice for dudes is don't ask: 'Do you like flowers?', but rather: 'What flowers do you like?' Buy flowers anyway, even if your date doesn't like them. Don't use her words to the contrary as an excuse not to buy flowers. You don't want to look scheming and/or cheapskate.
Hot damn! Looks like the whole romance ideology of being spontaneous and thoughtful is way overrated. Surprising your love when she least expects it? Too risky and time-wasting. Sharing interests and spending time together? Waste of time again. Taking your love on a blind journey throughout the day where you give her hidden presents disguised as lucky incidents depending on where you go? Too much hassle and planning. Waiting outside her workplace for her to finish work and taking her on a magical journey everyday from a week before her birthday, counting down each day as a day of bliss? Hassle again. Besides, your date could leave from the back door. That would screw up your plans of romance for good.
Just go to your local florist and shell out the dough for an enormous bouquet. They are so effective that they can make a girl reach the seventh heaven of delight. Doesn't matter if the flowers are not really what she really likes. Roses are always the best bet on that day in the middle of February. Long-stemmed ones? Even better. Don't care if they are priced to the moon and back. Flowers spell romance, you see.
Don't even think of buying the flowers early and keeping them in the fridge. Yield to the occasion! Buy them on the actual day! The commercialism and the festive mood compels you to do so!
In fact, if you can afford it. Keep sending flowers everyday, So that you don't need to spend time together. The flowers will become a symbol of your ever-growing love.
(It would be a good idea to start growing your own should the cost get a little too much for your pocket.)
Oh, you have to send the flowers when she's in a room with a lot of people. In her workplace or when she is in a family gathering is a best bet. The bouquet when received in private doesn't have that major impact. It needs to be delivered when she is in the middle of a gathering or with a bunch of friends. That will make her esteem go up, and also lower those that are accompanying her. She may state: 'Oh this is so embarrassing!' 'I didn't ask for this...' Bonus points if she buries her face in her hands and screams while running to her bedroom or whatever sanctuary she had at the moment. Huh. Don't believe any of it, Remember what I said above?
You see, it is a theatrical surprise you are giving her. Or is it the flowers? Well it could just be anything, So let's stick to flowers.
They are not clichéd. Nor are they impractical. Guys, forget the whole idea that flowers are clichéd and impractical. Send flowers by the dozen, is what I say!
- Mood:
sarcastic
A two and a half hour movie to condense all these quirky characters and that magnificent villain Hans Landa seems too short. Still, marketing it as a movie is a better choice as it would mean being able reach a wider audience. Yet for story purposes, a mini-series would have been better in my opinion.
Possible Additions I would make (may include spoilers):
A) Make a battle of wits between Hans Landa and Aldo Raine, or at least a cat-and-mouse hunt. (Which of course Hans Landa would be the cat) The film doesn't really show how Hans became acquainted with the Basterds, and when he stated that he had been waiting a long time to meet Aldo, it doesn't have same impact unless there was an incident where it was shown that Raine eluded Landa once.
B) Show more of the Basterds exploits. and a few of their backstories. Much of their infamy was already evident in the second chapter, which was too little for me. More buildup and visual evidence of their growth from when they landed in France to the current timeline in the film would have been excellent. And really, who doesn't want to see more of the Basterds shooting Nazis?
C) Perhaps show the growth of Shoshanna, from her escape in the beginning of the story to how she came to own the theatre and meet Marcel. Of course, there has to be a limit to this portrayal, or this film would have to be retitled to 'The Story of Shoshanna'.
D) Create a connection between Shoshanna and the Basterds. While the theatre was the convergence point for the finale, it seemed a bit too much of contrived coincidence there. I would have liked Shoshanna to be secretly funding the Basterds exploits, or was acquainted with one of them, and perhaps having Bridget von Hammersmark as a medium of contact with her and the Basterds.
Like I said, these are the additions I would make. This film is already a wonderful creation of Tarantino (which I have no business interfering in) and has earned its place in being a memorable piece of work. I just felt that if it were longer, more of the characters and plot devices would have been explained, but audience fatigue is a factor, thus a mini-series would be have told the world that Tarantino had created in full.
Alas, the appeal of the silver screen is a double-edged sword.
- Mood: impressed
Who knows?
- Mood:
confused
