Saturday, December 22, 2012
Thursday, December 20, 2012
Why didn't I ever know that Christian Bale played Laurie in Little Women (1994). I was so shocked when his scene came on with Jo at the dance and I went holy crap! like a thousand friggin times. I would have never known if I hadn't decided to watch the 1994 version of Little Women to see how it differed from the 1949 version that I loved so much.
Christian Bale looks so much the same here bit his voice...hasn't broken. Its the voice of a teenage boy just entering adulthood and its so incredibly weird to see him with longer wavy hair and a higher pitched voice, but of course he was 20 years old then. But he looks exactly the sane, doesn't he?
Winona Ryder, who played Jo March wasn't as good as June Allyson in the 1949 version. Winona was more...gentle and feminine and didn't really portray the feisty and hot headed Jo in the film. I haven't finished watching the entire movie but I think I still prefer the 1949 version, with June and Janet Leigh Elizabeth Taylor (who played Meg and Amy respectively). Oh, and I just remembered that when I was in Los Angeles one of the very reasons I had wanted to visit the Westwood Village Memorial Park was just so I could visit the graves of Janet Leigh and Keanu Reeve's girlfriend and their daughter. It took me about a good half hour to find them because the place was enormous and I had to walk up to each gravestone one by one and check the names, but I remember my heart stopping when I saw the names Ava Archer Reeves and Jennifer Syme, the stillborn daughter and girlfriend of Keanu Reeves and I just started sobbing.
And I also visited:
- Marilyn Monroe
- Dean Martin (one of my favorite jazz singers)
- Janet Leigh
- Farrah Fawcett (who played Jill Munroe in the original Charlie's Angels)
- Eva Gabor
- Elizabeth Montgomery (the original Samatha Stephens in Bewitched, which I loved so much when I was younger)
- Hugh Hefner (who technically is still alive but has reserved the site next to Marilyn for himself), just to name a few.
I also did quite a few other names that I didn't recognize, and it was only after I looked it up online that I learned they were actors, models, writers, directors and other well-know individuals in the 1960s and 70s. The Park was a sad and beautiful place at the same time and it just makes you reflect upon life. I left a quarter (25 cents) on top of Dean Martin's plaque, alongside many others who have done the same, as a tribute to the man who, when was I was 13, was the only man who managed to sing me to sleep after a long terrible and hard day.
So anyway I watched Little Women (1949) when I was 10 after reading the children's version of Little Women and it has been one of my favorite movies ever since. I was distraught when my mum threw out the DVD because it had too many scratches and we couldn't get through 10 minutes of the film without it stopping. But yaye SM found the film for me and passed it to me the previous week and I watched it last night again and it was just as beautiful and magical as it was when I first watched it 11 years ago.
Monday, December 17, 2012
URECA progress check
Let's now assess where I am with URECA shall I?
Mid-Dec / 1 page proposal. I've submitted that, like in November. So moving on.
End-Dec. Minimum 40 hours research work. Yaye I've clocked in 56 hours to date, so I'm not worried about that. Right now I'm worried about editing those photos and getting in questionnaires in check. As of right now, I have a total of 9 questionnaires to administer. How these researchers do it? How? Right now, I'm so incredibly thankful for a Mr Chua Junjie, a librarian's assistant within the Psychology division who has been helping me with researching for articles and questionnaires and basically doing what I really should have been doing in the first place: using the library's database to get all my information, but I never really did get the hang of using the online database. I've used it, sure, but not to the extent that he has! I knew that independent work will be involved, but the complexity and rigorousness of it all wasn't anticipated. Its definitely in contrast to what I did in TP, where we used only maybe 1 or 2 questionnaires and we had our teachers to help us. In what I'm doing, I have search for valid questionnaires by emailing the original authors or the questionnaire to have them forward me a copy of it and decide whether its contents is relevant to my experiment. I'm also examining for moderator/mediator variables which adds to the bulk to measures I have to undertake.
I'd like to thank Christian Bale for keeping me company through these hectic times as I wade through the endless pool of articles and searching for needles in haystacks and giving me hope that gorgeous men like you exist, and I'd like to thank my wonderful companion, Bobby, for willingly putting up with my constant kissing and hugging of him because I find that these 2 expressions of love and sentiment give me comfort and distraction, and nibbling my nose in return was, needless to say, uncalled for but understandable.
Movie Marathon!
I've been on a movie rampage marathon for the past few days, and just sitting on my chair and soaking in the large number of movies that I've both missed out, and movies that I've not seen in a long time such as:
Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009)
I've seen the last 3 movies, but not the very first movie, where it all begins when Kyle Reese (John Connor's father) is sent back from the future to 1984 to save Sarah Connor from being killed. Everything that I know from the subsequent movies are now all starting to make sense and I cannot believe that I actually missed out watching the first Terminator movie. No wonder my mum said I can't call myself a true Terminator fan. But I must say the adult Kyle Reese is totally gorgeous with an equally gorgeous to-die-for body. Too bad Kyle Reese has to die. And I'm so upset to find out that John Connor will get killed by the very Terminator that saved him in the 2nd and 3rd movie in 2032. Not that there's a connection or anything, but John Connor was born in 1985, which makes him 27 this year. So Evan's also born in 1985, making him 27 too. Coincidence? I think not!
Batman
All right, so I didn't manage to watch all the Batman movies. Batman (1989) was actually pretty good, and its where you see Jack Nicholson as the very first Joker and who did a pretty good job. But Michael Keaton was just, not my taste. And Harvey Dent was played by an African American man! I was so stunned and I must have sat there throughout the entire movie trying to figure out who this guy was. Batman Returns (1992) is by far the best Batman film out of the Schmuacher/Burton films. Its awesome because Tim Burton directed it, and the movie just screams eclectic and bizarre. And this is where real Catwoman is the best Catwoman, played by Michelle Pffifer. And okay, so maybe the rather suit and entire concept of a sexy Catwoman is extremely sexist, but hey she pulled it off and she was PERFECT. And Danny DeVito was the Penguin. AWESOME FILM. Batman Forever (1995). Slight disappointment, this film was. The villains really weren't interesting at all (The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey and Two-Faced/Harvey Dent) played by Tommy Lee Jones. Chris O' Donnell who played Robin was pretty all right as well, but he lacked the chemistry to play Batman's sidekick. Batman and Robin (1997). OMG worst Batman film EVER. Arnold Schwarzenneger was just a completely pointless blocky villian wanting to avenge his dead frozen wife. He's got the build, but not the character! Uma Thurman was Poison Ivy was okay, but the interactions between her and Batman and Robin are simply stupid. In what universe, will the Caped Crusader EVER show himself to the public as a charity event?! Batman always stays hidden and he certainly doesn't go gallivanting around town during the day, attending charity events in his suit! Its so campy and ridiculous. And intruding a Batgirl here? I'm sure Batgirl worked well in comics, but this was NOT one of Alicia Silverstone's best movie to date. Batman Begins (2005). Now this was just brilliant! Christian Bale is so gorgeous and sexy and super hot and so enigmatic! I think it really worked because it showed how Bruce Wayne turns from a petty criminal to Batman, by documenting his journey from millionaire, to petty criminal, to ninja training and finally to Batman and it really helps the audience understand where Batman is coming from. Rachel Dawes was an interesting addition. She wasn't in the comics, but she was a pretty neat character, playing Bruce's childhood friend and love interest. Katie Holmes actually did a good job acting as Dawes. I was surprised, given her penchant for roles in chick-lit films. Ra's Al Ghul was a stunning villain (hello, its Liam Neeson!) and I liked how the villain and Batman actually have a shared history, and this makes the film much more emotional, unlike other villains like The Riddler and the Penguin who push Batman's buttons, simply because they're discontent with their lot. Its a nice change really, and it really worked so good with me. The Dark Knight (2008). Equally awesome. Again, it also documents Harvey Dent's journey from being an attorney to being Two Faced and the emotional ramifications of his transformation, and it actually made me feel sorry for him. I actually liked Christopher Nolan's idea of getting Rachel to fall in love with Harvey and to stop waiting around for Batman/Bruce. It gave it such a twist, and I really was hoping that Rachel would end up with Dent, if she didn't get killed. That entire scene was the saddest moment in the entire movie, especially for Bruce. He was devastated! Poor Bruce. He waited his entire life for her and she ends up getting killed and wanting to choose another man over him. The Joker was an interesting character. Initially when I first saw the movie, I didn't like Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker. It was too serious instead of being scary-serious like I had anticipated. But after watching it critically during this holiday, I started seeing the brilliance of this performance. Its psychotic-serious and so bizarre to the point that it actually struck a chord with the audience. I'm now understanding why Heath Ledger got a posthumous Oscar for this. It was truly a good piece. The Dark Knight Rises (2012). HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT. So much hype, so much anticipation but it just didn't work with me. I didn't like how Bruce went into hiding for 8 years and did nothing. Bane, while I agree that he's there to test Batman's physical and mental strength, it just didn't really work enough for me, but having it tied to Miranda Tate's desire for revenge for her father made it...a little...campy. Miranda Tate didn't work with me at all. Bane was enough to bring the city down and I would have liked it better of Bane wanted revenge for Ra's instead of Tate. And Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman?! WHAT was Nolan thinking?! She so was not good at all. Her characterization of Catwoman was so transient and sloppy, and granted she's beautiful, but she's not sexy to be Catwoman. And I despised the ending. I'd rather Bruce Wayne end up with Miranda Tate (if she wasn't such a vengeful slut), then be with Selina Kyle. But I wish Nolan would have told us how he had survived. All in all, this movie isn't a movie that I'll watch again.
So there you have it. I've seen like 10 movies in a week and it was so good to have that me-time in a magical world.
But yeah, other movies I watched as well since my final paper are The Prestige, staring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johannsenn, which I still don't even what's it about because I got so bored halfway through the movie. If it helps, its about magicians and the ending was beautiful (Bale gets reunited with his daughter). My Best Friend's Wedding, with Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Ruper Everett (who voiced Prince Charming in Shrek), about Jules (Roberts) who's in love with her best friend for 9 years, but who's getting married to Kim (Diaz) and she's off to stop the wedding in 4 days as she seeks help and advice about the rationality of her actions from George, her best gay friend (Everett). Its hilarious, but beautifully sad. Jules loved him so much that she let him go and marry Kim, because he loves Kim. If you love someone, you'll let him/her choose their paths, and that's what Jules did. I cried at the ending when she made the decision to bring them back together after successfully splitting them up after seeing his anguished face because that's when she realizes how much he really loves Kim. Oh and her best gay friend, George, is incredibly funny.
American Psycho has Christian Bale and Kevin Bacon, with Bale as Patrick Bateman playing a Wall Street executive in New York, but securely hides his narcissistic behavior and love for murder and prostitutes from his friends. This movie has some nudity and a huge amount of blood and death involved, and very...awkward moments of sitting through sexual trysts. And hearing Christian Bale say the va-jay-jay word made me burst out laughing out of my chair.
Magic Mike is the weirdest show I have ever seen. A bunch of male strippers dancing around and shaking their butts? I don't even know what to say. The best stripper was the one played by Matthew McConaughey. There's just something so desirable abut hearing dirty talk in a Southern accent.
Flashdance. Romance and dance in the 1970s. Loved it. Jennifer Beals practically popularized dancing in a leotard and leg warmers.
Up next, chick-lit marathon :D
Terminator (1984), Terminator 2: Judgement Day (1991), Terminator 3: Rise of the Machines (2003), Terminator: Salvation (2009)
I've seen the last 3 movies, but not the very first movie, where it all begins when Kyle Reese (John Connor's father) is sent back from the future to 1984 to save Sarah Connor from being killed. Everything that I know from the subsequent movies are now all starting to make sense and I cannot believe that I actually missed out watching the first Terminator movie. No wonder my mum said I can't call myself a true Terminator fan. But I must say the adult Kyle Reese is totally gorgeous with an equally gorgeous to-die-for body. Too bad Kyle Reese has to die. And I'm so upset to find out that John Connor will get killed by the very Terminator that saved him in the 2nd and 3rd movie in 2032. Not that there's a connection or anything, but John Connor was born in 1985, which makes him 27 this year. So Evan's also born in 1985, making him 27 too. Coincidence? I think not!
Batman
All right, so I didn't manage to watch all the Batman movies. Batman (1989) was actually pretty good, and its where you see Jack Nicholson as the very first Joker and who did a pretty good job. But Michael Keaton was just, not my taste. And Harvey Dent was played by an African American man! I was so stunned and I must have sat there throughout the entire movie trying to figure out who this guy was. Batman Returns (1992) is by far the best Batman film out of the Schmuacher/Burton films. Its awesome because Tim Burton directed it, and the movie just screams eclectic and bizarre. And this is where real Catwoman is the best Catwoman, played by Michelle Pffifer. And okay, so maybe the rather suit and entire concept of a sexy Catwoman is extremely sexist, but hey she pulled it off and she was PERFECT. And Danny DeVito was the Penguin. AWESOME FILM. Batman Forever (1995). Slight disappointment, this film was. The villains really weren't interesting at all (The Riddler, played by Jim Carrey and Two-Faced/Harvey Dent) played by Tommy Lee Jones. Chris O' Donnell who played Robin was pretty all right as well, but he lacked the chemistry to play Batman's sidekick. Batman and Robin (1997). OMG worst Batman film EVER. Arnold Schwarzenneger was just a completely pointless blocky villian wanting to avenge his dead frozen wife. He's got the build, but not the character! Uma Thurman was Poison Ivy was okay, but the interactions between her and Batman and Robin are simply stupid. In what universe, will the Caped Crusader EVER show himself to the public as a charity event?! Batman always stays hidden and he certainly doesn't go gallivanting around town during the day, attending charity events in his suit! Its so campy and ridiculous. And intruding a Batgirl here? I'm sure Batgirl worked well in comics, but this was NOT one of Alicia Silverstone's best movie to date. Batman Begins (2005). Now this was just brilliant! Christian Bale is so gorgeous and sexy and super hot and so enigmatic! I think it really worked because it showed how Bruce Wayne turns from a petty criminal to Batman, by documenting his journey from millionaire, to petty criminal, to ninja training and finally to Batman and it really helps the audience understand where Batman is coming from. Rachel Dawes was an interesting addition. She wasn't in the comics, but she was a pretty neat character, playing Bruce's childhood friend and love interest. Katie Holmes actually did a good job acting as Dawes. I was surprised, given her penchant for roles in chick-lit films. Ra's Al Ghul was a stunning villain (hello, its Liam Neeson!) and I liked how the villain and Batman actually have a shared history, and this makes the film much more emotional, unlike other villains like The Riddler and the Penguin who push Batman's buttons, simply because they're discontent with their lot. Its a nice change really, and it really worked so good with me. The Dark Knight (2008). Equally awesome. Again, it also documents Harvey Dent's journey from being an attorney to being Two Faced and the emotional ramifications of his transformation, and it actually made me feel sorry for him. I actually liked Christopher Nolan's idea of getting Rachel to fall in love with Harvey and to stop waiting around for Batman/Bruce. It gave it such a twist, and I really was hoping that Rachel would end up with Dent, if she didn't get killed. That entire scene was the saddest moment in the entire movie, especially for Bruce. He was devastated! Poor Bruce. He waited his entire life for her and she ends up getting killed and wanting to choose another man over him. The Joker was an interesting character. Initially when I first saw the movie, I didn't like Heath Ledger's portrayal of the Joker. It was too serious instead of being scary-serious like I had anticipated. But after watching it critically during this holiday, I started seeing the brilliance of this performance. Its psychotic-serious and so bizarre to the point that it actually struck a chord with the audience. I'm now understanding why Heath Ledger got a posthumous Oscar for this. It was truly a good piece. The Dark Knight Rises (2012). HUGE DISSAPOINTMENT. So much hype, so much anticipation but it just didn't work with me. I didn't like how Bruce went into hiding for 8 years and did nothing. Bane, while I agree that he's there to test Batman's physical and mental strength, it just didn't really work enough for me, but having it tied to Miranda Tate's desire for revenge for her father made it...a little...campy. Miranda Tate didn't work with me at all. Bane was enough to bring the city down and I would have liked it better of Bane wanted revenge for Ra's instead of Tate. And Anne Hathaway as Selina Kyle/Catwoman?! WHAT was Nolan thinking?! She so was not good at all. Her characterization of Catwoman was so transient and sloppy, and granted she's beautiful, but she's not sexy to be Catwoman. And I despised the ending. I'd rather Bruce Wayne end up with Miranda Tate (if she wasn't such a vengeful slut), then be with Selina Kyle. But I wish Nolan would have told us how he had survived. All in all, this movie isn't a movie that I'll watch again.
So there you have it. I've seen like 10 movies in a week and it was so good to have that me-time in a magical world.
But yeah, other movies I watched as well since my final paper are The Prestige, staring Christian Bale, Hugh Jackman & Scarlett Johannsenn, which I still don't even what's it about because I got so bored halfway through the movie. If it helps, its about magicians and the ending was beautiful (Bale gets reunited with his daughter). My Best Friend's Wedding, with Julia Roberts, Cameron Diaz and Ruper Everett (who voiced Prince Charming in Shrek), about Jules (Roberts) who's in love with her best friend for 9 years, but who's getting married to Kim (Diaz) and she's off to stop the wedding in 4 days as she seeks help and advice about the rationality of her actions from George, her best gay friend (Everett). Its hilarious, but beautifully sad. Jules loved him so much that she let him go and marry Kim, because he loves Kim. If you love someone, you'll let him/her choose their paths, and that's what Jules did. I cried at the ending when she made the decision to bring them back together after successfully splitting them up after seeing his anguished face because that's when she realizes how much he really loves Kim. Oh and her best gay friend, George, is incredibly funny.
American Psycho has Christian Bale and Kevin Bacon, with Bale as Patrick Bateman playing a Wall Street executive in New York, but securely hides his narcissistic behavior and love for murder and prostitutes from his friends. This movie has some nudity and a huge amount of blood and death involved, and very...awkward moments of sitting through sexual trysts. And hearing Christian Bale say the va-jay-jay word made me burst out laughing out of my chair.
Magic Mike is the weirdest show I have ever seen. A bunch of male strippers dancing around and shaking their butts? I don't even know what to say. The best stripper was the one played by Matthew McConaughey. There's just something so desirable abut hearing dirty talk in a Southern accent.
Flashdance. Romance and dance in the 1970s. Loved it. Jennifer Beals practically popularized dancing in a leotard and leg warmers.
Up next, chick-lit marathon :D
Sunday, December 16, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)