I am Your Sunshine

從 Raura 那看來的. 我喜歡寫問卷, 噗.
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I watched three movies by directors famed for their previous films: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button by David Fincher (Fight Club), The Wrestler by Darren Aronofsky (Requiem for a Dream) and Slumdog Millionaire by Danny Boyle (Trainspotting), among which only the first I really enjoyed.

The Wrestler (B+) was a good movie. Too bad that I hate themes involve great physical pain. Gun fire and explosions, those I can take; punches in the the stomach, smashing heads, and pain that looks real, however, are always too painful for me to watch.

During the first 1.5 hour of it, I kept having the urge to let it be the first movie that I stand up and walk out of. I’m glad that I didn’t because the last 5 minutes made my suffering somehow seems (more or less) worthwhile. It didn’t make it less painful, but at least it made sense to me at the end.

Even though I hate almost every bit of it, I think they did a great job telling the story. I was brought along a journey of a has-been wrestler, who was long out of his prime but still well respected. I hate him for being easily affected by situations, and making all the wrong decisions that lead to bad outcomes. It seems that he was heading for self-destruction because of a broken heart when he chose to go back. But then all of a sudden it became clear that, after trying to make things different, he (made me?) realized that he lives to wrestle. Wrestling defines him and the ring is where he belongs.

The final scene was beautiful and that Bruce Springsteen song at the end was so right.

As for Slumdog Millionaire, I just don’t think it’s not all it’s hyped up to be.

聽一場曲目都不認識的音樂會, 只為了能夠說我聽過阿格麗希的現場.
冒著生命危險深入僵屍橫行的奧城, 只為了聽說很好吃的人參雞與海鮮煎餅.
為了愛捨棄這片那片去看摔跤手很痛的電影, 為了只好.

A-

Much to my surprise, I learned it at the end of the film that it was adapted from a short story by F. Scott Fitzgerald. (Right, I didn’t do any the so-called “homework” before I went for it.) However, the two stories are completely different. You might as well watch the movie with a fresh mind, without having a fixed idea of how the mystery about Benjamin Button ought to work.

If you’re interested, you can read the short story here, or the plot summary here.

David Fincher’s (director of Zodiac, Panic Room, Fight Club) adaptation was far more gentle than the original piece. Eric Roth totally romanticized the story. I like the way they unveiled the life that Benjamin Button had and made everything cleared at the end. It’s a pity that Brad Pitt was completely overpowered by Cate Blanchett. You can’t really blame him, can you. Afterall, he was up against the QUEEN; what chance did he have? But still, I think there are better choices than Brad Pitt. For one thing, he doesn’t really look that young even after the makeup and computer effects. Unlike Cate, who was head over heels ravishing! Plus his performance was dull for me.

Some people said it’s boring. I reckon that the pace was a bit slow comparing to the standard today. However, I think it’s just right for this story. And I think people should relearn the ability to appreciate things at its destined pace.

– 保持(或說建立)規律運動的習慣 (頗難)

– 不要輕易放棄想嘗試的東西 (目前來說是足球) (難)

– 認真學習 (目前來說是下學期的課業) (難)

– 復習德文 (難)

– 十一點上床 (極難!)

– 每晚看一篇 Your Best Life Now (普)

– 記帳 (普)

– 把廚藝練到可以餵飽自己的境界 (難 – 因為我很挑)

– 重建與神的關係 (N/A)

– 自己旅行

看來我太好高鶩遠了, 竟然大多都是”難”以上等級的希望 orz

昨晚看了一篇Your Best Life Now. 我之前的新年新希望實在是太自我設限了. 一開始就眼界這麼小, 事事覺得困難怎麼行呢? 又不是先說過 “哎呀很難啦~” 最後發現做不到時就比較不令人失望了. 所以, 加油吧 XD

Sorry if I sound disrespectful. The book was completed by 10 writers, but let’s face it, there’s only one that I care about, who was the reason I started this book in the first place.

The book started as a story about the definition of a family and grieving process, became a journey of personal discovery, then gradually evolved to a mystery, and turned into a sci-fi at the end. The center character was a deceased photographer, Gee, who apparently led a more than colorful and intriguing life. But instead of trying to satisfy our curiosity and tell us as much of his life and secrets, they decided to stretch the story to five generations, and used two chapters to build a not so interesting future world and one to wrap the previous 9 chapters.

I was left hungry for more when I finished the book. There were so much left to be explored. It pains me not being able to piece everything together. For me, the story jumped shark when it’s turned into sci-fil which was completely unnecessary. The writers failed to deliver the point they were trying to make, or perhaps, they didn’t have a point at all. You’d think they should at least make it interesting, but no. All those imaginary “future reality” were dull and… pointless.

As for the writers, there were some who built up the story really well. But one of them bored me out of my skull who managed a twist at the end (of that chapter) rather insincerely. There was another one whose writing was really awful. It was like a torture having to read through it (in order to continue to the next chapter, I HAD to read it!) However, thank goodness for Nick Hornby. Nick Hornby really has a way with words. He grabs you in with a few sentences. His natural flowing words, not forced in any way. He reminds us those little things that we tend to forget and oversee in life. He makes us reflect.

In all, it was still an enjoyable read.

更有效率及簡單一目瞭然的方式來紀錄 要看/正在看/已看完的 書/電影

掌握進度表

ps. 新版wordpress老是害我忘記選cat.

1/3
7:00 FA Cup Chelsea v Southend United
13:00 Valencia v Atlético Madrid

德甲放假放真久~

前幾天逛 UrbanOutfitters 看到這小棵聖誕樹, 忽然覺得買棵回家放桌上, 剛好可以掛我那一堆這裡一個那裡一個, 平常不知如何收拾的小飾品. 於是決定回家上網找有沒有便宜的. 結果發現 UrbanOutfitters 有在特價, 但是加上運費還是要USD$8 左右.

沒想到今天在 Borders 看到所有聖誕節品都半價, 其中也包括桌上型聖誕樹 (粉紅色, 黑色跟亮綠色.) 原價$6.99, 半價 $3.99. 然後我手邊又有一張買總價超過 $5 的東西就折價 $5 的 coupon. 於是我隨便挑了一本海明威的劇本 ($3.99), 最後只花了我 $2.14. 真開心.

我把它部置成這樣:

(點圖看註解及其他角度 :D)

新專輯的歌真好聽耶

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哈! 我之前怎麼沒想到勒….

還在想說明年沒有 Club Sports 的會員, 不知道要去哪/做什麼運動. (加入24應該沒啥用, 我一定會懶得去.) 剛忽然想到, 反正我要去 De Anza 上課了, 就乾脆也拿幾門體育課嘛!

結果現在反而因選擇太多而不知道怎麼辦, 想拿 Social Dance, 也想學足球, Step Aerobics 如果老師好的話會很好玩, 運動量也很夠…

再想想吧 :D

w寄來的信!

特此一po

然後接到貓電話 (好吧 其實是我打過去的), 又聽到一個好消息. 真是個奇妙的聖誕節啊!

12/26
5:00 Chelsea v WBA (FSC)
7:00 Man City v Hull (FSC)
9:00 Aston Villa v Arsenal (FSC)

洗頭, window shopping

12/27
睡到中午 XD
SJ
clean up room
bb

12/28
6:00 Fulham v Chelsea (FSC)
8:00 Blackburn v Manchester City (FSC)

church, office, library, gym(?), yarn

回想當時的狀況, 那似乎是我的私心而非體貼. 是否同樣敏感善於體貼別人的人在這樣的情況下被犧牲了呢?

多說無益, 直接聽吧!

love it.

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We used to have White Elephant party every year in our office ever since I joined. However, this year they went for fancier choice (in this economy!) – Dave & Buster, but it didn’t feel right without white elephant. Therefore, we decided to host our own white elephant party and Welton was very generous for offering his place. :)

It was so much fun!

We had the famous King Egg Rolls, pizza, quiche, cabbage stew, creamy corn soup, roast beef, delicious Taiwanese sausage (all the way from Sacramento!), Brussels sprouts. All kinds of wines and sparklings, ice cream float and rice balls cos it was the Winter solstice.

Some of the people met each other for the first time, but everyone was nice and got along very well. After dinner we chatted and played games. A group of us played UNO and the other group “learned” Cash Flow (I doubt if they really played XD)

And then it’s White Elephant time!

We carried the presents out and each one of us drew a number. The game was hilarious and the presents are all pretty decent. I hope everyone got something they have a use for. (Or… you can always regift it next time around. XD)

The gifts were: lotion set (with foot cream) in 750G HD box, running alarm clock, iDog+pop corn, blank DVDs + 4G memory card, lick-me jelly and dice, monopoly, clapper, foot massage slipper, electric knife, poker set + shot glass.

上一集 Life 演到跟 Russia mafia 有關的劇情, 其中一個 Russian 工程師用他女友名字的俄文拼法當 trapdoor 的密碼, Elizaveta, 就是英文的 Elizabeth.

心血來潮拿去 google, 結果找到了這個歌手, Elizaveta. 莫斯科出生, 現居 LA. 改編了一堆耳熟能詳的音樂. 還蠻好聽的 :)

我也很平均啊… orz

12/17
8:00 Copa Italia AC Fiorentina 0-1 Torino FC GOL
11:45 UEFA Cup Saint-Etienne 2-2 Valencia CF

12/18
11:45 UEFA Cup Racing Santander 3-1 Manchester City GOL

12/20
11:00 Real Madrid vs. Valencia CF
2:00 baby shower
5:00~11:00 w

12/21
6:00 Sampdoria vs. AC Fiorentina
10:20 church
6:00 party

12/22
12:00 Everton FC vs. Chelsea (我不要Monday night football啦 ><)