Wah-wah! Here comes the sun.

Not as touching as Up, but still better than many animations out there

// July 29th, 2010 // 6 Comments » // movie talk // movie talk

Walt Disney Pictures

Toy Story 3

TOY story 3 maybe is one of the movies I couldn’t wait to see this year (maybe second after Harry Potter and Deathly Hallows). I like part one and two, I like Tom Hanks and I like Pixar. So, that were probably the reasons why I didn’t want to miss this one.

Last year, I re-watched part one and two on the theater in 3D. That was great experience because I thought I have lost the chance to ever view those on big screen especially for part two, which for some reason I missed when it was played on theater. I didn’t know why I missed that because I remember enjoyed part one a lot. Maybe due to me having almost no money at that time (hey, I was only a jobless student after all).

I’ve been dreaming of seeing part three on imax. Well, I kept wondering when Pixar finally released something on imax. I always thought they’re going to be the first animation company to do so, but for some reason they didn’t.

When I saw Wall-E then later Up, I kept thinking how those movies will be looked great on imax 3D.

Last year, I was impressed with everything about Up. The movie was perfect. I even root for that to win the best picture for academy award. They didn’t win, but I wasn’t that disappointed, I still have a hope that one day soon they will definitely will win.

Unfortunately, I missed seeing Pixar first ever feature on imax due to my four months trip to Indonesia. I was disappointed because this should be a historic moment for a pixar fan like me.

Strangely, I declined to watch it 3D. It’s not like I agree with Roger Ebert view on that topic, but since I already missed that on the biggest screen on theater, I didn’t want to make this experience even smaller. The 3D technology seemed to make the screen looked smaller, so I thought that viewing that on regular screen was better than 3D.

Now, let’s talk about the movie. So, Andy is growing up and about to leave for college. What about the toys then? They’re still the same, they didn’t grow up, and they’re purpose were still the same, to be played by children. The problem is, Andy is no longer a children.

In part two, Jessie (the cowgirl toy) shared her sad story being abandoned by Emily, the owner who grew up. Now, it seemed like Emily situation all over again.

Without spoiling the story too much, Woody and the gang ended up at Sunnyside daycare. It seemed like this was probably the best ending for those toys, but we know it wouldn’t because then there would be no story.

So, yes just like the previous movies, there would be villains in this one. Unfortunately, the villain character on this movie seemed repetitive from the part two, again I won’t spoil that one because I still think this is a must movie see.

Was I disappointed? Not at all. I still enjoyed the movie and would not mind seeing it again. Of course there were some touchy moments (though ‘Up’ still tops the list on that subject).

Of course there were some funny moments a la Pixar that until now still couldn’t be beaten by Dreamworks and any other animation out there. Some of my favorite were the ones with Buzz Lightyear (though he’s never been my favorite character, or with Barbie and Ken (Michael Keaton did an awesome job).

Overall, the story quite predictable and there weren’t really surprising moment. However, the geniuses behind the movie knew how to please the audience, so you didn’t really care about the predictable plot and such and you still walk away of theater satisfy just like I did.

… And now some quick review from other movies…

Frost/Nixon

I thought this one going to be “heavy” movie, so I kept declined to watch it until I am ‘mentally’ read, then I decided to give it a chance anyway despite feeling worried I may be won’t be able to finish it. I was so dead wrong. This movie was actually very light, easy to understanding and very entertaining as well. It’s a must see movie for everyone, especially if you’re in media/journalism field. Frank Langela deserved his Oscar nod, but I think Michael Sheen should get nominated as well.

To Kill a Mockingbird

GREGORY Peck is exactly what I thought Atticus Finch would act/look like, but from what I hear the actor did like “Atticus Finch” to his own children. Maybe that’s why he could deliver his part so well. The credit also goes to Mary Badham who played the daughter, Scout (now I see why Bruce Willis and Demi Moore also named their daughter, Scout). Of course, the movie couldn’t catch up to the brilliance of the book, but I think they quite succeed.

The Vanishing (the remake)
The beginning was great because they were still faithful to the original. The cast was great, especially Sandra Bullock, who looked amazingly gorgeous and she got something on her that would make you sympathize and wondered on what happened to her after she went missing. My only (but the biggest) problem is how they changed their ending into typical Hollywood thriller. They basically change the essence of the original and that just simply wrong thing to do.

My thought on the Oscars

// March 8th, 2010 // No Comments » // movie talk // movie talk

Summit Entertainment

Let’s started with the host, Alec Baldwin and Steve Martin. It seemed like a brilliant idea to combine two talented people. Was it worked?

I wouldn’t say they failed, but compare to past host such as Billy Crystal, Jon Stewart or Ellen, they didn’t do too much for me. Pretty good, but nothing special.

Maybe it’s Hugh Jackman’s fault for setting a high level of hosting Oscar last year? I MUST say, Hugh Jackman should win Oscar for hosting. Honestly, the part with him was the most memorable thing in that Oscar last year.

They should bring Jackman back next year or even Billy Crystal.

Well, since I started with not such a “positive” side of the Oscar, let’s continue then.

I think the Oscar SHOULD make it really clear about the time length for the speech, or did they, but the winners just ignored it? Too many uncomfortable moments where the winner tried to say something, but either the microphone has been ‘muted’ nor the orchestra had been played.

I was hoped for Up to win The Best Picture and The Best Original Screenplay, although I knew it didn’t really have a chance so I wasn’t that disappointed. In fact, I already predicted that they wouldn’t bring the Oscar on that categories.

What’s up with Twilight were shown in Horror tribute? I have never seen the movie, but I thought, even though it had werewolves and vampires, it mostly about teenage romance?

Like I said before, I like Sandra Bullock, but I’ve been hoping to see Meryl Streep wins the award. I thought she would win last year with Doubt. But, when she didn’t I was happy she got nominated again with her role in Julie and Julia (and she was VERY good in it). I thought this was finally is going to be her year.

I didn’t even realize that on ‘In Memoriam” section until Roger Ebert mentioned on his Twitter, that they didn’t show Farrah Fawcett. Academy would have lot of explanations to do. However, I like this year ‘In memoriam’ better than last year. If you remembered, it had Queen Latifah sung a song beautifully, but unfortunately the camera seemed show her too much and missed to zoom out the pictures of some stars that died that year.

What’s up with the dance during the Original Score category. I just didn’t think it fits. They should do that on Grammy instead or maybe on a show like ‘So You Think You Can Dance’?

Last, but not least (on my least like moments), this year’s Oscar less innovative and creative, at least compare to last year’s Oscar, which was the best one I’ve ever seen.

On to positive note, I like that The Hurt Locker and Kathryn Bigelow wins the award for best picture and director. I saw the movie and I LOVE it a lot (Istill like Up and The Road better though).

Tom Hanks presented the award. Well, it’s always great to see him anywhere, any time.

Michael Giacchino won for Best Original Score. This is probably the one that I root the most! I’d be EXTRA disappointed if he lost. Up’s score was the best of the best.

It’s great to see the voice behind Up at the audience.

I don’t really care that they didn’t show the live performance of the nominated songs. Usually, I used that time to take a break anyway.

What an introduction that

Lastly, I’d rate this year Oscar: C-.

Protected: “Saturday”

// February 27th, 2010 // Enter your password to view comments // Uncategorized // Uncategorized

You know it’s a dream but you couldn’t get up

// February 27th, 2010 // No Comments » // nightmares, personal // nightmares, personal

Once I was laying in my bed, I saw a middle aged Chinese woman and his son sitting on my bed. They were watching me asleep.

They didn’t say anything. They looked like they’re human, but the way they looked at me made me realize that there was something not right with them. Their eyes looked dead.

… and what the hell they’re doing in my bedroom?

Even though they didn’t do anything at all, they still scared the hell out of me. I tried to get up, but I couldn’t.

After a minute of torture, I finally got up and realized that it was only a dream. Only that’s the most ‘real’ dream I’ve ever had.

I don’t remember how long after that, but they were back again in my dream. Like before, I couldn’t get up and couldn’t move. For some reason, even though they were sitting still on my bed, I could swear that they were getting closer and closer to me.

Again, it was a struggle to get up, I sometimes made it and usually I was too afraid to fall asleep again. Because the minute I fell asleep, they would be back again.

I didn’t believe in Ghost and such and I know it’s only a dream, but why it kept coming back? And why that woman and her son? Who were they?

This thing happened around 2003. At that time I lived in Jakarta, working as journalist and it’s probably the busiest and the most stressful time in my life ever.

The nightmare continues. Soon, I started to see appearance by people that I knew in real life.

While I was in Jakarta, I had a roommate. Every few days, there was a woman came by to pick up our laundry. Usually she came while we’re still asleep.

And that day, I heard her coming while I was still lying in my bed. Then I felt some “strange” air flowing inside my brain and now my body was “paralyzed” again (Once, you experienced that kind of nightmare in a while, you start to recognize the symptom when it was about to come).

So, I said to myself: “Oh no, what’s scary stuff that I am going to experience this time?”

My eyes were opened (at least that’s seemed like it). I felt her entering the room only that I didn’t see her at all. Then, I saw her right hand waving and touching the wall in a scary way (which I didn’t know how to explain). There was nothing I could do, but to wait until I get my power back to get up from this nightmare

At that time, the dream only set in that same room. Until not longer after that, I had a dream where I ‘woke up’, though still lying in bed. I saw the room around me has changed. It looked like the room in my grandparent’s house.

Then, I saw my cousin at least it looked like her but it wasn’t her because she had that empty, dead, evil look in her eyes, like that Chinese woman and her son.

There were times, my roommate was there with me, sleeping at the same room with me. I felt like there was a long haired ghost (like in The Ring), holding me so tight and made me couldn’t move. I tried to reach at my roommate so I could wake her up, but the ghost were stronger than I did.

I knew that my “experience” is getting scarier and scarier.

I finally told some people about it. They reaction is the room we stayed must be haunted or whatever. I don’t want to believe that, but the other explanation that I MUST be getting crazy then. I like the “haunted” explanation better. Of course, it becomes sort of like jokes then. I was laughing too. Although at the end, I still terrified every time it occurred.

Basically, the experiences were always similar where I couldn’t get up or move. There were times it was too scary that I managed to crawl on the floor, trying to go to the bathroom so I could pour a cold water into my face.

There were times I actually set my alarm to go off every few min, so I could get up when it rings and the “ghost” or whatever would go away.

My last effort was to change the direction of the bed. I heard the myth said you shouldn’t sleep facing the door because then you’ll have nightmare (don’t ask me why, I don’t have the answer). At that time, my common sense doesn’t really help me and I just want to have a peaceful night, so I did change the direction. I forgot if that really worked.

When I moved to US. It started to happen again. Sometimes I woke up and saw my neighbor sitting on my bed and again looking at me with “empty” eyes. There were times I heard my husband footsteps, but he never made it to the door. That’s how I knew that it’s the “nightmare” again.

Onetime, I found the article on something called “Sleep paralysis”. I was shocked to find out and relieved at the same time that I finally found the answer of what has been happening to me in the last few years.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sleep_paralysis

This is the various factors that might increase it:

Sleeping in a face upwards or supine position
Irregular sleeping schedules; naps, sleeping in, sleep deprivation
Increased stress
Sudden environmental/lifestyle changes
A lucid dream that immediately precedes the episode.

All the factors seemed to describe my situation really well. The first thing I changed was my sleeping position habit. I remember not to sleep on my back anymore, always facing side, left or right. It seemed worked and I hardly have that experience anymore.

More interesting link (and story) about “Sleep Paralysis”

http://www.lucid.me/sleepparalysis.htm

http://www.yourghoststories.com/real-ghost-story.php?story=8590

http://www.theastralworld.com/dreams/sleep-paralysis.php

http://serendip.brynmawr.edu/exchange/node/1740?page=4&destination=