The Journey - two thumbs up!

This evening, I watched the much talked about "The Journey" movie at GSC cinema at Dataran Pahlawan with SLing and SYuen. Though we had to rush from one cinema to another because of movie cancellation due to technical equipment damage at MBO cinema, almost full house at another ( GSC Aeon ) but we were glad that we made it for this movie even though we eventually have to settle for the 9.20pm show at GSC Dataran Pahlawan.  I must say that I truly & thoroughly enjoyed this movie very much. Earlier on,  I watched the crowd slowly fill up the seats. I was really pleasantly surprised when I saw people from all races were watching this movie and filling up the seats nicely. I must say that this movie certainly do live up to its promotional billing and it is no wonder why it is the top billing local movie so far. 

To me, this was a great local movie and I must congratulate the director, the producer and the cast for the wonderfully made movie. The plot was simple, good and so meaningful while the cast were simply marvelous. Dialogue was clear, simple and even very direct at times. The message of love, hope, peace and kindness fill the movie plot. The geographical settings and cinematography works were superb. The scenery scenes were breathtakingly beautiful and portrays the rich blessings of this land. Places like Cameron Highlands, Ipoh, Penang , Sabah and even smaller towns were beautifully and tastefully shot to bring out the best of the lands. I am thankful for the message it brings and the culture that we inherit in this fine land of ours. This movie is more about preserving of culture and way of life plus taking care of our elder ones.

There were so many poignant moments in the movie that I would rather not mention lest it would spoil the fun of watching it later. All I can say is that it is a touching movie but at the same time it brings out the reality of  the bond between parents and children, respect for the elders and the very culture in our daily lives. I guess, this movie will touch the core centre of our hearts as it relates nicely to our society and our lifestyle today.

How do you know if the movie is a good one? Well, when I could hear sniffles and tissue shuffling by some of the movie patrons sitting at the back row of mine and the front rows, you definitely know the message of the movie gets across very nicely. As I sat back writing this piece, I reflect on some of the very natural scenes that took place in the movie and go, "Hey, I can relate to that! " or " Wow, so true!" or even " Interesting view!". But I did laughed my head off too for some of the humorous scene like "sofaman" and so on.

So, have a good day at the movies and DON'T give "The Journey" a miss! Go, pull your mom,dad, auntie, uncle, brother, sisters, cousins, nephews and whatever blood relations or non-blood relations to this movie. It is really a good movie.

Argo

Argo - the movie

A few nights ago, I watched Ben Affleck's  movie " Argo" on HBO movie channel. It was late and I wasn't asleep and so, I decided to lay back and enjoy the movie hoping that it would make me doze off just as it always does. Surprisingly, not only I wasn't falling asleep but I was wide awake and enjoying every bit of the movie. As I was at my special bed on the floor of the room, I could not help but relived the terror felt by the hostages during that time of unrest in Iran. Critics may say that this was an American film and exaggeration is in the offering but I guess, it truly captures the essence of the situation at that time. I remembered that crisis well when I was young. I was an avid reader and I did read about this situation in Iran. Some pictures of killings and demonstrations were horrifically cruel, gory and bloodied. The news of the happenings in Iran were quite prominently played in the media then. It made headlines at all the tabloids especially the atrocities carried out in Iran plus all the propaganda that comes with it.

Tony Mendez and Ben Affleck

Anyway, I could not help but begun to enjoy this film as it progressed steadily. The plot to get the American embassy diplomats/workers who were being shielded by the Canadian ambassador at the Canadian Embassy out of Iran was truly an ingenius way. That's where the fictitious movie "Argo" was born. Every detail was taken into consideration to make it feel and look real so that it could fooled the extreme Iranian administration at that time and to fly out the six American embassy workers. The plot was exciting and very tense indeed. The situation was made real with a mixture of real happening and re-creation or re-enactment of the situation. I truly enjoyed this film. So much drama and suspense plus the plot was exciting. I guess, it was the collaboration of one very concerned agent and his friends at the Hollywood circle that made the escape possible.

The original six American diplomats rescued from Iran

Yeah, we can say that this guy, Tony Mendez was a trained operative from the CIA but without confidence and help plus support ,  he is as good as dead on the field. More importantly, the six people had to play their part well too if they were to have any chance of surviving the ordeal and carry out the craziest escape plan ever at that time.

I was thinking to myself that if so much was being done just to bring back six people out of that place, it must have been quite a relief and worthwhile effort. It was really realistically very real and you could sense the intensity of it all. I was captivated right through the very end when they boarded the Swiss Air plane out of Iran. What a real relief and one roller coaster human reaction seeing this film. I thoroughly enjoyed this movie and I must say that it made me think a little more that the world could always be a better place if everyone just stop the extremism, the killing and the vengeance. Heck, who am I kidding , right? As long as there are people shouting out for blood of someone and fundamental extremist are at hand, there will always be bloodshed, misery and atrocities being carried out no matter which part of the world we may be.  It is just so sad that sometimes lives are like some cheapened livestock in the field when God intended us, the human beings, to be the smartest of the lot. Guess, some people just won't use their brains or what's left of it-lar.....