I am the secret that you keep; MISS SCARLET.

Friday, February 27, 2009

he's just not that into you

i won't say much about the movie per se, in terms of the acting or the plot. because we all know the cast is pretty well, 'up there'. but it's the lessons that i learnt that were the most invaluable memory that i took away from watching it.

that singular movie explained almost all the missing links as to why some relationships work and other just were never meant to happen, or basically just crumble.

it helped me put all the pieces of the puzzle together, and in some weird way, it's the first 'chick flick' that actually helped me, as a woman, to take a little peak inside how a guy's brain works when he's dating someone.

i found myself agreeing with so many of the men's actions/reactions in the movie, and it's actually quite funny in hindsight. of course, any poor girl kept in the dark is no laughing matter, but it sure highlights how stupid we women are when we think we've found 'someone'.

lesson learnt at the end of the day, is that, just put yourself out there, as honestly as you feel comfortable with. and whatever happens, happens. don't fret, don't fuss and most importantly, don't stalk! :)

if it's not a mutual thing, be glad that you found out earlier, rather than continuing dating a lying arse who's been bullshitting you for months.

it's a good watch for first dates, and for both men and women to just have a laugh at how the other sex can come up with the stupidest ways to rationalise their feelings for someone.

4 out of 5. :)

Tuesday, February 17, 2009

an outrage in my eyes

KUALA LUMPUR, Malaysia - Authorities in Malaysia arrested 26 unmarried Muslim couples in hotel rooms during Operation Valentine - aimed at curbing illegal premarital sex in this conservative country, an officer said Monday.

The couples, most under 30 years old, were detained for sharing rooms early Sunday in the beachside town of Kuantan in eastern Pahang state, said Badaruddin Ahmad Bustami, enforcement assistant director with the state's Islamic department.

State authorities carry out raids each year on Valentine's Day in this Muslim-majority country, where sharia laws make it illegal for unmarried Muslims to meet behind closed doors, Badaruddin said. Doing so constitutes a crime known as "khalwat," or "close proximity," which carries a maximum fine of 1,000 ringgit (US$280) and up to six months in prison.

The sharia laws apply only to Malaysia's Muslims, not to Christian and Hindu citizens who together make up about 40 percent of the population.

Badaruddin said the couples were released but may be charged later with khalwat.
"We don't agree with Muslim couples celebrating Valentine's Day because it's not Malay culture," he said. "Every Valentine's Day, many couples come here and they commit big mistakes under Islam."

i cannot fathom how such laws will curb the rise of pre-marital sex, especially when it is aimed only specifically at a certain religion. when i read this, i felt disgusted at the pit of my stomach. i have zero tolerance for laws that refuse to separate state from religion. having the malaysian government dictate malaysian muslims' lives from a religious stand is manipulative and intrusive, to me.

valentine's day not being "malay culture"? then shouldn't we arrest those non-christians who celebrate christmas by exchanging gifts and immerse themselves in the season of giving by being around their christian counterparts and partaking in the merriment? or are they saying that on valentine's day, there is a sudden surge of horny couples getting a room, apart from any other day of the year?

it puzzles me, really.

Thursday, February 12, 2009

seeing you leave

it was bittersweet, to say the least.
i thought it'd be hard, and it was. just not at the supposed moments.

i guess having a whole bunch of people waving you farewell kind of restricts the tears that threatened to flow just minutes ago. and then when you're really out of sight, the emptiness sets in. deep.

it was surreal not being able to reach you, just an SMS away.
it felt so awkward, so lonely.

i guess, this proves one thing.
you were, in a way, just one of the few who kept me strong, and very grounded. i can count, on one hand, the number of people who did.

more than just a mere companion to pass the time away, you were, and still are, a true friend.
sanity just came a little easier with you around, through everything that i went through, especially last year.

it's only the first night.
and already, i'm in a pool of sorrow.

Saturday, February 07, 2009

no more

i cannot do this.
i keep saying it, but i never seem to learn.

but i cannot. i just cannot.
i've been spinning my head round thinking of how to end this, and this is it.

use me, abuse me.
and i let it happen.

enough is enough.
get the fuck out of my face.

the curious case of benjamin button

when i first heard that this was given 13 oscar nominations and brad pitt was 'headlining' it for best actor award, something seemed off.

so i watched it, and it confirmed my suspicions.

as always, a supposed overly-hyped up oscar-nominated movie has to include some over-publicised hollywood actor, and this time, brad pitt was thrown into that spotlight.

the storyline, the technicalities of execution and cinematography was worthy of its nominations. but pitt, as a character full of complexity, and in a rather unique situation, failed to deliver the goods. emotionally, benjamin seemed a little too calm and expressively in his actions, he was a tad too nonchalant about his circumstances. i'm basing my observations on the fact that any 'normal' human being brought into the world with such 'abnormalities' would see the world with such wonder and bring a sort of 'magic' to their everyday interactions with others.

of course, i'm not saying that those born with abnormalities should be any different from a perfectly healthy person, but for cinematic effect, benjamin's character needed to be "alive" and should have brought the audience to question his world: "what's it like?"

even as benjamin's character grew up, and he adapted to his surroundings, pitt just did not seem convincing enough to show us how different it is to be in benjamin's shoes. now, it begs the question, if it isn't so different, that what is the point of telling benjamin's story to us?

sad to say, pitt's acting skills fell flat, it was mediocre and stagnant. someone with better credibility of portraying such "colourful" characters should have been considered instead (read: sean penn or tom hanks, for example).

cate blanchett's character kind of left a bitter aftertaste, only because she isn't really a likeable character to begin with and it takes quite a bit of time to allow one's self to digest her intentions and fickle-mindedness as the movie progresses. overall, i would have to say it was not up to my expectations and the ridiculous number of nominations it received is just.... well, hysterical. it did not deserve that many, especially pitt. his life partner did a FAR better job in 'the changeling'.

3.5 out of 5.