Where were you while we were getting high?

Finally watched Human Traffic. Didn't see it when it first came out after Trainspotting. Only saw it today as part of my John Simm binge. I had no idea he and Andrew Lincoln were both in Boston Kickout and Human Traffic.

It's no accident that Justin Kerrigan didn't make it. There are plenty of good bits and potential in this film but it's easy to see how much more the film could be without some of the heavy-handedness and a bit more work on the characters to make them more engaging. They don't have to be likeable but they got to be able to keep my attention at least.

OMG, Wanted is good. So damn good. My heart went pumping immediately when I saw the train on my way home. And I had this weird flash before my eyes when I look at the words on turnstile screen.
I don't normally like violence. This film is so bloody I had to look away a few times but I still love this film. The directing and the music is marvellous. The acting is spot on, not just Morgan Freeman and James McAvoy, but everyone in it (except maybe the girlfriend and the cheating best friend who are rather cardboard cutouts). And then of course, there's the cuteness of James McAvoy. He's so adorable in his meekness and politeness, and his innocent sweetness when Angelina Jolie kissed him just killed me~! I never expected I would say this but I absolutely love this film.

I see I'm not the only one who think that Prince Caspian and Peter are going to make out every time they talk to/fight with each other. I hope I'm not the only one who thinks that the Caspian/Susan bits are shoehorned in, too.

There're so many things wrong with this film (or doing this film adaptation in this day and age) that I don't know where to begin. First of all, although there were sprinkles of meaningful/witty dialogues that hint at the emotional/philosophical depth an epic story like this has the potential to show, there were instead long stretches of inaction in terms of plot and character development. No amount of cinematography porn could compensate the boredom that brings. I swear there were dozens of times I was fighting back my yawn and wishing that I was watching Doctor Who instead.

And there were so many moments, esp. when the innocent little girl was being deified, that I was cringing at the horrible mental image of an aged male writer perving over the (unrealistic) innocence of little girls. If the deification of Rose had squicked so many DW fans, I'm even more squicked by this, if only because RTD is at least gay.

Other things that were keeping me from getting into the film at all:

• The Italian(?) accent - seriously, why?


• The cheesy music that was totally over-the-top and the ending song - again, why?


• Treating child soliders, violence and PTSD as non-issue although the backdrop is WWII?


• Waiting for a god that may not come is the only correct answer? Seriously, this is a message one would want their multi-million-dollar film to carry now?

I could go on but my head just hurt from all these mind-boggling questions that the film had unintentionally raised (and the long boring periods that actually forced me to think). So, maybe, just maybe it is a blessing in disguise?

A good scene stays with you all the time. I was reading the Life on Mars fic "All These Editions of You", the last part of which was written in Annie's POV. The ending scene with Sam/Gene semi- in the public (outside the pub but out of everyone's sight) somehow reminded me of the Velvet Goldmine scene where Brian and Curt were spotted in the garden. Although the 2 scenes are not really alike, the connection
just filled my heart with tremendous warmth and made both scenes ten times better than they felt before.

I was ready to give up on the film. I don't think I have time for royal court power struggles that are the staples of Asian television. But then there was David Morrissey. So I can't leave, can't I?

OMG! I swear. I never squeed so much at any movies. It was just... AAAAAAH... I squeed and almost screamed TORCHWOOD!!!!! when I saw Burn Gorman. And I squeed when I saw Nick Frost. And Christina Ricci and James McAvoy are sooooooooo cute!!!!!!!!! I know it's wrong to make a thing out of people's height but they really are a good match~

Hadn't expected to enjoy this film but somehow Katherine Heigl and James Marsden made it work.
It reminds me, though, of how I wish Russell T Davies would write something about alternatives to marriage like what he did with Bob and Rose. His own relationship is such a good example but somehow he didn't include anything in this direction in his work - is this too much for the audience to take still?

P.S. Heigl is totally the splitting image of Bree

After watching this morning's documentary "All's Right with the World" (trailer here), I know I shouldn't be but I'm so proud to be from Hong Kong. Because it's just a documentary but the cinematography, the editing and the music are so much better some feature films from Taiwan (I'm looking at you: "Winds of September" and "Drifting Flowers").

But pride on Hong Kong's rich talents aside, it really made me sad that it's the second documentary about poor people in Hong Kong that are funded non-locally.