The Hitchhiker's Guide To The Galaxy

This movie is an adaptation from Douglas Adam's acclaimed 5-book series of mixing science fiction and humor at its best, and being very British about it at the same time. The books of my childhood have finally come to life, in the first installation of hopefully movies following the subsequent sequels (well, the end of the movie hinted about it anyway).
I'm not sure if this movie will be box office, or even if it will even hit theaters in Indonesia (I watched it on DVD), but it is a definitely entertaining, if quaint movie. I'm not sure people may appreciate the movie like I do, but I must say that I loved the movie partly because I am familiar with the books, and the unique British wit that went into each line. No American moviemaker in his right mind would be able to make something like this.
The movie itself tells about the misadventures of Arthur Dent, your usual everyman in most aspects, who is trying to stop the government demolishing his house for a new freeway. In a quirk turn of events, the Earth itself is actually destroyed to make way for an interstellar highway, which is only part of Arthur Dent's adventure cruising through the galaxy.
A definite must-watch for lovers of British comedy, science fiction, and perhaps those who love absolutely absurd and unnecessary movies.

Pakced As Hell!

I'm sure some readers notice that I have not posted anything here for at least a week; that's because, well, finally, I'm trying to increase my effectiveness at work, whatever it is. This means more hours toiling away in front of the computer, or perhaps setting up and going to meetings; doing things with daily targets (it's about time, man...) and sticking to them. Yeah, it's about time I took myself to the next level and start to kick some ass!!
I am also starting to organize my life other than work, including timing my working out sessions, going out with friends, and everything. Although usually I was the organized type of person, at one point in time I decided I wanted to do everything more spontaneously and on-the-spot. This went rather well for a couple of years, but now the benefits of a more organized life is overshadowing that of a spontaneous life (well, not 100% organized, just more scheduled, that's all) is beginning to settle in.
Time to start using that damn smartphone more effectively. Time to actually put down the task lists and appointments, instead of relying on my memory; as it's getting to the point that it's impossible to remember everything. Time to enforce some more discipline on myself, and perhaps my friends also... I even made a pact with Nelly that we would remind each other about work; at least motivate each other about work when things are just mundane.
Also... time to be more relaxed and start to enjoy life! Stop being so damn pessimistic! Start looking life in the eye and say "I got your game".

wish me luck guys.

Joyride

Somehow, I suprise even myself on how things move along so fast. Perhaps, they don't really move as fast as I think or I would want it to, and things still actually linger in my head, but for now, I'm satisfied. Things are just exciting and interesting now. Well, I might be exaggerating a bit, but at least I do not have the negative outlook I had a few days before... and you know what? I'm not afraid of it ending anymore... I'm just enjoying the ride...
I don't know what's ahead, but at least the energy that has been gone for a while is back, and I'm going to whip myself back into shape...

The Interpreter

A political thriller, in many ways mirroring what is happening in the real world (or should), but somehow sombre and to an extent, old-fashioned. Unusually, this movie would make more impact if it were made, say, 3 years ago, but somehow it feels that it combines bits and pieces from other movies, used the U.N. headquarters as a centerpiece on the stage, and kind of just let everything pour out on the floor.
It's not that the story, dialogue and structure is bad, but the glaring mistake of this movie was to put two top-notch character actors like Nicole Kidman and Sean Penn in this movie, where the characters could easily be replaced by anybody else. The characters gained depth from the story, not the characters giving depth to the story. We do not know more about the characters other than what we are given on the screen, and we are not compelled to think of it anyway. The sophistication of the movie is there, but somehow we'd feel that we've seen it all before, so hence for a thriller, it doesn't give much of a thrill.
On the other hand, as a reminder of the sign of the times, the movie is mundanely notable.

Kingdom Of Heaven

An epic film regarding the defense of Jerusalem during the times of Christian conquest, though uncannily, it is depicted that there were Christian knights interested in maintaining the peace between Jerusalem and Saladin's kingdom, and the Knights Templar who were interested in nothing other than killing Arabs (read: Muslims). It differs from what we hear (not read; I believe I have not read one single piece of authorative history on the era) of that the Christian Knights forced Christianity during the Crusades, or that the Muslim kingdom of Saladin was utterly merciless and barbaric.
In this movie, neither are depicted so (except the Knights Templar); I'd say that both sides are depicted just as even-handed as you can in such situations. All are just humans doing what they have to do for their people; some brutal, some compassionate. And it would strike a knife in every fanatic about the Middle East situation when Balian, the main character of the movie, asks Saladin, "What is Jerusalem worth?" Saladin answers... "Nothing..... and everything." And although the movie is filled with splitting heads, stabs, and other variations of blood-spilling, the core of the movie still tries to tell us the virtues of the good heart, and the pricelessness of every single human being (and also how men abuse it so).
Visually, the movie is stunning, giving us a real window into the era, creating landscapes and cityscapes utterly believable, and for a layman's point of view, authentic.
I hear that some Muslims here have spoken out against this movie, and possibly take it out of distribution, although I'm not sure because of what. Despite there are some incorrect depictions of praying in the movie, the movie itself does not give miscredit to the Muslims of that era. Perhaps they are afraid that after watching the movie, people will then sympathize with Christians or Jews, and God forbid that, right? That's what I heard one friend saying about Schindler's List, saying it will give people misperceptions and make the sympathize the Jews.
You know what I say? There is too much hate in this world as it is, let's not add to it. God taught us to love, not hate each other. Leave everything else, like differing religions, up to ourselves, and ultimately up to Him in the end. With that note, Kingdom Of Heaven is worth watching.

Tough Decisions

Part of growing up, is making tough decisions. Having to make bad decisions, things that will surely be painful at first, but better off in the long run. Thinking about what would be good in the long run is supposedly related to adulthood, to 'growing up', to maturity in character and wisdom.
Somehow, everything we do today, ideally, is for the future, and we use the past (anybody's past, for that matter) for reference. If that is the case, then how will we ever evolve? Then human life will be simple cycle, rather than ever-expanding branches of trees.
Those who innovate always went out on a limb, went against accepted wisdom, and just went ahead and did something. Always had some sort of fight with existing authority, whatever that may be, and always was not accepted at first, when society did not recognize its possible virtues. Of course, doing and succeeding are two different things, and the strength of character of these people depends on how many times they can take failure or rejection before actually getting some worthwhile results.
But should you still listen to other people, when everybody usually thinks the accepted wisdom as the truest? When should you listen, and when should you not? How does your logic play into this, when all you can rely on is your gut feeling and that little voice inside?

I have taken the safe road much too long; I have played it safe and logical much too long. The steps I take tomorrow will depend on how I can listen to both my heart and my logic at the same time, not get crazy about it, and do whatever's best, for whatever cause. Let's just throw the damn stone in the valley and see where it lands, instead of just thinking about throwing the stone.

Thus, tough decisions have to be made anyway.

Being Stupid

We men tend to do stupid things, eh?