Dwelling on the past

“Can’t repeat the past?…Why of course you can!”
― F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

Watched the movie last week and the ending where the all time famous quote 'boats against the stream' rolled out, I thought about Jady's blog title. I also thought about how I never sat through this great novel before. Maybe now 30 just like Nick Carraway in the story, it's the right time to revisit this literary classic.

As for the movie, the visuals are stunning and there's not an ounce of unwanted fat on the storytelling. Baz Luhrmann knows how to add the right touch to a love story. 'Be sure to watch it in 3D' was the advice we got before heading to theatre and gladly we heeded (only complaint is the sorry size of the screen).

Seeing how Gatsby is 'betrayed' by Daisy, LM is grumpy that feminine creatures are unfathomable lies that bring the death of good-hearted men. I honestly feel that his 'over reaction' is quite honest. If any consolation, I reassured him Daisy is just a symbol of post-war American dream, a bubble to burst. Or she could be 'the past' that Gatsby so resiliently wanted to relive. Anyway, it often seems any attempt to escape into the past is bound to disappoint because our memories are heavily retouched with special effects, like a plain looking girl before and after make-up. Even if the object is the same, the subject has changed with time. Woody Allen says it all in Midnight in Paris.

Perhaps ironically, people's addiction to the 'past' is the reason why this novel became popular not IN Fitzgerald's time but AFTER his death, and so goes the case with a bunch of other things.

"So we beat on, boats against the current, borne back ceaselessly into the past."

I'm gonna highlight 'beat on' instead of 'into the past'.

Carey Mulligan in Vogue's 2013 May issue. Dreamy ain't it ;)

dorian gray

王尔德的作品一部都没看过（或看完整过），昨天抽出老早买的二手complete works of oscar wilde翻了几页，还是从他唯一的小说开始读吧。似乎小七的最爱就是dorian gray，很好奇啊。最感兴趣的是de profundis，原稿存于大英博物馆封印60年才公诸于世，只因为60年后书中的人物全已消失于人世，所以这本书算是死后遗言了，还死无对证。


actor ben barnes(who's that?), in the upcoming movie dorian gray co-starring colin firth

dorian gray 2009 behind the scene


i think the tone oscar sets in the preface is very authoratative to the extent of preaching, as if he's writing the bible of art, and at the very end pronounces it useless. what a campy queen lol. but hell, sure this's beautiful prose!

the picture of dorian gray, preface
道连·格雷的画像 | 序 （中文版按这里）

The artist is the creator of beautiful things. To reveal art and conceal the artist is art's aim.
艺术家是美的作品的创造者。艺术的宗旨是展示艺术本身， 同时把艺术家隐藏起来。

The critic is he who can translate into another manner or a new material his impression of beautiful things.
（缺）

The highest as the lowest form of criticism is a mode of autobiography.
自传体是批评的最高形式，也是最低形式。

Those who find ugly meanings in beautiful things are corrupt without being charming. This is a fault.
在美的作品中发现丑恶含义的人是堕落的，而且堕落得一无可爱之处。这是一种罪过。

Those who find beautiful meanings in beautiful things are the cultivated. For these there is hope. They are the elect to whom beautiful things mean only beauty.
在美的作品中发现美的含义的人是有教养的。这种人有希望。认为美的作品仅仅意味着美的人才是上帝的选民。

There is no such thing as a moral or an immoral book. Books are well written, or badly written. That is all.
书无所谓道德的或不道德的。书有写得好的或写得糟的。仅此而已。

The nineteenth century dislike of realism is the rage of Caliban seeing his own face in a glass.
十九世纪对现实主义的憎恶，犹如从镜子里照见自己面孔的凯列班的狂怒。
（＊caliban, an ugly character from shakespeare's work)

The nineteenth century dislike of romanticism is the rage of Caliban not seeing his own face in a glass.
十九世纪对浪漫主义的憎恶，犹如从镜子里照不见自己面孔的凯列班的狂怒。

The moral life of man forms part of the subject-matter of the artist, but the morality of art consists in the perfect use of an imperfect medium.
人的精神生活只是艺术家创作题材的一部分，艺术的道德则在于完美地运用并不完美的手段。

No artist desires to prove anything. Even things that are true can be proved. No artist has ethical sympathies. An ethical sympathy in an artist is an unpardonable mannerism of style. No artist is ever morbid. The artist can express everything.
艺术家并不企求证明任何事情。即使是天经地义的事情也是可以证明的。艺术家没有伦理上的好恶。艺术家如在伦理上有所臧否，那是不可原谅的矫揉造作。艺术家从来没有病态的。艺术家可以表现一切。

Thought and language are to the artist instruments of an art. Vice and virtue are to the artist materials for an art. From the point of view of form, the type of all the arts is the art of the musician. From the point of view of feeling, the actor's craft is the type. All art is at once surface and symbol. Those who go beneath the surface do so at their peril.Those who read the symbol do so at their peril.
思想和语言是艺术家艺术创作的手段。邪恶与美德是艺术家艺术创作的素材。从形式着眼，音乐家的艺术是各种艺术的典型。从感觉着眼，演员的技艺是典型。一切艺术同时既有外观，又有象征。有人要钻到外观底下去，那由他自己负责。有人要解释象征意义，那由他自己负责。

It is the spectator, and not life, that art really mirrors. Diversity of opinion about a work of art shows that the work is new, complex, and vital. When critics disagree, the artist is in accord with himself. We can forgive a man for making a useful thing as long as he does not admire it. The only excuse for making a useless thing is that one admires it intensely.
其实，艺术这面镜子反映的是照镜者，而不是生活。对一件艺术品的看法不一，说明这作品新颖、复杂、重要。批评家们尽可意见分歧，艺术家不会自相矛盾。一个人做了有用的东西可以原谅，只要他不自鸣得意。一个人做了无用的东西，只要他视若至宝，也可宽宥。

All art is quite useless.
一切艺术都是毫无用处的。

2月22日第81届奥斯卡

我在强大的防火墙隔离下已经呕血很多次了，404 forbidden，要么个龟速的只能直接放弃。恨啊恨，引用人渣经济笔记作者的一段话

你联想这一切，人类这么多年社会的进步，技术的飞跃，都是让信息能够更容易的在任何地方被更多的人所享有，使得人和人之间的互动不再需要借助于传统的模式，使得每个人的世界都变得更大，这背后所带来的效率的提高更是难以衡量。我相信，大多数人都会同意，这是世界大势。可是，竟然真的还有人，在花费巨大的资源，希望逆转这个大势。。。

今年的奥斯卡主持人竟然是hugh jackman野人

提名：

Best Picture （一部都么看过。。。）
The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Frost/Nixon
Milk
The Reader
Slumdog Millionaire

Actor
Richard Jenkins, The Visitor
Frank Langella, Frost/Nixon
Sean Penn, Milk
Brad Pitt, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Mickey Rourke, The Wrestler

Actress
Anne Hathaway, Rachel Getting Married
Angelina Jolie, Changeling
Melissa Leo, Frozen River
Meryl Streep, Doubt
Kate Winslet, The Reader

Supporting Actor
Josh Brolin, Milk
Robert Downey Jr, Tropic Thunder
Philip Seymour Hoffman, Doubt
Heath Ledger, The Dark Knight
Michael Shannon, Revolutionary Road

Supporting Actress
Amy Adams, Doubt
Penelope Cruz, Vicky Cristina Barcelona
Viola Davis, Doubt
Taraji P. Henson, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Marisa Tomei, The Wrestler

Director
David Fincher, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
Ron Howard, Frost/Nixon
Gus Van Sant, Milk
Stephen Daldry, The Reader
Danny Boyle, Slumdog Millionaire

Foreign Film
The Baader Meinhof Complex, Germany
The Class, France
Departures, Japan
Revanche, Austria
Waltz With Bashir, Israel

Adapted Screenplay
Eric Roth and Robin Swicord, The Curious Case Of Benjamin Button
John Patrick Shanley, Doubt
Peter Morgan, Frost/Nixon
David Hare, The Reader
Simon Beaufoy, Slumdog Millionaire

Original Screenplay
Courtney Hunt, Frozen River
Mike Leigh, Happy-Go-Lucky
Martin McDonagh, In Bruges
Dustin Lance Black, Milk
Andrew Stanton, Jim Reardon and Pete Docter, WALL-E

Animated Feature Film
Bolt
Kung Fu Panda
WALL-E

点点点。。。

肢解后抛尸

堆积了些照片放上来

回老家的时候和父亲大人逛了泰州老街，近几年开发出来的旅游小吃街，明清年代建筑会集了各地的美食。也有卖这个这个麦芽糖的（苏州话叫sing糖？），小时候经常吃的么，能绕成蝴蝶蜻蜓什么的。父亲大人大概也觉得很有趣吧就买了1串，我搅和了半天手酸得要死，这摊琥珀胶水还是没变成期望中的珠光色，册那，童年的特技已随岁月流逝了流逝了流逝了！



突然行人让开条道，这邦身着红袍大褂的来到了我们正在逛的古董店门口，店主子说来了来了，拿了个红包赶去迎接。这么说吧，这是街管的变相拜年。他们递给店主子个大银元，交换类似于务业管理费的礼金，呵呵，好像黑帮在讨保护费哦！


初五回到家，花骨朵全开了！香味够冲的！


一个月后的今天，老妈委派我把烂破破的香水百合“处理掉”。



肢解后填入黑色垃圾袋，突然觉得这种行为类似抛尸。


还有一两多没烂的留了下来，来个人工授精阿哈哈！中学时老师就说，花是很猥亵的，因为花本身就是个性器官，还有暴露癖。如果还没have sex就枯死不是很浪费，死前爽一把吧。


这个很好吃！


外甥alex同学（11月大）的利齿签名
至于婴儿的行为为啥像狂犬，舌头上的传感器官感官最丰富最敏锐，所以用舌头去认识这个世界也不是没有道理吧！


这张ps过了，原本色调显然不是这样的。地点在平江路旁的水渠，水位约2－3米，当时的船运输如同现在的汽车，想像一下吧，栌比浆要难划。


＊＊＊
下午看了个小基片“爱在暹罗 ”（曼谷的旧名），通光算下来我就看过4部泰国片子，每部的主角都是混血= = 这是巧合还是trend?

基照


只看这个片断的话我告诉你，你肯定把cp搞错啦！

emily blunt

I like this photo which captures what i thought to be her true colors, a little british, old school and intuitive.

She appeared as 'Emily' in The devil wears Prada and a highschool teacher in Jane Austen book club.I watched these two together (unintentionally) and wow! she's so talented and pretty!

A little prodding through her trivia reveals another surprise. She's the ex of Michael Buble(accent on e please) who wrote the gorgeous hit 'Everything' for her.

I'm on to 'my summer of love' , the film that boosted her appearance obviously. Meryl Streep on the set of 'Prada' commented Emily's the best young actress she's ever worked with. O Meryl Meryl, how can I ever doubt you?!

Btw, very nice soundtrack for JA book club!

***


A reminder I need exercise to reduce bloating belly, will consider swimming (when spring comes).

各奔东西的孤单

吴昊来苏州了，几年不见猛一看变漂亮了，面对面坐下又发现这个人，好像也没咋变呢，这大概是亲切感和时间距离造就的小错觉。JC的时候我们设立了单身俱乐部，成员就仨，我，G，和吴昊。吴昊不知怎的就被任命为俱乐部主席，任职期间有以下规定也是唯一规定：保持单身，否则自动革职。我们很亲热地称她为Pres。后来G说这singleton club好像被诅咒了，否则我们怎么过了五六年了还是会员？其实我们真的非常安分守己，花痴有时，心碎有时，就算理想破裂也不会酗酒给社会添乱。现在分开三地，雄鸡-枫叶-袋鼠，点和点连起来是个巨大的三角，有汪洋填充。

拽上Pres和俩朋友去看非诚勿扰，拍得还不错。以海归秦奋（葛优）勤奋的相亲经历为镜头，走了一遍近几年的“潮”事：地震、熊市、房地产、投行，挺幽默的。秦奋那发明就像荷兰的郁金香，你说这桶有啥用，连袖套都当不了，可偏偏有人认定它的风险价值，不同的是只转手了一次就没再炒下去，可没准金融风暴结束了还能继续暴涨直到崩溃。再困难咬咬牙就过了，捡回一条小命可以重新开始，无论个人还是社会都会好起来的，从这点想法上来说是不错的贺岁片，是该拍点不致人与死胡同的自励作品来安抚老百姓。

到了后面是挺想哭的，特别是秦奋和他朋友坐在车里说的那一段：朋友各奔东西，我好想你们啊。我幼小的心灵再次受到重创（缝上二十针再吊N瓶葡萄糖）。

话说，秦奋和那个啥气味相投吗你觉得？我感觉不到。

Kidman!Theron!Man and Wife!

看这标题是不是巨八卦巨煽动？！

Original msg from G,
zhuuuuuuuuu have you heard the news? Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron will play man and wife in a new movie!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

某人和我一样鸡冻啊呵呵～
Nicole Kidman and Charlize Theron's Movie Marriage


Jeffrey Mayer/Getty Images; Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images; amazon.com

看这剧情介绍是悲剧啊（泪）

而且，囧，为什么Kidman是老公Theron是老婆啊啊啊，我的理想cp被颠覆了，Theron明明是年下啊！

虽然我也爱死了Theron和Townsend这对七年之痒的恩爱搭档。Townsend首次导演的Battle in Seatle开幕的时候，Theron和他站在一起都激动的哭了>.< 真的是好温柔好体贴的人。

再贴一张！

From Head in the Clouds

孤齿食姑米

今天偶然因为堂哥的一封信了解到了台湾的民俗

From Brian
ying yue, alex is growing his first tooth! we can see a little white spot on his lower gum. according to taiwan tradition, that is called a "lonely tooth" (gu ya) - as normally baby has two teeth growing on lower gum at the same time - his aunt (gu) has to do something. since you are his aunt (gu), so it falls on you! the tradition goes that you have to buy him a pair of shoes and a bag of rice. don't ask me why. Daphne does not know why either. so for the good of alex's other tooth (on his lower gum), would you be a kind aunt and buy (and send ) him a pair of shoes (for 6-12 month baby or slightly bigger) and a small bag of rice (in case you wonder, any type of rice will do and it really only needs to be a very small bag). you can even put the rice bag inside one of his shoes!)Thanks a million!(on behalf of alex).

大概就这么回事，外甥长了颗孤牙他们很紧张，轮到姑姑我捎鞋子和米避灾。

百度“台湾 孤牙 鞋子 米”只有一条搜索结果，毫无帮助，Google倒是有一摞：
原帖

婴儿成长过程中，长牙齿时的忌讳处理。一般所谓「七坐、八爬、九发牙」是描述小孩子初期成长发展阶段，大约七个月会坐起，八个月会爬行，九个月开始长牙齿，通常一次长二颗牙，但如果有一次长一颗时，称为「孤齿」，传统以为这是一种不正常的现象，因而心生恐惧，可能是「孤」跟「姑」同音，所以要请小孩的姑姑洗米，将洗米水煮沸冲泡牛奶给婴儿喝，就是「水米」；也有人是将泡过水的米煮成稀饭给婴儿吃；还有一说是要姑姑买奶粉给婴儿吃。。而如果婴儿后脑勺头发长得稀少，都集中在头顶的地方，有明显的一条界线，即俗谓「生孤路」，一般观念担心这样的小孩会「走孤路」，要由姑姑买鞋送小孩穿，这就是所谓的「生孤路，穿姑鞋；发孤齿，食姑米」。

***

看了Body of Lies，Leo的演技日益成熟，变得很有味道了！Do not lie to me. Trust me. 这些话在葫芦里卖的不知是啥药的国度里都是一个意思，whatever!

非常期待The Curious Case of Benjamin Button，讲的是一个生下来就80多岁，外貌（岁数）越活越小，思想却逐渐变老的特异人。生物钟倒走的人生旅途中，只有步入“中年”才表里一致？那当他入土的时候就是字面意义的返老还童了。

Meduzot

Meduzot在去年的温哥华电影节展出过，当时被这张色彩鲜艳的宣传图吸引着，可惜没排到票白跑一趟。个人偏好小孩和成年人的搭配，比如Le papillon，Monsieur Ibrahim之类的。



Trailer


剧情简介：（来自豆瓣）
一個在婚禮上端盤子的宅女，在海邊撿到一個不說話的小女孩；一個結婚當天摔斷腿，因而無法出國度蜜月的新娘；另一個來自菲律賓的外籍看護，碰上一個超難纏的老太太。三個女人、三段故事互相對照影響，卻有三種令人意想不到的結局。這部看似冷調的作品，其實情感豐沛、影像純熟，完全不像是部處女作，獲得多項大獎肯定。

***
情节着实散漫，就像Meduzot（海蜇）一般漫无目的的瓢啊瓢。心理刻画很细腻，所以尽管没有实际情节，背景音乐又节约的过分，看着倒不觉得乏味。到了最后一幕我有个很可怕的疑点：那个小女孩是真实存在的吗？

话说我又被人小瞧了......我是打算付成人票价的，卖票的主动问Are you a student? 我犹豫了一下做了个摸卡的小动作（反射而已），最后回答Never mind.他反倒更加肯定的确认'It's OK. I trust you!'我那个晕啊，你都那么信任我了我就再当回学生吧！

The league of idiocy

Trailer


I had high expectations of Coen brothers' 'Burn after reading'(imdb). It's a good movie but the creative attempts could use more strength. The plot revolves around typical 'losers' driven to desperate situations. Circle 1: A former CIA agent Osborne is fired for no reason. He has a Stanlist wife played by Tilda Swinton who's having an affair with a treasury guy named Harry (George Clooney). Then you have the equally troubled Circle 2: Two gym staff, Linda and Chad, get hold of Osborne's secret CIA profile and try to blackmail for money.

If you put these two circles together, the names that appear in the overlapping area would be Osborne and surprisingly, Harry, who send the complication to a climax. Problem is, the blackmail part enters the stage a tadbit late and offsets the overall pacing. The dialogues are not commendably witty but the audience still had a good laugh out of it. Blackmail, infidelity,divorce, illiteracy, unemployment, plastic surgery, you have about all the devils partying in the backyard and in the end leaving a huge tangle of mess that's best burnt and forgotten.

Brad Pitt as Chad, the happy-go-'lucky' gym guy

古畑任三郎

观看地址

最近在看古畑任三郎（一部古老的日本推理篇）。主角古畑是个性格怪癖的命案侦探。特别之处在于杀人过程是一开始就交待清楚的，下半部就是怎样锁定嫌疑犯并搜集证据指正他。

不自然的地方，有剧透：

1.喜剧作家（少女漫画家？）
如果我是小石川看到那人手里握着张漫画稿纸我一定会处理掉的，毕竟是条会引向自己的线索。

2.歌舞伎艺人
正好在那个时候碰到升降机修理工，太巧了吧。

3.精神科医生
我觉得这集吧，引诱死者玩强盗游戏的过程过于偶然，证据确是很自然。

4.推理小说家
干吗搞6张传真，迟三分钟那回就可以把老婆解决了，太过戏剧化。不过么毕竟是推理小说家的妄想演习，无理中又有种真实感。

5.将棋冠军挑战赛
复印纸印上去的字和手写的有很大区别，难道光是肉眼看不出来么？古畑第一眼会认不出自己的字？

6.音乐学院
干吗要安排在演出前一天杀人呢？orz 这一话剧情很弱，不过饰演女钢琴师的演技很赞！

The red freak

(probably the roughest creature I've drawn)

I'm not a fan of Hellboy but I find the trailer alluring and it's rated 7.8 on imdb. The plot is straightforward: To stop the prince from awaking the golden army and thus waging a war on humans. It's adrenaline packed with gross creatures making sneaky jumps and grotesque flesh nibbling, and (chinese) sword fighting. Hoho you should see how the blade slashes through a falling water drop in slow motion.(deja vu?) Overall the plot is too simple and melodramatic. It's almost comic style. That however doesn't kill its outstanding performance in CG, although they could have improved a bit on skin texture which looks stiff and rubbery.

No money, no lover, no flower

大家好，我是无业游民。

- 知道标题的歌词是哪里来的吗？

实际上无业了就游不动了，自由也成了路边野花。唉，好像顺序倒错了，我本来是想上来大喇叭广播一下Jady已身为人师！！而且还是偶们母校RV的人师！鲜花掌声轰轰的献上！现在轮到我嘲弄你个朝六晚七的上班族了！哇呀，我好难想象上班族打扮的你！（捶桌子跺脚）

整理东西的时候翻出一张涂鸦，是五六月份长智齿的时候画的，我觉得很切实的反应了当时的悲痛心情，如下：



今天的练习，题为“夕阳下、芦草边，半裸筋肉男的惆怅背影”
副标题为“及其不自然的过于硕大的肩胛骨肌和那块我说不出名字的某块肌”（已用虚线修改轮廓）



***

我去看了黑暗骑士！(Dark Knight是这么说的么？）英文听力退化了，有个关键的地方我没跟上，搞得后三分之一场很雾水一直纠结。回来看了Wiki的剧情介绍还是不太明白（停！没看的人这里打住不要往下读了！我给你们一行字的时间让你们转移视线快啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊啊。）就是那两个人被拴在汽油桶那段情节，Gordon那组人是故意不救大律师（其实是Rachel）的还是单纯的没赶上？

我个人喜欢的两个出彩的地方：蝙蝠侠的机车设计，还有对正义与邪恶模棱两可的解释。不需要另一部救世主大片来灌输什么是正义，那两艘船没互相引爆我还觉得太过理想化呢.You either die a hero,or live long enough to be a villain这句话太经典了。然后再引用蜘蛛侠的经典名言With great power comes great responsibility，而这强大的责任感（或负罪感）正是蝙蝠侠背的那口黑锅。Joker演的太精彩了，当他一步步逼近，一字一句清晰的重复着Why- so- SERIOUS?　我毛骨悚然，这一时分堪称影视经典。

我第一次仔细研究了一下电影票，发现有个所谓amusement tax的东西。娱乐都要缴税，艺术家不好当啊！



***
Genius Party Trailer


Genius Party (Studio 4C)的英文字幕版出来了，这里下载。Genius Party是日本动画公司Studio 4C的短篇集，共七个短篇，分别由不同的导演担任。可以说是试验性创作派队。

我比较关心渡边信一郎导的Baby Blue，没想到讲的是两个青梅竹马的高校生，还走新海城的青春路线，里面没少老渡拿手的黑白颗粒式电影和怀旧风。就算情节说穿了再怎么烂白我还是被感动了，啊，二十五岁？的我的内心深处仍然荡漾着十八岁的少女情怀（呕呕呕呕呕）

Baby blue截图


湯浅政明的夢見るキカイ是意识流幻想作品，有点像Tortov，感觉不错！







推荐大家去看一下！

重看莉莉周

我从夏日旅行那段开始重看，盗版DVD质量让人叹为观止...白色呈黄、灰色显黑、黑的更是乌漆抹黑，整部片子像酱油里打捞出来的。这段有两处对话印象深刻。不明旅人告诉莲见，一种植物将自身缠绕于另一株植物直到逼死它，如果用慢镜头拍出来该是多么恐怖的景象。我们生活在生于死共存的世界里，两者无声无息的维持平衡，他觉得这样很好。说到这儿我仿佛看到趴在桌前写剧本的岩井在字里行间穿插自己的哲理，我们透过他的眼镜看着周围的生活；星野“丧失三条生命”，并目睹车祸现场后内心的压抑终于爆发了。车祸当事人的争吵是伏笔，他们一一为自己辩解“不是我们的错，是他的错”，不是我们的错，是他不对，是他不好。这样的对话重播数遍。那么我可不可以理解，星野此刻心里想着“是啊，不是我的错，全是你们的错。”残忍的独裁开始了。“那个夏天起，世界是灰的。” - Philia

以太是疫病修养所，这里的病人寻求逃避而非反抗。直到爱自己的女孩自杀、自己爱的女孩被虐，莲见才开口对老师说那盘碟子是星野弄坏的。为什么没有一个人出来反抗星野？老师白痴就算了，合唱队的正人君子指挥君呢？津田从高塔上坠落，一团手机链子被天线勾住。

排队的时候歌迷争论起莉莉周单飞前和单飞后的不同，又猜疑幕后制作人，这些都让我想起现实中的Salyu和小林武史，像串通似的在影片里埋下预言。说不定呢。

I wanna be just like a melody

Arabesque钢琴彩排 （演久野的看上去很酷啊）


合唱彩排（原来是岩井亲自编排的，感觉他是相当难伺候的唯美派）


Fanvid (a nice summary of highlights)


***

后记：西瓜！！夏天！让人忘记一切一切的疲劳和烦恼！ほんとに美味しいです！楽園～

杂谈

很久不看TedTalks，今天兴致来了看了一期 - 讨论话题为Meme。这词我貌似认得，但又很肯定大学课堂上没专门提出过。

Talks Dan Dennett: Ants, terrorism, and the awesome power of memes


看完了模糊得出的结论是：

1. Meme是人文化的思想产物(culture,propaganda,idea,habit etc.），是个中性词，起源于The Selfish Gene这本著作（没读过-.-）。

2. 学术牛逼们认为Meme以生物繁衍的行为传播，在达尔文的魔爪下进化/淘汰。（可以形象理解为“病毒”，但介于“病毒”贬义居多，不是很确切。）

3. 怎样对待Meme：分析事实，不要被洗脑、不要强加于人、莫激动。

如果任何一个定义(idea, oncology)都算是Meme，那Meme这个词的存在也是Meme？我想到final fantasy电影里那一根根虚无的'thought threads'，有点像？？

***

我的外甥与08年2月27日出生，是个肥仔！中文名字没起呢，英文名倒有了，叫Mr.亚利克斯！

标准肉包子


河东狮吼！！ 我已经瞧见他的表演天分了！


起名字真是太讲究了，我哥说起“浩业”（汗一滴！），我爸说起“聃灵”（汗两滴！！）。Mr.亚利克斯肉包子的生辰八字里缺“火”，所以我爸狂加火。我(Z)问老爸(xl)我缺什么，对话如下：顺便一提，我爸不是风水先生，他是网上查来的。。。

xl says:
你的本命属鼠，海中金命。五行土旺缺金；日主天干为土，生于春季。
（同类土火；异类木水金。）
Z a maze of boxes says:
缺金，没钱？？？
xl says:
按此所，你的名字的颖如果改成银就补了一些，不是缺钱的意思。
Z a maze of boxes says:
不要！ 好难听！
xl says:
或者用 蓥 也很好
汉语拼音一样
Z a maze of boxes says:
还是颖好，谐音就行了

***

昨天看了Plata Quemada（Burnt Money）,讲的是以小说改编的真实故事。一对形影不离的“双胞胎”恋人Nene & Angel合伙抢劫，Angel受了伤，警察也在全面搜查。那伙人一时拿不到逃离用的护照被困，期间Angel在宗教和感情间挣扎逐渐疏远Nene，Nene很郁闷一直在外鬼混，两个人越搞越僵。后来护照落空，Nene的婊子被甩了很不爽就告发了他们，最后俩人和警察对战死在火焰中。

我介绍的很RP。。。俩男主角表演精湛很有感染力，属于心理虐待类作品，喜欢沉痛话题的人不妨看看。

片断节选
大概是讲：Angel受伤了Nene帮他取子弹，因为没有麻药很痛，Nene让那女的拿Whiskey给Angel壮胆。Nene看那女的在一旁不走很烦，就说“那你来动手术啊”，女的说不会，Nene一下子狂吼“那还不走！” 取子弹时说了一泡分散注意力的话“英语单词我一个都不会，以后去纽约你一定要帮我，不然厕所都上不了。”后来老头子来了，开始严肃的话题。


土豆网上的翻译真不是人看的，比如Nene取子弹时哄Angel说'Easy Easy'，翻成“容易 容易”-.-！ 我看到后来完全凭中文来猜英文，累啊！

小说翻译 (原文)

他们被称作双胞胎，因为他们形影不离。但其实他们并不是兄弟，长得一点也不像。说实话，这世上再难找到两个比他们更不相像的人了。他们的共同点是看人的样子——灰白、平静的眼睛狠狠盯视着一张可疑的脸。多尔达阴沉、安静，红润的脸庞上挂着安逸的微笑。布利诺涅纤瘦、灵活，有着黑色的头发与苍白的皮肤，看上去好像他在监狱里呆的时间比实际上要长。

他们从Bulnes的地铁站出来，在一家照相馆的窗前停下来，确认自己没有被跟踪。他们那像一对拳击手一样显眼的外表很容易引起别人的注意。他们精致考究地穿着黑色双襟西服，指甲和头发都经过精心修剪。傍晚十分宁静，是一个带着清澈白色光芒的干净的春日傍晚。人们正在下班赶着回家，流动的空气包围着他们。

安娜与安娜

导演: 林爱华
编剧: 林爱华 / 黄仙娥
主演: 林嘉欣 / 陆毅
上映年度: 2007
语言: 普通话
官方网站: http://www.annaandannamovie.com/
制片国家/地区: 中国 /　香港 /　新加坡
又名: Anna & Anna

预告（断章取义！哪是什么恐怖片啊-.-！所以说这片子相当走题！）


警告：剧透！

刚看完来写个短评。这部片子是讲同一个女人性格分身，在世界的两角过着截然不同的生活，但爱着同一个男人，也最终为了这个男人不得不面对自己，一切回到原点。画面很漂亮，音乐很到位，但总体给我的感觉是不上不下。要说惊悚吧，开头的梦和画廊事件确实让我的神经处于紧绷状态，可到了俩人照面时，这好不容易渲染出的悬疑气氛被她们三言两语的冲淡去了，好像是理所当然的事。最关键的戏份是两人交换身份3天，在这3天内回忆导致分身的根本原因 - 某忧郁男，和自己的内心作决斗，到底是留是走？结果发现就算性格分身，仍是无法自我欺骗。所以，什么都没改变。

主题还是好的，但有很多交待过于马虎的场景，让人觉得不温不热的。比如说凶版安娜一换回去就变成温柔贤妻，温柔安娜一换回去变得有点呆头木鸡。无比激动的买了机票回新加坡就这么远走高飞了，可过了一晚又改变心意要回去了- 这变化也太唐突了！回忆部分也不够充实，挠不到痒，没充分利用“分身”的优势。这么说是剧本问题。。。

可怜了新加坡的痴情帅锅，歌也唱的不错。

剧照

Tim Burton's Sweeney Todd

Trailer


Synopsis (from IMDB): After hard years in exile for a crime he didn't commit, Benjamin Barker now Sweeney Todd, returns to London to find his wife dead and his daughter in the hands of the evil Judge Turpin. In his anger, Sweeney goes on a murderous rampage on all London, with the help of Mrs. Lovett, he opens a barber shop in which he lures his victims in with a charming smile before casually ending their life with a flick of his razor across their neck. But not one man killed, nor ten thousands men can satisfy Sweeney's lust for revenge on those who've caused his years of pain. Written by O.G.

I watched Sweeney Todd in cinema with R and my 'movie reputation' was swept down the drain (as usual?). Not the movie disappoints, the amount of blood and gore and throat slashing was far away from a weekend chill-out.I humbly bowed my head feeling R's claws clenching my arm as the ongoing slaughter splashed gallons of blood onto giant screen. In the end I got so used to it I leveled eyes and did not flinch.

I understand Tim Burton's choice of Johnny Depp,a mix match of Edward the Scissorhands on a cold fish corpse parade. I truly adore how a corner of his lips breaks slightly into an unsymmetrical twitch as a wry smile surfaces upon his multifaceted face. But honestly, he's mediocre when it comes to singing.

Settings and costume are exquisite. How enchanting every brick and every window of the old London! Everything's tuned for a dramatic, stage effect (since it's adapted from a musical). However I'm a bit disappointed with the musical itself. I was expecting something close to 'Phantom', or 'Les miserable'. I can't pinpoint any highlights.

So... 7 out of 10 is my final verdict.

苹果

删节不删节的风波


昨晚看的，镜头不错，但相比于揭露北京外来工的艰辛，深入大社会为背景，这部片子更多的描写内心情感。所以在我看来不够辛辣，角度局限。不过这只是基于起初对苹果的印象，就当普通写实片看看也不错。吃喝嫖赌、贪赃敲诈的现象无处不在，难道因为标题顶着北京的字样就禁播了？越禁越好奇，电影节都公演了。

苹果是伊甸园不该摘下的苹果，这些人，我要注重说明是男人，都一个个被性被钱驱使鬼迷心窍的干蠢事，案发后又以更为愚蠢的方式去弥补。这更让我受不了，哪是出于生活窘迫要卖自家小孩儿啊，你看那俩猪头，根本就是糜烂的破人！可怜他们的老婆夹在他们中间像沙袋似的被甩来甩去。两个本有纠葛的女人撺紧对方的手嘤嘤哭泣，最后都选择了离开。

愤慨啊，不是因为这诸多社会现状，而是男人不外遇狗就不吃屎 - 这句台词具有绝对的概括性。
（并不想一棒子打死一窝，这里特指电影里的那俩男的。）

你说怎么看这片子呢，我完全无法平静的去分析。-.-!!

***

很喜欢えすとえむ est em的简约式画风，线条饱满有力，喜欢红白黑这种欧式gothic搭配。我把她的画都存下来了，归罗在一起看时禁不住想，若有人看到我收藏这些（这些多指牛头人身或人头牛身、流着鲜血的绅士，身着大摆褶子裙的男舞者）会觉得我很危险？

作者的小窝


简介：
名：えすとえむ
生日：4.2
血型：A
喜欢：火箭、飞机、船、自然的蓝色、足球、奥林匹克、白熊、马戏团、银幕、雷、斗牛、绅士靴
寻人：名叫Elvis的fashion model

贴几张图，版权えすとえむ est em所有



Twins

The other Boleyn Girl

The movie's based on a historical fiction. Based on what I gather from the Tudors, there's no rivalry between Ann and Mary Boleyn for the king. Natalie Portman(Ann) is rather convincing, but why does Scarlett(Mary) look like a wrongly accused maid...

Trailer


***

'Rear View' by Pete Duval, a collection of short creative writings.

Here's an excerpt from 'Spectator sport':
(a group of college students volunteering in a lunatic hospice)

On the first day, the director had stood up in the bus on the way down and warned us not to take the 'commitment' lightly. You miss a week, she said, swaying with the movement of the bus, and one of them might 'snap'. I liked the director. She was the main reason I had volunteered to befriend insane people in the first place. She had shorn most of her hair away, except for a tuft up front, which she dyed a different color each week. She wore a sleeveless T-shirt and a tie-dyed dress and genuine Marine combat boots. Moreover, she wore earrings in the many fleshy parts of her body.

I sensed that the inmates were confused by the director. She reminded them of something. I did not know what. This Mexican insane guy named Pablo became attracted to the director and began to follow her around in his pajamas.

'Te quiero,'he often said. 'Te quiero.'

The director made it known that she wanted me to get between her and Pablo. For two weeks, that was my function. Anytime Pablo and she were in the same room, she required my services as a moving wall.

Most weeks Zeke and I played pool the whole two hours. There was nothing else for me to do. I had lost interest in the mingling. Zeke beat me at nine ball. It made me wonder why he was even in there. I was full of assumptions. I was equating sanity with skill at billiards. He was just this normal automechanic-looking guy in the middle of an absolute horror show. I would shun the others - just ignore them - even though this defeated the very purpose of my being there, which was to make conversation with a wide variety of insane people. Two hours per week. It wasn't much to ask.
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Now playing: Ween - Learnin' To Love
via FoxyTunes

Hitman

Synopsis (from IMDB): A gun-for-hire known only as Agent 47 (Olyphant) is ensnared in a political conspiracy, which finds him pursued by both Interpol and the Russian military as he treks across Eastern Europe. hired by a group known as "The Agency" to kill targets for cash.

Trailer


I watched Hitman. Woot! Smitten by Agent 47 portrayed by Timothy Olyphant, a name I've never heard before (doesn't mean he's not famous coz I'm rather obsolete).

Rule of thumb: 'Celibate' assassins are top of charm list. Think Leon.

Spoiler free review below.

This movie is adapted from the video game. Being a non gamer, I won't be able to judge the loyalty of adaptation but the gaming elements are evident in the setups. You don't expect bald headed assassins with a barcode tattooed at the base of their skulls walk around noticed, or talk to their high-tech superiors in a public place like the airport. It's the usual political conspiracy which sets up a perfect arena for the Russian intelligence vs. the Americans while Agent 47 takes no side as all seem against him and the ultimate truth is obscure. The plot gets a little confusing as more parties roll in the frenzy.

Compared to major action blockbuster such as the latest Bourne Ultimatum, Agent 47 lacks character depth and the plot although obtuse is rather insipid. The action sequence is well choreographed but feels like a well revised show-off instead of smart improvisations.

Timothy Olyphant pulled a great job being the invincible deity with impeccable skills and a soft spot for our sexy first lady. Still I think Olyphant looks a bit soft and even sweet for the role. Olga Kuryleno ('Nika') bears a great resemblance to Sophie Marceau. They look absolutely adorable together!

What can I say. The movie's best described as Hollywood junk food, sugar coated and adrenaline pumped. That doesn't stop you from enjoying it though!

I'd like to add the director has great camera angles.
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Now playing: Rufus Wainwright - Tulsa
via FoxyTunes