Hiatus

Won't be updating blogs for a while...

Avatar 观后感

Had rather high expectations for this movie, cause it seemed like everyone was talking about it or recommended it. Haven't seen a 3D movie for quite a while so I was pretty excited... (:

Haha I guess don't read on if you haven't watched the movie yet, in case I give spoilers :P

I'd say overall it's a really good movie, probably 8.5 or 9/10 for me. A bit long... 161 mins? O_O

I liked the overall plot, though the "chosen one" and the fight at the end are definitely cliche... Watching this movie in 3D is great cause the scenes of the forests are simply breathtaking! Beautiful nature indeed. Of course, the romance between Jake and Neytiri is a must, they're really sweet...

Not a big fan of the fighting scenes. Bombs and fire and human cruelty... sigh. It's interesting how the movie progressed in such a way that I was completely against the human side, haha, is that considered betrayal? Hm.

I guess that's one of the messages of the movie. Humans use violence too much. Fight too many wars. Destroy too many families and homes... Also, I think they mentioned in the movie that there were no plants left on Earth, how terrible... ):

I really admire the spiritual lifestyle of the Na'vi people. Carefree, spiritual connection, strong. Each hunter has his/her own animal to ride on/fly on. How awesome is that... The connection between the people, to the animals and to the Tree of Souls Eyra is just incredible.

One of the meanings of the word "avatar" is deity, which I suppose is what the movie title is referring to... Jake and Grace were in "avatar" bodies and tried to save the Omaticaya people, but they couldn't have done it if Eyra did not answer Jake's prayer, so the Tree of Souls is a true deity.

It's a little difficult to describe how I felt after watching the movie... Part of me wishes that I can live like the Omaticaya people, free and connected and spiritually fulfilled. People try so hard to find a purpose in life, wouldn't it be nice when we don't have to search so hard? But another part of me knows that it's hard to leave all the material things and luxuries in modern civilization behind. I mean... I love good food and nice clothes and shoes and jewelry right? It's not that our civilization is better, we're just used to it, and we're good at justifying what we do.

"I see you."

It's not just seeing, it's about seeing through. You know, you feel, you see.

不只是看见，而是看透。透彻地了解。

Haven't blogged for a long time, very disorganized...

Some interesting FYIs:

1. The Na'vi language was created entirely from scratch by linguist Paul Frommer, who was hired by James Cameron to construct a language that was easily pronounceable by the actors, but lacking any resemblance or influence from any single human language. Around 500 words were created.

2. James Cameron originally attempted to get this film made in 1999 as his immediate follow-up to "Titantic" (1997). However, at the time, the special effects he wanted for the movie ran the proposed budget up to $400 million. No studio would fund the film, and it was subsequently shelved for almost ten years.

3. As of December 2009, with an alleged budget of US $280,000,000 (estimated), this is one of the most expensive movies ever made.

4. The movie is 40% live action and 60% photo-realistic CGI. A lot of motion capture technology was used for the CGI scenes.

Distracted

Supposed to be studying for finals...

There're no study days this semester, only the weekend ):

Don't feel like studying though.

Have a sudden craving for coleslaw cabbage salad O_O

Fall Semester is over!

At least classes are... 3 more finals and 2 more papers to go!

Wow how did I even survive this week... O_O I guess IB prepared me quite well for 1-2 paper(s) every day =_=

Revision is going to suck.

But, it's friday! Not going to get any work done lalalala~

Snow makes winter worthwhile (:

The pictures don't do justice at all! The layout is a bit weird, please click to view full picture...

So. So. Pretty.

What sleep?

Monday: PULSE process note, Research Methods Quiz
Tuesday: Placement
Wednesday: PULSE journal, Research Methods Final
Thursday: Placement
Friday: History essay, PULSE extra paper

By end of next week: 3 Research Participation Papers

Monday: PULSE short paper 2, PULSE final
Tuesday: History summary list, History final
Wednesday: Psychology final



Yeah. Bring it on.



EDIT//

Pink Netbooks! <3

Asus Eee PC 1005HA



Samsung NC10



MSI Wind



Acer Aspire One



Sony VAIO CW

Where did time go?

Omgosh so much happened but I had no time to churn out anything on this blog :(

Basically Thanksgiving weekend at NYC was awesome, awesome, awesome. Watched the broadway Wicked, it was fantastic. It's amazing how they developed such a complicated back story to the original Wizard of Oz, and the vocals were just mind-blowing.

Black Friday shopping was really hectic and insane. Went a little out of control at H&M and Aéropostale. Oops.

Back to school now, only two weeks of classes left, and then it's finals!

Oh no what happened to all the time?!

I can't believe this but I'm really sad that the semester is ending already. Too fast, too fast.

Winter break in HK would definitely be fun, but I'm still sad to go. Won't miss the food though.

Have to go participate in a research study now. Dammit, why am I so busy >_<

Quote

People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.
Be honest and transparent anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People who really want help may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.
Give the world your best anyway.

- Mother Teresa