A Better Life

USA 2011

Details imdb

Seen 16 May 2012

Dreams and promises

Ratings

IMDB 7.1/10

Rotten Tomatoes Audience 79% liked it

Don't expect punch-ups or fast paced action when you watch this film but be prepared to be buoyed by the relationship between a father and his son. A laid back style which might be too tame for some but it does get a 7.0/10 for the overall feel.

My impressions:

The daily struggle

Seem to be at an end

When the father gets his a new lease of life

A new beginning

Hopes soar high

Unexpected turn of events

Derail those dreams

He tries

The son helps

Understands up to a certain point

Why the father behaves in that way

Seems distant

When a more immediate action

Would be better

It is love in the end

That explains it all

That inexplicable, unexplainable

Feeling

For someone

The Lady

France/UK 2011

Details imdb

Seen 9 May 2012

Determined, stubborn lady

Ratings

IMDB 6.8/10

Rotten Tomatoes Audience 64% liked it

This is a love story. A woman unwittingly in the thick of events that no one foresaw. Watch this if you want to find out the tugs of war between your feelings for your homeland and loved ones. Overall, the film gets a 7.0/10 for the ensemble acting and a look at one woman's journey from ordinary housewife to national icon.

My impressions:

As the lady asked

What kind of freedom is meant

When one has to choose

Between loved ones and your own country

Loyalty and love

They intermingled

Is one greater than the other

Or one complements the other

Can anyone say for certain

If one is a better sacrifice

Than the other

It will depend on each of us

The answer however painful

The final decision

Son of Babylon

Iraq 2009

Details imdb

Seen 11 Feb 2012

The Hanging Gardens of Babylon remains a dream

A boy and his grandmother

On a journey, a quest to find the truth

That journey itself is a revelation

In a country torn apart

Ravaged by war

Death

A country, once upon a time, a long long time ago

Beautiful, prosperous, magnificent

Now barren, desolate, on its knees

Drowning, trying to survive day by day, step by step

A boy and his grandmother

In their quest, step by step

Trying to be sure, to confirm

That there is hope

But if there is no hope, at least an answer

At least the journey would not be in vain

Azura 2012

Malaysia 2012

Details jiwang

Seen 11 Feb 2012

The notion of love eternal despite all the cliches

That love again

That human specialty, where two souls find each other

That emotion, quickens the heart beat

Love on its own will never be

Nurture it, pamper it, listen to it

It is fragile before it can become strong

It takes baby steps before the big leap

It gurgles before blabbering non stop

Yes, slowly, love will grow

All is not rosy, though

There are always obstacles

Even in the best of times

There is a need for the two

To rise above

To fight

Together against the enemy

Being together is not sufficient

The bond has to be stronger or else

A tiny crack grows

Into a chasm

Our Brand is Crisis

USA 2005

Details imdb

Seen 8 Dec 2011

An art form that is abstract

Not the usual painting or sculpture

More of the ways and means

Winning the hearts of many, the nation

As the spoils are so immense

The end justifies the means

At a glance, every step is above board

Along the way, there has been mistakes

Which is not acknowledged directly

Rather obliquely

That is the means

Ensuring the masses will consider

That this side is much better than the other

In all ways and aspects

Not forgetting that the other side

Has its own weaknesses

That needs to be highlighted, emphasised

In contrast to your camp

Positives are put to the front

Glorified even

Negatives are put at the back burner

Simmering until it boils over

Inside Job

USA 2010

Details imdb

Seen 7 Dec 2011

We're naïve aren't we, thinking that we control our destiny

Whereas there are Big Brothers

Watching us, using us as pawns

In the bigger game of profits and losses of the corporate world

They are the ones who have control

With just a call, a talk between two like minded movers

The world shudders as a consequence

Where are we, the pawns, in the big picture

Very very tiny

We get the crumbs even though our blood and sweat flows freely

In order for the elites to savour and indulge the gains

We get the crumbs, that is ordained

The top will say that they are the brains

They deserve the cream and cake too

While we get the crumbs

Will this arrangement end?

When will that be?

Is it soon or still a dream, a hallucination, unreachable

The pawns are in their places and positions

Forever

Unless those who has the controls decide otherwise

Will that ever happen?

Not in the foreseeable future

In the meantime

The pawns have to grit and bare the hardships

Not of their own making

Powerless, in the struggle and battles of the kings

The modern day kings and monarchs

Of an ever expanding and domineering world

The corporate world with its dog eat dog mantra

Gie

Indonesia 2005

Details imdb

Seen 6 Dec 2011

That awkward age when we're in transition

Escaping from childhood

Entering adulthood

The youth influenced by others, not yet an independent soul

This youth is different

He ponders, concludes and influences

The writings inspire others

He himself aspires for another life

A more balanced, equitable order for everyone

Not the lopsided present

The life he leads is not without its ups and downs

He as other youths of the day

Have other interests

Which sometimes puts a break on his plans

He soldiers on, struggles

Relentless, idealistic, not knowing whether he will succeed

Not just in pursuing his dream

But to lead a life that he wants

Not just for himself

But for others who look up to him

He of that generation, bright eyed

Didn't know or refuse to know that

Others have different ideas

Others want to use that generation, the youth

For their own goals

The youth will be the conduit

The face of the movement

A movement that might not be true to the ideals

That started it all

Nothing but the truth

USA 2008

Details  imdb

Seen 5 Dec 2011

Can we ourselves in her situation?

Trying to keep a secret

At whatever cost

Why does she do it?

Jeopardising herself, family and all those linked to her

Is it so hard to just tell

One word is all it takes

And the misery will disappear

Why can't she see that it is so simple?

As if she alone has the moral high ground

This is reality

Others are affected by her decision

And what would be the consequence

If she does give in

Dalam botol

Malaysia 2011

Details imdb

Seen 24 March 2011

A word, a single sentence

Changes

I, you and those around us

Trying to make amends

However hard it might be

Still trying

Until

The realisation sinks in

This life is not the one

This life is a lie

Truth has to be seen, lived

In the open

Even if it hurts

I, you and those around us

Zarganar This Prison Where I Live

UK 2010

Details eyeforfilm

Seen 13 February 2011

Some may say it is futile

A lost cause

Why should a man who can be free

Choose to stay and fight the battle at home

Why

Perplexing may be to some

Makes perfect sense to him

It is his country, home

Nurturing him, seeing him into adulthood

The bond could never be broken

Any action whether foolhardy

Or with a lot of thought given

Is for the Motherland

It must displease those in power

When actions are against the grain

The rules that have been stipulated

A wrong is still a wrong

A wrong must be put right

Slowly perhaps, or with drastic measures

Whichever path is taken

It will lead to an ultimate goal

To see that justice and liberty

Is enjoyed by all

Sicko

USA 2007

Details  imdb

Seen 13 February 2011

A system that supposedly

Cares for all

Is not what it seems

Using, following the rules

Does not bring the benefits

That was meant to be

Instead heartaches and dissatisfaction

Prevails

What ails the system

At the very beginning

It was not to benefit the masses

Instead

It was meant for the industry

Which reaps the spoils

Under the facade of helping others

Dancer in the dark

Denmark 2000

Details  rottentomatoes

Seen 13 February 2011

Darkness

Steadily encroaching

Stealthily descending

Enveloping all and sundry

The dancer tries in vain

Dancing to the rhythm

Dancing to the tune

Not seeing but feeling

Not comprehending but sensing

Something is amiss

The tune, the melody

Might be sweet, might be a delight

But not to all

There is always that jarring note

That odd crescendo

That defiant note

Standing out, defiant

A note it may be

A calamity it brings

Damping malam

Malaysia 2010

Details  sinemamalaysia

Seen 30 December 2010

Supposedly to help

But what did she know

Her actions

Supposedly saving the family

Has not the desired effect

Rash actions

She did not know

She did not realise

Or just brushed aside

Even though love was behind it all

It was not powerful enough

To sustain

To defend

To repel

A power unforeseen

Not of this world

Seeking what has been promised

Her actions

Rash actions

Look what it has done