Kung Fu Panda 3

Kung Fu Panda 3 is a very special movie to me.

I watched it at the beginning of my new season as a music teacher. As I mentioned before, this isn't my first teaching stint. It is just that my current job is a lot harder than my previous teaching jobs in the sense of teacher development (which includes audits and exams), time management (loads of juggling between family and work), self-consciousness, and scope. I had severe self-doubts at first. Divine intervention came in the therapeutic form of Kung Fu Panda 3.

I watched KFP3 with Ben the very first time. We loved it. It was more entertaining than anything. The second time I watched it, it spoke afresh to me. I was on a bus returning from the national Electone Festival in KL - having watched many talented youths (as young as 8) display their skills and creativity through their musical compositions for the Electone. (They were amazing!) Behind each participant was, of course, a good, devoted, and sacrificial teacher. Naturally, I was bogged down by a question throughout the Festival: what if I was never good enough to be a music teacher? What if those who had affirmed me were wrong? What if I turned out to be a failure? Why had my mentor/teacher taken me on board with so much faith when she knew so little about me and my abilities? (She's an amazing musician herself.) What if I let her down? For some reason that night, the movie stopped right at the part where Shifu was trying to encourage self-doubting Po to be the teacher Shifu believed he (Po) was to be.

Po: Whoa! What was that? (Shifu made a flower bloom by the power of chi.)

Shifu: That was chi.

Po: What is chi?

Shifu: The energy that flows through all living things.

Po: So you're saying if I teach, I'll be able to do cool stuff like that?

Shifu: No, I'm saying if you teach, I'll be able to do cool stuff like that.

Po: Oh...

Shifu: Mastering chi requires mastering of self. Oogway sat alone in a cave for 30 years asking one question, "Who am I?" Who am I? I'm lucky if I get 5 minutes before you interrupt...

Po: Aw... so now I'll have to sit alone in a cave for 30 years?

Shifu: Eventually, after you master teaching.

Po: Teaching? There's no way I'm ever gonna be like you.

Shifu: I'm not trying to turn you into me; I'm trying to turn you into you.

I could really relate to Po. Today, my "Shifu" continues to work on turning me into me - something that I am very grateful for. KFP3 turned out to be rather prophetic after all. 

After years of processing the calling God has impressed upon my heart in 2004, i.e. to walk the road unconventional to most of my classmates in med school, I have experienced enough to know that God confirms His calling by surrounding the individual with favour whenever he/she decides to be obedient and goes wherever he/she is led. Throughout the journey home that night, I couldn't help feeling that God's favour for me is in the school He has led me to teach at for the season - for reasons unknown. Today, I certainly cannot deny it.

Tickles me

A random snippet of a text conversation that went on between a friend and myself yesterday - which keeps coming back to make me chuckle:

Me (commenting on a movie): How can they not know that Hua Mulan is a girl? She looks so girly.

Friend: With these Chinese movies, they can't.

Me: Mascara and lipstick and all...

Friend: Well, you could try dressing up as a guy and see if we could tell...

Me (before I could check myself): You can't tell. I would look handsome.

Friend: >.<"


Note: you can read about the legendary figure of Hua Mulan here.

The Great Gatsby

I am partial to English classic novels. They are even more intriguing when made into films. Poetic words, delightful idioms, witty barb, and literary flourishes from bygone eras seem to point beyond the mesmerising portraits they paint.... to windows that invite my peering eyes to glimpse the past... that I may unravel a little more of its mysteries which a modern-age person like me would never completely know. What great minds those authors had. What great legacies they have left us. And for a person like me who loves to write, what great mentors they make - even though most are down in their graves by now!

As a way of resting from a week's labours (and celebrating a finished paper presentation) this evening, I watched "The Great Gatsby", a film adaptation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's 1925 classic American novel. While it is a rather sad and scandalous tale, I enjoyed it very much for its elegance (Fitzgerald has such a charming way with words), the kaleidoscopic imagination it sparked off, contemporary reality popping up in such a nolstalgic piece of post-war work and the escalating tension that its plot held and resolved well at the end. So many big lessons to be learned too. Fitzgerald, you have fascinated me indeed. What an inspiring work of art!

I would rate the film 8 out of 10, by the way.

Well then, here's to a fruitful week ahead, people!

Shallow Hal

Watched an old romantic comedy film ~ "Shallow Hal" ~ which was released in the year of 2001, back in those days when I neither watched movies nor knew movie stars such as Jack Black or Gwyneth Paltrow existed. (I only began watching movies after I had entered college... and that was past a point of no return. I really like watching movies now ~ good movies, that is.)

Basically, "Shallow Hal" is about a shallow, superficial, single, playboy, male chauvinist falling in love with a woman (Rosemary) who did not fit his worldly ideals on what beautiful was. 

I enjoyed the movie because I could really relate to the character of Rosemary - who weighed 300 pounds - even though I have never weighed 300 pounds... and Ben wasn't really like shallow Hal either. 

Rather, I imagined what Rosemary would have felt when a guy finally looked past what any other worldly guy would have been programmed to scorn (namely her obesity) and saw her heart. Besides, he truly enjoyed being with her and affirmed her strengths. I empathized deeply with her at the part whereby she did not believe Hal when he first told her that she was beautiful - simply because she had accepted, after many years of getting hurt, that she was unattractive and was unlikely to be admired by guys. I rejoiced when she eventually believed him. 

In my many years of battling eating disorders, I have gone from an emaciated anorexic to a normal-weight bulimic to a very overweight compulsive eater. I wasn't too concerned about being attractive to guys when I was anorexic and bulimic ~ but after I had overgrown my usual S/M sized clothing due to compulsive eating (and eventually, I couldn't find anything that fit me in the Asian shopping malls ~ not even the "extra-large" clothing), my concern grew larger than life. I have never really considered myself pretty or beautiful prior to that ~ but during that season of my life, I was convinced that I was right down ugly. Not only ugly - but also inferior to other girls in every way. (It didn't help that I was also incredibly nerdy and geeky!) The guys whom I secretly admired (and by whom I wished to be noticed) went on to date very beautiful ladies (and I say this very sincerely, that they are indeed beautiful - on the outside as well as on the inside). Because of my depression, I binged even more and gained even more weight. I also ceased to care about how I looked - and my dressing and make-up were abominable. I went on one too many failed (and backfired) fad diets that I finally grew fed up of diet-ing. Of course, by God's grace and healing (as well as the encouragement of close friends), I came to desire to honor God with my body - and therefore, good health. And so, while I still dressed carelessly and badly (and still looked nerdy and geeky), I began exercising and eating healthier to get back to my normal weight range. Meanwhile, failed relationships and heartbreaks (over the guys I mean) still happened. But I must say that it was through these sufferings, I grew close to God. I even began to enjoy my singlehood.

That was when Ben and I got to know one another (thanks to Lucas and Esther ~ I must have told you the story before). We became friends. And then, good friends.

Somehow, by God's grace and mercy (really!) Ben saw me very differently. (To appreciate this paragraph better, you'd have to look up my picture in the TMC 50th Anniversary book.) He was enabled to look past my unattractive outer appearance, geekiness, clumsiness and etc....to see my heart. He got captivated by who I am and the strengths he saw ~ rather than merely how I looked. Because of Ben's love and acceptance, I blossomed. I was transformed. I began to believe that I am beautiful. And the rest was history. Aside from the 300 pounds and shallow Hal, I could pretty much stand in Rosemary's shoes.  

"Shallow Hal" got me to reminisce those long-gone but yet fondly cherished days of courtship. More than anything, the movie reminded me of how blessed I am to be married to Ben. He is indeed a wonderful man... with a funny bone too.

I love you, hubby. Looking forward to making many more wonderful memories with you over the year of 2013. By the help of our God.

2 days before Christmas

Hmm. Let's see... I am still down with tonsilitis, laryngitis and an irritating cough (which varies in between productive and non-productive) ~ and the choir that I am singing in will sing tomorrow in the Candlelight Service as well as on Christmas day. We had a practice at church this afternoon - and I could hardly pitch, to make no mention of holding the notes. I sounded like a cat with a cold. I don't know how I can (and whether I should) still sing into the microphone tomorrow (Monday). My upper respiratory tract feels all dehydrated and sad. I greatly hope for a miraculous healing of some sort, but may God's will be done. I've been guzzling down water and taking my meds ~ to do my part.

Other than choir practice and church, Ben and I did a little Christmas shopping in the evening (maintained our record for being the most last-minute Christmas shoppers ever). People were everywhere! We also watched Tom Cruise's crime thriller, "Jack Reacher", at the newly opened Lotus Five Star Cinema at Prangin Mall. Brilliant movie (but eeky popcorn); the plot was delightfully captivating and unpredictable. This is one of the movies that I'd want watch over and over again. Like I did for "The Tourist".

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What I'll be doing tomorrow (Christmas eve) since I am off work (again) ~ wrapping presents and writing cards. Hopefully I won't take all day ~ since I'm a perfectionistic about things like that. :S

Definitely missing my side of the extended family and wishing that we could celebrate Christmas together.

Have a blessed Christmas week, folks! :)

 

Ajusshi (the movie)

Clever, overwhelming contrasts between dark and light; barbaric cruelty and life-giving love. The vulnerability of children - who are so trusting and dependent on the care of adults for their needs - is driven home through scenes which indirectly but strongly hint the most brutal type of murder as well as the saddest speeches.

I cried at the end. 

Not a movie for the faint-hearted - but I highly recommend it.

Post-"The Bourne Legacy"

Had a movie-date with my dear hubby this Sunday evening.

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I really liked the plot of the movie and of course, Jeremy Renner was as usual very stunning - haha. (I think my hubby agreed.) Not just the charming, rugged, good-looking kind of stunning... but I always like how smooth he is with action choreography and the works. 

However, it was an action movie in its element. We had a meal before our movie and munched on popcorn throughout. (It wasn't a S3D film by the way.) With all the action and visual stimulation, I ended up with motion sickness! Even I was flabbergasted (never had such an experience before - I am a pretty good traveler too i.e. I don't usually get carsick). I remember giggling and telling Ben three-quarters through the movie that I REALLY wanted to throw up. We left Gurney Plaza with me nervously thumping upon my sternum every now and then in order to dampen the nausea. Not like it helped - but I was desperate.

I don't think it was the movie's fault though. I have been feeling a little unwell since the weekend began, what with the bad haze and all. Or maybe I was too full from dinner. Or maybe I was watching J. Renner way too intently. Whatever. So, by all means - go and watch the movie! LOL.

My nausea subsided after I finished ironing the clothes back home. *Phew*

I look forward to another busy week ahead. Blessed Monday, peeps.

Hugo (2011)

One of the best movies I've watched this year.

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It is a captivating film based on Brian Selznick's novel. I would recommend this film to both children and adults. Every part of the film was fresh, rich and profoundly moving. Elegant. Magical, and yet close to heart.

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One of my favourite quotes from the film goes as follows:

Hugo Cabret: "Everything has a purpose, clocks tell you the time, trains takes you to places.... I'd imagine the whole world was one big machine. Machines never come with any extra parts, you know. They always come with the exact amount they need. So I figured if the entire world was one big machine... I couldn't be an extra part. I had to be here for some reason.... Maybe that's why a broken machine always makes me a little sad, because it isn't able to do what it was meant to do... Maybe it's the same with people. If you lose your purpose... it's like you're broken."

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Rise of the Planet of the Apes 2011

Watched it last night with Ben, cheezels and popcorn... and loved it! :) Brilliant movie, I must say. Makes me feel like the money I paid to watch the movie was worth it. Something I really liked about it the movie? The emotions on the face of the apes. When they were sad, confused and in agony, I even cried. Lol.