Spookiness Warning:1 really creepy scene from 1 character, another shocking scene with the same character, 1 really spooky scene with several characters (the audience sure spoiled this last one for me as they were shrieking so much in anticipation of the thrill, the whole auditorium turned rowdy)
Once upon a time in an orphanage somewhere in Spain, six orphans were playing the Children's game of "Un, dos, tres, toca la pared ..." (translated to "1, 2, 3, Knock-On-Wall"). It's a game I too grew up playing, but we called it "1-2-3 Freeze!" (as we don't speak Spanish).
One of the orphan girls, Laura, soon got adopted. She grew up, got married to a doctor Carlos, and adopted a son Simón. They returned to the orphanage that Laura grew up in so as to convert it into a facility for disabled children.
Simón enjoyed his mother's story-telling - he would give Laura 3 words and she'll have to make up a story using those 3 words. In this movie, I guess the screen writer Sergio G. Sánchez must be given these words:
Children's Games , Peter Pan , Saint Anthony Medal
Simón was able to see friends that others can't see. He taught Laura to play a treasure hunt game, a game he learnt from his invisible friend Tomás. He also got really upset when he found out that he was adopted and was very sick (he is HIV-positive). He went missing after Laura refused to play the treasure hunt game during a children's party at the orphanage. Carlos, who was the first to accept that Simón was gone, gave Laura his Saint Anthony medal, as she was determined to continue searching for Simón.
For the benefit of non-Catholics like me, a typical Saint Anthony medal looks like this. Saint Anthony also happens to be the patron saint of lost articles, and even lost souls.
As with most European movies of award winning caliber, you can't afford to miss any detail in order to piece together the puzzle, even when it got a bit slow moving at times.
Also watch with a good deal of imagination to fully appreciate the surprise ending. But somehow it's just not as great as the ending of another Guillermo del Toro masterpiece "El laberinto del fauno/Pan's Labyrinth" - though they are both dark and beautiful endings. In terms of shock factor, this movie - directed by Juan Antonio Bayona - is somehow not as thrilling as other horror/thriller genre movies such as "The Others" (by another Spanish director Alejandro Amenábar), and "The Sixth Sense" (M. Night Shyamalan). To me, the surprising fact is how this movie outgrossed "El laberinto del fauno" in Spain and also received a 10 minute standing ovation when it premiered at the Cannes Film Festival. I assume it's for the great acting by Belén Rueda's as Laura, and Geraldine Chaplin as Aurora the medium. Perhaps just like Aurora's advice to Laura,
Seeing is not believing. Believe and you will see.
Apple Inc Co-founder, and former CEO - Steve Jobs - passed away on 5 Oct, 1 day after the launch of iPhone 4S. Some rumored that it's 4S instead of iPhone 5 as a tribute to him from the new CEO Tim Cook - iPhone 4Steve. For all you know, it's might have been some supply chain reasons, but it's nicer to romanticize passing of someone who has lived an inspirational life.
With the way his innovations (iPod, iPhone, iPad, iTunes) has influenced our lives, Steve Jobs is now a legend and truly belongs in this most memorable 'Think Different' commercial:
Here's to the Crazy Ones by Craig Tanimoto, narrated by Richard Dreyfuss
Here’s to the crazy ones. The misfits. The rebels. The troublemakers. The round pegs in the square holes.
The ones who see things differently. They’re not fond of rules. And they have no respect for the status quo. You can quote them, disagree with them, glorify or vilify them.
About the only thing you can’t do is ignore them. Because they change things. They invent. They imagine. They heal. They explore. They create. They inspire. They push the human race forward.
Maybe they have to be crazy.
How else can you stare at an empty canvas and see a work of art? Or sit in silence and hear a song that’s never been written? Or gaze at a red planet and see a laboratory on wheels?
We make tools for these kinds of people.
While some see them as the crazy ones, we see genius. Because the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world, are the ones who do.
One of many Steve Jobs' inspirational quotes: "If today were the last day of my life, would I do what I'm about to do today?" And for today, and hopefully for many more days to come, my answer to that question is
"Yes!"
To commemorate his passing, I just ordered for myself - a refurbished iPad2.
"I know I have got to hold out for that. They don't give it to you if you have passed away. I got to hold out for that." - Dr Ralph M. Steinman, who passed away 3 days before he hears of his Nobel prize for medicine. He shares the 2011 Nobel Prize in Medicine with Dr Bruce A. Beutler and Dr Jules A. Hoffmann http://www.nobelprize.org/nobel_prizes/medicine/laureates/
Just watched this on the local free-to-air channel Okto.
It's a live recording of the 1st Prague Ballet Gala at the Prague State Opera back in 11 January 2006.
I've visited Prague in 2005, and have actually stood in front of the theatre to admire Opera, but thanks to this recording, I get to catch frequent glimpses of the gorgeous Rococo interior.
To someone like me who only appreciates ballet for its beautiful body language, the evening's program offered a diverse and wide range of musical compositions; a perfect blend of classical and modern choreographies; good balance of male and female dancers; a dancer in his 50s and another as young as mid-teen; dancers from different ballet companies across Europe; and dancers of different European nationalities (see if you can spot the half Vietnamese). It also gave the feel of a documentary - the dancers provided commentary during their rehearsal or while behind the curtains just before or after the dance.
4. My Way Choreographer: Stephan Thoss Song: My Way - Frank Sinatra (lyrics by Paul Anka) Dancers: Daniil Simkin (teenage son), Dimitri Simkin (father)
Another favorite, like, how often do one get to watch 2 males perform pas de deux? The perfect synchrony between father and son in this dance alone is enough reason to order the DVD.
5. La Fille du Pharaon Choreographer: Pierre Lacotte Music: Cesare Pugni Dancers: Maria 'Masha' Alexandrova (as Princess Aspicia) and Sergei Filin (as Taor) (The Bolshoi)
Another one of my favorites - what a piece of art - not just the dance, but also perfectly sculpted from head to toe Filin! What presence, what star quality from both dancers!!
6. The Moor's Pavane Choreographer: José Limón Music: Henry Purcell Dancers: Charles Jude (The Moor), Stephanie Roublot (Desdemona), Jean Jacques Herment (Iago), Viviana Franciosi (Emilia)
A 20 min ballet based on the Shakespeare tragedy 'Othello'. Charles Jude got top billing in this gala. However this dance is certainly not my favorite. Jude's make-up was so heavy that he came across as having only one expression throughout the dance.
7. Who Cares? Choreographer: George Balanchine Music: The Man I Love - George Gershwin Dancers: Natalie Hoffmann, Altin Kaftira (Dutch National Ballet)
This is a different footage - from Pompei Viva 2010 - with performance from Mathilde Froustey. I've included it to complete the mood and to give a feel of the diversity in this gala.
8. The Sleeping Beauty - Excerpt/Grand Pas de Deux Choreographer: Charles Jude after Rudolph Nureyev/Marius Petipa Music: Peter Tchaikovsky Dancers: Oksana Kutcheruk, Roman Mikhalev
9. Amsterdam Song:Jacques Brel Choreographer: Ben van Cauwenbergh Dancers: Dmitri Simkin, Marek Tuma
10. Les Bourgeois Choreographer: Ben van Cauwenbergh Song:Jacques Brel Dancer: Daniil Simkin
This was recorded at Helsinki, a different programme, but same dance. 11. Raymonda - Excerpt/Adagio, Act II Choreographer: Marius Petipa Music: Alexander Glazunov Dancers: Maria'Masha'Alexandrova, Sergei Filin (The Bolshoi)
