30-Day Writing Challenge Day 1: Write Some Basic Things About Yourself.

Always start with the easy ones, I always say.

Well, since my last post was a good two-and-a-half years ago, this one is perfect as a starter for my new Challenge! I know, I know. I always said that each post will be the beginning of a newer era with more dedication to posting entries! But as I have said in the post before last, things were very very trying in my life and no matter how many times I said I would try to write more, once the mood is gone you won't have the inspiration to write anything. That dark cloud will prevent motivation no matter how hard you try.

Anyway, that is in the past and now is the time to try harder!

So... basic things. I have three nicknames : Belle (close acquaintances), Anne (my family) and another name I call myself. As I have written in my previous post, I just turned 30 a few days ago. Still single as hell, I am a self-confessed dreamer. I think more than I speak, unless I am around the people I trust, then I talk more than I think haha.

Currently, I am in a job I love. It's not always great every day, but I do come to work with a smile most days so that is good enough for me.

Okay! That basic enough for you?

My 30-Day Writing Challenge Project

Last Friday was my 30th birthday. Happy birthday to me!

In honour of turning 30, I want to start the 30-day writing challenge for myself, just to see how far I can achieve it and if I can actually accomplish it this time.

Let's start with something easy shall we? Starting today until 26 October 2016, here are the writing prompts:

Let us begin!

30 Day Fandom Challenge *REPOSTED*

As promised, I am reposting this challenge to correct some minor viewing glitches It is still on my favourite book series: Harry Potter (but with some changes haha)

Day #1 First Encounter With This Series (i.e. how you discovered it, first episode you watched, ect...)

It was 1999, in an attempt to lure me away from my boyband obsession, my aunt bought me The Philosopher’s Stone as my 13th birthday present. I have never looked back since, and to this day my aunt wasn't sure whether or not she regrets introducing me to this mania.

I’m still a huge fan of the Backstreet Boys and Westlife though :D.

Day #2 The Moment That Made You Fall in Love with this Series

I cannot be sure when. But I know it was around the first book- Philosopher’s Stone. It might be when Hagrid took Harry Diagon Alley, and the rich way Joanne Rowling described the wizarding shops and people entranced me to push further. It might be her description of Hogwarts at the beginning of chapter 8 ("The Potions Master") made me fall in love with Hogwarts in whole. It might have been on Harry's first Quidditch Game, when he swallowed the Snitch instead of capturing it.

All I know is, the moment I finished that first book, I was clamouring for more. And the very next day I begged my parents to buy me the next two books in the series: The Chamber of Secrets and The Prisoner of Azkaban. By the time my 14th birthday rolled in, all I wanted was The Goblet of Fire (which was released the same year). In a way, the Harry Potter books also began my ritual of having at least one storybook as my birthday present every year.

 Day #3 Favourite Female Character

This is a toughie. Loads of people might say Hermione or Ginny or even Luna. While I like them all just fine, I do not really have a favourite female character. If I have to really choose, I have to say it is Professor Minerva McGonagall. I like her stern, steadfast character, her sharp sense of judgement, and her loyalty to the school. Her role as Dumbledore's second in command cannot be easy either. Her finest moment had to be when she led Hogwarts in the battle against the Death Eaters in the seventh book, while allowing time for Harry to muster his advantages to fight Voldemort.

Day #4 Favourite Male Character

 It would have to be Ron. Unlike the other two of the trio, Ron is the underdog at Hogwarts. Of the three he is the least well-known, least brainy, least wealthy and for parts of the time least sensible. He was not renowned for anything special, the way Harry was for his heroic deeds and Hermione for her intelligence. Oh, he has his special skills and talents, like playing chess, but they're not blatantly obvious the way the other two were.

Ron's frustration to being the wallflower of the bunch was obvious time and time again throughout the series, particularly in later books when Harry was pushed further into the spotlight and Hermione's intelligence and blossoming beauty caused her to be noticed by boys and adults alike. In his eyes, everyone gets more attention than him, be it his best friend, love interest, his sister or even his many brothers. He clings to his moments of glory (like when he helped won the Quidditch Cup for Gryffindor) fiercely and protectively. 

Ron is not the most rational of all the main characters. He has more tendency to flare into tempers, likes to jump into conclusions, and he has an occasional mean streak (as pointed out by Luna Lovegood). His resentment has sometimes caused a rift with Harry or Hermione or both. Harry because of his uncontrollable jealousy of his fame and fortune, and Hermione because of his inferiority complex that he might never be good enough for her. It came to a point where he thought both Harry and Hermione were seeing each other behind his back, and caused him to walk away from the team. 

But to me, these are the things that makes him human. Out of all the main players in the story, he is the character that made the story most real and believable. Ron echoes the human side of us all, whether it is good or bad. Be it in his choices (he chose the Elder Wand because really, who in their right mind does NOT want an Unbeatable Wand?) or the way he reacts to things (with that hilariously snappy humour to boot), he is what makes the Harry Potter stories relatable to me. Moreover, Ron showed me that it is okay to make mistakes, as long as you learn from them and went back to do the right thing. All these human qualities in Ron made me feel more attached to him than the rest, and I am so glad Rowling refrained from her decision to kill him.

Day #5 Favourite Romance/Rivalry

I would love to say Luna & Neville. But alas, apart from that one tender moment during Dumbledore's funeral where Luna helped Neville to his seat, this relationship was never again mentioned. Neville went on to marry a Hufflepuff classmate, Hannah Abbott post-war, while Luna married Rolf Scamander. The only consolation was that the romance was continued in the movie version of the series.

Day #6 Least Favourite Female Character

An obvious choice here would be either Dolores Umbridge, Petunia Dursley, Pansy Parkinson or Bellatrix Lestrange (There's so many hateful female characters! Is Rowling secretly a chauvinist? Hmmm...). However, Umbridge is simply one that goes without saying and she is just too cliche of a choice. Petunia is a debatable choice, because we know why she was nasty throughout Harry's life with her family. Pansy simply had no character development to speak of, just being there as Malfoy's female admirer or to give Hermione grief. Bellatrix is actually a character I'm amazed at, because of her maniacal loyalty to Voldemort which bordered on rabid love.

Being honest here, I would say my least favourite female character is Ginny Weasley. I find her annoying, especially towards later books when she suddenly gone from Harry's fan to a blooming beauty that suddenly made Harry in love with her. I mean really, what are her traits? What's so special about her, apart from being Harry's courageous female counterpart? And while she did join in the battles against the Death Eater at Hogwarts and the Ministry of Magic, what, exactly is her special skills apart from Bat-Bogey Hex? Oh, and another thing, does she really have to be so critical towards Ron?

Molly Weasley can be very annoying too. I guess like mother, like daughter.

Day #7 Least Favourite Male Character

I have to think really hard on this one. Voldemort is not a choice. He is the main antagonist and is necessary to the storyline. Plus, we know by the Half-Blood Prince that his inability to truly love can be contributed to his parents' history. Draco Malfoy, I actually have a soft spot on (I will elaborate in later points). His father, Lucius, is just an opportunist. As is Wormtail.

Raking my brains, I will have to settle on Gilderoy Lockhart, self-promoter extraordinaire, and Vernon Dursley, because he is simply an unrepentant idiot.

Day #8 Least Favourite Romance/Rivalry

In writing this, I have sealed myself as a Ginny-hater (apologies to all Ginny-lovers out there), but I think her romance with Harry is not properly spread out throughout the series. To me, in the end, she is just someone Harry could be thinking of during cold nights or when Hermione & Ron gets too overwhelming. She is conveniently necessary to Harry, and nothing much more. 

Day #9 Funniest Moment

Most of my favourite funny moments involve Ron, whether in deed or words. Most of the things he said is hilarious, and combining his ignorance, sarcasm and bewilderment with Hermione's frequent exasperation, they make a comical pair.

Since I will not pick one Ron moment over others, I will say that the funniest moment would have to be in the Order of The Phoenix, when a tattered Umbridge spent her first day as Hogwarts' 'beloved' new Headmistress putting away fireworks set by Fred and George all over the school. The finale was when Professor Fillius Flitwick thanked her after a difficult piece of show in the Charms classroom, in sweetness dripping with sarcasm, and told her that he "could have got rid of the sparklers myself, of course, but I wasn't sure whether I had the authority..." and slammed the door to Umbridge's snarling face.

Oh bravo Professor!

Day #10 Saddest Moment

There are many deaths that can be mentioned here as the saddest moment in Harry Potter history. Cedric Diggory, the first death witnessed by Harry in Goblet of Fire. Sirius Black, who is the closest thing Harry had to a father figure. Albus Dumbledore, who chose death for 'the greater good'. Dobby, whose last breath was for helping Harry escape the Malfoy Manor. Remus and Tonks, whose son inherited Harry's fate as an orphan, though probably not his hated and neglected condition as a child. And Snape, who died loving Harry's mother Lily.

I mourn for all these characters, but for me the saddest death belongs to Fred Weasley. Fred has a twin, and they were two halves of a whole. I cannot imagine how George felt in the aftermath, having to live without his twin, who really is an extension of himself. Futhermore, Fred had just reconciled with his estranged older brother Percy. To be taken away after only just gaining back one family member is just sad. 

Day #11 Something You Wish Hadn’t Happened

I honestly can't think of anything that I wish hadn't happened, since the Harry Potter series is like a well-arranged domino set, in which every turn of events affect something. I would like to say I wish Cedric hadn't died (it'll be good for Harry to have a strong, talented ally on his side that is a Hufflepuff, as Luna is representing Ravenclaw), but without his death Harry would not be able to see the Thestrals and might not have all the emotional angst that is necessary to his development in the Order of the Phoenix. Fred could also not have died, but that might have the books feeling a little too convenient. The Weasleys are in the thick of the events, they can't come out without losing someone. 

Day #12 Something You Wished Would Happen But Never Did

Ahhh... I have been waiting for this question. I know exactly what I would really love to have: Draco Malfoy turning over a new leaf and join the rebellion against Voldemort.

Draco Malfoy had been Harry's rival throughout school. He is everything Harry is not. Sneaky, a bully, rich with a doting mother and imposing father. Surprisingly I find Draco and Ron have a few similar personality traits, in which both were mean when they want to be, and the inferiority complex that they feel over Harry. Draco leads a group of Slytherins whose sole purpose is to make all the other houses miserable. Draco's favourite targets are the timid Neville Longbottom, the underprivileged Ron and the Muggle-born Hermione, and he hated all the glory given to Harry as the Boy Who Lived. He is very proud of the fact that his family are pure-blood Slytherins through and through, has powerful influence in the wizarding community and he supports Dark Magic the same way his parents have.

However, beginning at the Half-Blood Prince, things weren't so rosy for Draco. With his father in disgrace, both with the wizarding community and with Voldemort, he was tasked to kill Dumbledore and find a way into Hogwarts for the Death Eaters to lay siege for the first time. Determined to restore his family into Voldemort's favour, he worked at both his tasks, but with extreme difficulty. But for all his talk and swagger, in Draco's heart he finds killing repulsive and torture disgusting. Throughout that book and the Deathly Hallows, and through Harry's eyes, we can still see this constant struggle in Draco. At a climatic scene where he held Dumbledore at wand's end, with no one watching (except Harry, who was under an invisibility cloak), he almost dropped his wand, not wishing to continue with killing Dumbledore.

For all that his family were Dark Wizards, Draco was not evil. He could be nasty, but then again Ron can be nasty too.

At the end of the books, Draco subsided into a cowardly character who struggled to ally himself with the winning side, despite no longer being sure which one it was. He was spared most of the Death Eater's fate when his parents walked away from the war during the Battle of Hogwarts. He lived indebted to Harry, Ron and Hermione, who saved his life twice, but they never become friends.

I was disappointed with this substory, if only just a little. I think it would have been better if Draco openly turned against Voldemort and joined Harry and the rest in the fight somewhere in The Deathly Hallows. He could be partners with Neville, calling Voldemort out in the scene where Harry was believed to be dead. Oh, what an epic scene that would be!

I know that Hollywood toyed with that idea. In one of the making videos of the Deathly Hallows movie, Draco can be seen shouting, "Potter!" and throwing his wand to Harry as he returned from the dead to face Voldemort. Unfortunately it never made the movies. Such a pity. 

Day #13 A Song That Reminds You of this Series

"Hedwig's Theme"- easy! 

Day #14 Favourite Villain

Bellatrix Lestrange's twisted character is always interesting to watch. Here is a character that is evil, plain and simple, no excuse given. Even Voldemort has a sympathetic angle to him (although he would probably Avada Kedavra anyone who said so to his face). Not Bellatrix though. She likes Dark Magic, is a Pure-Blood fanatic and thrives in claiming someone's life. 

Day #15 A Character Everybody Else Loves That You Hate

 We're back to the Ginny question, aren't we?

Day #16 A Character Everybody Else Hates That You Love

Most probably Peeves, but does anybody actually hate Peeves?

Day #17 The Character You Love To Hate

I know I probably should hate Lavender Brown, like many Ron/Hermione shippers who hissed everytime she jumped on Ron. Also, she is whiny and clingy and... seriously, baby names? But the thing is, I don't hate her. Not really. Ron needed  her whininess and clinginess to realize what a complete prat he was when it comes to girls. In that sense at least she taught him a lesson. 

Day #18 The Top Three Things on Your To-Do List if You Suddenly Found Yourself in the Series

a) Figure out whether I'm a Muggle or a Witch

b) i) Muggle- pray that Dementor of Death Eaters won't get to me, and try to befriend Hermione's family

    ii) Witch- Go to Hogwarts, get a wand, help Harry in whatever quest he's in at the time, knock some sense into Draco's head if I can. Not in any particular order

c) Find Harry and tell him he's got to get all the seven items on the Horcrux list and where he can get it. Even if he was only 11 at the time (I am SO going to be a walking encyclopedia to Harry in this series) 

Day #19 A “Ship” in the Fandom You Can’t Stand (canon or non-canon; of characters or actors)

CAN WE STOP WITH THE HARRY/DRACO SHIPPING ALREADY? It drives me nuts!!

Day #20 The Worst Fanfic You’ve Ever Read of this Series (include links if possible)

I don't really read Harry Potter fanfic, because I think the story is already complete in itself. But really, any Harry/Draco fanfic make me cringe. And I can only imagine what Lucius Malfoy would react, if he truly exists. ("MY SON AND POTTER? TOGETHER?" *Dies*)

Day #21 On a Scale from Secret Admirer to Panty-Sniffer, How Obsessed Are You with this Series?

I wait at my window for owls to send letters from Hogwarts (even though I'm past school age). I'd go even if it means becoming Filch's assistant. Does that count?

Day #22 The Character You’d Want as a Drinking Buddy

 Fred & George of course! I would think they'd have invented a  beer that turns you into a monkey or something. 

Day #23 The Character You’d Want as a Fuck Buddy

 *I'mNotTelling* 

Day #24 The Character You Find Most Relatable

Had to be Luna Lovegood. Dreamy, weird and isolated. I sound a lot like her. Although I find it hard-pressed to imagine myself as a Ravenclaw. 

Day #25 Favourite Object/Prop

The WAND! Most important equipment for a witch!

Day #26 Favourite Costume

Harry's Triwizard champion outfit or Quidditch uniform, if they are anything like the one in the movies

Day #27 Favourite Quote

"It is our choices, Harry, that show what we truly are, far more than our abilities." - Albus Dumbledore, The Chamber of Secrets

Day #28 Favourite Climax (i.e. series finale, battle, conclusion of a subplot, etc…)

The battle at the graveyard in The Goblet of Fire was both gory, suspense and heart wrenching. 

Day #29 A Moment That Made You Question Whether You Would Continue Reading/Watching…

None

Day #30 Will Anything Ever Replace this Series for You?

While The Hunger Games and The Song of Ice and Fire came as close second and third, nothing would really replace Harry Potter for me. It represented my childhood and moulded me into what I am today.

Let's Start This Over Shall We?

First of all I don't think it's too late to wish everyone a very happy new year! 

Hopefully you have been able to look back to 2013 and smile. And may all your dreams, new and old, will be able to come true this year.

It has been a good 11 months, since I last wrote in this blog. As much as I hope last year had been wonderful for all you readers, sadly I cannot say the same for myself. While I will not go into detail over the things that had happened during the 11 months, I feel it is sufficient to say that it has been trying for me, both personally and professionally. There had been moments where I doubted myself as a person, and others where I felt as if I am hitting dead ends all over. It is hard to be in such a dark place, to feel so lonely that one cannot appreciate being alone. And although things are still not as good as I would have liked, I can say that I am finding my way out of the maze. So with all the prayers in my heart I hope 2014 will be better for me, for you and indeed for all of you.

All right, emo moment over. Now let's talk about this blog!

I am looking into honing my writing skills even more. Indeed writing is the one thing I am absolutely sure I'm good at, so one of the promises I made to myself this year (NOT a resolution though, I never keep those :P) is to write more in this blog, as well as my other blog throughout the year. It's a pity as I have had some interesting moments last year but never seemed to have the mood or energy to put them down in writing. So this year is going to be all about improving myself in the DISCIPLINE and COMMITMENT department. I'm sure this year will have it's fair share of interesting things, so watch this space!

Now, my plans for Midnight Scrolls: The first thing I am going to do is to rewrite one or two of my previous posts, particularly the Fandom Challenge post, which I thought was really good, but appeared as a real mess when viewed. I copied the questions from the website directly into the HTML on  my dashboard and wrote my answers underneath, so that was why it went black, white and different fonts altogether. So I'm rewriting that in a proper word document before posting it again. Hopefully it will turn out well. Once I've done rewriting that, I will continue with the rest of the Challenge Marathons that I promised :)

Next, I'm planning to expand my subjects on Midnight Scroll. I noticed that so far, I have only written my take on movies I've seen. I will be doing just that, even reviewing some of the previous movies I've seen which might been outdated (but I don't care haha), and more. I will be writing about TV series and books, perhaps even food (although honestly my opinion on anything eatable is either DELICIOUS or NASTY). I have always intended Midnight Scroll to be my two cents on anything I have encountered, and I plan to do just that this year.

I am still on the fence about what to do with posts like Battle Dream Royale. Originally I had meant to also use this blog as a platform for my fiction writing, but I see that it might not be practical mixing it up with reviews. Especially since I haven't finished the story. I might pull it down, write it properly and then  post somewhere else. So we'll see. 

Lastly, I am going to minimize the personal-emotional-reflection posts. Those are meant for journals, not blogs like this. 

Well... I guess that is the outline for Midnight Scrolls hereafter. Let's see if we can get this on the road, for real this time.

2014, please be good!

Hansel & Gretel: Fun, If A Bit Inauthentic, Entertainment

The trend in today's Hollywood is to pick a ready-made story and turn it into the next cash cow. Lord of The Rings, Harry Potter, the Hunger Games, Narnia, The Wizard of Oz, Peter Pan... all these were literature favourites that has seen transaction to the big screen. Some were transferred to the smaller screen, like the Game of Thrones.

Don't Mess With These Siblings

Fairy Tales are no exception. Over the years, we see stories from ancient folklores and the Grimms Brothers converted into box office movies with a little bit of Hollywood magic. Most of the good ones are animated versions, such as those made by Disney, one by New Line Cinema (Swan Princess) and another by 20th Century Fox (Anastasia). Only one live action adaptation that I know of is worth watching. Others, unfortunately, are not so commendable. Equally unfortunate, is that this category exceeds its commendable counterparts. Too many to mention and in too many variables to be able to digest.

The latest, and for now the only well-known, adaptation of Hansel and Gretel, actually falls close into the first category, although not without faults. The plot serves as a sort of extension to the story of the two siblings who were left in the forest by their father, only to encounter a house made of confectionery and almost be eaten by a witch. Both were under the impression that their parents had left them in the forest as children to die, though they didn't understand why.

Somebody call for an exterminator?

Fast forward to 15 years after the incident. Hansel is diabetic due to eating far too much sweets in the candy house, while Gretel has frequent dreams about their mother. The aftermath of their ordeal was that the siblings combined both their skills (they are immune to evil spells and witchcraft for unknown reasons) and knowledge (they learned various effective ways to trap and kill witches) and became expert witch hunters. News traveled fast and they became well-known across the lands (I'm assuming Germany).

After years of making a living as witch hunters, they came at last at a town blanketed in fear, for many children have been missing and word has it that witches are involved. They arrived just in time to stop the condemning of a young redheaded woman, Mina, who was accused of witchcraft. The siblings freed her, announcing that she has no mark of witchcraft on her. But there were indeed witches at large, and as it turned out, the missing children served a bigger purpose for the witches than just to make a feast.

I mentioned previously that this version of the story was quite good, because it talked about the siblings' psychological state after they almost became witch supper as children. The injection (no pun intended) of Hansel's diabetes was a brilliant touch, and it was implied that he never touched candy for the rest of his life. I also like the sibling relationship between Hansel and Gretel. Hansel's character was swashbuckling and all about action, though he softened and amusing when it comes to his sister. Gretel is thoughtful and sensitive, and spends most of her time trying to watch over her brother, despite everything that was happening around her.

That horrible moment when you 
realize you date is not pleased

Other characters worth mentioning had to be the Leader of the Evil Witches, Muriel, who seemed to know more about the siblings' past than they do. The redheaded Mina, who turned out to be a witch after all, but a good one, was passable (somebody had to romance at least one of the siblings I suppose), and so is the town Sherrif (equally, someone has to be the secondary, bumbling antagonist). I don't know why Ben the fanboy had to be there though. They can easily relate the tale of Hansel & Gretel's past in plenty other ways. Best had to be the Troll (I love the fact that they named him Edward! Much better looking that the cough*vampire*cough).

Say What?

However, on the other hand, a gattling gun and a taser in 18th century Europe in a tad too over the top. It would have been a lot more authentic if they had worked with super-huge swords and mega-huge crossbows. The firearms are all right, but putting a gattling gun and a witch on broomsticks in the same frame is just plain wrong.

So in short, this movie makes of good entertainment if you keep you mind wide open and don't worry about details. I would recommend to see it once, if only to drool over Jeremy Renner and/or Gemma Arterton.

Don't look now Hansel, but I think there's a creepy old lady behind us.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Movie

I remember when I watched the first movie of the Lord of The Rings franchise, back in 2001. I was fresh out of the equally first of the Harry Potter movies, and at the time the two franchises were placed against one another in a form of media rivalry ( as it will be later in the future, for Harry Potter vs. Twilight, Twilight vs. the Hunger Games and so on)

The story of the Hobbit

The Hobbit is an extension of The Lord of The Ring, its prequel. Before Frodo set off on his journey to the pits of Mount Doom, the story of Middle Earth wasn't always about the Dark Lord Sauron or the One Ring, though as one may found out, they're interconnected with every other tale in that land. Before the Elves, Men, Dwarves, Hobbits and other creatures of the Light joined forces to protect the kingdom together from their mutual enemies, they very much minded their own businesses. Elves stayed in their forests or valleys, while Hobbits keep to their Shires. Wizards roamed the land, but precious little is known about this unique kind.

Gandalf & Radagast

Dwarves lived in the mountains, as fiercely protective of their domain as Elves were coolly hostile to intruders. In the War of The Ring, dwarves were featured very briefly as an active force against Sauron, taking part in the Battle of Dale alongside the Men of Dale against the Easterlings, but little elsewhere. This, of course, is with the exception of Gimli, a member of Durin's folk which represented the Dwarves in the Fellowship of Nine, and also forged a friendship with the Elf Prince Legolas, personifying the end of the age-old Dwarves-Elves hostility.On the other hand, Dwarves took center stage as the most prominent race throughout the Hobbit.

The Hobbit was set years prior to the events in the Lord of The Rings. We see Bilbo Baggins (far younger than we know in the LOTR movies, played by the delightful Martin Freeman), a well-off hobbit who was enjoying his bachelorhood and the comfort of his home. He encountered Gandalf (still the Grey at present), who unwittingly introduced him to a band of 13 dwarves. These dwarves were led by the grim leader Thorin Oakenshield, on a quest to reclaim their home under the Lonely Mountains, which had been pillaged by the dragon Smaug during the reign of Thorin's grandfather Thror. Bilbo was then hired as their burglar for a particular task of their expedition.

The first part of The Hobbit trilogy, in general, pretty much goes along the same line as The Fellowship of The Ring, in which it was the story of a group of people on a journey. I was, however, pleasantly surprise because the vibe is a lot less depressing and benign than it had been for the Fellowship of the Ring. Here are some of the thoughts that I had throughout the movie.

1. Martin Freeman is an excellent choice for Bilbo.

A young Bilbo Baggins

I love Martin Freeman as John Watson in BBC's Sherlock. He was fun to watch, the exasperated-yet-faithful partner of the belligerent, eccentric Holmes. In the Hobbit, he was often bewildered by his surroundings and his companions. But that does not seem to hinder his easygoing ways, not even when the imposing Thorin brushed him off as weak and homesick. Bilbo has a good heart, he is a Hobbit of the Shire through and through, but he does not hesitate to use trickery and even threat to save himself. I find him a nice balance of humour, simplicity and cunning, which is a nice change to the previous hobbits (which I will not criticize in this blog).

2. Gandalf had a lot more sense of humour before the One Ring was found.

Don't be fooled by that serious look

Gandalf is a wizard. So it is expected for a wizard in Middle Earth to be benign, even in light occasions  Tricking people and talking in ways that made other want to tear off the long white (or grey) hair is more reserved for wizards in another dimension (cough*Dumbledore*cough). So it's refreshing to see him talk in riddles and sending dwarves into a shocked Bilbo's house, just so they would clean off his (Bilbo's) larder.

3. Return of familiar characters

Thought you won't see me again eh, precious?

We all know Gollum is coming back, so is Elrond, Saruman and Galadriel. Even through previous press releases, we know Elijah Wood will make an appearance, even though the Hobbit is set before his time. But it still makes me smile when I see each and every one of them onscreen. Some scenes make you feel like you're living in time backwards, other scenes (like when Bilbo and Gollum were playing the Riddle game) makes you want to cry out "Don't go there!

Slight hitch: Where on earth is Legolas Greenleaf? We want more Legolas!!

4. There are actually some pretty good looking dwarves in Middle Earth
Look, in my defense, aside from the 30-second appearance of the dwarven representatives in Elrond's council in the Fellowship of the Ring, the only visible dwarf all throughout the trilogy had been Gimli. While I adore Gimli (he is funny as hell), I would not exactly trade Legolas or Faramir or even Aragorn for him in the looks department. The Hobbit actually showcases a pretty impressive lineup of dwarves, some even decent-looking too. My opinion is, if Snow White had seen these guys, she would have ditched Prince Charming, pronto.

Someone Called for a Good-looking Dwarve?

 In a way, I see it as a catch-up lesson on these mountainfolks. We have so much exposure to the Hobbits, Men and Elves in LOTR (even orcs have their share of glory in there), it's time to shine some spotlight on this race.

5. Oh Eagles! Where were you for the past two and a half hours of the movie?
Towards the end of the movie, at the very edge of mortal peril, Gandalf summoned his Eagle friends to carry their group away from Misty Mountains and from the group of orcs attacking them. And before that, they almost got eaten by Trolls, got in between a Stone Giant fight, captured and escaped a community of Goblins and, yes, being chased left right and center by Orcs on Wargs, its leader being Thorin's old foe. And here you are, at the edge of a cliff, the dwarves a slip away from falling to their deaths, the dwarven king nearly dead, with a hobbit between him and his Orc enemy, and...

Oh, wait a minute let me summoned my trusty gigantic winged friends. Really Gandalf, it's not as if there's the Eye to worry about this time around. Would have saved a lot of trouble if you had whistled for those birds way earlier.

But then, the movie would have been reduced to five minutes, plus credits, instead of the usual 3-hours.

 Great movie. I like how it's a lighter vibe than LOTR had been.

What the heck are you people doing in my house??

My New Favourite Song- But it has nothing to do with "You-Know-Which-Movie"

Heart beats fast
Colors and promises
How to be brave?
How can I love when I'm afraid to fall
But watching you stand alone?
All of my doubt suddenly goes away somehow

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

Time stands still
Beauty in all she is
I will be brave
I will not let anything take away
What's standing in front of me
Every breath
Every hour has come to this

One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

One step closer
One step closer

[Chorus:]
I have died everyday waiting for you
Darling don't be afraid I have loved you
For a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

And all along I believed I would find you
Time has brought your heart to me
I have loved you for a thousand years
I'll love you for a thousand more

I think this will be an awesome first dance song... along with 'All This Time" by OneRepublic

10 Myths about Introverts

Myths about introverts (According to The Introvert Advantage (How To Thrive In an Extrovert World), by Marti Lane, PsyD.
Credits to Carlkingdom.com

Myth#1–Introverts don’t like to talk.
This is not true. Introverts just don’t talk unless they have something to say. They hate small talk. Get an introvert talking about something they are interested in, and they won’t shut up for days.

Myth #2 – Introverts are shy.
Shyness has nothing to do with being an Introvert. Introverts are not necessarily afraid of people. What they need is a reason to interact. They don’t interact for the sake of interacting. If you want to talk to an Introvert, just start talking. Don’t worry about being polite.

Myth #3 – Introverts are rude.
Introverts often don’t see a reason for beating around the bush with social pleasantries. They want everyone to just be real and honest. Unfortunately, this is not acceptable in most settings, so Introverts can feel a lot of pressure to fit in, which they find exhausting.

Myth #4 – Introverts don’t like people.
On the contrary, Introverts intensely value the few friends they have. They can count their close friends on one hand. If you are lucky enough for an introvert to consider you a friend, you probably have a loyal ally for life. Once you have earned their respect as being a person of substance, you’re in.

Myth #5 – Introverts don’t like to go out in public.
Nonsense. Introverts just don’t like to go out in public FOR AS LONG. They also like to avoid the complications that are involved in public activities. They take in data and experiences very quickly, and as a result, don’t need to be there for long to “get it.” They’re ready to go home, recharge, and process it all. In fact, recharging is absolutely crucial for Introverts.

Myth #6 – Introverts always want to be alone.
Introverts are perfectly comfortable with their own thoughts. They think a lot. They daydream. They like to have problems to work on, puzzles to solve. But they can also get incredibly lonely if they don’t have anyone to share their discoveries with. They crave an authentic and sincere connection with ONE PERSON at a time.

Myth #7 – Introverts are weird.
Introverts are often individualists. They don’t follow the crowd. They’d prefer to be valued for their novel ways of living. They think for themselves and because of that, they often challenge the norm. They don’t make most decisions based on what is popular or trendy.

Myth #8 – Introverts are aloof nerds.
Introverts are people who primarily look inward, paying close attention to their thoughts and emotions. It’s not that they are incapable of paying attention to what is going on around them, it’s just that their inner world is much more stimulating and rewarding to them.

Myth #9 – Introverts don’t know how to relax and have fun.
Introverts typically relax at home or in nature, not in busy public places. Introverts are not thrill seekers and adrenaline junkies. If there is too much talking and noise going on, they shut down. Their brains are too sensitive to the neurotransmitter called Dopamine. Introverts and Extroverts have different dominant neuro-pathways. Just look it up.

Myth #10 – Introverts can fix themselves and become Extroverts.
A world without Introverts would be a world with few scientists, musicians, artists, poets, filmmakers, doctors, mathematicians, writers, and philosophers. That being said, there are still plenty of techniques an Extrovert can learn in order to interact with Introverts. (Yes, I reversed these two terms on purpose to show you how biased our society is.) Introverts cannot “fix themselves” and deserve respect for their natural temperament and contributions to the human race. In fact, one study (Silverman, 1986) showed that the percentage of Introverts increases with IQ.

Challenge Marathon!

These days I've been looking around other people's blog, as a silent reader and picture browser. One of the websites that I went on (credits: Ruffles Not Diet) mentioned that there's a 30 Day Book Challenge going on in tumblr. Sounds like something right up my alley.

So, I've decided to make this Challenge Marathon a staple to my blog and facebook page. There are ounces of it! Check this out if you're interested!.

Here are some of the Challenges I'm planning to do:

1) 30 Day Book & Literature
2) 30 Days of Television
3) 30 Days of Supernatural
4) 30 Day Hunger Games
5) 15 Day Story Writing
6) 30 Day Film
7) 31 Days Harry Potter

Oh there's too many! We'll see!

Life @ Work: Part of Something Special

Everyone goes through life the way they want it to be.

Some people goes through it searching for the meaning of something, while other take the easier route, living one day at a time and taking each step in a slow and steady pace.

But in the end, everyone wants to know that they have done, or at least been part of, something special.

That something special, is sitting together in one room, all eight (previously nine) of us and grinding our teeth on that tedious assignment. Some of us would be quiet in our seats, going through our notes for the nth time and arranging our scripts so we won't mess up in front of our bosses. Other would be working on the slides, discussing the designs and structures and whatnot so said bosses won't fall asleep when they look at our presentation (which they do anyway, no matter what). Occasionally there would be those profoundly obscene words tossed here and there, and most of the time the poking fun, corny jokes and all around merry laughter that healed us from that dreadful feeling of having our necks dragged into the slaughterhouse.

That something special is, telling off one another when we took things way too far, but in the end patching things up because we all know it was for the best. It is how we turn to each other for support, or rally together to defend one of our own. It is the comfort of knowing that no matter what it is, we're in this together, and we will get out of it as a team.

That something special is, learning something new everyday, no matter what it is, and knowing that each day is a new beginning. It is about understanding each other's quirks and habits and restrictions, and accepting them even if they are not what we're used to.

That something special, is being part of here and now.

Life @ Work: Introduction

Now that I've two and a half months into my new job, I finally have the time and mood to sit down and reflect on what is happening and how and why. All my previous attempts have been half-baked, but I really, really want to sit down and sort out my thoughts and feelings about this new place, the people and the environment.

Being honest, I am grateful and happy to be here. Because compared to the junkyard that I was in back then, this place is paradise. The job is brilliant- I got to blend together finance duties and management assignments, so it's really like being back in university again. The environment is great- large office space, my own huge desk (though I'm still clueless about what to furnish in all that space), full air-conditioning and green outdoors. The people are wonderful as well. I walked with a group of what my father called 'Young Urban Professionals', which really opened a whole different world to me. They are an elite group, one which sin is subjective and not really considered, but their minds are exceptionally brilliant. And yet at the same time I'm friends with my fellow colleagues in Finance, who are more on the conservative side. In short, I walk a fine line between two worlds where good and evil are defined very differently, a grey area. 

Put all of those in together, it is an interesting mix. Everyday at work is an adventure, something new to learn, something challenging to face. I think I learned more in two months here than I ever did for a year in my last job. And here, I begin to know where I truly stood. There's so much that I haven't learned, that I have not achieved. With the friends that I have now, each day is a question of how I'm going to catch up with them. It made me think constantly about what I'm going to be in two, three years' time, because I began to have the fear of not being able to be equals with them one day.

If anyone ever question my fears, I will tell you here why: two of my closest friends at work, two guys whom I had come to know since Assessment Day, were graduates from Australia. One of them was offered a post in General Motors before he chose to come here. The other one is a GENIUS plain and simple. Super pro-active and smart, he just knew his stuff. I remember when I got my job offer, I knew in my heart that this second guy had got the job as well, because I would be shocked if he didn't and I did. 

Then there's a third guy, who made up the fourth member in our batch. He previously worked for Malaysian Airlines, and I heard that he actually got the offer to further his studies in Aviation in the UK. 

As if those aren't enough, let me tell you bout my seniors. Although technically they're all relatively younger than me, I still consider them seniors because they came into the company earlier than me and the three guys. One of them, from what I heard, was a certified MENSA member. Another has research as a hobby, and I think he's an overseas graduate as well. The third graduated from Australia while another I think used to study in the UK. And the only other Finance person in this elite group aside from me, he used to work for one of the top four audit companies in the world, and graduated from a top university in France. France!!

Intimidated yet? Cos I sure am.

Movie Rant: Lessons learned from watching the Avengers.

I never thought I'd go and watch the Avengers the second time in a row. I mean, the movie was alright. In my opinion all the hype has sort of diminished the WOW effect it could have had should it been more low-key. But unlike The Hunger Games, I never had the weekly urge to go and see it every chance I get. Watch it once, get it out of my system, and there done.

However, when a colleague of mine had an extra ticket from her friend, she invited me to come along to watch last Friday night. I decided to say yes cos, come on, it's a freebie to one of the year's biggest blockbusters! Since I didn't write anything about my first impression of the movie, I decided that this time around I'm going to list down the stuff that I learned about our favourite avenging superheroes.

1) Keep it short and simple for the green guy, please.

HULK SMASH!!!!

     I like all the members of the Avengers, but Hulk always has a soft spot inside my heart, purely because he's the most amusing character in the movie. Indeed, Mark Ruffalo is probably the best actor to have ever portrayed Marvel's version of Jekyll and Hyde, playing up Bruce Banner's mild mannered persona as the key to his struggle to keep the green monster in check. But once he transforms, even his fellow Avengers and wary of him (except maybe a certain Tony Stark). Despite being the main character who mainly grunts and roars when he's green, Hulk was amusing in his own way. He is the one they're all waiting for to save the day, and when he does, he comes in riding a putty little scooter. That's the image Hulk carries with him throughout the movie. Sure, he's gonna smash his way around and will probably destroy half of New York City while he's at it, but that doesn't mean we won't cheer for him all the way.

Note to any future villains looking to destroy/conquer Earth: make your acceptance speech as brief as possible. Otherwise you're going to get flailed like a piece of laundry by our favourite temperamental hero. Long prolonged essays makes him angry, and apparently nobody likes it when he's angry.

Oh, and Loki? Here's what Hulk thinks about your plan to take over earth: "Puny Gods."

Hah.

2) Captain America is a class monitor in previous life.

     It's really funny in an ironic way when Steve Rogers and Tony Stark have a go at each other, and Stark would call Rogers "old man", given the fact that Robert Downey Jr. is obviously far older than Chris Evans. But looking at their characteristics, it's not really that surprising. While Tony Stark is, in effect, the star of the movie, nobody can contest Captain America as the leader of the pack.

Why won't you guys listen to me????

Being designed as the perfect soldier, he is always the one to tell the others to quit messing around, to keep them in line and stick to the given mission, whatever misgivings he has with the entire S.H.I.E.L.D.S operations. He broke the fight between Ironman and Thor while the two were having at it after Loki was captured, and told Stark to stop poking Bruce Banner just to test the length of the latter's endurance. Oh sure, some might see Rogers as the wet blanket, but in truth he was just trying to keep order. In the crazy world of being part of a superhero team, there aren't many things that stays put and grounded. Things change in an abnormal speed and even the things they felt they're sure about can be a variable. In a way, Captain America sets out to keep everything together no matter how insane their mission turns out to be.

Keeping a firm head above crisis is one of the key things to being an effective leader, thus it's hardly surprising that despite their constant friction and differences, when the going gets really, really tough, the "don't play well with others" Ironman still turns to Captain America and said, "Captain, orders?"

3) If you're the good alien being, then you'll probably take the most hits (Sorry Thor)

From the moment Thor first appeared on the screen, he seemed to be the one who came out the worst. Out of three Avenger-vs.-Avenger fights in the whole movie, he is in two of them- one against Ironman and (partly) Captain America, and then the other against the Hulk (I know, ouch). His younger brother is bent on taking over the world, and when your brother is Loki (which is the Trickster God in some myth), obviously you're going to get hurt in some ways. In Thor's case, he was locked inside a highly durable capsule and plummeted down to earth, barely escaping a fatal fate, and then Loki went and stabbed him as he tried persistently to reason with him.

I have a hammer. And people still throw me around. $%^%^%#&^*&&&^878!!!

Worst part is (or was it the best?), even after working together to bring down a colossal alien monster, Hulk couldn't resist punching him off the screen.

Don't take it personally though, Thor. Maybe Hulk just doesn't like alien beings. At least you worked really well with Captain America.

4) Be careful when you make a girl cry.

More often than not, the female characters served as the sex appeal in the movies. They are there to spice up the romance elements, the center of our heroes' tender looks and gentle words. The Avengers' individual films have shown this, be it Pepper Potts, Jane Foster, Peggy Carter or Betty Ross. No matter how they all tried to emphasize that these women are strong-willed, intelligent and can hold their own, the fact remains that they are merely there to watch in dismay as our heroes charged into danger.

Hang on a sec. There's this guy who won't take a hint.

In the case of Natalia Romanov, however, the science of female leads in comic book adaptations is being challenged. Natalia Romanov is a spy, first and foremost, and a woman second. It is not to say she did not display any womanly characteristics, it is more the fact that she is acutely aware of certain things that a woman can do, and used them to get her way, and I don't mean this in a disgusting, sexed-up way. She played up a female's vulnerability to a point where the man feels like he's in control and has broken her, when in truth, she's just out there to get what she wanted.

Case in point? When she came in to speak to Loki, it seemed like she was trying to negotiate to save Hawkeye. Then Loki threatened to have Hawkeye kill her, before taking the latter's life himself. Everyone (including me) thought that the Black Widow was cracking at the intense picture Loki was painting, but in the end... she was just getting information for Loki's next plan.

Bravo, Black Widow. Who says girls can't play just as well as boys?

5) I don't care what anyone says, Hawkeye has the coolest skills/weapon.

So I don't get that much screen time huh?

Sure, we've got Ironman and his cool suit, Captain America and his cool shield, Thor and his cool hammer and Hulk and his cool, er, right hook. But regardless what people say about the character Hawkeye, I still think that Hawkeye, with his keen senses and bow and arrow, is the superhero I would like to be if I were to join the Avengers. I mean, who doesn't want to be able to shoot a bullseye arrow to the enemy's neck while looking the other way? Really?

6) Errr.... I didn't really notice Ironman. 


Will not elaborate further on this.
*Ducking laser-fires from Iron fans*

Say that again???

A shoutout to Loki, for being one of the most amusing supervillains I have ever seen. Indeed, some funny scenes wouldn't be funny without him in it.

Ahem, aren't you forgetting someone??

No, Mr Fury. Now, goodbye!

Movie Rant- Wrath Of The Titans: What, Only One Titan?

Here's the deal: I am an absolute snotty brat when it comes to Greek legends.

I'm a person who like to get things as right and as accurate as possible. Hercules did the twelve pillars. Achilles fought in the Trojan War, Jason sailed with the Argonauts and Theseus slew the Minotaur. While I understand the need to mix and match some stories to make them interesting, any form of inaccuracy feels like an itch to me. In the legend of Perseus, the son of Zeus, he saved

So when Hollywood decided to release Clash of The Titans a couple of years ago, I went in with a very critical pair of eyes. While the quality of the cinematography was good and the actors did deliver (it's got Liam Neeson it it, for crying out loud), I can't say much for the storyline. Not only that there wasn't a single Titan in any part of the movie, but they got the obvious mythology wrong. Perseus, son of Zeus, had saved Andromeda from certain sacrifice, but in the movie, he chose the immortal seer, Io, instead of marrying the princess. That is like watching Tutankhamun grown into a 70-year-old man. It's JUST SO WRONG!

This is Sparta...!!!! Oh sorry, wrong movie

Anyway, in the second installment, we see ten years after the whole Kraken fiasco (yes, I will use that word to describe this movie). Io is dead (because, apparently, she turns mortal once she marries) so there's just Perseus and their son Heleus. The gods' powers in Olympus are fading because people don't pray to them anymore, so the walls imprisoning their father, Kronos, was weakening. Hades, Lord of the Underworld, and Are, God of War, decided to use this chance to release Kronos, in exchange of both their own immortality. When Zeus approached his favourite son (really Zeus, how many favourite sons do you have?) for help,  Perseus declined at first. But when a Chimera attacked his peaceful fishing community and threatened his son, he was forced to throw himself into the war, uniting himself with the now Queen Andromeda (whose actress has been changed, they can't even keep that the same) and track down his cousin Agenor, in order to save his then captured father, defeat his raging half-brother Ares and force Kronos (his grandfather?) back into imprisonment.

Really, the more I read the last sentence, the more I feel like this is one messed-up family drama on a large scale.

Is that you, Dad?

The rest of the movie is all about Perseus in hero mode. While I give all those involved credit for special effects, watching the movie is about as fulfilling as watching a Transformers movie. All you see on the screen is explosives, running, yelling- but wooden storyline. The director, writer and producers once again failed to stay true to the Greek Mythology. Agenor is Poseidon's son? Spear of Triam, huh? What is that, the Deathly Hallows of the Greeks? And what makes me annoyed the most: they are still not utilizing all the Titans. Really, people, there are at least twelve original Titans in the Greek mythology. Why throw in virtually unknown lesser spirits like the Makhai, or have Perseus' story mixed up with that of Theseus? You're not a Disney kids' flick, why play around with facts? It's called WRATH OF THE TITANS, not "Wrath of every supernatural force in Greek mythology that can look and sound cool on screen".

"I think I just saw the Black Pearl zooming up ahead"

Just a small shoutout to my favourite actors, Liam Neeson and Ralph Fiennes. They did really well, though it still irks me that Hollywood seemed to be determined to make Hades a villain almost every time. If you read the myths, he's probably one of the better gods, despite his job of governing the dead. At least he doesn't sleep around and sire fifty dozen illegitimate children all over the place like his brothers and nephews.

My advice to future filmmakers who decide to adapt something from ancient mythology- READ IT UP. I know it can be a challenge to your creative urges to follow everything by the book, but there's a way around it. After all, you get most of the facts right if it was an autobiography of someone who actually existed. Just because those gods and heroes can't sue you doesn't mean you can mess their lives up even worse than it already is.

Movie Rant- The Hunger Games: Surviving Sadistic Game Shows

Here's something I've learned from the Harry Potter franchise: if you want to watch a movie adapted from a book, either go in with an open mind or don't even touch the book until you've seen the movie.

I am a fan of novel adaptations, particularly those under fantasy and science fiction genres. However, it takes a lot to be able to enjoy a movie once I have read the book, because there is the tendency to be extra critical, and to measure just how much the movie had managed to live up and be faithful to the book. I have been disappointed a few times- Eragon, The Other Boleyn Girl and Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince, to name a few. So far I can only say The Lord of The Rings trilogy and The Da Vinci Code are the only ones that exceeds my expectations.

Which is why I was careful not to read the Hunger Games novel  before I got to watch its big screen adaptation today. Written by Suzanne Collins, it is the first book of the Hunger Games trilogy, which was told through the eyes of the main protagonist, Katniss Everdeen. The concept of the first book was derived from the Greek tale of Theseus and the Minotaur, where seven young men and seven young women were sent into a labyrinth to be sacrificed to a vicious Minotaur. Naturally these men and women have to fight in order to survive, except in the Hunger Games, they have to do so in national television. In other words: it's a deadly version of Survivor.

See, even the publishing world acknowledges that we have too much reality TV.

In The Hunger Games movie, the stage was set some hundred years in the future in a place called Panem. Panem is governed by a totalitarianism administration called the Capitol and its lands were divided into twelve districts. The state of these districts vary, depending on their specializations and their standing with the Capitol. There was a thirteenth district, but it was rumoured to be destroyed by the Capitol due to a past rebellion. Because of this rebellion as well, that the government organized an annual game called the 'Hunger Games', in which all the remaining districts were forced to send in one boy and one girl, or 'tributes' as they are called. Before the game, every girl and boy between the age 12 and 18 were submitted and chosen in a ceremony called the Reaping. The game itself was simple enough: survive for as long as you can in a dangerous outdoor arena secretly manipulated by a team from the Capitol- even if it means having to kill each other. The last person standing will be declared the victor.

Katniss Everdeen is a teenage girl living in District 12, the poorest and most depressing of all Panem's district. Her father was a miner, as is the majority of the people in the district, and he was killed in a mine explosion a few years ago. Katniss was left to care for her family, raising her younger sister Primrose in the place of their mother, who pretty much became non-functional due to depression after her husband's death. Katniss made a living out of hunting in the forest outside her district, which proved to be an asset to her as she became excellent in suvival, hunting and archery skills.

In the year of the 74th Hunger Games, Primrose was selected as the female tribute for District 12. Since Katniss knew that Primrose would not survive ten minutes in their own forest, never mind the bloodthirsty and competitive nature of the game, she volunteered to take Primrose's place. It was here that she was reunited with Peeta Mellark, the male tribute for District 12 and her schoolmate. Peeta and Katniss had a brief and unspoken history together- he once saved her from starvation. Together they fought for their life and survival, eventually defying the game's #1 rule- only one person may be declared the winner- by attempting suicide via poisonous berries. In the end, the Capitol was forced to declare both of them winners.

Katniss & Peeta

I love this movie for many different reasons. For one thing, anything derived from the Romans and Greeks were obviously very appealing. They are, after all, among the pioneers of storytelling. Also, it is like watching  a cinematography version of Survivor. I like the fact that they showcase different skills of survival among the tributes. One girl tribute from district 5 managed to remain alive until the final five by being stealth and quiet throughout the whole competition. I think she must have been a thief or a pickpocket where she lives. There were also the teaming up of the Districts 1 and 2 tributes- known as Careers- whose strategy was to band together as the supposedly strongest team and picking off their opponents one by one hard and fast. But in the end, none of them showed any real team spirit, and died brutal deaths. There was also the heartbreaking death of Rue, the 12-year-old girl tribute from district 11, which eventually triggered a mini-rebellion in her district's paper factories.

My favourite of all these characters had to be Peeta, whose characteristics is everything Katniss is not. Where Katniss is distant and isolated, Peeta has a likable personality and is easygoing among people. Katniss is good with weapons and tracking, Peeta is strong and can camouflage himself like no other. His survival strategy is also different from that of Katniss. In short, they make an extraordinary team. My only regret, was that Peeta failed to showcase more daring deeds during the game, at least in the movie. Katniss appeared more of the hero while Peeta only served as the faithful and lovestruck sidekick. Perhaps this will change, in future movies, as I believe that Peeta has his own heroic moments in the books.

The storyline of this movie is also favourable. While I have yet to read the books, I could say that the transition from one scene to another is fairly smooth and understandable. Perhaps the flashbacks and hallucinations experienced by Katniss at one point of the movie can be slightly confusing, but the rest of the story was all right. The explanations are compact and served their purposes, without dragging the movie too much. The actions were at the right places, so are the drama.

In all, it was an enjoyable experience and I loved every minute of it. I can't wait for the sequel: Chasing Fire.

Movie Rant- The Vow: Promises and Memories

I will be honest here: I'm not a chick-flick kind of person.

Give me action movies, fantasy, comedy, even drama, and I will watch it to the very end despite whatever my opinion might be about the film. I'll even stomach through one of those B-grade thriller movies where people seemed to die endlessly for one and a half hour and the only memorable script I can find is the ear-shattering scream of that blonde hot bimbo about to be hacked to death. (Yeah, I am that graphic)

But ask me to sit through romantic films, where boy-meets-girl, conflict, boy-and-girl-makes-up, and I will look for the nearest exit. There is something rather uncomfortable and awkward for me to watch a male and a female making out in front of me, even it is on the screen. Plus, I find most love stories to be so horribly cliche. I mean, honestly, no guy in the world would choose a klutzy anti-social overweight girl with ink on her forehead over a gorgeous model, at least not until said klutz has a makeover.

Which was why I surprised even myself by wanting to watch The Vow even before its release date. In fact, I had wanted to watch The Vow before I even caught the whole hype surrounding The Hunger Games. The latter was slated to be the next box-office, is adapted from a fantasy-fiction novel and is more of my kind of genre compared to The Vow. So why this movie?

To be fair, The Vow is also an adaptation of a book, moreover it was based on a true story of Kim and Krickitt Carpenter. Mrs. Carpenter suffered a brain trauma caused by an automobile accident which made her forget her relationship with her husband. However, the couple worked together to overcome this tragedy and remained married to this day, even having two children together. I feel that based on this story alone, The Vow is worth spending time and money at the cinema, because it is different from most romantic movies. It's not about a man and a woman who met for the first time and fell in love and fought to be together. It is about what happens after the happily ever after.

In the movie, The Vow tells the story of Leo and Paige Collins, a young married couple who were madly in love with each other. One night, on the way home from the cinema, they got into a car accident, where Paige  suffered a brain trauma causing her to forget all her recent memories, up to why she had left her upper-class family and a shot at law school to live in a run-down house and become a freelance sculptor. Leo has to come to terms that his wife does not remember him at all, never mind their life together. To make things worse, Paige's previously estranged parents, whom Leo had never met, appeared to claim her back.

While many critics has described this film as 'soulless', I find it painful to watch Leo's anguish and frustration as he struggled to win his wife's heart again, and at the same time having to juggle a diminishing musical career as well as having to fight his in-laws in order to make himself heard. Paige, understandably, was uncertain of her surroundings, and tried to wrap it around her head that she was married to a man she viewed as a complete stranger, as well as trying to reciprocate the feelings of someone who so obviously love her unconditionally.

Perhaps the most heartbreaking was during a scene from Paige and Leo's impromptu secret wedding in an art gallery, where they recited their own written vows off a piece of menu from their favourite cafe. Leo promise Paige that "...no matter what challenges might carry us apart, we will always find a way to each other." It was the very line that highlighted the theme of Leo's character- his fight to honour his vows to Paige on their wedding day, even if she doesn't remember. In a world where we see people divorcing after 72 hours of marriage (*cough*KimKardashian*cough*), it is bittersweet to watch a man fight for his wife that way. Although in Islamic wedding, there is no recital of "To love, honour and cherish.... for better or for worse... till death to us part", that is basically the grounds for any marriage, no matter what religion: Two people who will stand by each other come what may.

The only flaw that I find in the whole storyline was that despite everything he had done, Leo conceded in the end and divorced Paige in order for her to return to her family. I would have settled if Paige had gone to stay with her family without having Leo sign the divorce papers. But then again, even here, there is a silver lining. Returning to her family allows Paige to reconnect with her past, which was crucial to the events leading up to her first meeting with Leo. In the end, it took a whole walk down memory lane for Paige- and the audience- to understand who she really is, why she left her privileged upbringing for an independent life in the city and what made her make the choices that she did. In the end, it came down to Paige, not Leo, to discover her true self.

In short, there are two lessons that can be learned from watching The Vow: We must honour the promise we make to someone, the best way we can. And sometimes, we need to let someone find their own way, instead of pointing the path to them.