30 September, 2004
Went to watch Les Choristes today, with Larissa, Deborah, Pathatai and Cheryl. It was really good. I loved the singing very much, espeically Jean-Baptiste’s voice. God, it’s really angelic. When I heard it, I wanted to cry because it sounded so pure. Watching the movie also made me remember how good it feels to sing in a choir, to let your voice blend into the melody, to melt into its surroundings and lift people’s hearts. Jean-Baptiste makes me jealous of his voice. I bet he can sing higher than me. >.<
One thing odd was that the audience seemed to find the movie... funny, at some points. Try as I might, I couldn’t laugh at all. There were several amusing moments, but none of them made me do a belly-laugh or anything.
There was one particular scene when (SPOILER ALERT) Mathieu confronted Corbin about the stolen money. He asked the boy what he was planning to do with the money, and the boy replied that he wanted to buy a hot air balloon.
And the audience laughed.
I don’t understand. This dream to buy a hot air balloon is a fantastical one, yes, I agree. But it represents this boy’s innocent belief in his dreams, and perhaps miralces. It is clear that Corbin wants to leave Fond de l'Etang, a place which is repressive and desolate. Wanting to buy a hot air balloon signifies the pressing desire which the boys have to escape beyond its white rusty gates.
One thing I dislike about the movie is how optimistic it is. Okay, this is a personal preference. I would have enjoyed it more if the ending were more tragic, but perhaps the movie wouldn’t have worked well that way, I don’t know. As I said, it’s a personal preference.
The movie itself isn’t without flaws. There are some questionable bits, like what happened to that violent boy who tried to strangle Mr Rachin. I forget his name. And the bit about Mr Rachin being “changed” by the music is a bit unbelievable. He starts throwing paper airplanes inside his office, and even joins in a game of football with the boys. But after that, he seems as hated as ever, and is as strict with the boys as he was before his “change”. That puzzles me. And the relationship between Morhange and his mother isn’t properly established, or at least, not elaborated enough for my liking. I also think that the bit about Mathieu liking Morhange’s mother could be left out without any much disruption to the plot.
I like the character of Mathieu though, and the setting of the whole movie. It’s so quaint and old-ish, making it like a jaunt down memory lane - which the movie is, actually. The setting also invokes a lot of emotion, especially how many of the boys are there because they have been orphaned in the war, like little Pepinot, whom I’m sure many viewers are partial to. He’s awfully cute, especially in the last scene with Mathieu when he begs to be taken along. You just want to pinch his cheeks and take him home. ^.^; Okay, I’m digressing. I love the colour of the whole movie, and the sets especially. The dilapidated condition of the school just tugs on your heartstrings, and makes you feel even more sorry for the boys. The music that they are exposed to - heck, the arrival of Mathieu itself - is a godsend for them.
Yeah, so that ends my lengthy “review” of the movie. It’s not so much a review as it is just a broken summation of my opinion of it. It’s really good and everyone should watch it, just so that you can hear Jean-Baptiste’s voice and melt in it too.
One thing odd was that the audience seemed to find the movie... funny, at some points. Try as I might, I couldn’t laugh at all. There were several amusing moments, but none of them made me do a belly-laugh or anything.
There was one particular scene when (SPOILER ALERT) Mathieu confronted Corbin about the stolen money. He asked the boy what he was planning to do with the money, and the boy replied that he wanted to buy a hot air balloon.
And the audience laughed.
I don’t understand. This dream to buy a hot air balloon is a fantastical one, yes, I agree. But it represents this boy’s innocent belief in his dreams, and perhaps miralces. It is clear that Corbin wants to leave Fond de l'Etang, a place which is repressive and desolate. Wanting to buy a hot air balloon signifies the pressing desire which the boys have to escape beyond its white rusty gates.
One thing I dislike about the movie is how optimistic it is. Okay, this is a personal preference. I would have enjoyed it more if the ending were more tragic, but perhaps the movie wouldn’t have worked well that way, I don’t know. As I said, it’s a personal preference.
The movie itself isn’t without flaws. There are some questionable bits, like what happened to that violent boy who tried to strangle Mr Rachin. I forget his name. And the bit about Mr Rachin being “changed” by the music is a bit unbelievable. He starts throwing paper airplanes inside his office, and even joins in a game of football with the boys. But after that, he seems as hated as ever, and is as strict with the boys as he was before his “change”. That puzzles me. And the relationship between Morhange and his mother isn’t properly established, or at least, not elaborated enough for my liking. I also think that the bit about Mathieu liking Morhange’s mother could be left out without any much disruption to the plot.
I like the character of Mathieu though, and the setting of the whole movie. It’s so quaint and old-ish, making it like a jaunt down memory lane - which the movie is, actually. The setting also invokes a lot of emotion, especially how many of the boys are there because they have been orphaned in the war, like little Pepinot, whom I’m sure many viewers are partial to. He’s awfully cute, especially in the last scene with Mathieu when he begs to be taken along. You just want to pinch his cheeks and take him home. ^.^; Okay, I’m digressing. I love the colour of the whole movie, and the sets especially. The dilapidated condition of the school just tugs on your heartstrings, and makes you feel even more sorry for the boys. The music that they are exposed to - heck, the arrival of Mathieu itself - is a godsend for them.
Yeah, so that ends my lengthy “review” of the movie. It’s not so much a review as it is just a broken summation of my opinion of it. It’s really good and everyone should watch it, just so that you can hear Jean-Baptiste’s voice and melt in it too.
21:33 / 0 comment(s) 
28 September, 2004
I shall post to keep you guys happy. See? I’m such a nice person. Prelims have ended today... had our Chem practical yesterday, which I found that I did quite okay in, except for the last part. Ugh. How can I be so stupid as not to know what WAX IS MADE OF? *rolls eyes*
Was fretting over Chinese last night because I totally haven’t touched it for eons. Meh. But it turned out E Maths PI was more taxing on my nerves. Even Mr Wong was like “Forgot what cos120� was is it?” right after the test. I wanted to writhe and die. But well, I did remember it, okay. It’s negative half. But I got that question wrong anyway because in my haste I screwed up the cosine rule. I’m such a klutz.
Yeah well, Kathy finally blogged. Har har. So go check her out if you have the time. ^.^
Oh yes. I’ve recently been obsessed with fictionpress.net. I read too much. >.< And I haven’t finished Chindi yet. Did I say? I borrowed Chindi by Jack McDevitt. I kinda like it, although it isn’t my all-time favourite.
AND DID I MENTION I LOVE IAIN M. BANKS? I love his books. Got hooked when I read The Player of Games. It’s so freaking addictive. Pick it up, can’t put it down. Finished the last few hundred pages of Consider Phlebas in the same way too. Have Look to Windward upstairs right now. Haven’t started on it yet though. Am going to finish Chindi first. Yup.
Okay, that’s all there is to update. Yeah.
Was fretting over Chinese last night because I totally haven’t touched it for eons. Meh. But it turned out E Maths PI was more taxing on my nerves. Even Mr Wong was like “Forgot what cos120� was is it?” right after the test. I wanted to writhe and die. But well, I did remember it, okay. It’s negative half. But I got that question wrong anyway because in my haste I screwed up the cosine rule. I’m such a klutz.
Yeah well, Kathy finally blogged. Har har. So go check her out if you have the time. ^.^
Oh yes. I’ve recently been obsessed with fictionpress.net. I read too much. >.< And I haven’t finished Chindi yet. Did I say? I borrowed Chindi by Jack McDevitt. I kinda like it, although it isn’t my all-time favourite.
AND DID I MENTION I LOVE IAIN M. BANKS? I love his books. Got hooked when I read The Player of Games. It’s so freaking addictive. Pick it up, can’t put it down. Finished the last few hundred pages of Consider Phlebas in the same way too. Have Look to Windward upstairs right now. Haven’t started on it yet though. Am going to finish Chindi first. Yup.
Okay, that’s all there is to update. Yeah.
21:05 / 0 comment(s)
24 September, 2004
I’ve been online all day. I am such a loser.
I totally screwed Social Studies. Goodbye! I better pray I get an A1 for Literature or something.
Had our Physics prelim today! YAY! I love Physics. Yes, I am aware of how unbearably nerdy I sound. Whatever. Paper I was difficult. There were about 7 questions I’m not sure of, and I know I’ve already lost a more due to carelessness. Argh. What a waste. Paper II was quite easy, and was a joy to do. I loved the explanation question. I love blabbering. Haha.
Oh well, just to keep you guys on an update, I’ve FINALLY redone Kathy’s blog! I seem to have a fetish for dead trees. Haha. Visit it here: http://meow.greyprism.org. I’m proud of it because I got it to work in Netscape/Mozilla whatever. Apparently the browsers have a problem with my div positioning. I made it a table layout instead, with no apparent visible change! I am 7H3 L337 M4573R and I R0X0R5.
I totally screwed Social Studies. Goodbye! I better pray I get an A1 for Literature or something.
Had our Physics prelim today! YAY! I love Physics. Yes, I am aware of how unbearably nerdy I sound. Whatever. Paper I was difficult. There were about 7 questions I’m not sure of, and I know I’ve already lost a more due to carelessness. Argh. What a waste. Paper II was quite easy, and was a joy to do. I loved the explanation question. I love blabbering. Haha.
Oh well, just to keep you guys on an update, I’ve FINALLY redone Kathy’s blog! I seem to have a fetish for dead trees. Haha. Visit it here: http://meow.greyprism.org. I’m proud of it because I got it to work in Netscape/Mozilla whatever. Apparently the browsers have a problem with my div positioning. I made it a table layout instead, with no apparent visible change! I am 7H3 L337 M4573R and I R0X0R5.
23:36 / 0 comment(s)
20 September, 2004
Literature was all right, surprisingly. I loved doing the question on I’m the King of the Castle. Hell, I love the damn book. Whenever I read it, I think my heart bleeds itself to death. I just want to run in and kidnap Kingshaw, and hug him silly. The unseen poetry was all right too. I don’t think I was being very in-depth though. It was mostly mechanical stuff. Yeah. I hate 12th Night. Sorry folks. I like the Bard and all, but 12th Night just doesn’t rub me the right way. I think I totally screwed my essay on 12th Night.
15:28 / 0 comment(s)
19 September, 2004
Heh. Just got a real ego-boosting review on FictionPress. Ahh, no-one knows how GOOD that was to read. At first I thought the person had got my story mistaken for someone else’s. Hehe. I shall go on with this day with my heart all a-flutter...
21:11 / 0 comment(s)
Gahhhh. I’m SUPER annoyed at Netscape. It keeps on illegal operating on me. I usually use IE, but today for some reason, it screwed itself over too. Ha-bloody-ha. Oh well. Must be something telling me that I shouldn’t be on the computer. Ahem. *cough* My computer is just spazzy like that.
17:57 / 0 comment(s)
18 September, 2004
I am disappointed with myself. But anyway.
Met Yingwan at Jurong Point. I was a little late, but nevermind. Went to some gaudy gift shop at first and looked around. Didn’t see anything to my liking, although Yingwan had an obsession with ducks.
Oh did I mention? Saw someone holding Abhorsen on the way! Haha. Good choice, that one. Anyway.
So we went to Cards n' Such, a shop I always go to, and we found a bear that was so soft and cuddly. Hehe. ^^ It cost $20 and 60c for the wrapping paper. Their wrapping is so horrible.
After that went to eat at that cafeteria place on the second floor. Had alfredo pasta and BBQ chicken pizza. Not bad. Just that Yingwan didn’t eat much as usual. Bah. -.-;
Went to the library! Borrowed Look to Windward and some book titled Chindi or some funny thing like that. It’s science fiction, of course. Ahah. Wanted to borrow The Crow Road, but they didn’t have it either. Mehhh. How evil. I shall reserve it. I don’t care if it costs me a bomb (I know it won’t), but I am. And it’s cheaper than buying it anyway.
Went home after that. The bear in it’s wrapping paper and goddamned plastic bag made horrible crinkly noises.
Guess what. The house across the road is undergoing noisy renovations. Argh! And just when my neighbours started to quiet down too.
Okay. I am guilty. Reached home, was going to bathe and waited for my heater. But fell asleep instead. Argh. Set my alarm for 3, then Steffi called my handphone and I thought it was my alarm and I kept on cancelling it. Haha. She finall got through somehow, and I answered her question. Yeah. I’m such a nice person. Then I set the alarm for 3.30 to compensate myself, but I didn’t wake up when the alarm went off, and continued sleeping until 6.20. Like, what the fuck? I’m such a loser. Can’t even stay awake to bathe.
And I have Literature on Monday. Oh god. The fact is hovering around my mind. Yarghhh. I know I should make an effort to study it, but I don’t know where to start. Okay. I’m going to read the notes. Then after that, flip through the books or something. Oh and I right now I’m going to look through our Terror powerpoint presentation to recap things. And then I’m going to study social studies, then go to sleep.
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
Met Yingwan at Jurong Point. I was a little late, but nevermind. Went to some gaudy gift shop at first and looked around. Didn’t see anything to my liking, although Yingwan had an obsession with ducks.
Oh did I mention? Saw someone holding Abhorsen on the way! Haha. Good choice, that one. Anyway.
So we went to Cards n' Such, a shop I always go to, and we found a bear that was so soft and cuddly. Hehe. ^^ It cost $20 and 60c for the wrapping paper. Their wrapping is so horrible.
After that went to eat at that cafeteria place on the second floor. Had alfredo pasta and BBQ chicken pizza. Not bad. Just that Yingwan didn’t eat much as usual. Bah. -.-;
Went to the library! Borrowed Look to Windward and some book titled Chindi or some funny thing like that. It’s science fiction, of course. Ahah. Wanted to borrow The Crow Road, but they didn’t have it either. Mehhh. How evil. I shall reserve it. I don’t care if it costs me a bomb (I know it won’t), but I am. And it’s cheaper than buying it anyway.
Went home after that. The bear in it’s wrapping paper and goddamned plastic bag made horrible crinkly noises.
Guess what. The house across the road is undergoing noisy renovations. Argh! And just when my neighbours started to quiet down too.
Okay. I am guilty. Reached home, was going to bathe and waited for my heater. But fell asleep instead. Argh. Set my alarm for 3, then Steffi called my handphone and I thought it was my alarm and I kept on cancelling it. Haha. She finall got through somehow, and I answered her question. Yeah. I’m such a nice person. Then I set the alarm for 3.30 to compensate myself, but I didn’t wake up when the alarm went off, and continued sleeping until 6.20. Like, what the fuck? I’m such a loser. Can’t even stay awake to bathe.
And I have Literature on Monday. Oh god. The fact is hovering around my mind. Yarghhh. I know I should make an effort to study it, but I don’t know where to start. Okay. I’m going to read the notes. Then after that, flip through the books or something. Oh and I right now I’m going to look through our Terror powerpoint presentation to recap things. And then I’m going to study social studies, then go to sleep.
Yeah, that’s what I’ll do.
23:33 / 0 comment(s)
17 September, 2004
One week of prelims has passed! Have five more days of prelims to go. Haaah. Well, if there’s any good news. today’s A Maths PII was really easy. Haha. Still have E Maths, Literature, Chinese PII, Chem practical and Physics.
Oh, and got a 26/30 for my descriptive essay! I know I said I’ll upload it, but I lied and I didn’t.
Oh, and got a 26/30 for my descriptive essay! I know I said I’ll upload it, but I lied and I didn’t.
15:15 / 0 comment(s)
11 September, 2004
Must blog something. I am quite pissed at MOH (my host/server/whatever). I tried installing movabletype and I still CAN’T get it to recognise the CGI scripts? Argh. And they said the problem was fixed. Well yeah. On their OLD support forum *grumblegrumble* they had the details on supposedly how to make it work. But back then I didn’t think of using movabletype. Actually, I was using greymatter, but that’s not the point. Anyway, the main point is, I went back to the stupid support forums the other day and found out that they remodeled the whole shit and deleted every single post. Yes, I know, I should post on the help forums and complain, but I want to see if they actually USE it first. Haha. And the worst thing is? Movabletype is on the list of CMS that work. Bleurgh.
Oh joy to the world. Prelims start the day after. What am I doing online?! Argh. I have no self control. I’ve ALSO been reading too much. Overtly. Excessively. I’ve read more than 13 books in the past 2 or 3 months. “More than” because that was just counting the loan receipts from the library that I didn’t junk.
After the O levels, I am gong to remodel this site. Maybe upgrade b2 to wordpress or something. I wish greymatter worked though. *dreams on*
Now am going back to poring over geography. My brain is such a piece of crap. I need some cell-restructuring nanomachines or something in my brain so I can make a new one.
Oh joy to the world. Prelims start the day after. What am I doing online?! Argh. I have no self control. I’ve ALSO been reading too much. Overtly. Excessively. I’ve read more than 13 books in the past 2 or 3 months. “More than” because that was just counting the loan receipts from the library that I didn’t junk.
After the O levels, I am gong to remodel this site. Maybe upgrade b2 to wordpress or something. I wish greymatter worked though. *dreams on*
Now am going back to poring over geography. My brain is such a piece of crap. I need some cell-restructuring nanomachines or something in my brain so I can make a new one.
13:26 / 0 comment(s)