Thursday, May 19, 2011

Lovely Bones

I watched the movie 'Lovely Bones' on HBO a few nights ago  - and was deeply touched. Well, okay okay - more than touched - I was actually weeping throughout the movie!


The movie - directed by Peter Jackson - tells the story of a free spirited teenager who was unfortunate to be a victim of a ruthless serial killer. Susie Salmon, that's her name. She aspired to be a photographer, never without a small camera by her side and was starting to develop a crush. On that fateful date, she met her crush who turned out to be as smitten to her as she was to him. They were about to kiss, when interrupted by the HM. They instead made a date to see each other over the weekend in their favorite mall. 



On her way back from school, she was lured to an underground den, by her neighbor who happens to be a serial killer. She was brutally murdered. She did not realized that she was dead until she found her surrounding to be different - she was in fact neither here nor there. From there she watched her loved ones - unable to let go.

It was heart wrenching. Seeing the family struggled to cope with the lost of their loved ones. And seeing somebody so young to be a victim of something like a serial killer is really devastating.

And I was reminded of the news a few weeks ago. Of a mother, who was recently divorced and lost all her 3 girls due to an accident near a water fall. The girls were with their father and his new lady friend. Imagine how the mother must have felt -  to be told that her 3 girls vanished just like that. They found the body of her 2 girls within 24 hours.....and she joined the rescue team looking for the body of her youngest girl - as she was adamant to find her, to give her a proper burial - so that she can visit her grave.....Oh, my heart goes to her. There is a saying that a parent should never bury their child - imagine, having to bury all your 3 kids in one time.......


I pray that Allah gives her strength and his blessing to go through this.....





Saturday, May 7, 2011

Reality Check

It's already May, and I am exhibiting more and more signs of the diminishing art of blogging - especially since I'm immersed in tweeter world. I mean with tweeter you can mumble immediately on current events or anything that crossed your mind.

Anyway, today's rambling is more towards reality - not the heavy reality of life - but the lighter version that graced the idiot box  day in and out.
My first rendezvous with reality TV started almost 11 years ago, yep - I am referring to the inaugural Survivor: Pulau Tiga. Maybe it's because of the fact that it was filmed on our shores (Pulau Tiga is in Sabah) or because Richard Hatch was such a slime (an eventual winner)  but it managed to stir my curiosity  - and was I hooked! I followed through - whichever season aired on public TV. 

 
Then there's Amazing Race (and it's Asia version  which is equally entertaining). And then Project Runaway which sees me enjoying the creative juices of those designers coming out with amazing pieces in 12 hours  out of anything (albeit garbage liners).



Then came paid TV which meant more reality offering, including from channels such as MTV. Remember Pimp My Ride? And then came High Definition - which meant more channel to spoil your reality appetite. But I have to admit, I do feel that the reality offering is kinda getting out of control. They have almost every reality show for anything that you can think of.

Some are good - American Idol, Deadliest Catch, Biggest Loser - to name a few, but some really left a sour note. I mean Kim is made famous just for being in the Kardashians - which is just a show about over hyped (and also over 'made') spoilt family. And don't get me started with Snooki and The Situation. And what about those Housewives of Beverly Hills, New Jersey or what not.


HD consist of a few more channel with reality shows - my favorite being 'Top Chef''. The series offers mere mortal like us to feast our eyes on the food couture. Being professional chef (well some of them does not have a formal cordon blue certs) meant they are simply amazing. Cooking up a storm in the 30 mins of the Quickfire challenge. Currently that latest season that has just wrapped up - Season 6 - see 2 brothers making it to the top 3, and eventually crowned winner and 1st runner up. And they are eye-candy themselves...


                                   The Finalist of Top Chef Season 6

Reality Bites!