From A Movie Point-of-View

How many of you watched the golden Disney classic, Mary Poppins? I won't be surprised if most of you did and the others haven't.

I grew up watching that live-action 50s musical film starring Julie Andrews and Dick van Dyke, and just recently I watched it again. Now that I realize it, this movie is probably one of a few that still leaves fond memories in my mind - ones I remember even till now.

Basically, the plot is simple: it's 1910 in London, and the Banks family is looking to hire a nanny to care for their two children, Jane and Michael. When Mary Poppins, practically perfect in every way, steps into their lives, along with a little help from her charming old friend Bert, things begin to take a twist for the good of not just the kids, but even the entire Banks household themselves.

How it still manages to retain its charm even up to today is pretty obvious: it's one of those movies that had Walt Disney's touch to it. In fact, the movie did so well that it won five out of the thirteen Academy Award nominations it had received, including Best Actress for Julie Andrews (TRIVIA: she was originally intending to act in My Fair Lady, which was the Disney film's biggest contender in the awards, but the role was given to screen siren Audrey Hepburn) and Best Song for the very lively Chim Chim Che-Ree.

But I'm not here to discuss the entire length of the movie. What I am focusing on is the movie's central theme: the importance of family.

Mr Banks is an officer working for the Dawes, Jones, Mousely, Grubbs Fidelity Fiduciary Bank (yes, I know, it's quite a mouthful) and like most working adults, works from 9am to 5pm. (Presumably, since he's always home at 6pm) Also, like most working adults, he has little time to actually care for the children. Mrs Banks, however, doesn't have the time to do so either, as she's actively involved with the infamous suffragette movement that was fighting for women's rights in that time period. Hence, the family's need for a nanny. It's been mentioned that they've already gone through five nannies, and all of them have given up trying to control the kids.

But Jane and Michael are just like ordinary kids: they want to have fun, and as much fun as they can. Most parents would do whatever they can to make time for the children, but unfortunately for these two, Mr Banks is a man of discipline. Not to the extent of caning the children, but he's never given them any time to go out and play. The few songs he sings give him the impression of a man who takes things seriously - including how important it is to educate the children on the world.

Even Mrs Banks is powerless to persuade him. He is the master of the house, and that cannot be disputed. (Ironic, isn't it, as she's part of the suffragette movement but can't even speak her mind to her own husband)

Mary Poppins is quite the contrary. Hence, Mr Banks' disagreement with her methods. But if it wasn't for Poppins' steadfastness, she wouldn't have stayed with the children for long. And if it wasn't for her, the Banks family would never have come together.

The Banks family's situation mirrors family life in the modern world. With parents stuck in a pursuit for material wealth, they abandon their children without any care. Day in and day out, all modern parents think about is putting food on the table, giving the best that education can offer, and run in and out of their home to make ends meet.  What about the kids, neglected at home, without any love from their parents? It's worse if their parents are stern disciplinarians or are abusive to their children, or if the children themselves fall prey to the dark side of life.

Which has happened all too frequently.

Jane and Michael have to thank Mary Poppins for keeping them safe. But for most of us, we don't have a nanny like her to look after us. Some parents rely on our grandparents (I was cared for by my grandmother whenever mum and dad were away, but thankfully I live in a tight family) to look after us. Others rely on maids. And when all else fails, parents go to their relatives. But even so, the news continues to publish sad stories of domestic violence, child abuse and other related cases almost every day. Who can you really trust?

It's a grim world we live in.

While Mr Banks finally managed to turn things around (thanks to both Mary and Bert) and start enjoying life with his family - he took them out to fly a kite - real parents can't afford such a luxury. Time is not on their side, not like it used to be. They've become slaves to their jobs, and the young ones are always the ones who suffer, whether they know it or not. They don't know what to do without their parents to guide them. And this is why so many have already fallen victim to the vices of life.

It's high time these parents be enlightened. Else, how many other children are going to suffer?

Post-Convention Thoughts

Change brings opportunity. ~ Nido Qubein

The 21st National La Sallian Leaders' Convention came and went just like that. Time really flies, doesn't it?

When we first came together on the 16th of December, none of us knew what was in store for us. Well, maybe except myself. Even though this would mark the first time I came for the Convention, I had quite a bit of knowledge on what to expect thanks to early exposure to the La Sallian spirit and values and through my time from organizing this year's Northern Regionals. Of course, the most important thing that would come to us would be change. But where are we to change? Which explains why I came for the Convention: how are we going to change and make a difference? I wanted to know. Hopefully, I would know just where to start.

The Heritage play struck me the most throughout the entire Convention. I'd seen one and helped direct another, but none could compare to how the performance stayed very faithfully to the real La Sallian story. It was from that onwards that I knew I was bound to be awakened to something new in the next few days, something that I never really noticed or learned up till now. That was an opportunity I knew I had to seize.

And I was right. All our sessions, games and reflections helped each and every one of us realize how our world is suffering at the hands of the ignorant, the sinful and such others. They challenged our thinking, our beliefs, our principles. They made us see how real these problems are. They made us realize that change is a must to make things better. They made us realize we are not alone in this noble mission.

Change means that what was before wasn't perfect. People want things to be better. ~ Esther Dyson

In between, there were definitely moments of fun and laughter. Lame jokes, IQ tests and sharing sessions allowed us to build new bonds of friendship between fellow La Sallians. And I must admit that the sessions I led after the end of the day were kinda spontaneous. I only believed that each and every one of us has something to share. So why not allow that voice to come out to the fore?

And as I have said many times, my enthusiasm was at its peak. Never have I actually unleashed so much energy in any other camp I've been to. What made me do it? I don't even know why. But I'm glad that I did it. I'm glad I got the ball rolling for everyone.

And as the days rolled by, I stopped once in a while to check my affirmation pouch. Honestly, you guys and girls honor me with your affirmations, and I was pleasantly surprised to see how many I have at the end of the day. I never intended to be affirmed for my deeds. I only wanted everybody to just feel proud of what they learned and to go out into the world with their eyes open.

And I never thought I'd say this: 'Open your eyes, ears, heart and mind, and you can make that change.' I told Wei Kit that, and in hindsight, I didn't really understand how I said that to him. But now that I look back, I must say it was my experiences that helped me form those words.

I guess change came in the most surprising of ways to me.

Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself. ~ Leo Tolstoy

Most of us really think we can one day change the world. I hope that Convention made you realize that only when you start from within can you really help the world.

My parents were instrumental in making sure me and my elder brother learned good moral values that have shaped the way we see the world. We used to live a comfortable life, and back then, I wasn't the person I am now. Time has its ways of changing a person. The events that I had to go through brought me new insights to what Life is really all about. And I'm thankful I had to go through all those to reach where I am now.

Now I live a simple life, and I do confess it's not as easy as it once was. But me and my family get by. Besides, I'm thankful I come from a caring family. Though things haven't really been looking up and may just become better than before.

Another thing I'll point out is that, honestly, I'm quite socially inept, especially with women. Ironic? There are just times when I say or do things that are (a) said at the wrong time; (b) lame; (c) misinterpreted; and a few other reasons. And I'm saying this based on personal experience. I've lost - and almost lost - friends because of that, and even now I regret my actions. So if I did say or do something without realizing its damaging effect, I offer my sincerest apologies. I'm pretty much at war with myself, but rest assured that I'm not intending on giving up.

It's all about accepting change. And I'm glad I accepted it.

Before we acquire great power we must acquire wisdom to use it well.
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson

When the last day came, it was indeed a very sad occasion. But despite that, I'm very happy. I'm overjoyed, really! Finally, we've come to our journey's end - but it's only the end of the Convention. Once you return home and return to school, then you're back to reality. That marks the beginning of a new journey: one that may lead us across numerous obstacles. But as long as we hold on to our beliefs and make that leap of faith, surely nothing, not even a force of nature, can stop us.

Of course, I cannot deny there will be times when all seems hopeless. I assure you, change is never easy. But if you are willing to make sacrifices, then by all means do it. If you have doubts, confide in your friends. We have the Facebook group not just to keep everyone connected. Use it to share your doubts, your sorrows, your victories, your lessons learned. It's a platform to remind us that what we do is for the greater good of all. Altruistic love is what we practise.

I have this quote I'd like to share, found on the tomb of an Anglican bishop of the 11th Century:

When I was young and free my imagination had no limits, I dreamed of changing the world. As I grew older and wiser, I discovered the world would not change, so I shortened my sights somewhat and decided to change only my country. But it, too, seemed immovable. As I grew in my twilight years, in one last desperate attempt, I settled for changing only my family, those closest to me, but alas, they would have none of it. And now as I lay on my deathbed, I suddenly realized: If I had only changed myself first, then by example I would have changed my family. From their inspiration and encouragement, I would then have been able to better my country and, who knows, I may have even changed my world.

Small steps. Small steps are capable of making that difference. Now that we know ourselves, it's high time we took all that we've learned to walk the talk and hopefully bring about the change we want to see. If we agree that another world is possible, then I can tell you that it starts from us. Don't think of today as another one in paradise. Paradise isn't here yet. We need to work for it.

Are you with me and the La Sallian dream? Then let's make that step forward together as a family. And let us not forget there are thousands of others out there who share in our dream. Let's unite them as well and make the difference.

Understanding someone properly involves learning from him, and learning from someone properly involves changing oneself.
~ Hans Kung

Before I end, I'd like to affirm each and every one of you who participated in the Convetion whether as a Delegate, an accompanying teacher, an OT or even as a facilitator. I may not have talked to you much, nor would I have been able to write to each of you, but let me make it clear that I acknowledge you for who you are. No matter what our background may be, we are all the same. I am, you are, we are La Sallians. Never forget that!

And lastly, I will set up a blog for ourselves to be used as a platform for sharing other insights, personal experiences, projects and such that we could not shared throughout the Convention. Your contributions to this new blog - which I will name Journeying With The Dream - will be very important to helping everybody remember our mission and our responsibilities, as well as learn new lessons that will be key in making their dreams come true. Please feel free to email me with your stories and I will do my very best to publish them on this blog. If you do not know my email, drop by the blog once its complete. You'll definitely find it listed there.

Also, for those who have regular Internet access (I don't have any at home) and are willing to lend a hand, please let me know first hand. I need other administrators who can receive and publish stories on the blog whenever I'm not online. This blog might just be that first step in starting a chain reaction for the better.

Signum Fidei, brothers and sisters! And until the next time we meet, good luck and God bless.

...do all the good you can
to all the people you can
in all the ways you can
as long as ever you can
~ D.L. Moody

Sigh

Questions of science
Science and progress
Do not speak as loud as my heart

All my heart yearns for is to be heard. Is that too much to ask?

But is it my fault for not immersing myself into society? My fault that I'm not letting myself join their conversations? My fault for feeling lost in their chatter? My fault for becoming invisible to every person I know, even when I'm standing right there?

You've answered many of my questions. You've filled in the blanks that I could not fill all this while. But even then, why do I still feel empty inside? What am I doing wrong? Am I trying too hard to fit in? When I try to be myself, somehow I just blend right into the scenery. (Quite an irony, being the tallest person around here) Am I the only one who's noticed? Or is it because I keep telling myself I don't belong?

I always feel out of place - not just in school, but everywhere else with anyone I know, even my own mother. Sometimes I can't help but wonder if anyone's really listening to me; or if anyone's paying attention to my existence. Hello, I'm right here! Why do you not seem to notice me?

I envy everyone else. They always have a little group of friends with whom they can talk with about anything. Sure, they've built strong bonds of friendship with the rest. I've done that, so why am I not in a clique of my own? Does it mean such bonds are not a paramount requirement to start a group? Or am I not reading between the lines?

I can only have a short conversation span with anyone, unless by chance we're talking about something both parties know of. Once that's done, that's it. It ends there. Again, am I doing it the wrong way?

So is it just me?

It gets to me, all the loneliness. It's not just exam/study stress that's getting me down. Life itself seems to become a challenge. And now that I look, I realized that I've become more reclusive than I used to be in the past. What went wrong? What did I miss?

I know that I have it hard taking advice. How much more counsel are you going to offer me? I'm trying hard to learn from your guidance. And it's very obvious change doesn't happen in an instant. But when you've been a pig-headed jerk all your life, the effort needed to change is greater. I want to change. But I keep disagreeing with myself. I'm caught in a cycle of hatred that has no end.

The war in my mind and my soul still rages on, as fiercely as it always has been. The peace treaty's gone to hell, and I doubt that I'll find peace anytime soon.

I'm in the war of my life

I'm at the core of my life

I've got no choice but to fight 'til it's done

And fight I will. If I give up now, all the ground I had fought for, every single inch of it, would go to waste. Should I allow myself to waste away?

I'll continually update my status whenever I can. At least I'm being honest with you people. Cheers.

New Thoughts

Jerk, noun: [Slang] a person regarded as disagreeable, despicable, etc.
(Sourced from Webster's New World Dictionary, published 1995)

This is going to be quite a tell-all.

Have you ever had a day when your good intentions are suddenly warped and twisted just because of a few words or because of one action? I'm sure we've all had our days. Come to think of it, I've had a huge share of those problems.

Frank Sinatra sang: "Regrets, I've had a few./But then again, too few to mention." If I said I had no regrets at all - not a single one ever - then I'd be lying. In fact, I've piled them up in one corner for myself to see. The details are fuzzy, but they're there in my head. What a way to remind myself of all my faults.

Even after a massive fallout, I'd always be the first to simmer down and realize how foolish I was. But of course, at that time, the damage is already done. Can I still mend the wounds? I can only hope so.

If you saw the definition of "jerk" at the start of the post, you'd probably wonder if the term has any connection to me. I've been branded a jerk before, and yes, initially I didn't like it. But in time I decided I shouldn't allow myself to be adversely affected by one word. If people were to consider me to be a jerk, I won't say they're right nor wrong. Nobody is really in the right, let alone the wrong. For all I know, they might be considered a jerk to another person.

So who wants to start pointing fingers? Forget it, you're not going anywhere if you did.

From what I have learned from the tell-all weeks ago, instead of letting myself drown under the weight of the grief and misery generated by my mind - and including the negative feedback from the detractors - I'm gonna have to live with the consequences. It's a fact. What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, that's what they say.

If I have to live with them, then it's a challenge I should accept. And while they may continue to trouble me for many more weeks, perhaps even months, no matter how much they tug at my mind, I'll have to ignore them if I don't want history to repeat itself.

As Publilius Syrus said: "How unhappy is he who cannot forgive himself." I will have to forgive myself for the things I shouldn't have done. All that's left is for them to choose to forgive me.

I can tell you right now, if I could turn back time, there would be so many wrongs that I could right. So many chances I missed that I could take up. So much could be changed for the better! And, in fact, I may even find myself where I belong.

If I could turn back time, so much could have been changed:
I'd never have angered my friends while in Primary and even in Lower Secondary;
I'd never have acted so stupidly back in Form Four;
(All because of muddled emotions; one of the worst mistakes I'd ever done. If ever I could meet her again, I wouldn't hesitate to say sorry for it)
I'd never have let history repeat itself the following year;
I'd probably have avoided a verbal fight with my classmate;
(Thankfully we've mended bridges)
I'd never lost another friend because of my forgetfulness;
(Jean, if you're reading this, I'm terribly sorry. I truly am. A year on and I have never gotten over it. I never should have forgotten Leroy's card, and I wish you would forgive me for it)
I'd have stopped my friend from doing something stupid;
I'd have stopped myself for trusting my 'gut instincts';
I'd never have hurt her - and myself - because of my immaturity;
(You know I mean you; even when you forgave me for it, it will forever remain a black stain in the story of my life)
I'd never have fallen so deep into despair and self-loathing;
(One of the lowest points in my entire life; thank you to those who have helped me find new meaning in my life, and for adding value to it)
I'd never have acted like a jerk and said things I will continue to regret.

And that's just a tip of the iceberg.

Losing a friend is one of the most painful things that I've experienced - twice, maybe thrice considering what I said last Friday. It's like getting stabbed in the heart and adding lots of salt to the wound. And then letting it fester and become gangrenous. That's how much it stings. When am I ever going to permanently remind myself not to break more bonds of friendship?

But all that's in the past now. Best to move on and remember the lessons I've learned on the way.

At the same time, I thank Kuan Yin for being so gracious and caring even when I faced these arduous tests. My strong connection with my religion, though not as strong as it should be, has helped me see through these perilous times. And of course, there's the support from my extended family, who have shown me that it's not the end of the world.

And I pray I won't have to go through these tests anymore; for if I repeat them again then let it be known that my sins shall not be absolved until I find a way to right the wrongs, lest my soul be damned and taken to the bowels of Hell to suffer for all eternity. This I vow.

This I vow.

If you're reading this, I hope I've made certain things clear. I thank those who have shown me they still care, and I will do whatever I can to change for the better.

If you're one of the few people mentioned, whether directly or indirectly, I won't force you to make a decision in an instant. I can't promise that I won't make the same mistake again in future. (And, fingers crossed, it won't!) But if you allow me to find the time and effort to rebuild our broken trust, I will not let this chance slip from my hands anymore. As I have vowed above, if I lose that chance, then it would mean the end of me.

I'll be as open and transparent as I can. If you have questions, don't hesitate to ask. I'll answer the best as I can. And I promise you it'll be nothing but the truth.

And please do me the favor of sharing this. It's intended for all of you: even those who stand divided from me, and for those whom I've already lost. Thank you.

Thoughts: Questions to Ponder

Watched Jack Neo's "I Not Stupid Too" yesterday (from the date of this posting) and had some thoughts at some of the tear-jerking moments.

At the moment, I can only think of this:

Child Negligence
It is indeed our responsibility - well, I mean parents - to take care of one's children. To shower them with love, affection, care and to teach them the meaning of becoming a responsible person when they become adults.

But what if we neglect their needs? What if we just ignore them, too busy with our own work to spend some quality time with them? Or when they do something wrong; do we listen to them first or act out according to the judgment of others or yourself? How do we know we are right?

Like in the movie, when the young boy was caned for stealing, he told his parents he was just saving up "to buy an hour of their time". Why is it only at the last minute when we realize our mistakes?

Think about it.

A Fantastic Movie Indeed

Roald Dahl's books give a certain sense of charm to anyone who reads them, children and adults alike. Whether you're following Willy Wonka's outrageous adventures in "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" and its sequel "The Great Glass Elevator", or maybe if you had a memorable flight with "James And The Giant Peach", each and every one of the late author's stories never fails to amuse. He always has with him a chock full of quick-witted conversations, comedic moments, lovely ditties and poems, endearing characters and a fun plot to go with every book he does. I mean, how does he do it?

It's true that his works are pure genius. He's made a name for his work through out the globe, and it cannot be denied that he is the Father of Children's Books. Well, that's only my opinion actually. I've been hooked to his books and whenever I encounter one I must - MUST - read it from start to finish!

Alas, there haven't been many movies adapted from his books in the 21st Century. Sure, we remember Johnny Depp playing Willy Wonka in the "Charlie and the Chocolate Factory" movie some time ago. But it just didn't have that charm that the book possessed. It seemed lacking. And I doubted that anyone would have turned another Roald Dahl book into a movie. I thought no one could achieve it.

Well, I was wrong.

Wes Anderson's Fantastic Mr Fox movie launched last year was indeed quite a hit. Boasting an all-star cast and good ol' fashioned stop-motion capture to produce the movie, it was a rare gem to find in this new digital world. Unfortunately, Malaysians were unable to catch the movie here, as for certain reasons the movie was not screened throughout the nation. I still have to wonder why it didn't come here, when it's based from a book by the one and only Roald Dahl!

Anyway, let's get back to the point.

The Fantastic Mr Fox is titled after the protagonist of the story, Mr. Fox (George Clooney), who is famously known as a master thief - as in, he steals chickens, ducks, geese, squabs (whatever they are), etcetera from local farmers. After a near-death experience, he finally settles down to a quiet life with his wife (Meryl Streep) and son Ash (Jason Schwartzman). However, Mr Fox isn't really settled in with his life and secretly decides to complete one last job without his wife's knowledge. Together with the bumbling but kindly opposum, Kylie (Wally Wolodarsky) he robs three farmers - Boggis (Robin Hurlstone), Bunce (Hugo Guinness) and Bean (Michael Gambon) - living nearby his new home and inadvertantly leads to a chain of events that changes the life of himself and those around him as well.

The storyline may not actually follow the real book, but in the end everything is just done so perfectly it's forgivable. Everything in the movie is indeed memorable - from the way the characters interact with one another, or the jokes, puns and quick chatter traded, or maybe the lovable puppets themselves. Yes, for those who don't know, the entire movie is filmed without any REAL person in it. The actors and actresses are all puppets, brought to life by the deft hands of their puppeteers. Through stop-motion, the puppets' movements are recorded to make it look as though they were really moving. Watching it, I kept forgetting that I'm actually watching a stop-motion movie, and NOT an animated flick.

The sets used are all perfectly designed, made to fit the puppets and all meticulously designed to show the smallest details (imagine the amount of work needed!), while the environment carries a very nice colour to it, using a nice warm blend of colours to fit the world's atmosphere. And yes, the puppets were also pitch-perfect. Every movement they make just seems... perfect, really. The puppeteers really knew what they were doing!

The characters, however, carry the most weight in the movie. Mr Fox is perhaps the most likeable chap amongst the rest, what with his penchant for reckless, daring plans that always involve stealing ducks, chickens, geese and squabs (whatever they are) while he runs away from danger with whatever plan his sharp brain can think of. Mrs Fox is the perfect contrast to Mr Fox's characteristics - reserved, caring and rational. She easily exudes an aura of familial love that reminds us of our own mothers, as well as reminding us of the importance of wives (hey, we guys tend to stray! XD)

The other characters are all also memorable in their own way. Ash, Mr Fox's son, reminds you of your bratty younger days as a tween, while his cousin Kristofferson (Eric Anderson) reminds us of family members that just seem so much better than us! Others like the deadly, psychotic Rat (William Dafoe), Mr Fox's lawyer Badger (Bill Murray) and the son of Badger's associate Beaver (Jeremy Dawson) have their moments in the spotlight - all which usually leave you tickled pink with laughter or shocked and or awed. The farmers especially, led by the cunning Frank Bean (wonderfully voiced by Sir Michael Gambon, notably remembered as Albus Dumbledore), are the most interesting - with their schemes to kill Mr Fox, whatever it takes.

(If you noticed the few big names already, then you'll be surprised to hear Owen Wilson and Adrien Brody are also in the film, though you'll have to guess who they are!)

The message isn't hard to spot actually - it's all about family, it's all about trust, and it's also about survival. The survival that counts when we are in the direst of circumstances when all hope seems to be lost. But if you can still hold onto your faith and strive, then you won't have it difficult.

A must watch for all Roald Dahl fans. 4.75 out of 5. =)

Up: The Best Yet

The movie "Up", Disney-Pixar's latest animated film, deserves to be chosen as the opening film for the illustrious Cannes Film Festival in France. After you watch it, you'll be enthralled by its marvel and its beauty, taken away on the greatest adventure of your life in all movie history.

After all, adventure is out there!

The story tells of Carl Fredrickson, a retired balloon vendor who lives alone after his wife Ellie passes away. Her death has made him a reclusive man who continues to live in the old house, even as construction takes place all around the home. Though the construction company has offered him a large sum of money to move out, he refuses to budge. Unfortunately, a scuffle laves him with an eviction notice, and he has no other choice but to permanently leave the old house.

Or does he? Well, since you've all seen the trailer, you already do know that Carl decides to fulfill his late wife's promise: to head to Paradise Falls. So off he goes in his balloon-lifted house, into the air and far out to new places.

And then there's Russell, the little Wilderness Explorer who stows away on the Fredrickson abode. Though chased away the previous day by Carl (no thanks to the 'snipe'), he somehow was looking for the 'snipe' when the house suddenly went air-born. And the moment they survive a thunderstorm cloud, the adventure begins!

I promise you this is truly THE FILM OF THE YEAR!! It's got everything one needs: adventure, fantasy, love, sadness, truth, and of course lots of comedy (dog lovers will love this film too)to go. You'll enjoy this as much as everyone else who've seen this movie. Disney-Pixar never seem to fail in their brilliant work. Kudos!

I even cried when I saw the beginning! (not exactly went "Boo-hoo!", but you get the drift)

Equilibrium: Why I Say It Rocks

1. The Gun Katas. The Clerics are trained in the art of the Gun Katas so that they may able to predict the enemy's next move and thus effectively neutralize the threat before they can fire. The technique was developed by researching into numerous gun battles so that the Clerics can achieve maximum lethal potential and drastically reduce the chances of suffering wounds. It's all words here, so you should see it yourself to be amazed.

2. Christian Bale. He puts a solid performance as the heroic John Preston, especially when his character's still on Prozium. The changes you see as Preston begins to feel are done very well by the actor. But it's even cooler to see him blast the baddies with the Gun Katas.

3. Sean Bean. Getting to see him die so early in the movie is rather funny. Reminds you of poor ol' Boromir in LOTR.

4. Taye Diggs, a.k.a. Brandt, the calm and calculative new partner to Preston. He's all BAD.

5. The Tetragrammaton. They remind you of oppressive times back in the early 20th Century, days when war and mistrust were heavily abound. Also reminds you of the damned Aryan scum who ruined the lives of billions in WW2. Their police state regime and the need for conformity eerilyreminds you you're on some alien world. How can they NOT feel?

6. Prozium. Scary stuff.

7. The rantings on emotions. They do mean a lot when you listen closely.

Equilibrium

In the first years of the 21st century, a third World War broke out. Those of us who survived knew mankind could never survive a fourth; that our own volatile natures could simply no longer be risked. So we have created a new arm of the law: The Grammaton Cleric, whose sole task it is to seek out and eradicate the true source of man's inhumanity to man - his ability to feel.

Thus, with these opening lines the movie Equilibrium begins. And I tell you, it's quite a great movie.

Set in the future where the world has been ravaged by a Third World War, the city of Libria stands as a proud city amidst the ruins around it. The citizens of Libria are governed by the totalitarian Tetragrammaton Council that controls the city in a police state to maintain "order and conformity". To do this, a drug called Prozium is used to suppress human emotions and thus, maintain the stable peace. The Council also employs the Grammaton Clerics to maintain this order, as well as hunt down the resistance fighters of the Underground alongside the Librian death squads.

Yeah, you read right: emotions are SUPPRESSED. No movies, no art, no songs, no games, none of that. It's all propaganda spread through the enigmatic politcal/spiritual figure known only as Father. The Council is directed by him, though no one has actually met him in person (for fears of assassination attempts). So most of the administration is handled by Vice-Counsel DuPont. Everything with emotions in it are rated EC-10 (EC for Emotional Content) and are subjected to immediate combustion (burned!)

Enter John Preston, Grammaton Cleric First Class and the best of the best.

Yeah, that's him. Christian Bale, in a role not many will remember, unfortunately.

He's the most prodigial Clerics in the Council, and has proven himself many times against the Resistance. His newest victory in the start of the movie is the summary incineration of the Mona Lisa and other priceless art pieces!
He also killed - sorry, executed - his partner, Cleric Errol Partridge (Sean Bean) because of sense-offense (feeling). Ouch! So, he's then assigned a new partner, the ambitious Cleric Brandt (Taye Diggs).

All goes well, until he misses his Prozium dose one fine day. Then he feels, and he rises up against the system he had fought so hard to presrve without a pang of regret. That's heroic. He then bands with the Underground to bring down the Librian government once and for all. But Brandt gets suspicious and begins to monitor Preston closely, until the execution of sense-offender Mary O'Brien (Emily Watson), who was apprehended earlier on, and who Preston may have started to love, and Preston breaks down. Though caught, he gets lucky when Brandt is blamed instead for sense-offense.

Preston asks to meet Father, in hopes of killing the fella, but it seems his foes have planned his fall all along. However, heroes are heores, and he thwarts DuPont's attempt to kill him and saves Libria from emotionless life once and for all. The end.

Sorry my story telling sucks. I'm rather busy in the IT lab. I'll get to you on why the movie's great in my future post. Recess beckons! =)