Thursday, May 18, 2006

The Da Vinci Code

Just came back from watching The Da Vinci Code movie and I would have to say that it is a nicely done piece of filming. It stays true to the novel although some minor details and a noticeable part have been left out. I guess that this is inevitable, given the length of the story is going to be too long for a 2-hour movie. I wonder can the movie be a little longer. Nonetheless, it is a movie with good direction and in some parts, better than the book itself.

Unlike other movies, surprise surprise, the French actually speak French and the Italians speak Italian. Subtitles thus become important and some may say that it is distracting to read the subtitles but I feel that this gives the movie authenticity and realism. I also like the way the movie presents the theme of the story whereby Landon and Teabing discuss the Holy Grail as any academics will over a cup of tea nonchalantly. No heated arguments, just scholarly debate and presentation. No idea has been forced on the viewer. I especially like the part where computer graphics is used to rearrange the seating arrangement in The Last Supper. How powerful the visual impact is!

As for the actors, Tom Hanks is magnificent as usual, though his hairstyle is a tad too tawdy. He is credible as a professor from Harvard. I love how the albino monk is being portrayed. It is exactly how I have imagined while reading the book. And what else can I say about Sir Ian Mckellen. He's definitely the real knight in his own right, acting the bad one this time. As for the other actors, they suit their characters well.

The ending is rather hastily wrapped up but I like one of the changes the script has as oppose to the novel. The movie has been objective with its presentation of the central idea. It is up to the viewer to interpret the theory given. At the end, Robert Langdon gives his view that can be summarized as:
Faith is just what you believe in. As long as you have faith in your belief, no amount of history can change that. In fact, what information history is going to turn up should not affect one's faith.
And I say, "Watch the movie with an open mind while keeping your faith close to your heart."

Sunday, May 14, 2006

Liverpool FC has won the FA Cup!!!

Liverpool: 1 own-goal down soon turned into 2 goals down. Steven Gerrard created one and scored one to pull the team back. But disaster striked again to make it 2-3. At the last few minutes of the game, he popped up again to make it level and extra-time. A sensational goal! Extra-time yielded no other goals and shootout began. Reina saved 3 shots and Liverpool lifted the cup. What a match!


Friday, May 12, 2006

Happy Vesak Day to all Buddhists!

Sorry I forgot to write on the May Day holiday, the day dedicated to workers of the world.