Best Laid Plans...
So obviously I'm horrible with updating my journal. In my defense, however, there have been issues, both personal and school wise, that have needed tending to. Tonight was supposed to be spent either doing some readings for class or working on some stories that have been floating around in my head for the past little while. Unfortunately,
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Yes, I saw it at the Sao Paulo Film Festival. I actually went there just for that, because I had read the story 2 years ago, and had been waiting anxiously for the film even before it was cast. (Well, that and the fact that I have a cousin who lives there, and we're very close, so I had an excuse to tell people...:-)
One thing I'm sure of is that one viewing is not enough. Some of the impact was lost on me because of the anticipation (I was actually nervous throughout the film!), and the fact that I had read and discussed the short story to exhaustion. And cried buckets. So I teared up many times, but didn't actually cry. But I could hear sniffing all around me, and I had never seen that happen in my whole life!
Like most Chinese (or thereabouts) directors, Ang Lee is obviously a master at composing breathtaking images. The cinematography is nothing short of perfect. The acting is extraordinary, though I don't quite understand the fuss over Heath Ledger. He was very good, but it was Jake who was really outstanding. The adapted script is excellent, a lot of the main dialog from the novella is reproduced ipsis litteris, and the added scenes work very well. The boy-touching is satisfactory, but my slashy pervy mind thinks there could have been a little more.:-)
I don't know what else I can say without throwing in spoilers. I'm anxious to see it again (it opens in a couple of weeks here). And I'm hoping this time I'll be able to enjoy it without the jitters.
I heard at the BBM community that the DVD is scheduled for release in the US in early March, but no one seems to be quite sure about that date.
Well, dear, I feel your pain. But the wait is worthwhile. I have the impression it is one of the best films I have ever seen.
If you have any specific questions, feel free to ask.
And, btw, I have to thank you again for pointing me to that Ballack/Frings fic. I've read it twice already, and it's been haunting me. Really amazing and beautiful.
Cheers!
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Anyway, I think you've only heightened my anticipation. I've been listening to the soundtrack a lot lately and trying to juxtapose it onto the short story as a minor consolation for missing out on seeing it. It's nowhere near as good, obviously. It always makes me angry when the most amazing films of the year are always the least accessible. Thinking about it now, though, makes me realize that it might be a better idea for me to watch it alone the first time anyway. I'm the biggest sap in the world and I know that it's going to destroy me. I also wouldn't want to have the experienced ruined by the few small minded people I know are going to go to see it just to make life difficult.
From the trailers and pictures I can see how amazing the cinematography is. His mastery of it is also evident in Sense and Sensibility, which I just watched again recently. I've also actually been kind of disappointed that Jake's been relatively overlooked (but not having seen it doesn't allow me to pass much judgment). The sad thing is that even without seeing it, I know that there could have been more boy-touching...then again, it's almost a modern day miracle that a film with the amount of boy-touching it does have has entered and, to an extent, is being embraced by the mainstream.
I've also heard about the March release date (the 7th, I believe), which isn't too bad, I suppose. It'll be another thing to look forward to in March.
As for the Ballack/Frings fic, you're definitely welcome. It absolutely is one of those stories that grabs hold of you and refuses to let you go. I've read the whole thing through 6 or 7 times already, going back to it when I have nothing new to read, and I think I'm about due for another reading of it.
I got the picture you sent as well. Inspiration of the half-naked variety is always rejoiced over. There's definite fic potential to be found there. First, though, I feel an obligation to write something, anything , about the pictures that came out of the Kooyong press conference. My OTP were so getting engaged in public there, and I think I should acknowledge and celebrate it in the form of fic. *Taps temple* C'mon, creativity! give me something to go on!
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LMAO...There was definitely some boy love going on there...They're now probably the 2nd worst kept secret in the men's tour (after Rafa and Carlos, obviously).
Damn, I don't even have an OTP anymore. I mean, I do, and they're thriving in my head, but my fic bunnies have all died of starvation. So all I'm left with are self-imposed challenges and crack!fic. I'm so hoping somebody does something completely obnoxious at the AO so I can crack them. :-)
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there's a torrent for BBM available at torrentspy, and maybe other torrent sites
Damn, I'm getting all jittery again!
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There isn't going to be any kind of coherent feedback from me about it for awhile. I'm still a bit overwhelmed and a lot blown away. I was a little teary during different parts through the beginning, but at one point I was starting to worry that it wasn't going to effect me as I much as I had thought and hoped it would. I was thankfully proved wrong. By the "it could be like this, just like this, always" scene, I was crying. When it got to the "I wish I knew how to quit you!" scene (and for the rest of the film) I had my sleeve over my mouth to muffle the embarrassing sounds I was making. Once I started I couldn't stop. I've never cried that much during a movie. Ever. I was an absolute wreck and have been very quiet since leaving the cinema. Honestly, it's one of my favorite movies.
Unfortunately, there were a few people in the cinema who, despite being older than me, were definitely not mature enough to have gone to see it. During a preview vignette while we were waiting for the film to start, I heard a couple of girls talking behind me. One said to her friends, "it's just a really close friendship, right?" and another one told her, "no! they show kissing and they do each other!" The other girls laughed and made some disgusted noises. During the first sex scene, there was some uncomfortable laughter and then some inappropriate laughter at other parts of the film. I hated the fact that people couldn't be bothered to actually find out what the movie was about before showing up to see it, but I guess that we had a decent audience compared to what I was expecting from around here.
It was absolutely amazing and gorgeous and, though I was scared I would be because of all my hyping of it, I wasn't disappointed at all. I feel privileged for having gotten to see it. That being said, thanks for the heads up on the torrent! I've wanted to see it again since I walked out of the cinema and I can't wait for March for that to happen.
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