Avianto's Journal

I have seen the stageplay back in London, UK, 1996. I still remember it as one of the best stageplay I’ve ever seen. So, for those who never seen “The Phantom of the Opera” on stage and want to know how it looks like or want to remember the feeling of watching it on stage, this movie is highly recommended. For those who are expecting to see a “normal movie” might be dissapointed, after all this movie is a cinematical stage, it’s like “Evita“. Afterall both are Andrew Lloyd Weber‘s brainchild.

The movie itself is definetely a stage. The set, the act, the music are all stage oriented. The acting may not very highly qualified but face it, this movie is not just about acting, it’s about presenting the old media, the stage, in the not-so-new media, the screen. And I must said that this movie translate the stage beautifully.

The story itself is still the same as ever, even the dialog are based on the stageplay which itself based on the 1911 novel with the same name written by Gaston Leroux. Read the novel if you find the time, you’ll find love, obsession and tragedy mixed beautifully into one intricated story.

Back to the movie itself. It was beautifully made, I have to admit that seeing Joel Schumacher in the director list made me flinch for a bit. This man is famous for action movie and don’t have any musical movie in his repertoir but I put my faith in the man who made the screenplay, Andrew Lloyd Weber himself. It also got some negative review from some reviewer, professional or amateur. It turned out that my pessimistic was not proven. I can see why those people seeing this movie negatively because as I said, they were expecting to see a “normal movie” instead of “stage translation”.

So, if you are eager to see what is the fuss about “The Phantom of the Opera” is all about, go watch the movie. But I have to warn you that this movie is not everyone’s cup of tea. You either love it or hate it. To end the review, I will give you the lyric of one of the best song from the movie, made popular by Sarah Brightman in the original play in Broadway.

Think of Me

Think of me,
Think of me fondly,
When we’ve said goodbye.
Remember me once in a while
Please promise me you’ll try.

When you find that, once again, You long to take your heart Back and be free If you ever find a moment, Spare a thought for me…

We never said our love was evergreen,

Or as unchanging as the sea

But if you can still remember,

Stop and think of me…

Think of all the things

We’ve shared and seen -

Don’t think about the way

Things might have been…

Think of me,

Think of me waking, silent and resigned.

Imagine me, trying too hard

To put you from my mind.

Recall those days,

Look back on all those times,

Think of the things we’ll never do -

There will never be a day,

When I won

Today in Ottawa. It was as low as -40°C, for those with °F standard -40 is the magic number when °C and °F show the same -40 number.

For those who are not familiar with the words “feels like”, just take my words: “That’s the only thing you should worry about”. Never care for the word “Sunny” because if it is sunny outside then it means it is colder than usual, it may sounds strange to some of you but that’s the truth – in the winter, when it’s sunny then it’s cold. Never care for the other number that has lower number than the “feels like” number because that number is not what you are feeling.

Welcome to Canada.

Screenshot taken from weather.com website.

Since this guy already boasted about his name on the Get Firefox!

There are movies that have great plots and storylines but the acting are terrible and there are movies that have absurd plots and storylines but the acting are amazing. This movie is the second kind.

Ocean’s Twelve is the sequel of Ocean’s Eleven and still following its tradition by casting a lot of A-list actors and actresses. With that this sequel almost got everything, it also have great camera work, great scenery, funny and witty lines, smart jokes and lots of fun moments. But the plot is well, let me put it this way, the plot has a nice twist and surprising moment but that’s it.

Recommended movie? Absolutely if you a fan of Ocean’s Eleven. Even if you are not but you want to see how good acting can influence the whole experience of watching a movie, this movie is still a recommendation. For people who love intricate and smart plot, avoid this one because it will make you bitchin’ about waste of talents.

Anyway, there are lots of jokes in this movie that reference to other movie the actors/actresses had been starred. So if you watch this movie, try to catch that kind of moments because they are hilarious.

Overall, this movie provide a good laugh and good entertainment. There was one particular joke that make me laughed so hard and for that moment only, I think it was worth my admission ticket.

It’s been snowing a lot here in Ottawa for the last couple of days. The pile of snow is getting higher and higher everyday.

I’ve also been very occupied last weekend. Finishing, polishing and adjusting one of the CIMS‘s project before Christmas break.

Other than that not much happening. Waking up early, waiting for bus under the blistering snow, working at CIMS until late night, went back home also under blistering snow – not to mention waiting for an hour if I missed my bus for a split second because the bus is only running every hour on weekend… and the bus was often arrived early… Nice.