Popcorn Moments : Controversial Films

Here are some of my all-favorite movies that has been politically, socially and religiously controversial in my country...reasons why it was (and still is) more interesting to watch :

Kama Sutra - A Tale of Love - It was Indian produced, English language film. Set in the 16th century India, the story revolves around two women. Tara (Sarita Choudhury), a noble princess, despite of her royal status and privilege is severely threatened with Maya (Indira Varma), a palace servant girl, for having inherent grace and sensuality. Oftenly humiliated in public; Maya gets even with Tara, by seducing her groom, Raj Singh (Naveen Andrews) on her wedding night. But when Maya's treachery is discovered, she is banished from the palace in shame. Forced to wander through the kingdom, she befriended and fell in love with the court sculptor, Jai, who inadvertently unites her with Rasa Devi, the famed teacher of the Kama Sutra. Maya now begins a journey in which she will learn the full lesson of this timeless text.

Brokeback Mountain - Ennis Del Mar (Heath Ledger) and Jack Twist (Jake Gyllenhal) meet while lining up for employment with local rancher. When they were dispatched to work as sheepherders up on the majestic Brokeback Mountain, they gravitate towards camaraderie then to a deeper intimacy. At summer's end, the two come down from Brokeback and part ways. Four years have passed, both of them are happy to have jobs, marriage and children. They meet up again and in just one moment it is clear that the passage of time has only strengthened the men's attachment. In the years that follow, Ennis and Jack struggle to keep their secret bond alive. They meet up several times annually. Even when they are apart, they face the eternal questions of fidelity, commitment, and trust. Ultimately, the one constant in their lives is a force of nature--love.

*This film was directed by the briliant Ang Lee. It's not your usual gay movie, it's dramatically poignant - the actors are straight men, highlighted their craft by immersing themselves into the characters.

Priest - A young, handsome and traditional Catholic priest, Father Greg Pilkington (Linus Roche), arrives in a small English town to replace an older priest. Doing his duty as a priest; lies, deception, secrets and politics, slowly unraveled. The parish priest, gives a sermon with severe politics...and sleeps with his girfriend in the rectory. While him, a closet gay, he picked up a guy at a bar and become his lover. Suddenly, his world turned upside down when his teenaged parishioner confessed incestuous relationship with her father. Torn to keep a tragic secret in the sanctity of confession, and to help to stop such abuse. He must choose between his faith and exposing the truth, along with his confrontation of his own hidden demons.

*This movie was banned by the late Jaime Cardinal Sin, and yet did it didn't stop 2 cinemas from showing this film. Outrage from the various religious groups, particularly by the Catholic priests were issued. As for me, this was the first movie, that I have seen two males French-kissing! Not to mention explicit homosexual sex scenes. Funny, I wasn't even 18 when I watched this...Its seriously depressing subjects, explicit sexual content, dark cinematography and superb character portrayal made this movie highly contoversial. You get more than your money's worth!

A movie that tackled a social taboo and made 12-year-old Brooke Shields a star with this controversial examination of child prostitution in turn-of-the-century New Orleans. Violet (Shields) is the daughter of a prostitute (Susan Sarandon) who works at one of the brothels in New Orleans' legendary red-light district, Storyville. One day photographer Ernest Bellocq (Keith Carradine) arrives at the brothel to take photos of the prostitutes and becomes fascinated with Violet, who is fast approaching her 12th birthday and a subsequent initiation into prostitution. When her mother moves to St. Louis in search of marriage and respectability, Violet determines to marry the much older Bellocq.

*Frankly, when I watched this film it made my skin crawl. No gory stuff here, but it's the free-spirited portrayal of a 12-year-old Violet that made 40+ Samantha Jones so outdated and girlishly innocent. This movie definitely sealed Sheild's place in Hollywood, albeit to

child exploitation.

Last Goodbye

"So how have you been?", is the first thing that I asked, after...what? three years since the last time I saw him. Great. He said. Yeah, great! I said to myself. Married with two adorable sons, owned a small business, expensive house and car. Sweet Life! "I'm glad" is what I responded. But honestly, I'm really not. Of course, as his friend, I'm glad that he's happy or seem to be. Surprisingly, he clutched my hand and said "It's an arranged marriage...My parents wanted me to marry a girl with the same religion as I have". Of course, I said to myself knowing him how he honored his parents' hardship in giving him the best comfortable life he has; he would surely bowed to their wishes. "Of course, I knew that...because you are not the prodigal son...and...So why the melodrama?", is my tease that made him laughed. But quickly, anxiety starts to creep in...I feel my hands starting to get cold. He must have noticed it, gave it a warm and firm squeeze before letting it go, then went on ask about my life. Our conversation lasted longer than the usual; we talked about almost anything as we finished the whole bottle of wine. Then I noticed, it's quarter to midnight; told him that I have to go home to get some rest.

He wouldn't let me ride on a cab, because he's taking me home...as a gentleman should. I laughed at this. I teased him that he changed a bit - for the better. "Of course, I'm gentleman. As my friend, you should have known better.", he retaliated. Stealing a glance, while we drove along the highway.... I realized that he hadn't changed much for the past few years. Same warm, deep-set, dark-brown eyes, that smoldered when angered and lit up when amused. Same firm, broad shoulders that I used to leaned to. Same gentle hands that warmed my own when cold. Same firm and gentle lips that...What the hell am I thinking!

Leaning back as I closed my eyes, and think. For the past seven years, we've been seeing on and off. He's been a friend...of sorts...with little benefits...but that's all. No dates really, we simply hanged out. Talked, discussed and argued about anything and everything - while enjoying pasta, talking over the phone, sending emails and text messages. He's been (sort of) a man in my life...he's my gauge or standard to other guys I dated...and the reason why I'm ...so being freakingly and silently torn!

I must have dozed off for I didn't noticed the car has stopped. We're here, he said. As I slowly opened my eyes, his face is just inches from mine...and did what I hoped and feared. Lingeringly, he touched my lips with his...and slowly opened my mouth and again, closed my eyes. Loving the little shivers in my spine as I reclined to yield his weight. Gradually matching his ardor, I pondered if the night would really end up like this. He's leaving the day after tomorrow to be with his family...and probably would take a lifetime to see him again. If, and only if, we would ever see again. As I see it, this is our farewell..closure of some sort. Adeui to our conversations, laughs, jokes, tears, arguments...friendship...love? He never said he loved me...neither did I to him. The times we discussed about love...is that what we feel for other person. We were quite cautious to use the word love in our conversations. Oftenly, he called me love, sarcastically; when our discourse turned sour, either because I'm too stubborn not to let him win or too upset to listen to his logic.

Suddenly reality knocked me out.

TBC..

Women In My Circle

An old friend sent me this email...which explains how women valued friendship at different stages in her life...

When I was little, I used to believe in the concept of one best friend, and then I started to become a woman. And then I found out that if you allow your heart to open up, God would show you the best in many friends.

One friend is needed when you're going through things with your man.

Another friend is needed when you're going through things with your mom.

Another when you want to shop, share, heal, hurt, joke, or just be.

One friend will say let's pray together, another let's cry together, another let's fight together, another let's walk away together.

One friend will meet your spiritual need, another your shoe fetish, another your love for movies, another will be with you in your season of confusion, another will be your clarifier, another the wind beneath your wings.

But whatever their assignment in your life, on whatever the occasion, on whatever the day, or wherever you need them to meet you with their gym shoes on and hair pulled back, or to hold you back from making a complete fool of yourself .. those are your best friends!

It may all be wrapped up in one woman, but for many it's wrapped up in several... one from

7th grade, one from high school, several from the college years, a couple from old jobs, several from church, on some days your mother, on some days your neighbor, on others your sisters, and on some days your daughters.

Accent Accident

Amusement or laughter could be such a great relief from all the stress and pressure, we deal on a daily basis, be with your boss, clients and colleagues. Here are some stories that made me remember why our English teachers are so nitty -gritty in getting our word enunciation right...



Real Estate Company
As I answered the phone after a couple of rings :


Me : Good Morning! (my department)
Caller : Good Morning Ma'am, may I speak with (my colleague)?
Me : I'm sorry, she's not around. Would you like to leave a message for her?
Caller : Ma'am, could you please take down these ten numbers.
Me : (Surprised) Ten numbers of what? Jokingly I teased...Hey! are you betting for lotto?
Sorry girl...you dialed the wrong number.
Caller : (in Tagalog) Ma'am...these are the ten numbers given by our client for the completion
of Mr. X's requirements...so that we could get our commission.
Me : (Suddenly understanding what she said, and tried my best not to laugh) Ok..I'll get Mr. X's TIN (taxable income number) # to be given to Miss (my colleague)

That gave me a short laugh...to keep me sane for the rest of the day!



Singapore MRT Station
I was with my three colleagues (2 Singaporean and 1 Filipino), waiting for the train to arrive; while one of my Singaporean Chinese colleague, raved this "yummy spicy chicken wings" that she ate yesterday at the nearby mall. Unfortunately, she forgot the name of the restaurant ...

Me : Really?! At what floor?
Colleague 1 : Floor ? What do you mean floor?
Colleague 2 : I think she's asking what kind of flour, they used.
(I am about to open my mouth and say... Floor? I mean what level, when Colleague 1 quickly answers)
Colleague 1 : Yeah, flour? I don't know what kind of flour they used, but it's sure really good!

As I am about to explain my question, my Filipino colleague gave me the look. A kind of look that says "Don't sweat on it...let it slide". So I reluctantly relented..and said "I see".

Poem

An old beloved friend surprised me with a simple and hearth-felt gift for my birthday...a poem by my name. I hope you're happy wherever you are......

Many people may come and go,

But you're the one I can't let go.

From you, I learned to be true

And be myself as far as I want to

A lot of moment, we spent together

we laugh often and seems we don't care.

We shared our deepest thoughts

even the things that are hard to cope.

Just remember the time we first met

You're so quiet and shy.

But when I tell you some crazy stuff

you shared your smile and it won't stop

And sometimes I wonder why we met

You are true and I like the way you do.

And realized we had a common denominator

that no one can control.

Love is what I feel

For you, who's been so dear.

Your sweetness was so real

No pretention that anyone can bear.

Tongue Twista

Out of my boredom, while reviewing my English grammar... Alas!...my brain grinded and I have created these so-called tongue twista...Frankly, technically it may sound not much of a tongue twister...it may sound a bit of a short, quirky, poesy story...you'd be the judge!



*** Pie made luscious pies
for pie-lovers who solves Pi
Pie of Phi sees her
pies as a pie for a great pie.

*** Kate wait to loose weight, to

find a date on certain date.

So Kate ate on certain date to

loose weight which cost her
great weight on her health.



*** Shaker the Baker
maker of better, thicker creamer.
Order another flower for her
mother, who is her teacher.



*** Wise Weisse lies to wives of the wise,
who used their wiles to be wise as their
wise spouses, whom are not as wise
Wise Weisse thinks.



*** Litton from Mitton wears mitten, while
he eats mutton on a pile of
cotton and buttons.



*** Reaching crest
create zest to Cris
craze to Kirst and
curse to Craig.



*** Leynard wears leotard
is in jeopard with a leopard
who plays card in the
charred yard.



*** Gail carried mail to
sail away from jail.
With her, is a quail who always fail
to fetch a pail much more
her pair.

Simple Truth about Men and Women II

My friend's old email...and my objective observation concerning these matters :

RELATIONSHIPS - When relationship ends, a woman cries her tear ducts dry, yaks on her gfs, writes a poem, hit the bars, raids the shops at malls and goes on a beauty make-over in a month or less. Then goes on with her life. A man only reacts from few months to a year after the break-up (albeit hitting strip joints and dating different women). This is the 3am drunken call he makes to his ex : "I hate you, you ruined my life...Uh baka pwede pa tayo?"

PHONE ATTITUDE - A man uses the phone only if he has something specific to say : " Dude, basketball tomorrow. Gym. 7pm sharp" He delivers a short telegraphic message and hangs up after 6 minutes. Or simply texted messages to his bud with less than 100 charcacters. A woman doesn't need a particular reason to call a friend. She can be with her gfs at work, gym, home or bars almost everyday...and yet call or texted these same friends for hours.

HANDWRITING/EMAILS - Men's chicken-scratch handwriting gives us a headache. In emails, short message will do. Women's letters give men migraine : she uses scented, colored stationaries and colored pens. Red pens if she's pissed off or hints of breaking up. Blue if she's ecstatic. Black, if business-like. Emails : she uses a lot of smileys, fonts, and color.
Big, bold all-caps letters is a plain and simple warning of her mood :P

BODY - Women's magazines have a lot of dressed, semi-naked and naked women on their pages. While men's magazines featured only of naked women; for them, a woman's body is work of art (be made by God or revered plastic surgeons). For women, a semi-naked, well-toned man's body is okey; but a well-toned, stylishly-dressed, confident and good-looking guy is a whole lot more better.

VANITY - Men are vain. They their reflection on mirrors every chance they get. Women will check themselves out on shiny surface : mirrors, store windows, car/van windows, jalousies, tinted/clear glass doors; even in shiny and brand-new pots and casseroles.

EATING OUT - When eating out, men will each throw out large bills, to prove their buying power! No one has smaller bill and some unlucky guy would end up paying just so they can get the heck out. When women dine out, as soon as the check arrives, out comes their calculators in cellphones! Divides the bill equitably, and always do the math by checking the menus, discounts, taxes, payments and change.