Lots and lots of sights, sounds and words
"It is a truth universally acknowledged, that a single man in possession of a good fortune, must be in want of a wife."
That is one of the most famous lines in English literature. The opening line from Jane Austen’s most famous novel, Pride and Prejudice. Now why would I suddenly talk about literature? Well, I finally got a chance to watch the latest screen adaptation of the novel. How did I find it? The storyline is good (duh!), the scenery is beautiful (it reminded me of King Arthur somehow) and the screenplays from the actors are well done! For once it is a refreshing change from all those blockbuster movies that only seemed to care about avowing its audience with breathtaking CGI and special effects. Nothing to go ‘Wow’ about, but it leaves a nice warm glow in your heart.
Apart from the usual inaccuracies that always happen in novel adaptations, the movie was a nice way to enjoy the essence of the novel without the long winded descriptions afforded in the book, in following how Elizabeth Bennet and Fitzwilliam Darcy overcame their respective pride and prejudice in ending up in holy matrimony. Sigh, if only real life could be as nicely scripted and have happy endings such as this. An ideal world, where love can overcome social barriers, where intelligence and wit proves to be as equally attractive as physical beauty itself. It is quite a nice story from beginning to finish, where a person’s pride is revealed as a front for a loyal and generous nature, where a person’s prejudice is revealed as flawed, from they affronting each other’s vanity, to tragic misunderstanding between them both, poor Mr. Darcy being put at fault for what he thought was in the best interests of everyone, the awkward moments as they try to make amends with each other, all leading to the beautiful ending. And it was kind of fun, to see Mr. Darcy tripping over himself over Elizabeth. Even more hilarious was the part where Mr. Bingley rehearsing in trying to overcome his nervousness in proposing to Jane. I’m sure; most of us can imagine being in that kind of position, distracted, tongue-tied and desperately trying to please at the same time. Nice, very nice movie indeed.
But I was still slightly outraged by the idea of mothers ‘trading’ their daughters off to suitors, like a commodity! Unfortunately, this kind of mentality still exists today, and is still a part of life across the Middle East. The sad thing is, it’s the women themselves who are amongst the loudest voices in demanding more restrictions in the region, which is both ironic and paradoxical at the same time.
Also, is it just me or the director is particularly fond of including the sun in scenes and zooming in? The soundtrack was quite pleasant, and blends in nicely. Been trying to get my hands on the soundtrack, but it’s a little like trying to find a needle in a haystack at the moment. And the temptation to go read novels is back again, but unfortunately time is short. But the quote I remember best is still “We are all fools in love.” Such a resoundingly true statement, don’t you think?
Other than that, I finally got to watch The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe! Yeah, yeah, I am really behind time, but I’m trying to keep up with things as best as I could. Although the story is less complex than LOTR, it still displays the same grandeur and diversity in portraying another world. If I remember correctly, the swords used in the movie are made of rubber, and that knowledge colours my experience of the movie slightly. And Georgie Henley’s reaction to the forest is actually genuine, and not ‘mere acting’ as it was her first time seeing the set. One odd thing though, for a young teen, Peter managed to choose an excellent defensive location to place his troops, and using ‘artillery’ to bombard the enemy as they charged. But yes, there were bad strategic decisions made. The archers was not put to better employment, and Peter should have made a charge downhill for maximum effect. Again, the soundtrack by Harry Gregson-Williams is simply splendid, and again, I’m looking for movie soundtracks.
Yes, if you haven’t noticed already, I have a liking for movie soundtracks. I think I’ve amassed quite a collection of songs composed by Hans Zimmer, Harry Gregson-Williams, John Williams, Howard Shore and many others. That’s among the reasons why I’ve stopped listening to radio. It’s more elegant and magnificent, and less distracting when I take my daily ‘drinking from the firehose’.
What else, Alexander, Riddick, Behind Enemy Lines, U-571, the Band of Brothers miniseries! And my family wondered why I had such a liking for war. Well, these quotes sum up my preoccupation with war, the death and destruction that comes with it.
"So long as there are men there will be wars."
- Albert Einstein
"All wars are civil wars, because all men are brothers."
- Francois Fenelon
"Older men declare war. But it is the youth that must fight and die."
- Herbert Hoover
"They wrote in the old days that it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s
country. But in modern war, there is nothing sweet nor fitting in your dying.
You will die like a dog for no good reason."
- Ernest Hemmingway
"War is delightful to those who have not experienced it."
- Erasmus
"We make war that we may live in peace."
- Aristotle
"I don’t know whether war is an interlude during peace, or peace is an
interlude during war."
- Georges Clemenceau
"It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived."
- General George S. Patton
"We happy few, we band of brothers/For he today that sheds his blood with
me/Shall be my brother."
- William Shakespeare, King Henry V
"Safeguarding the rights of others is the most noble and beautiful end of a
human being."
- Kahlil Gibran, "The Voice of the Poet
"You know the real meaning of peace only if you have been through the war."
- Kosovar
As war is so much a part of human life and forms such a huge part of our history, why not endeavour to understand its nature and reality? War, it is often said, brings out the best and the worst in man, so it might be a good place to examine our ‘true’ selves. The horrifying atrocities committed, the hardships endured, the cruelty inflicted to the firm bonds of brotherhood, the brilliance and ingenuity of leaders, the resilience of society in enduring suffering. But all that were overshadowed by the ‘glamorous’ aspect of war, fighting. All that was properly addressed in the Band of Brothers, but the usual response I’ve heard was "After all the action, it gets boring". Well, for me it was quite engrossing in whole, when you try to delve into what they’re trying to show you, that war is never as glamorous and fun as it seemed. Erasmus was right.
Drat, I think I’ve overdone it this time.
P.S. : I’ve never known before this, but thanks to a dear friend, I’ve recently been made aware that the ‘it is sweet and fitting to die for one’s country’ part in Ernest Hemmingway’s quote actually referred to Dulce et Decorum Est. Such is my ignorance. My gratitude, for the help in opening my eyes. You know who you are. Merci, mon cher!
