Big Fish

Director: Tim Burton
Writers: Daniel Wallace (novel), John August (screenplay)
Cast: Ewan McGregor, Albert Finney, Jessica Lange, Billy Crudup, Helena Bonham Carter, Marion Cotillard, and Steve Buscemi
Year: 2003
IMDB
My Rating: 10/10

There are three things in the movie that I just can't resist - myths, family and true love.

Myths, or hyper-reality is what our generation is missing. We scientific people no longer believe in myths, instead we believe in real people, real things, reality. Reality is overrated, it is no fun. Maybe that's why we love stories at the first place, something that carries us away from the boring reality. There was a brief period when I just hated movies, because movies just use whatever techniques that would move us. Maybe, we're all more than happy to be moved by a movie.

Family, has and always will be my favourite subject.

True love, is not something we have everyday. And that makes true love more intriguing in the stories. The love story in the movie is so ordinary, yet so extraordinary.

Also, this movie has a irresistible cast too... I usually don't really like Tim Burton's film, but this is truly an exception.

第二十章

學無憂，唯之與阿，相去幾何？善之與惡，相去若何？人之所畏，不可不畏。荒兮其未央哉！衆人熙熙，如享太牢，如春登臺。我獨怕兮其未兆；如嬰兒之未孩；儽儽兮若無所歸。衆人皆有餘，而我獨若遺。我愚人之心也哉！沌沌兮，俗人昭昭，我獨若昏。俗人察察，我獨悶悶。澹兮其若海，飂兮若無止，衆人皆有以，而我獨頑似鄙。我獨異於人，而貴食母。

白話譯文：棄絕後天擾攘的學習，免除憂愁煩惱吧！人家唯唯諾諾說你好，或者人家拿言語呵斥你，那相去有多遠啊！人家評價是善，或者人家評價是惡，兩者距離可有多遠啊！人家所畏懼的，我們也就不可以不畏懼，這是世事之然啊！不過，大道廣闊，無涯無際，永不停歇！世俗大眾，熙熙嚷嚷，好像享用了豐富的宴席一般，好似春日裡登臺遠眺一般，總湊個熱鬧！唯獨我澹泊的、寧靜的，起不了什麼兆頭，就好像那還沒長大的嬰兒一般。閒散悠遊，沒有什麼特定的目的，好像無家可歸似的。世俗大眾總要為自己打算，留個有餘，而我獨獨像是有所缺憾一般！我守著愚人之心啊！渾渾沌沌的啊！世俗人求的是烜赫顯耀，我獨獨喜歡默默無名。世俗人總好精明能幹，我獨獨喜歡渾渾無心。心地恬澹好像大海一般，飂闊無涯，永無邊際。世俗大眾總要個目的、有個憑藉，而我獨獨固守自然，寧願鄙陋。我獨獨不同於一般世俗大眾，我所尊貴的是回到母親的懷抱，渴飲母愛甘泉！

Give up learning, and put an end to your troubles.

Is there a difference between yes and no?
Is there a difference between good and evil?
Must I fear what others fear? What nonsence!
Other people are contented, enjoying the sacrificial feast of the ox.
In spring some go to the park, and climb the terrace,
But I alone am drifting not knowing where I am.
Like a new-born babe before it learns to smile,
I am alone, without a place to go.

Other have more than they need, but I alone have nothing.
I am a fool. Oh, yes! I am confused.
Other men are clear and bright,
But I alone am dim and weak.
Other men are sharp and clever,
But I alone am dull and stupid.
Oh, I drift like the waves of the sea.
Without direction, like the restless wind.

Everyone else is busy,
But I alone am aimless and depressed.
I am different.
I am nourished by the great mother.

Bluesfest 26/4/2011

赤著雙腳走在黑色的爛泥巴裡，去了這一天的藍調音樂祭，看了 Elvis Costello，Grace Jones，Bob Dylan。雖然回家時滿身狼狽，但只能說心滿意足。

ps. 我想現場平均年齡差不多在四十五歲左右...

Is it possible to listen too much music, read too many books, watch too many movies, dream too much about future, think too much about life?

A Personal Matter

大江健三郎的個人體驗。

看完了大江健三郎的這本書，覺得大江的書比村上春樹的書好多了。可能是討論的東西嚴肅多了，也有可能是我很久沒有看村上的書了。

這本書雖然是小說，可是大江幾乎把現實生活中的自己寫進了小說，私人程度驚人。但更驚人的是，大江如何誠實的面對自己懦弱，恐懼，厭惡，一部真摯的內心剖白。

"Music has always been a matter of energy to me, a question of fuel. Sentimental people call it Inspiration, but what they really mean is fuel."

— Hunter S. Thompson

Seize The Day

Another great American novel from another great American writer, Saul Bellow.

This is actually my first Saul Bellow novel, and I was struck by it, for its beautiful and masterful proses. There were so many good ones that I just kept copying down the sentences, even the book is only 120+ pages.

In my humble opinion, this book is perfect, for me that is. A story about a man on a losing streak would never lose its flavour for me, the despair, the sorrow, and the pain will always accompany me for the rest of my life. Seize the day.