Monday, August 31, 2009
Thursday, August 20, 2009
500 Days and Thoughts About Love
Before we begin, let me make the statement that I thoroughly enjoyed this film.
Many aspects made it clear that it was a feel-good movie from the start.
*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. THAT MEANS DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT THE MOVIE SPOILED.*
A simplified plot: Not much thinking involved. You can guess that the two don't end up together from the beginning of the movie. And the sporadic jumping between the 500 days attempts to keep the audience entertained enough to finish it. It was designed for enjoyment of the rise and fall of a relationship, more about the qualities of love itself than an application of it for story purposes. The girl that didn't believe in love, finds love, whereas the boy that believed in love, was unable to find love. Of course, the movie ends with a new prospect for the boy but... you get the picture. It gets you wondering about relationships and love, but not necessarily in the relationship on-screen.
Cute, mostly static, characters: Only the main character really changes (I might even make the argument that he didn't change at all) throughout the course of the film. The fact that the girl believes in love at the end of the movie was a sad attempt to justify her breaking the heart of the main character. It was obviously also meant to act as a parallel to her scoffing at the very idea of love towards the beginning of the movie. I loved that the boy went to his little sister for love advice. That was hilarious.
Warm lighting and colors: All the earthy tones throughout the film and the reduced fill lightning added a comfortable and warm tone to the entire film. Even during the scene where the boy randomly starts dancing in the street, the fill lighting is lowered, allowing the blue shades from the background dancers to be much more vibrant. Brightness was not what these people were shooting for. Also, the little title card that counts the 500 days of the film changes in accordance with the mood of the boy and the status of their relationship. Most of the clothing that the girl wears in the film is bright (obviously) and her gorgeous blue eyes only serve to compliment her outfits. The boy wears dull colors until he quits his job and looks for a career in architecture, after which he finds a new hairstyle to uncover his face thus giving him a more healthy and youthful appearance.
And that's a general, critical overview of the film.
"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story."
Exactly.
Now on to what I meant to write about.
Love. Love. Love love love.
*NOTE: I'm sure most romance movies are like this so... THIS IS NOT SOMETHING AGAINST 500 DAYS. I liked the movie. I'm just making a point here.*
"What happens when you fall in love?"
"You believe in that?"
"It's love, it's not Santa Claus."
Nothing more than Fate, nothing more than something that "just happens". People like this definition of love. Of soul mates and perfect people and perfect relationships that somehow just sprouts out from a mysterious force called destiny.
Less work involved, you see.
...
Wake up. NOW. The sooner the better.
This world is far from perfect and you're not going to find anything perfect in it. The faster you come to terms with this the better. "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one..." (Romans 3:10). God has planned someone for you in the future. But that doesn't mean perfection. Not by a long shot.
Unfortunately, one of the big things in this generation of ours is the willingness to opt out, a 'when the going gets tough, the tough... run away' attitude, if you will. When the girl began to wonder if she truly loved the boy, she broke up with him. Then married the next random guy that sparked "those feelings" inside her.
What the heck are "those feelings"? And who's to say that "those feelings" won't fade? There's no such thing as eternity here on earth. Everything is transient. Everything crumbles into dust. "...for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Absolutely nothing lasts forever.
So don't look for a feeling. Look for lasting commitment. Look for a willingness to make things work. Don't run away. Fight it. Try. Why? Because rewards have been promised. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)
*NOT a verbatim quote*
"...What was different? What was different than when you were with me?"
"I just never had to wonder what I always wondered with you."
Poor guy.
Love is devotion. Dedication. Sacrifice. NOT a feeling.
In comparison, the love of God is incredible. See for yourself.
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:5-8.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7).
"...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39).
'Nuff said.
Many aspects made it clear that it was a feel-good movie from the start.
*WARNING: SPOILERS AHEAD. THAT MEANS DON'T READ IF YOU DON'T WANT THE MOVIE SPOILED.*
A simplified plot: Not much thinking involved. You can guess that the two don't end up together from the beginning of the movie. And the sporadic jumping between the 500 days attempts to keep the audience entertained enough to finish it. It was designed for enjoyment of the rise and fall of a relationship, more about the qualities of love itself than an application of it for story purposes. The girl that didn't believe in love, finds love, whereas the boy that believed in love, was unable to find love. Of course, the movie ends with a new prospect for the boy but... you get the picture. It gets you wondering about relationships and love, but not necessarily in the relationship on-screen.
Cute, mostly static, characters: Only the main character really changes (I might even make the argument that he didn't change at all) throughout the course of the film. The fact that the girl believes in love at the end of the movie was a sad attempt to justify her breaking the heart of the main character. It was obviously also meant to act as a parallel to her scoffing at the very idea of love towards the beginning of the movie. I loved that the boy went to his little sister for love advice. That was hilarious.
Warm lighting and colors: All the earthy tones throughout the film and the reduced fill lightning added a comfortable and warm tone to the entire film. Even during the scene where the boy randomly starts dancing in the street, the fill lighting is lowered, allowing the blue shades from the background dancers to be much more vibrant. Brightness was not what these people were shooting for. Also, the little title card that counts the 500 days of the film changes in accordance with the mood of the boy and the status of their relationship. Most of the clothing that the girl wears in the film is bright (obviously) and her gorgeous blue eyes only serve to compliment her outfits. The boy wears dull colors until he quits his job and looks for a career in architecture, after which he finds a new hairstyle to uncover his face thus giving him a more healthy and youthful appearance.
And that's a general, critical overview of the film.
"This is a story of boy meets girl. But you should know up front, this is not a love story."
Exactly.
Now on to what I meant to write about.
Love. Love. Love love love.
*NOTE: I'm sure most romance movies are like this so... THIS IS NOT SOMETHING AGAINST 500 DAYS. I liked the movie. I'm just making a point here.*
"What happens when you fall in love?"
"You believe in that?"
"It's love, it's not Santa Claus."
Nothing more than Fate, nothing more than something that "just happens". People like this definition of love. Of soul mates and perfect people and perfect relationships that somehow just sprouts out from a mysterious force called destiny.
Less work involved, you see.
...
Wake up. NOW. The sooner the better.
This world is far from perfect and you're not going to find anything perfect in it. The faster you come to terms with this the better. "As it is written: 'There is no one righteous, not even one..." (Romans 3:10). God has planned someone for you in the future. But that doesn't mean perfection. Not by a long shot.
Unfortunately, one of the big things in this generation of ours is the willingness to opt out, a 'when the going gets tough, the tough... run away' attitude, if you will. When the girl began to wonder if she truly loved the boy, she broke up with him. Then married the next random guy that sparked "those feelings" inside her.
What the heck are "those feelings"? And who's to say that "those feelings" won't fade? There's no such thing as eternity here on earth. Everything is transient. Everything crumbles into dust. "...for dust you are and to dust you will return." (Genesis 3:19) Absolutely nothing lasts forever.
So don't look for a feeling. Look for lasting commitment. Look for a willingness to make things work. Don't run away. Fight it. Try. Why? Because rewards have been promised. "Not only so, but we also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope." (Romans 5:3-4)
*NOT a verbatim quote*
"...What was different? What was different than when you were with me?"
"I just never had to wonder what I always wondered with you."
Poor guy.
Love is devotion. Dedication. Sacrifice. NOT a feeling.
In comparison, the love of God is incredible. See for yourself.
"And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us. You see, at just the right time, when we were still powerless, Christ died for the ungodly. Very rarely will anyone die for a righteous man, though for a good man someone might possibly dare to die. But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us." Romans 5:5-8.
"Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God." (1 John 4:7).
"...neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord." (Romans 8:39).
'Nuff said.
Monday, August 17, 2009
Dream on
Ah... The day after retreat.
A day for solemn reflection and rest.
A day for solemn reflection and rest.
Perhaps you dedicated yourself to change.
Perhaps the Spirit led you to some major revelations.
Perhaps you fell into the same sins that you struggled with before.
Perhaps you went on with your day as if retreat never happened.
I want to be different.
I want to break free from the patterns of this world.
I want a dream for God's kingdom.
Lord, use me.
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream yourself a dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on
Dream until your dream come true
Dream on, dream on, dream on...
Sing with me, sing for the years
Sing for the laughter, sing for the tears
Sing with me, if its just for today
Maybe tomorrow the good Lord will take you away...
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
What the heck am I supposed to say?
It's hard to say something meaningful when you don't have much to say in the first place.
I don't know what to say.
So maybe I shouldn't write at all?
Perhaps the problem is that I have too much to say and one post isn't enough to capture it all.
I'm going to stop now because Eric has informed me that it's stupid.
I need some more guy friends but there aren't many guys around.
What a dilemma.
I don't know what to say.
So maybe I shouldn't write at all?
Perhaps the problem is that I have too much to say and one post isn't enough to capture it all.
I'm going to stop now because Eric has informed me that it's stupid.
I need some more guy friends but there aren't many guys around.
What a dilemma.
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