Movie review - Voyage of the Dawn Treader

Currently listening: Carrie Underwood - There's a place for us

We can be the kings and queens of anything if we believe.
It's written in the stars that shine above,
A world where you and I belong, where faith and love will keep us strong,
Exactly who we are is just enough
There's a place for us, there's a place for us.

This holiday season, took Joyce's advice to catch the latest installment of the Chronicles of Narnia, one which I really enjoyed. Despite it being a midnight show, I guess it left a deep impact on me, due to several parts which I identified with. Would definitely consider watching a 2nd time..

The latest adventure whisked Edmund and Lucy Pevensie, along with their mischievous and annoying cousin, Eustace Scrubb on an adventure onboard the Dawn Treader. Accompanying Caspian X (King of Narnia) and crew, they set off on a journey to rescue citizens from Lone Island who were sacrificed to the green mist, and defeat the evil originating from Dark Island before it grows and consumes Narnia.

Along the way, Lucy ripped a page from the Book of Incantations, and secretly read the torn page containing the spell to make her beautiful as her sister. She suddenly finds herself as Susan, and back on Earth at a party, together with Edmund and Peter. Realizing that Lucy is not around, she's bothered by her conscience and decides to be herself again. She sees Aslan through a mirror, who tells her that she mustn't lack self-value for she is beautiful just the way she is. Lucy wakes up, goes to Caspian and Edmund, who have also plagued by the green mist playing on their personal struggles: Edmund's self-doubt assuming the form of the White Witch which offered to make him a king with more power, as well as Caspian, with his fear of not living up to his father's expectations. It deals with the issue of one's self image and lack of security as a result of their perceived weaknesses.

At first, Eustace irritated everyone with his attitude, but it dramatically changes after he was cursed into being a dragon for greed and selfishness, as he attempted to steal some treasure from a volcanic island they landed on. Eventually with the support of his cousins, and even more of the warrior mouse Reepicheep, Eustace becomes a more generous and cooperative person, using his dragon form to the Dawn Treader crews' advantage, earning their respect. Hence, began the unlikeliest of friendships between warrior mouse and a brat, the former teaching the latter about honour, courage and loyalty. When Aslan changed him back to his original form, he realised that he could not do so by himself no matter how hard he tried, and the pain which he went through in the process was a good transformation process. I suppose it's something to be thankful for as God's grace is sufficient for us, even at times when we make mistakes.

Dark Island served as a reminder that whether we choose to admit it or not, deep inside of us lies our greatest fears, and temptations which might drive us to do undesirable things if we are not careful.

In the end, with the evil forces banished, Caspian along with Reepicheep, Lucy, Edmund, and Eustace, ventured in a small boat through a sea of lilies until they reach a wall of water that extends into the sky. There they meet Aslan, who tells them that beyond the wall of water, lies his country. Caspian asks Aslan whether his father is there, but Aslan said that the only way to know is to go there by himself though he may never return from there. Caspian decides not to go, as he cannot leave his kingdom which his father fought for until his death. Reepicheep gains Aslan's blessing to see his country, paddling a coracle up the waterfall to be never again seen in Narnia. Aslan then sends the children home, telling them that Edmund and Lucy will not return to Narnia because just like Peter and Susan,they are too old to return now and that they should learn to know him better by another name in their own world. However, Eustace, now a much nicer person from his time in Narnia, can return someday.

Unstoppable

I enjoy Denzel Washington's movies, and watching his latest release with my shepherd did not disappoint (for me, at least). Frank Barnes (Washington) is a veteran railroad engineer and single father who struggles in juggling between work and maintaining a good relationship with his 2 daughters; Will Colson (Chris Pine) is his young conductor in the process of dealing with a marriage fallout as a result of a misunderstanding with his estranged wife and kids. Initially both did not like each other as Barnes was forced into early retirement to make way for Colson's recruitment, and Will finds it difficult to tolerate Barnes' dose of sarcasm and harsh treatment.

Nevertheless, amidst their efforts to stop a runaway train (thus putting their own lives at risk), a few things were evident in terms of human relationships; 2 people may not see eye to eye with one another, but if we could learn to see beyond each other's differences and work together towards a common purpose, we could actually discover that we have more in common than ever imagined. In the midst of a crisis, you learn to say "Hey come'on, look at the bigger picture. There are more serious things going on which need to be dealt with, compared to our personal problems, which at times actually do appear petty.." It also shows how at times, it takes courage to do the right thing, even if it meant the costly decision of losing your job..

Anyway, the flick started off slow and builds up towards a climactic conclusion, so hang on :) I read somewhere that they minimise the use of special effects and the actors do most of the stunts themselves, which was cool!

Sacrifice / Unconditional love

Synopsis:
Senior Chief Ben Randall is a top legendary rescue swimmer with over 200 saves, who has been juggling his crumbling marriage and his work with the U.S. Coast Guard. When he loses his crew and best friend in a helicopter mishap, he reluctantly chose to take up the post as senior instructor at a Coast Guard training facility to recompose himself, where he encounters Jake Fischer, an arrogant candidate who happens to be a top competitive swimmer with scholarships to every Ivy League university.

Ben's unorthodox training methods turned the entire programme upside down, and egos collide as he tries to force Jake into quitting, but Jake ended up beating all his records. While complaining to his girlfriend, Jake was humbled when the local barkeeper told him about an unbeatable record, when Ben saved all the victims of a ship fire, and with one victim left and a broken winch, held the last victim by his fingertips all the way until the helicopter landed, resulting in severe hand and shoulder injuries.

Nevertheless, Ben learnt about Jake's past, that he was the driver and only survivor of a motor vehicle accident which killed his relay team, and he was searching for his place in life. After being one of the few candidates left who graduated, Jake was posted to Kodiak, Alaska to oversee protection of the Bering Sea, Randall's post. During a rescue mission, Ben experienced a flashback of the night when he lost his crew, and had to be rescued by Jake. At this point, he realises he cannot continue, and hands in his resignation letter.

As Ben remorsefully spent time handing in divorce papers to his wife, and clearing his office, he overheard the radio chatter that Jake is trapped in the hull of a sinking ship while rescuing the crew. Ben gathered his gear and rushes to the scene. He managed to rescue Jake, but as the winch jams and cable unravels, he realises that it can't hold both of them, and unstraps himself, plummeting into the sea, never to be seen again.

"What makes a legend? Is it what someone did when they were alive... or how they're remembered after they're gone? There's a legend — of a man who lives beneath the sea. He's a fisher of men. A last hope for all those who have been left behind. He is known as The Guardian. Ben Randall always said life is about making choices. In the end, by making his, he helped me make mine."

Forever Strong - The key is the man

Synopsis
Rick Penning (Sean Faris) lives life just like he plays rugby: fast, hard-hitting and intense. When life on the edge lands him in jail, prison ward Marcus Tate (Sean Astin) offers him a chance to get back in the game by playing for longtime rival, Highland Rugby. Reluctantly Rick joins the team where he must adopt the grueling training schedule and unique code of conduct that Highland’s legendary coach (Gary Cole) demands. Egos clash and bitter competitors struggle to find the meaning of “team.”

As on-field battles rage, hearts are challenged and loyalties are tried. Rick Penning has to decide between the life he lived and a life that stands before him. With a national championship on the line, he will learn that the greatest victories are born in the heart.

"It's not about rugby, it's about young men. It's not about building a championship team. It's about building championship boys, boys who will be forever strong."
-Coach Larry Gelwix, Highland Rugby-

Final stretch

Watched 'Facing the Giants' last Saturday. Despite 2008 coming to an end, let's see this final quarter as a new beginning to give God our best touchdown for one final time this year!

Plot
In six years of coaching football, Grant Taylor has never led his Shiloh Eagles to a winning season. After learning that he and his wife Brooke face infertility, Grant discovers that a group of fathers are secretly organizing to have him dismissed as head coach. His car breaks down frequently, and his house is falling apart around him. Devastated by his circumstances, he cries out to God in desperation. When Grant receives a message from an unexpected visitor, he searches for a stronger purpose for his football team. He challenged his players to believe God for the impossible on and off the field. When faced with unbelievable odds, the Eagles must step up to their greatest test of strength and courage. What transpires is a dynamic story of the fight between faith and fear.

Of bus rides and movies

I'm back in Kuantan for around a week for the Hari Raya break. Interestingly enough, the 6-hour bus ride this time turned out to be a quiet one, but past 7pm, 1st time seeing the breaking of fast in the bus, when the driver switched on the lights and left them on for a while so that those who were fasting can have their meals. Well, something different from my previous 2 bus rides, which consisted of conversations; one with an aunty visiting her niece in Klang during the bus ride to KL, another with a mother and son while stopping by in Mersing for an early dinner.

On a separate note, I remembered a movie we watched during YA some time back, titled "Freedom Writers". It was based on a true story. It's amazing how 1 person can make a difference in the lives of others by continuing to believe in their potential.

Plot
The film opens with footage of the Los Angeles riots of 1992 and introduces Eva (April Lee Hernández), a Latina whose father was wrongly arrested for supposed retaliation to a drive-by shooting. She is initiated in a gang, and only goes to Wilson High School because her choice was to either go to boot camp or go to school. The Long Beach high school and its area are the place of a gang war, where hatred and racism is abound. Meanwhile, naive first-time teacher Erin Gruwell (Hilary Swank) gets a job teaching freshman English at Wilson High School. Her first day at school is a shock to her, as she sees a fight almost break out in her classroom and a full scale gang battle at the school. Her students do not obey her and continuously talk back to her.

One night, Eva and a Cambodian refugee, Sindy (Jaclyn Ngan), find themselves in the same convenience store. Another student, Grant Rice (Armand Jones), is frustrated at losing an arcade game and demands a refund from the owner. When he storms out, Eva's boyfriend attempts a driveby shooting on him, accidentally killing Sindy's boyfriend. As Eva is a witness, she must testify at court; she intends to protect her own kind in her testimony.

At school, Gruwell intercepts a racist drawing of one of her students, and uses it to teach them about the Holocaust. Despite various challenges, she gradually begins to earn their trust, and buys them composition books to record a diary, in which they talk about their experiences of being abused, seeing their friends die, and being evicted. Determined to reform her students, she takes two part-time jobs to pay for more books and spends more time at school, to the disappointment of her husband (Patrick Dempsey). Her students start to behave with respect and learn more, and a transformation is especially visible in one of her students, Marcus (Jason Finn). She invites several Holocaust survivors to talk with her class about their experiences, and takes them on a field trip to the Museum of Tolerance. Meanwhile, her unorthodox teaching methods are scorned by her colleagues and racist department chair Margaret Campbell (Imelda Staunton). The next year comes, and Gruwell teaches her class again for sophomore year.

In class, when reading The Diary of a Young Girl, or Anne Frank's diary, they decide to invite Miep Gies over to talk to them. Initially, the task seemed impossible, but after working together to organise a fundraising event which gained publicity in the local media. They raised enough money to send her over, and she tells them her experiences hiding Anne Frank. When Marcus tells her that she is his hero, she denies it, claiming she was merely doing the right thing. Her denial causes Eva to rethink lying during her testimony. When she testifies, she finally breaks down and tells the truth. Despite being assaulted by her own gang members later for betraying them, she and Sindy became good friends in class.

Meanwhile, Gruwell gives her students a project to write their diary in the form of a book. She compiles the projects into a book and names it The Freedom Writer Diaries, after the Freedom Riders. Unfortunately, her commitment to the students took a toll on her relationship with her husband, who divorces her. To make matters worse, Margaret tells her she cannot teach her kids for their junior year, intending to hand over the class to another teacher from a higher up class, but practises discrimination. Despite the circumstances, she fights this decision, eventually persevering to convince the district education superintendent to allow her to teach her kids' junior and senior year. The film ends with a note that Gruwell successfully brought many of her students to graduation and college.