The poster of Betty Blue is my all-time favorite. I was 24, down to Taichung to visit a friend of mine. We went to a department store to look around, saw a poster store and went it. Then I saw that huge poster of Betty Blue, landscape, with Betty on the left just like the cover of this DVD and blue background extended to the left. The width of the background was probably twice or three times as wide as the width of Betty. Betty looks like staring into the blue background, instead of staring out of DVD, at you and me. I remember the store asked for two or three thousand TWD for that poster, and it was way beyond my ability to get it. If I had know I would still miss that poster up until today, I would have tried all my best to own it.
But that was the love for the poster. I never watched this movie until when I lived in the States, and happened to see that video at a local Blockbuster. Believe it or not, I was not crazy for it. I classified it as another crazy bizarre French movie where the actress poked her eye out at the end of the movie. Then I had not thought of this movie for all those years.
Few days ago, before the Olympic started, I was really bored, the weather being miserable, indoor heat dry and aggravating, and so had to really go out to get some cold air. I spent some time at Rogers, really browsed through every isle, every shelf, trying to come up with something to look for an deciding to find the French movie that MM recommended few months earlier, but was unable to locate it, as this is a impromptu stop, so I don't even have the title of the movie with me, then I saw Betty Blue again, the cover standing out of the whole rack.
The movie is director's cut and runs 3 hours, longer than I expected. This time I totally enjoyed the story. Several scenes are so unforgettable.
After she tossed the owner of the bungalow out, she spill paint on his car, tossed everything out of the bungalow, and she had this beautiful mysterious smile before she set the bungalow on fire.
She found Zorg's writing and spent the whole night reading, would not even put it down the next morning, and then decided to type every single word, was obsessed to get it published.
She is young, passionate, and unstable. I'm not sure if the pregnancy was just a false alarm, or if she had it and lost it, but 37.2 degree in the morning if pregnant woman's temperature in the morning, and so is significant. Loss of the baby drove her insane. She was depressed, hearing voices, kidnapping kids from playground, and then finally went mad, poked her eyes out and was sedated in the hospital.
Great movie.
2010/02/23
2010/02/20
Abraham Lincoln Goes to Theater
Very interesting show. There are about 3 actors but around 10 characters on the stage. It was kind of a shock at the first 30 minutes when I saw the actor switch from one character to another with just a change of light or a change of pose, then I had to really focus on the which character they play at every change. That was a challenge, and very enjoyable experience.
We were told that the show ran for 100 minutes without any intermission. Since I have TB (tiny bladder) issue, so I tactically went to the washroom 30 minutes before the show, and then 1o minutes before, and then I fully enjoy the show without any issue.
So what happened when Abraham Lincoln goes to the theater? He was shot by a 26 year-old actor, and Mark Killman, one of the character on stage, a director, researched and studied and decided the actor killed the president because he was an actor, and he wanted to have a show of his own, one that people of generations to come will forever remember. Mark Kill man made a good point. Who can still remember the writer of the play Abraham Lincoln watched that night if the president had not been assassinated?
Mark Killman was ambitious to find out what happened that night, and what stories hid behind the assassination. He hired 2 actors to play president vs gunman, actress on the stage of the show that night vs her boyfriend to explore what could have happened that night, but in the end he wants to be the waxed president at the final stage. But while Mark Killman directed his show, he became ill. No one found anything abnormal about him since abnormality was the norm for him, like staring without movement for 20 minutes, clenching his fist in the air for minutes. He just died! But the odd thing was that he performed a weird dance before he dropped to his death.
The 2 actors hired another director to continue with the show. The new director was obsessed with Mark Killman, and tried to find out Mark's full intention for the show. At the same time, one actor was in love with another and killed him when the other dropped him for better acting opportunities.
Then another 2 actors were hired to play.... and of course Mark Killman's intention for the show was uncovered.
So who was on the stage?
Actor A and B, Mark Killman
A and B playing gunman, president, actor, actress
Second set of A, B, director
Hm. Now it does not sound complicated. The actors were pretty good though. That was a totally good show.
We were told that the show ran for 100 minutes without any intermission. Since I have TB (tiny bladder) issue, so I tactically went to the washroom 30 minutes before the show, and then 1o minutes before, and then I fully enjoy the show without any issue.
So what happened when Abraham Lincoln goes to the theater? He was shot by a 26 year-old actor, and Mark Killman, one of the character on stage, a director, researched and studied and decided the actor killed the president because he was an actor, and he wanted to have a show of his own, one that people of generations to come will forever remember. Mark Kill man made a good point. Who can still remember the writer of the play Abraham Lincoln watched that night if the president had not been assassinated?
Mark Killman was ambitious to find out what happened that night, and what stories hid behind the assassination. He hired 2 actors to play president vs gunman, actress on the stage of the show that night vs her boyfriend to explore what could have happened that night, but in the end he wants to be the waxed president at the final stage. But while Mark Killman directed his show, he became ill. No one found anything abnormal about him since abnormality was the norm for him, like staring without movement for 20 minutes, clenching his fist in the air for minutes. He just died! But the odd thing was that he performed a weird dance before he dropped to his death.
The 2 actors hired another director to continue with the show. The new director was obsessed with Mark Killman, and tried to find out Mark's full intention for the show. At the same time, one actor was in love with another and killed him when the other dropped him for better acting opportunities.
Then another 2 actors were hired to play.... and of course Mark Killman's intention for the show was uncovered.
So who was on the stage?
Actor A and B, Mark Killman
A and B playing gunman, president, actor, actress
Second set of A, B, director
Hm. Now it does not sound complicated. The actors were pretty good though. That was a totally good show.
2010/02/16
Crazy Heart
I really wanted to go watch a movie. It was Chinese New Year, so I was supposed to do something, at least something, to celebrate a bit, or make this day unusual and stand out from the rest of the days
Picking a movie is never difficult for me. I can always read the descriptions, look at the cast, and come up with a few possibilities for you to choose from, or I can easily shrug and say I'm not interested in any of them on the market right now, without any shame or guilt. Well, I spent some time on yahoo movies, that site did not give much. I turned to rotten tomatoes, and 'Crazy Heart' got my full curiosity. The Tomatometer is at 93%. OMG. Although sometimes I do not fully agree with their index, but I hardly see movies rated that high.
Of course, it is not wise to present just one option. We should always be considerate to the customers, and present all kinds of possibilities and choices, but at the same time, maneuver them to go the direction we'd like them to head for. So I picked another one, "Lovely Bones". So there is an easy winner.
Pretty good movie. It's pretty much a one-man show. Jeff Bridges certainly did a great job portraying this old broke drunken country singer. Every piece of his performance is convincing. Indiana Jones is a hero. He is cool, quick, and sexy. But you know Harrison Ford is really not a hero. Even the theme of Dr. Jones, after 3 episodes and 20 years, sounds stupid and old. But when I watch 'Crazy Heart', Jeff Bridges is so good that I feel that he is telling his own stories, Bad Blake playing Bad Blake. Beautiful music flows throughout the movie. The attached is my favorite song. I think those are written for the movie, and am so so persuaded that they were once hit songs of someone, so many many years ago.
Many movie critics said that they are not convinced that there can be any romances between Jane and Bad Black. I'm not sure what they'd expect. Do they need the movie to explain things she had gone through in her childhood that lead to her liking for older men, or her miseralbe relationships with her ex-boyfriend or husband, but she could not help but repeat the same mistake over and over again in spite of her clear conscience telling her not to do it? Come on, they were lonely, they had sex, and the sex was good, so they wanted to be together. That's what we all do, eh? Having said that, I don't recall if there is any grin of satisfaction on their face....
I really enjoyed this movie, came back and checked online, and realized it has been nominated 3 Oscar awards. I am really ok with the best actor and music, but the supporting actress? Hm, I really don't think Jane's character gives much room for the actress. She is sweet and? sweet, just sweet. Sweet characters really do not have dramatic effect in a movie, unless the script is meticulously written and the character artistically performed. In this movie? I don't see it.
I feel lucky to have watched 2 movies lately with actors nominated for Oscar. After I watched "A Single Man", I hope Colin Firth would win, but now I have second thought, and am more inclined to Jeff Bridges.
Lyrics:
I was goin’ where I shouldn’t go
seein’ who I shouldn’t see
doin’ what I shouldn’t do
and bein’ who I shouldn’t be
a little voice told me it’s all wrong
another voice told me it’s alright
I used to think I was strong
but lately I just lost the fight
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
I got tired of bein’ good
started missing that old feeling free
stop actin’ like I thought I should
and went on back to bein’ me
I never meant to hurt no one
I just had to have my way
if there is such a thing as too much fun
this must be the price you pay
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
you never see it comin’ till it’s gone
it all happens for a reason
even when it’s wrong
especially when it’s wrong
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
I was goin’ where I shouldn’t go
seein’ who I shouldn’t see
doin’ what I shouldn’t do
and bein’ who I shouldn’t be
Picking a movie is never difficult for me. I can always read the descriptions, look at the cast, and come up with a few possibilities for you to choose from, or I can easily shrug and say I'm not interested in any of them on the market right now, without any shame or guilt. Well, I spent some time on yahoo movies, that site did not give much. I turned to rotten tomatoes, and 'Crazy Heart' got my full curiosity. The Tomatometer is at 93%. OMG. Although sometimes I do not fully agree with their index, but I hardly see movies rated that high.
Of course, it is not wise to present just one option. We should always be considerate to the customers, and present all kinds of possibilities and choices, but at the same time, maneuver them to go the direction we'd like them to head for. So I picked another one, "Lovely Bones". So there is an easy winner.
Pretty good movie. It's pretty much a one-man show. Jeff Bridges certainly did a great job portraying this old broke drunken country singer. Every piece of his performance is convincing. Indiana Jones is a hero. He is cool, quick, and sexy. But you know Harrison Ford is really not a hero. Even the theme of Dr. Jones, after 3 episodes and 20 years, sounds stupid and old. But when I watch 'Crazy Heart', Jeff Bridges is so good that I feel that he is telling his own stories, Bad Blake playing Bad Blake. Beautiful music flows throughout the movie. The attached is my favorite song. I think those are written for the movie, and am so so persuaded that they were once hit songs of someone, so many many years ago.
Many movie critics said that they are not convinced that there can be any romances between Jane and Bad Black. I'm not sure what they'd expect. Do they need the movie to explain things she had gone through in her childhood that lead to her liking for older men, or her miseralbe relationships with her ex-boyfriend or husband, but she could not help but repeat the same mistake over and over again in spite of her clear conscience telling her not to do it? Come on, they were lonely, they had sex, and the sex was good, so they wanted to be together. That's what we all do, eh? Having said that, I don't recall if there is any grin of satisfaction on their face....
I really enjoyed this movie, came back and checked online, and realized it has been nominated 3 Oscar awards. I am really ok with the best actor and music, but the supporting actress? Hm, I really don't think Jane's character gives much room for the actress. She is sweet and? sweet, just sweet. Sweet characters really do not have dramatic effect in a movie, unless the script is meticulously written and the character artistically performed. In this movie? I don't see it.
I feel lucky to have watched 2 movies lately with actors nominated for Oscar. After I watched "A Single Man", I hope Colin Firth would win, but now I have second thought, and am more inclined to Jeff Bridges.
Lyrics:
I was goin’ where I shouldn’t go
seein’ who I shouldn’t see
doin’ what I shouldn’t do
and bein’ who I shouldn’t be
a little voice told me it’s all wrong
another voice told me it’s alright
I used to think I was strong
but lately I just lost the fight
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
I got tired of bein’ good
started missing that old feeling free
stop actin’ like I thought I should
and went on back to bein’ me
I never meant to hurt no one
I just had to have my way
if there is such a thing as too much fun
this must be the price you pay
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
you never see it comin’ till it’s gone
it all happens for a reason
even when it’s wrong
especially when it’s wrong
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
funny how fallin’ feels like flyin’
for a little while
I was goin’ where I shouldn’t go
seein’ who I shouldn’t see
doin’ what I shouldn’t do
and bein’ who I shouldn’t be
2010/02/11
Coconut Cream Pie
It is easy to make a pie here. All I have to do is to buy some pre-made pie crust, a package of filling mix, come back and make it, as per instruction on the box. That's exactly how I made my first lemon pie. However, I did not learn anything from doing it, especially when I live in Taiwan, and neither pre-made pie crust nor filling mix is available on the market there.
I decided to take a step further, and try to make my own pie crust and pie, from scratch! This time, I'm going to make coconut cream pie.
Found a recipe from foodnetwork. Recipe from a famous cook, very good review, but I had some doubt on the ingredients. It is called a cream pie, but the ingredients do not require cream, but use cornstarch instead? I thought I would have to buy lots and lots of cream cheese...
Anyway, I followed the recipe very well. Because of the doubt for using cornstarch, I even ran to grocery store to get whole milk, just to ensure that I have as little variation from the recipe as possible, though I strongly believed the 2% milk I had in the fridge should work just as well.
I measured everything, followed the directions, and when I heated the final mixture in the saucepan, and the whole thing started to thicken, I knew I made it. It felt just the same as when I was making the lemon pie with filling mix.
We saved it for dessert. After supper, I was ready to do the dishes and cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. Fred turned my body to face the pie. I did not get the hint, and tried to move away, but was then forced to see the pie right away. That was a good laugh. He was so ready to have a piece of pie. In fact, he had 2.
Some thoughts:
* The recipe calls for toasted coconut. I did toast the coconut at 350F for 15 minutes until some coconuts are golden brown. I tried both toasted coconut and un-toasted one, and thought I'd prefer un-toasted. Toasted coconuts tasted too dry.
* On the way back from grocery store, Fred asked me what topping I'd put on the pie. I answered without even thinking about it, meringue, as shown in the recipe. He then asked if it would be alright to use whipping cream. Sure, no problem with that, so we stopped to get a very small box of whipping cream (yeah, I even whipped it myself). It tastes so good with the whipping cream. I don't think the pie would taste as fine with meringue.
* I remember when I made the lemon pie with filling mix, I still had to use milk, sugar and eggs. Because the procedure and results of making the filling of this coconut cream pie is so similar to that of lemon pie, I would assume the ingredients for both pies should be pretty much similar as well. I then tried to remove milk, eggs and sugar from the ingredients, oops, does that mean I pay to buy the filling mix, and the mix actually contains only cornstarch and vanilla extract? I can certainly save that money!
Ingredients:
pie crust, 2 1/4 cups whole milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs separated, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 3/4 cups toasted coconut, 1 tsp butter.
Directions:
* In a saucepan, whisk 2 cups of milk and 3/4 cup of sugar, and heat with medium heat and bring the liquid to simmer.
* Put the egg yolks in a large bowl. Add the milk mixture slowly to the bowl, and whisk at the same time.
* Dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup of milk. Then whisk the slurry into the milk mixture.
* Bring the mixture to boil, and then reduce the simmer. Stir constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add vanilla, coconut and butter, and mix well.
* Pour the filling into the pie crust and let the pie cool down completely.
I decided to take a step further, and try to make my own pie crust and pie, from scratch! This time, I'm going to make coconut cream pie.
Found a recipe from foodnetwork. Recipe from a famous cook, very good review, but I had some doubt on the ingredients. It is called a cream pie, but the ingredients do not require cream, but use cornstarch instead? I thought I would have to buy lots and lots of cream cheese...
Anyway, I followed the recipe very well. Because of the doubt for using cornstarch, I even ran to grocery store to get whole milk, just to ensure that I have as little variation from the recipe as possible, though I strongly believed the 2% milk I had in the fridge should work just as well.
I measured everything, followed the directions, and when I heated the final mixture in the saucepan, and the whole thing started to thicken, I knew I made it. It felt just the same as when I was making the lemon pie with filling mix.
We saved it for dessert. After supper, I was ready to do the dishes and cleaned up the mess in the kitchen. Fred turned my body to face the pie. I did not get the hint, and tried to move away, but was then forced to see the pie right away. That was a good laugh. He was so ready to have a piece of pie. In fact, he had 2.
Some thoughts:
* The recipe calls for toasted coconut. I did toast the coconut at 350F for 15 minutes until some coconuts are golden brown. I tried both toasted coconut and un-toasted one, and thought I'd prefer un-toasted. Toasted coconuts tasted too dry.
* On the way back from grocery store, Fred asked me what topping I'd put on the pie. I answered without even thinking about it, meringue, as shown in the recipe. He then asked if it would be alright to use whipping cream. Sure, no problem with that, so we stopped to get a very small box of whipping cream (yeah, I even whipped it myself). It tastes so good with the whipping cream. I don't think the pie would taste as fine with meringue.
* I remember when I made the lemon pie with filling mix, I still had to use milk, sugar and eggs. Because the procedure and results of making the filling of this coconut cream pie is so similar to that of lemon pie, I would assume the ingredients for both pies should be pretty much similar as well. I then tried to remove milk, eggs and sugar from the ingredients, oops, does that mean I pay to buy the filling mix, and the mix actually contains only cornstarch and vanilla extract? I can certainly save that money!
Ingredients:
pie crust, 2 1/4 cups whole milk, 3/4 cup sugar, 3 eggs separated, 1/4 cup cornstarch, 1 3/4 cups toasted coconut, 1 tsp butter.
Directions:
* In a saucepan, whisk 2 cups of milk and 3/4 cup of sugar, and heat with medium heat and bring the liquid to simmer.
* Put the egg yolks in a large bowl. Add the milk mixture slowly to the bowl, and whisk at the same time.
* Dissolve cornstarch in 1/4 cup of milk. Then whisk the slurry into the milk mixture.
* Bring the mixture to boil, and then reduce the simmer. Stir constantly, until the mixture thickens. Add vanilla, coconut and butter, and mix well.
* Pour the filling into the pie crust and let the pie cool down completely.
2010/02/03
The Enemy
It is boring to sit and wait for the hospital to call and inform the surgery day, especially when we have no idea when they are going to call. As I really do not like to watch TV, reading seems to be the only alternative to kill some time.
I picked up a few free books from the bookshelf in the lobby of the first floor. Most of the books there are romantic books. I read two. Interesting at first, especially the second book had a strong beginning, but ended up with the same formula.
J recommended Lee Child.
I was glad he came online that evening to say hi, before he set out for Japan. We talked about books, and he said he had been enjoying Lee Child's book a lot, and plan to read one more of his. He was very generous to offer to send one to Calgary. I politely declined, because there is one used-book store right on 14th at 17th Ave SW.
And I found the Enemy there, for only 6 CND.
Very interesting story. There is some background of the military police, but I'm glad the author did not go in details about what happened to him before the beginning of the story, instead, the author focused on solving the murders. There are few side stories regarding the death of the MP, and his romantic affairs with the sergeant, but they are there to give the reader some relief and some of the side stories help solve the homicides.
The author also meticulously set the story at the post Berlin Wall era, detailing what was the impact to the American army when the major adversary was no longer there, how each branch of the army foresees and reacts to the imminent reduction of force, how the commander expects and looks at those reactions from the apex. It is very entertaining to see how the sudden death of a two-star general can lead to such profound story.
I'd like to pick up a few more of Lee Child's books. J had already sent me an email of the books he enjoyed!
I picked up a few free books from the bookshelf in the lobby of the first floor. Most of the books there are romantic books. I read two. Interesting at first, especially the second book had a strong beginning, but ended up with the same formula.
J recommended Lee Child.
I was glad he came online that evening to say hi, before he set out for Japan. We talked about books, and he said he had been enjoying Lee Child's book a lot, and plan to read one more of his. He was very generous to offer to send one to Calgary. I politely declined, because there is one used-book store right on 14th at 17th Ave SW.
And I found the Enemy there, for only 6 CND.
Very interesting story. There is some background of the military police, but I'm glad the author did not go in details about what happened to him before the beginning of the story, instead, the author focused on solving the murders. There are few side stories regarding the death of the MP, and his romantic affairs with the sergeant, but they are there to give the reader some relief and some of the side stories help solve the homicides.
The author also meticulously set the story at the post Berlin Wall era, detailing what was the impact to the American army when the major adversary was no longer there, how each branch of the army foresees and reacts to the imminent reduction of force, how the commander expects and looks at those reactions from the apex. It is very entertaining to see how the sudden death of a two-star general can lead to such profound story.
I'd like to pick up a few more of Lee Child's books. J had already sent me an email of the books he enjoyed!
2010/02/02
Banana Muffins
Tim Horton's is a jewel of Canada. They have the wonderful iced cap, that I'd love to have every day, and they also have great banana nut muffins. I decided to make some muffins, and found a recipe online. After I reviewed the ingredients, the only thing I don't have here is the butter.
Butter is really no big deal. It was a nice sunny afternoon, so I went up to Safeway to pick up a few things, and then came back to do this experiment.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of flour, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 pound of melted unsalted butter, 1 egg, 3/8 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 banana.
* Put flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and saut in a bowl and mix well.
* Add melted butter into the bowl and blend. I used hands to mix the dough. With the melted butter, it was warm to the tough, and smells so good. Very nice.
* Mash bananas, and add egg, milk, vanilla and then mix well.
* add the banana mix to the dough and mix until consistent.
* fill the dough to the paper liner. Bake in 350F for 25 minutes.
Some thoughts:
* The original recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar. I reduced to 3/4 cup, but still think it's a bit too sweet.
* I put crushed walnut on top the first batch of muffins, and mix crushed walnut in the dough of the second batch. I like the second batch better.
* To get the mushroom head, the paper liners have to be pretty full.
* The ingredients are not expensive at all, and I'm surprised at the quantity I got. It was so nice to have those muffins and hot hot milk tea as dessert after supper. I ate to my heart's content, and still have a lot left for the next day.
* One banana is not enough. I could taste the banana, but did not feel banana's aroma in the nose. Maybe I'll try 3 bananas for the same recipe and keep the bananas a bit longer before I try it again.
Butter is really no big deal. It was a nice sunny afternoon, so I went up to Safeway to pick up a few things, and then came back to do this experiment.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups of flour, 3/4 cup of sugar, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp baking soda, 1/4 tsp salt, 1/4 pound of melted unsalted butter, 1 egg, 3/8 cup milk, 1 tsp vanilla extract, 1 banana.
* Put flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and saut in a bowl and mix well.
* Add melted butter into the bowl and blend. I used hands to mix the dough. With the melted butter, it was warm to the tough, and smells so good. Very nice.
* Mash bananas, and add egg, milk, vanilla and then mix well.
* add the banana mix to the dough and mix until consistent.
* fill the dough to the paper liner. Bake in 350F for 25 minutes.
Some thoughts:
* The original recipe calls for 1 cup of sugar. I reduced to 3/4 cup, but still think it's a bit too sweet.
* I put crushed walnut on top the first batch of muffins, and mix crushed walnut in the dough of the second batch. I like the second batch better.
* To get the mushroom head, the paper liners have to be pretty full.
* The ingredients are not expensive at all, and I'm surprised at the quantity I got. It was so nice to have those muffins and hot hot milk tea as dessert after supper. I ate to my heart's content, and still have a lot left for the next day.
* One banana is not enough. I could taste the banana, but did not feel banana's aroma in the nose. Maybe I'll try 3 bananas for the same recipe and keep the bananas a bit longer before I try it again.
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