Aftershock/ 唐山大地震 (2010), directed by Feng Xiaogang/冯小刚 movie review

The title of the movie is epic, which suits the movie perfectly because the movie, itself, is of epic proportion.

First of, this is my first time, in years, writing a full length movie review. Before this, I wanted and liked to write a full review of the movies I have watched but I didn't have the place to. Wanted to open a blog account but didn't know how to. But now that I have a blog, I can do just that. But like I've said, this is the first for years. I'm a bit rusty, so bear with me.

I've not watched much movies of the Chinese language, to be honest. Perhaps Chinese is not my mother tongue, was raised and brought up speaking English, so almost all the movies I watch is English. Or perhaps, it's the fixed perception that I have towards Chinese films. It's unfair to compare Chinese films with Hollywood films. Hollywood is where films were first born, it's how and where films started. Asia countries are only catching up. The depth of films is what I always look for in a good film. Depth in characters, depth in stories. Originality is a plus. I wanna feel for the characters, I want the directors of the movies to make the audience feel for the characters in the movie. The story of the movie must be, in some or any way, relatable to us, the audience. Makes us care. That's what makes a good film, in my humble opinion. Most Hong Kong films, the concepts they use are almost the same. It's either about gangsters, police, mole, spies, or ancient China, fighting, silly romantic stories. I've seen it all(the ads, posters and trailers, not the movie itself). Just a few days ago, I watched "Stool Pigeon", another Hong Kong film about gangsters, polices and moles. It's getting trite. seriously... TRITE. but every once in a while, the Orient comes up with gems like Echoes of the Rainbow (2010) and the movie mentioned above.

A Glimpse of Precious Memories...

I thought I saw her. She looked like her. Her hair, her beautiful smile.. reminds me of her beautiful smile. But I didn't get a good look 'cause it happened so fast. Was in my dad's car after church, drove to a narrow residential street, my dad wanted to just drive through, but a car with "P" sign was up ahead. The "P" driver riled my dad a little because he/she was causing traffic, but it was only momentarily. As our car drove past his/hers.. that's when I saw the driver. Sandra?? The driver looked like her, but I know the car did not belong to her, so it couldn't be her.. maybe she was just someone else, someone just passing by. An incident that may seem trivial to many, it was monumental to me. This morning I thought I saw the love of my life.

Fading memories, strong feelings, of old and cherished, started pouring back into the mind, heart and soul. Account of her angelic face has faded so much.. but I still remember that cute Japanese eyes of hers. "Long, long.. but small".. hahaha.. that's how she would describe her eyes. But of course, she is of Japanese descendant.. her mom is Japanese, and her hometown is in Okinawa. She's a special gal, speaks so many languages.. Japanese, Italian, German.. she cracks me up every time she starts speaking in accent. Her prominent, beautiful nose. Personifies her unbelievable strength and toughness, despite being one of the kindest, most soft-hearted and definitely the friendliest person in the world. And her slender lips. I could still remember the last time we hanged out. Her lips were purple, lacked of blood.. maybe it was a result of what she had and was going through at that moment. As she was telling me the adventures of she and her cousin bag-packing in Europe, as I looked at her lips, I just wanted to kiss them. I just wanted to kiss her...

This afternoon, went to buy clothes with family. Was lining up at the counter to pay for the shirts.. suddenly a girl lined up just behind me. Call me crazy but she looked like her!! Only thinner.. I couldn't have a proper look of her entire face, because i was too insecure with my fugly "Alejandro" style haircut. But I wanted to know really badly.. was it her? Have you lost so much weight because of what you are suffering from, that I could not even recognize your face anymore? I don't know.. I looked at her, she looked at me.. but nobody said a word, wanted to open my mouth and utter "Are you Sandra?" but it didn't happen. After payment, we just walked our different ways... like those fading memories of her that I have...... DAMN YOU TO HELL, ALL.

I miss you... Get well soon.