Zombieland

This film basically straddles different genre classifications which combines horror, comedy, romance, action, road film, and sci-fi. A typical horror sub-genre can be divided into unnatural, which involves vampires, ghosts, zombies; psychological that probably human's unstable mental and emotional narrative; and massacre or slasher that relies on serial killers or murderers.

Undoubtedly, 'Zombieland' is categorized under unnatural sub-genre.  All of these sub-genre share the same syntax where it probably begins with normalcy, for instance, in the film of 'Zombieland', when the 406 character asks help from Columbus; and slowly there are some irrational forces or chaos happen, it is when the 406 is infected by the bite of a homeless and she eventually turns into a zombie; followed by the internal threat enters the space where conflicts, chasing and killing start, this can be seen when the whole city is overrun by zombies, the four survivors: Columbus, Tallahassee, Wichita, and Little Rock have to escape from the zombies to survive. At the end, it should back to normalcy or victory, which happens at the Pacific Playland, they successfully kill the zombies and continue their journey together as a family without biological relationships.

Moreover, slapstick and parody comedy can be seen in this film. Slapstick generally involves exaggerated physical action to deliver the sense of humor to the audiences. In 'Zombieland', when Columbus acts confidently and gets a bike thinking to save Wichita and Little Rock at the Pacific Playland, he wears smartly to ride on it, however, he falls and the bikes falls on him as the bike seems a little too heavy for him to control. Next, the part when Columbus completely misunderstands Bill Murray is faking as a zombie and accidentally shots him down and causes him death. The dark comedy we can see is when every time Tallahassee double tap on zombie no matter with using his gun, he will shot twice, or drives over the zombies with his car back and forth. The list of rules stated by Columbus to survive and escape from zombies gives the sense of humor as well such as he once said that it is more important to have good cardio than to be good with a shotgun or don't be a hero when it comes to zombies. The parody in 'Zombieland' is when Tallahassee, Bill Murray, and Wichita recreate the scene in 'Ghostbusters' after getting high of smoking shisha just like what Bill Murray used to act in the 'Ghostbusters' years ago.

The genre of romance happens between Columbus and Wichita. Columbus is being portrayed as a coward, behaves cautiously, no social life, although he is smart and keeping himself survive with the list of rules. Nonetheless, when Wichita appears in his life, his courage has increased and even breaks his own rules of "Don't be a hero" in order to save Wichita and Little Rock. Wichita can be shown as a smart girl, independent, single minded, brave to keep her sister and herself alive. This always happens to be a huge contrast between two characters and soon they will fall in love with each other.

This film is absolutely an action film, which the chasing and killing scenes in between the zombies and 4 characters. The chasing scene happens throughout the film especially at the Pacific Playland. Wichita and Little Rock activate all the machines which attract the zombies with the sound and music to the park. The zombies chase after Columbus while on his way to the turbo drop to save Wichita and Litlte Rock. Tallahassee is one of the action hero, the one man army, he is smart, never fear of killing zombies violently, and possesses stronger skills than Columbus. However, Wichita is the femme fatale who achieves her mission in the film using her beauty towards Columbus and the man at the petrol station. In the scene which she bends down her body purposely pretends looking for her ring to attract the man.

A road-film genre I have never heard before telling a film involves travelling on a journey from point A to point B and the characters are mostly stuck in the transportation which either car or feet. At the same time, they will start bonding their relationship on the journey. In "Zombieland", the montage is shown when the driver position is changed from time to time while they are chit-chatting, as well as when they stop by a craft store and smash everything satisfyingly with the classical grand background music.

Although sci-fi genre is not clearly shown through fantastic and fanciful visual in "Zombieland", Columbus once mentioned at the beginning of the film that strain of mad cow disease mutated into mad person disease and turns human beings into zombies that brings an extinction happens in the world.

Except for the dark humor, it's kind of a loose content for me as just watching a group of people escape from the zombies. However, it's fun watching to entertain myself.

Requiem For A Dream

The story line of this film which apparently ordinary. Referential meaning can be seen in this film which happens around 4 drug addicts whose addictions on dieting, wealth, success and fame. However, the way how the director tells us the story has truly impressed me a lot. He enhances this film with the element of costumes and make-up. The oversize clothing, dark circles and pale sick face apply on characters and truly enhance the characteristic of a drug addict. Besides, the first scene of the film is in the house where we can see the setting of the house is sort of simple as this presents the social class of the mother and her son. The things we can see pretty obvious are the TV set and the fridge. These enhance the characteristic of the mother too as she is that kind of typical housewife who stays at home, watches TV, cooks sometimes probably. Most of the time, the director plays with the camera angles and impressive editing from scene to scene which are mostly fast cuts. The film as if brings me into the world of the characters to feel their emotion and illusion. 

One of the method the director arranges the shots is using montage. The fast cuts in the montage shows the act of drugs consumption by the characters. The shots in montage are extreme close up which show the detailed action on every scene. From the scene of syringe, powder dropping on the table to a lighter lights up fire, boiling water, rolled money, the powder is sniffed, the cells flowing in the nerves and the changing size of pupil. The fast cuts as well as the pace of edits seem to establish my feeling of fast beating heart after taking drugs. 

Other than that, the mother character, Sara, who has nothing else left in her life as her husband has passed away and her son, Harry is a drug addicts and runaway from home. The only activity of Sara's daily routine is watching television program to spend her time. However, Harry steals the television from Sara to pawn the television to get enough cash for drugs. This action is apparently normal to Sara as she has locked the TV set with chain. Sara hides herself in the closet watching Harry removes the television through the keyhole. This scene is being split into half which the left is Sara's P.O.V looking at Harry while the right is Harry himself. This editing seems to convey the emotion and the relationship between Harry and Sara. Sara even refuses to send Harry to the police as Harry is the only one she has in her life. Besides, this is also showing us the cause and effect that we might expect throughout the film. The characteristic of Harry who is poor but a drug addict, how would he get more money to overcome the obstacle? He as an active character, he must actively solve the problem, though it is not a good act.

I don't actually find catharsis and completeness after watching this film, instead, I feel I was kind of stress and depressed. It makes my mind wandering around the characters and their characteristics. It seems so real yet so abstract.
Sometimes, we might want to chase for fame, wealth, attention on the path in our life, but when we are overly attached to these, we might fall, to the consequences that we couldn't take anymore.

Thus, sometimes, one shouldn't be blamed for all faults when she is doing something wrong. The action taken might be affected by the environment as well. This can be seen through Sara's character. She becomes obsessed to be appeared on television and causes her taking too much of diet pills in order to lose her weight in shortest time. This might be because of the huge contrast between the reality in her life which is lonely and quiet compared to the television program which is energetic and so much attention from the audiences. 

Additionally, what I can see is that the director also shows the characteristic of a drug addict who happens to be always wandering in his/her illusion. Harry imagines himself making fun of a policeman by throwing his gun in the air; Harry's girlfriend, Marion imagines herself to jab a fork into Arnold's hand; and Sara who imagines the fridge is trying to break from the wall after taking too much of diet pills. However, non of this really happens. In this film, we can see how a drug addict is being portrayed. Their life is generally just wandering in between the reality and their illusion. The editing has really put me into the emotion of theirs where sometimes it is hard to realize am I in the reality of the film or I'm in the character's illusion.

Next, when I was doing research on this film, I realized a short video scene which is quite similar to this film during the part when Marion is fully naked and submerges herself inside a bathtub and shouts underwater. This scene is similar to a scene in a Japanese animated film which is Perfect Blue by Satoshi Kon. Is this kind of pastiche as what Mr. Joe mentioned in the class?

Spirited Away

We were shown the film Spirited Away in the Film Studies class.
It can be said that it is one of my favorite movie from Hayao Miyazaki
This film surprised me no matter how many times I have watched
These are few parts in the film I like

First, Hayao Miyazaki presents Yubaba who has strong maternal instinct towards her little baby although she is a witch who only cares for her business and profit.
She behaves fierce and overbearing towards others in the bathhouse but always shows her soft side while taking care of her baby.
However, when the No Face comes to the bathhouse and finds interests in Chihiro but she doesn't accept the gold he provides like anyone else, Chihiro feeds No Face a medicine that makes him vomits and so causes the bathhouse into a mess where Yubaba loses her profit and she is mad with it.
For that moment, she never realizes her baby isn't the real baby until Haku tells her.
This shows how greedy is she and desires on wealth and power instead of family.
This strongly represents the society nowadays which we are easily get blindfolded with the power of profit and material possessions until we are getting less concern on what are supposed to be more important to us.

Other than that, this can be seen through Chihiro's parents as well. Chihiro's parents take the food presented on the table without asking permission before eating them. They strongly believe nothing matters as money can solve everything. However, they turn into pigs as punishment because of too much food or can be said as too much greedy they have taken. Therefore, Chihiro is forced to work with Yubaba in order to save her parents.

In the bathhouse, which can be presented as today's society. Everyone in the bathhouse must work for Yubaba. Once if someone doesn't work anymore, he or she will turn into a pig. He/she will live a lifeless life, without any goals, keeps eating and sleeping until he/she is fat enough to be killed and served to the customers. It is similar to the social reality as you will be out of step with the society when you no longer work hard to live your life.

Next, I found No Face is similar to most of us as youngsters in today's society. No Face is unable to express himself or tells his thought to Chihiro, but at the same time, he has the power of making a lot of golds to fulfill the greedy of people in the bathhouse to get a sense of respects or attention from others. But deeply inside himself, this character is lonely and attempts to get relationship with others only by fulfilling their greed. He is only able to speak with the frog's voice after he has swallowed the frog into his stomach. Isn't this similar to many of us? The youngsters might have a certain ability or strength in some fields with high IQ and knowledge, however, we are poor at communicating, dealing with people or expressing ourselves.

Additionally, one of the obvious message delivered by Hayao Miyazaki is the polluted environment when the River Spirit comes to the bathhouse and it is dirty and gets stuck with trash. However, the people are scared off and distance themselves away from this dirty customer. Isn't it ridiculous as we human beings pollute the environment ourselves, but when it comes to problems or natural disasters, we distance ourselves away from responsibilities.

Furthermore, I believe the strongest message in this film is to remember the real you as in Chihiro must always remember her real name in order to escape from Yubaba. In the bathhouse, everyone has forgotten their real name. They have become materialists and always pursue for wealth. Many of us might have dreams that wish to be accomplished, however, people are getting less motivated to achieve their goals which affected by the surroundings and slowly forget who they really are. In the film, Lin once mentions she would escape from the bathhouse one day, but her name has been taken away by Yubaba. Same to Kamajii when he gives Chihiro few of train tickets. Perhaps, he has dreams to escape from Yubaba back in those days too?

The best part I like the most is when Chihiro is taking train to meet Zeniba. We can see the neon signs shine brightly all along the way. But it shows such a huge contrast as the scene is so quite and lonely. Every passenger doesn't speak a word, they are like just a soul of themselves.

“I HOPE ONE DAY YOU HAVE THE COURAGE TO RUN AWAY FROM EVERYTHING THAT MAKES YOU MISERABLE.”

TIGA

So today we went to another drama performance at Five Arts Center which was TIGA.

They were given 3 different objects and to produce a performance. Today, we watched 3 monologues which were Bed directed by Fahad Iman, Chair directed by Andy Darrel Gomes, and Knife directed by Arshad Adam, not to forget to mention all these three shows were written by Sharifah Aleysha.

Bed
I like how the director tells the story of a weak woman in her relationship with those subtle performance especially the way she walks on the edge of the bed which represents her status in the relationship, when she covers herself tightly with the blanket in the meaning of having sex. There's one part when she folds the bed and stands on it, does that mean she covers up what she really wanted to tell and what she really feels in the relationship just to maintain it? Not to forget, the classic Chinese song 我等著你回來 "I'm waiting for you to come back" at the beginning of the show surprised and caught my attention. However, I didn't really understand the choice of a CHINESE song until the director explained it is because of the lyrics. Hmmm, why not any other English song? But I do really love the choice of a classic song as if it gives the meaning of the relationship issue happens from the past decades until today? Next, I really love the strength in giving vent to her anger with her boyfriend. She yells, jumps, and fells on the floor. (That's what we (me and my performer friends) used to do on the stage in the past.) However, I would suggest that she may lay on the bed to perform on the floor too as it is a very good chance because audiences are free to move around to watch the performance in order to match with the theme and the object "bed".

Chair
I like how the director plays with the chair which actually represents the actress's past or some kind of memory. When the actress unable to sit properly on the chair during the performance, I guess she can't get through of her past or something she has done and she finds guilty. As she mentions in the performance that she disappoints her mother on what she has done. And I believe she is the one who has already died instead of her mother. However, during the Q&A section, the director did explain he purposely created the space which represented the place in between the heaven and the hell. There's where the actress is waiting for her turn to reincarnate perhaps. I like how the lighting and sound effect is designed to create the space when she has the conversation with her mother in the past or herself in the present. This enhances the space yet help us to switch our mood and emotion together with the actress as well. She played both the mother and daughter well in between without getting us as audiences have second thought of who is she acting at the moment. At the end, when she sits on the chair without getting felt down, it seems to us similarly when we have to accept who we are and to accept what we have done to get through our life. The more struggling we are on a particular problem or issue, the more hurtful we will get as in how the actress keeps falling down from the chair. It hurts her isn't it?  Overall, she performs really well but I find the falling part is a little bit "sengaja". It is somehow seems not that natural.

Knife
The monologue performance turns it into a live cooking show is always a good idea to cheer up the audiences' emotion. I can clearly see the actress's style of performing yet this last show was the easiest to understand what the director is trying to tell. I am impressed with the director of getting his actress who wears a tudung to perform and discuss the sex issue. It is because in our society, Malay or Muslim has always less to cover on sex topic and it is quite a strict rule in our country. The contrast he makes help us to think more as why can't a Malay discusses this issue too? She covers the sex issue through making salad, with all subtle dialogues and the props especially the "glove" that represents condom. I probably understand what the director is trying to tell as everyone can have sex but you need to play safe. However, I don't really get the connection with the main object which is "knife", it could just be a dangerous symbol in having sex? And there's only one time she uses knife to cut the vegetable. I find it has less relatable compared to the "bed" and "chair". Next, I think the director may add in more subtle dialogues for audiences to understand the sex topic instead of having the sound she makes purposely. However, the sounds did really cheer up the audiences as well.

Nonetheless, the opinions above are based on my personal thought only. As what the "chair" director says, there's no right or wrong, just how we interpret it individually.

Besides, I took part in a national competition back in those days which the competitions were more likely as the show we watched today. All participants will be given 5 specific stage props and 2 topics to perform on the stage. You will have to choose 1 of the 2 topics, link and relate the props with the topic to perform an approximately 20 minutes drama. You have to play them well, creatively and reasonably. However, the main challenge is we will have only 10 days to come out with a script, lighting, sound effects, props, and costumes. The props were very common such as broom, trolley, basket, iron, etc. Feel free to check it out as this competition still carries out every year.

"National Secondary School Drama DIY Competition 全國中學生戲劇 DIY 觀摩比賽" organized by Noise Performance House.

Traditional Malaysia Art Form

We were assigned to choose a Malaysia tradition art form. For my group, we chose LION DANCE!!

Thanks to the chance given, we had the opportunity to in deeply understand the history of Lion Dance.

I think I can relate the feelings of the authorities and leaders of Lion Dance from the past until today. (If you have read my older post - Performing Arts).

First, I had never thought of Lion Dance had been once involved in the political issue. The issue of not being recognized as part of Malaysia local culture and tradition. The situation when your culture, tradition or kind of practice you will be proud of is being ignored, your contribution in working in it to "protect" and maintain it, will exceed your own expectation.

Next, I really feel touched of knowing and exploring so much information and hidden stories in Lion Dance that have happened throughout decades. The contribution, efforts, hard work of our Chinese immigrants ancestors, the leaders, and the authorities of Lion Dance, just to maintain the reputation, the culture and the practice of Lion Dance in Malaysia.

Sometimes, I believe, the competitions we join are not for the awards. There are many hard works, skills, and time have spent in the rehearsals just to play the perfect one. I would say, the thing we ask for, is the public to see, to realize our hard work, to understand how important is the practice/culture/tradition to us, and to support us because we are really putting efforts in it.

It is sad listening to the old uncle who is our interviewee, saying Lion Dance is truly dying and fading in our Malaysia Chinese society. Perhaps, he is right, the youngsters view the importance of valuable things, instead of the culture, tradition, skills, efforts that have to be passed down from generations to generations. Not to forget to mention, even Malay and Indian friends are playing and learning Lion Dance in Malaysia, how about us Chinese?

You may not have any interest in it, but, never ever judge a tradition. It has included efforts, sweats, tears, bloods, emotions to keep it alive until today. Not to judge, but support it. The people who are still contributing and sacrificing their time in this culture and tradition, are those who deserve some respects and supports.

Last but not least, thanks to my group mates who contributed a lot too in our presentation. It is not easy to play the Lion Dance. So, here's a video of them doing Lion Dance. SALUTE!

Awesome Performances

It had been almost 1 year and a half since I last attended a good theater performance. The last show I have watched was the Ancient Inscription performed at KLPAC in October 2014. 

Last weekend, I have watched another good show from Five Art Center which was the Baling Talks. Thanks to the chance given by Dr Carmen as it is quite difficult for me to attend a drama or theater performance in KL.

I have to confess that, I am less likely to watch historical related drama performance, I'm more into fictional or abstract drama show. The Baling Talks surprised me though.

The Baling Talks directed by Mark Teh, The performers are Anne James, Fahmi Fadzil, Faiq Syazwan Kuhiri and Imri Nasution. The interesting part I like the most was the changes of characters among different performers. Generally, the drama performance I have watched in the past have fix characters, only few performances play with the switching characters, which can be seen in this Baling Talks. I enjoyed the different feeling and acting from different performers with the those characters. Every performer had their own ways of talking, walking, eyes expressions with different characters. However, among those performers and characters, I was more impressed from the performance from Anne James when she acted as Tunku. It did not show any strange or odd feeling as a lady plays the Tunku role. It was pretty awesome and I like the way she 詮釋 (as in define) herself as Tunku. 

Other than that, I like the space they created as in the 壓縮空間 which likely a compacted space from the arrangement of history books on the floor and the photograph hang on the grid. 

Nonetheless, The Baling Talks wasn't the first mobility show (流動環境劇場) I have watched which audiences have to move around from space to space with the performers. However, as compared to The Baling Talks, A LOST Arts Installation Exhibition "帶著時間色彩的眼淚 透蝕我的煙 而偷竊的小孩 並沒有看我雙眼" presented by Crazy Boomers 瘋狂爆炸劇團 in 2010, I would prefer the latter. 

During the A LOST Arts Installation Exhibition, we were brought from space to space as this performance happened in a very old fashioned house in Penang near the quay which it is vertically, it has 3 story and with a rooftop. 

The most impressing was when we were guided to the rooftop, watched performers performed the impressive martial arts dance (肢體). Not to forget to mention one of the performers was AIDA REDZA!

The second most impressing part was there was a spotlight shined in the sudden on the rooftop of the opposite building. Which means I was watching another performer performed on the opposite building. (impressed no more)

Feel so good to write about drama performance review! I really wish to watch more good shows!

Film Review- Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah

This is the last film Ms Ezzati showed us to do our film review, which is Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah, directed and written by our Malaysian significant star, Mamat Khalid in 2010. 

Hantu Kak Limah Balik Rumah is a film about the main character, Husin who is played by Awie returns to his hometown which is Kampung Pisang after a long time working abroad in Singapore. He discovers some changes happen in his hometown after quite a long time leaving there. First of all, his best friend Usop's leg is injured after some incident has happened on him. Additionally, he also realizes the odd behavior from his neighbor who is Kak Limah. The villagers and Husin believe she is now a ghost. Other than escaping from her, they decide to unite and fight against Kak Limah to return the Kampung Pisang some peace. 

In my opinion, I found Mamat Khalid is really talented that his film able to entertain a huge coverage of audience. In order to produce a film with politic issue as underlying message, he is able to insert the humorous and funny scene to attract our eye balls. Other than politic issue,  he also well interprets and produce the humanity of our society in today's generation. Besides, the realistic dialog, acting from the actors have much enhanced this film. Not to forget to mention Usop although he is not the main character, he leads us as audiences to follow the story line from beginning to ending. His hilarious way of talking has really improved the attractiveness of the film. 

Lastly, thanks to this subject as we have a chance to view Malay film which we had always been stereotyped as Malay film is always a boring film. Looking forward to more good local Malay Films!