fashionably dreaming in wonderland

I don't care if the story or plot or characters are predictable. I simply enjoyed it in yummy 3D nonetheless.

Besides being so delighted with all the wonders of the Underland and the madness of the creatures, I am most stunned with the on-the-spot haute couture that Alice wore. She changed outfits 5 times! Her fragile pale structure made it more appealing - not that I prefer skinny and pale - I just think she's the right character for it.

I empathize for the grown up Alice beause I dream in full color every night like a delusional maniac too. Having said that, yes, I remember every bit of details of each dream. Except that I can't see my dream people in real life - thank God! I talk to them, make them understand they're not real and that they are just in my dream which of course made them more confused and once it even made the "Dream Queen" so upset that she ordered unimaginable chaos because I wasn't suppose to tell them that truth. I had been their enemy for weeks! But as Alice says "It's only a dream. Nothing can hurt me."

I can also dare things when dreaming, make bolder acts even if it means death. I mostly do heroic stunts because I know that nothing can hurt me because it's my dream and I can control it and I can always choose to wake up. I used to have a dream journal but... Maybe I should start one again.

Sense of Sight : Photography Exhibition

Last month, I got a call from a friend asking me if I do modeling job. Are you kidding me?? I thought it he was just making a funny hi-hello-kumusta intro and maybe just looking for a design-related help. Apparently he was serious: He was looking for a 16-year old female for his photography project. This has got to be a joke.

Of course I couldn't say yes. I mean I would put shame to his project if I would look my age and the fact that I was lying about my age might get me into trouble!

I soon found out that this is going to be for an exhibition/competition for Moorfields Eye Hospital Dubai and Dubai Community Theatre and Arts Centre (DUCTAC) to support and creatively challenge local artistic talent and to promote the importance of regular eye screening.

Pretty cool eh? SENSE OF SIGHT as it is called.

3 - 24 February 2010

And so Kahlil gave me his vision:

"To go about this, I'd have a loose narrative about a woman in her thirties who creates a photo album about her older sister's life spanning 20 years. To create these pictures in her mind, she will have to rely on her memories about her sister and how the world looked like when she was still able to see. In effect, the sister will have grown up from teenager to adult without looking any older than how the woman remembers her. Also, the world will become more and more colorful as the years pass on as the woman's memories fail her and her imagination fill in the gaps."

With that idea, I just had to do it. It was clever and I can imagine the creativity unfolding. Besides, I then realized, it wasn't really about me being 16 years old and deceiving the viewers - it was me being part of something unique and exciting.

The session was easy. Well you know, I didn't wear any makeup and my hair's not in it's proper manners - so it looks like I'm very raw. We finished shooting within two saturdays and I sure hope I pulled it altogether. I hope the photographer, one of my most admired shutterbugs, did not regret in taking me. It was all fun and all good having friends come over our home.

Lastly, I hope he wins! Go Kahlil!

Trip to Pandora with 3D glasses on

One day, husband says I should take a break and go watch a movie. But not just in an ordinary big screen, he wants me to experience Avatar in 3D. At first I was hesitant and joked shopping (or sleeping) sounds more inviting. He told me if I miss this one out, I would regret it for the rest of my life. Yes we are movie junkies. 3 movies in one day was normal for us or arriving home by 3am while I was pregnant. When the boys came, the habit became minimal and so we turn to the mighty Vuze.

I had to take this opportunity. Well, you know we're taking turns.

Right as I put the on the 3D glasses, I can hear me say "hala...." marveling while Alice In Wonderland trailer unfolds. (But I so hated that cheshire cat grinning right up to my face. It looks evil!) It takes a bit of getting used to. As my eyes adjust, my mind flies away to Pandora.

I can almost touch that bioluminescent airborne jellyfish! It's like 5 inches near me! I thought it can even be one of my "ten tickles" kind of creature. I felt I've known this place, or dreamt it with me hovering in space. Amazing.

The film made me think how beautiful our planet would've been if technology never came or civilizations were contented. We could've harmoniously connect with the elements and all other creatures and money wouldn't have ruled us. But then again, you know humans can never be satisfied by just actually living...

As I walk out of the cinema my eyes were literally adjusting back to reality. I miss my boys already.

Perfume: The Story Of A Murderer

How do you keep smell?

That thought is from the movie "Perfume: The Story of a Murderer". There is an answer of course, go on and watch it.

It is a story of a man who has an extraordinary ability to smell EVERYTHING and cataloging each scent in his mind. His possessive attitude towards a certain scent brought him on a journey to finally capture and lock the smell of beauty and created the most exhilarating perfume ever.

What I love about the film's style is it's simplistic approach. Because I would have imagined special effects of smoke, colourful trails to capture the essence of the story which is mainly focused on smelling. But it didn't. There's no need really if you have the perfect casting. I adore Ben Whishaw's effortless performance, making him my new favourite "hero".

Here is the last narration of the movie. Moving and beautiful:

"There was only one thing the perfume could not do. It could not turn him into a person who could love and be loved like everyone else. So, to hell with it he thought. To hell with the world. With the perfume. With himself."

And lastly:

"Within no time, Jean-Baptiste Grenouille had disappeared from the face of the earth. When they had finished, they felt a virginal glow of happiness. For the first time in their lives, they believed they had done something purely out of love."