"The Seventh Sense"
[Music || Monica, "The First Night"]
During the summer, I happened to see a movie called "The Seventh Sense" in the "Drama" section of Blockbuster when I was renting movies with friends. My friends did not want to check it out.

I promised myself I would rent this intriguing video based on the cover. It looked like a movie about a blind cellist experiencing love for the first time.

Lo and behold, my COOL friend and I spontaneously borrowed it last week! I must say, this is a BAD movie.

The more I watch it, the more I liked it though. It looks to be direct-to-video and produced by Playboy Entertainment. Blockbuster only carried the "Rated R" version; I was disappointed they did that because "Rated" stuff always cut out the artistic value (Blockbuster carries the Rated version of "Requiem For A Dream" only)

I HIGHLY recommend "The Seventh Sense" starring Lucy Jenner (2002's Van Damme flick "Derailed"). I showed it to a couple other friends and they called this a "soft core porno." I'm sorry, but the nudity is important to this movie. I was more interested in the story than the nudity, which inserted every 5 minutes.

Frances (Lucy Jenner) feels the music so deeply that she goes into a world of her own; a world of make-believe passion each time she picks up her cello. There is a main conflict in the movie; there is finally a procedure to cure her blindness but Frances is afraid. If she regains her sight, will she still be able to create beautiful music?

Moreso, she is devoting herself only to music now and not love. Will she fall in love when she becomes a protege for famous pianist Ivan Leszko (a miscast Endre Hules)? The man has lost his wife years ago and is now afraid of touching the piano once more. Will Frances change him in time for the recital, Ivan's big comeback, in front of the top music executives and critics?

Although there is a lack of chemistry between Jenner and Hules, they make the best of it with the sensual script. Ivan teaches Frances new techniques of inspiration to play the most romantic, passionate music that oozes with sensuality.

Watch Frances open up her eyes, even though she is blind, when Ivan invites her to a surprise mask party where she is the life of the party among Ivan's "friends."

"The Seventh Sense" is a Drama/Suspense movie about taking a chance on love, even if you think it is blind. Highly recommended.

"In 'The Company' of Cinq"
[Music || Samantha Mumba, "Gotta Tell You"]
I love doing things by myself so much. Last night, I eyed a 10:15 p.m. "The Company," the last showing of the night, at the Laemmle theater. I drove myself into the coldness of the night. When I got to the near empty streets of South Pasadena, I had to make a couple turns to find out where the parking was. Eventually, I parked on the street a block from the theater, since you had to pay for the theater parking. I wasn't sure if it was legal or anything, anyway...

I've been yearning to watch "The Company" for so long, but I did not know what to expect. I've read several articles about this dream project of Neve Campbell, a tribute to a dance company. In this case, it's the Joffre ballet. I was told not to expect a plot-driven movie; so I went in without knowing what to expect from the movie.

In all case, the movie theater was very intimate. I counted; there were five other people sitting around me; two couples, and one guy by himself. Counting myself, there were six of us in the theater this cold night watching "The Company." When the previews started, the door was still ajar so the guy sitting behind me went to go close it! It was such a strange sight to see this at a movie theater!

The movie was nothing I expected; it was partly beautiful, partly slow, but I never kept my eyes off the screen. There were so many lines I didn't catch; I have to watch the subtitles come the DVD. Alas, the movie was mostly always entertaining. It was not a movie about Neve Campbell, but rather like the title amptly states, the company she dances for. This is a tough sell.

I got out of the theater a little after midnight, feeling the agitation that my car was towed. I started running toward it in the dark, empty one-way street. It was safe, but the night was so frigid. I, so need real gloves/mitten or whatever you call them with the finger holes cut out.

Listening to my beloved KZLA, I drove down Lake Avenue, eyeing the empty but brightly lit shops. I drove in a zig-zag line but I kept my speed limit, goodness knows that police patrol more carefully at night when there's rarely any cars to spot for. Nearing the residental areas, I suddenly felt like I was driving into an unknown, a darkness. The street was muted charcoal except for the dim street lights which looked more doll-house than real; bless the San Marino style. Driving about 30 mph, I admired how much I have come to love the risk, the beauty, the solitude.

I was in the company of myself and frankly, call me selfish because I loved every minute of it.
---
I have just about watched everything I wanted to, so here's my Top 10 Movies of 2003! It'll probably still change though.

My Top 10 Movies of 2003
1. "Whale Rider"
2. "Lost In Translation"
3. "Pieces of April"
4. "Hero" (US Release: April 2004)
5. "Cold Mountain"
6. "thirteen"
7. "Lord of The Rings: Return of The King"
8. "L'auberge espagnole"
9. "Lilya 4-ever"
10. "X2: X-Men United"

Honorable mention:
"The Company"
"Bend It Like Beckham"
"Spellbound"

Top 10 Disappointments/"Worst" List
1. "The Twins Effect"
2. "Daredevil"
3. "Dirty Pretty Things"
4. "Identity"
5. "How To Deal"
6. "The Last Samurai"
7. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde"
8. "Internal Affairs 2"
9. "The Eye"
10. "Under The Tuscan Sun"

Dishonorable mention:
"A Mighty Wind"
"The Matrix: Reloaded"

Fun!
1. "From Justin To Kelly"
2. "Honey"
3. "The Lizzie McGuire Movie"
4. "So Close"
5. "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life"

Sorta fun:
"He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" ("A la folie... pas du tout" )
"How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days"

"I Don't Need Wings To Help Me Fly"
[Music || Myra, "Miracles Happen"]
So, taking Linda's suggestions, and my free Blockbuster Old Movie rental coupons, I finally watched what the fuss was over "Original Sin" (starring the delicious Angelina Jolie) and the kooky "The Princess Diaries." Both were surprisingly very good, especially "Original Sin" which I found the critics were too harsh on.

This Winter break has been fun. I feel like slaving over school books, cooping myself up in the library, and studying like mad in my first year of college paid off. Now I'm reaping my rewards. Good things come to those who wait. I hope I do just as well in my studies for the coming semesters. College sure seems fast and it isn't as boring as high school.

I literally got to see almost all my friends during this break and un garcon, did we have good times. Mmm-mmm-mmm.

I got to go shopping for girly gifts, learn how to make quarter shaped fries, CA sun salad, and design my own Wooly at Clay's. I got to diss Miranda Otto, eat simply divine Godiva chocolate cheesecake at the Cheesecake Factory, scarf up barely enough tips for the poor waiter (I really feel bad about that), and excessive honk hazardous cars with Linda and Ileanna. I got to watch the subpar "The Last Samurai" (along with Albert) and the pretty good "Cold Mountain" with Danh. I got to eat irresistible Gale's pizza, shake it up to "Honey," go to less-than-stellar shopping experiences at Del Amo and Amoeba, and hold Subway sandwiches for five hours with Lien. I got to eat some of the nastiest cheesecake at "The Jazz Cafe" (along with Lien) with Kit. I got to eat some good pie (along with Kit) and watch a weird Chinese horror movie "Three" with Ali and Helen. I got to write a thank-you letter to the rude waiteress at mediocre "The Curry House" with Helen. And more!

Who's the say a boy can't be thankful? Buenos tiempos, we have good times. This winter break has been a blast... These are special times!

"3.86"
[Music || Jessica Simpson, "Underneath"]
All week I was waiting for my final grade to be posted, my dreadful Astronomy class. I had no idea what his grading methods or scale was; I just hoped I did well enough on the final to get a passing grade. I swear, I didn't learn anything in the class except how to sweat each night trying to cram and get a passing grade. I didn't learn anything about stars, but I learned what I would go through to get a freaking passing grade.

Turns out, I did better than my expectations. I got a "B+"! Thanks so much to Andrea for her Astronomy help! Thanks so much to Russell for pushing me out of my room (and internet access) so I was forced to cram all day in the library for the final!

My overall GPA was 4.0 until the Astronomy grade which brought it down to 3.86. I kept thinking I was going to get a "C" or "D" in Astronomy, so I'm over the moon of getting a "B+"! I'm so happy I did so well and my efforts paid off! I wonder how tough next semester will be; I'm taking my first lab!

"Cold Mountain vs. LOTR:ROTK"
[Music || Jessica Simpson, "In This Skin"]
(1/29 Updated with "Mystic River" and "Freaky Friday")

Really? The front runners of Best Picture this year is boiled down to "Cold Mountain" and "Lord of The Rings: Return Of The King"? Granted, I have yet to see "Mystic River" (which I am not that excited about), but these two are very fine movies, but are far from my personal best.

Firstly, "Cold Mountain" is the better of the two. It's powerful. It strikes a chord with you. It has a message. It's beautiful to watch. It's well acted. Most of all, its greatness will divide audiences. Right off the bat, if the one does not connect with the brief encounter and flirtatious romance between Ada and Inman, they will not like the movie because the entire movie is based on that. "Cold Mountain" was a movie about hope, no matter how heartwrenching it may be as it showed the dark aspects of war. My favorite performance belonged to Natalie Portman in a short but lasting role as Sara, a widow fending for her child. It was absolutely heartbreaking. This movie resonated with me, but I am not rushing to watch it again because the war scenes are disturbing.

"Return Of The King" is a good movie; not a great one. It's better than "The Two Towers," but it is nowhere near the calibre of "The Fellowship of The Ring." "ROTK" tried very hard to compact many storylines within its 3.5 hours; the results is a mix bag of distraction and feeling of too much being squeezed in. I'm not saying that's an entirely bad thing; there was never a dull moment in this entertaining epic. "ROTK" is more popcorn and big battles than subtlety. The ensemble is amazing and deserves major props although none of them have enough individual screen time for me to see their characters develop. This is a great trilogy and snubbing "The Fellowship" was wrong. I don't think "ROTK" should be awarded Best Picture on its own merits; rather I think the Academy should award "ROTK" as an award to the wonderful trilogy, which put together is a modern day classic.

--
The Best of 2003 (Still to be updated)
1. (1) "Whale Rider"
2. (3) "Lost In Translation"
3. (5) "Pieces of April"
4. (NEW) "Cold Mountain"
5. (4) "thirteen"
6. (NEW) "Lord of The Rings: Return of The King"
7. (2) "L'auberge espagnole"
8. (6) "Lilya 4-ever"
9. (8) "X2: X-Men United"
10. (NEW) "Honey"

Honorable mention:
N/A (7) "Bend It Like Beckham"
N/A (10) "Spellbound"
N/A (Not eligible, US release date: April 2004) "Hero"
"Freaky Friday"

Guilty pleasures
1. "From Justin To Kelly"
2. "The Lizzie McGuire Movie"
3. "So Close"
4. "He Loves Me, He Loves Me Not" ("A la folie... pas du tout")
5. "The Eye"
6. "Honey"
7. "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life"
8. "How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days"

Subpar
1. "Dirty Pretty Things"
2. "Identity"
3. "How To Deal"
4. "The Last Samurai"
5. "Legally Blonde 2: Red, White, and Blonde"

Borderline diss:
"The Matrix: Reloaded"
"Under The Tuscan Sun"
"A Mighty Wind"
"Mystic River"