Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Musings. Show all posts

Thursday, 21 December 2017

Movie Review: Tamam Miyiz (Are We OK?)

Stumbled upon this movie on Youtube during one of my usual forays of interesting stuff to watch, you know, beyond the usual Fail and Crash videos. I decided to just sit back and enjoy the thing.


The story to me in essence is about 2 people finding each other and then realising the value of how ones life can positively impact another. The delivery of this is done through a somewhat difficult to believe (forgive my logical head) dream sequence, where the protagonist, Temmuz, dreams of a young boy asking to find him. 

Temmuz, an artist who seems to be living a carefree and almost bohemian no-fucks-to-give lifestyle is stuck in an artistic rut, stemming from complicated relationship with his parents and significant other. 

Then on day, while with his agent/best friend, he sees the same exact boy in his dream, a disabled one at that, being wheeled around by an elderly woman. This shocks him into action and he shadows them to find a means to introduce himself.

Thoroughly intrigued, Temmuz devises a way to segue himself into their lives as a social work volunteer, offering a regular book reading session to the boy to answer the burning questions in his mind. 

The story arc picks up when Temmuz finally commences their reading session when Ihsan, the boy, pointblank asks him what does he want from them. Cornered, Temmuz decides to come clean and explain about his haunting dream. Surprised as Ihsan was, he accepts Temmuz's offer, in return for a favour - to be killed, so that in death he can meet God to ask if God loved him at all to have created him that way. What ensues after is the beginning of a unique relationship between the two and all those closest to them. 

I wont be spoiling the movie more than I already have, but I must declare that the movie had such a powerful impact on me I dwelled on it for days. 

The actors playing Temmuz and Ihsan respectively were very effective in their roles. I particularly appreciated how Ihsan, the disabled boy was the one who appeared emotionally stronger and centred despite his apparent situation and Temmuz the rich spoiled artiste being shaped by his encounter with Ihsan. It is a wonderful hypothesis of how one person can deeply affect another. 

As their relationship progresses, the spectre of Ihsan's request looms closer  as the dynamic of their shared passion and vigour grows. We are then confronted with the truth of Ihsan's desire contrasted against Temmuz unfocused approach to life.

The tale culminates in a heart pounding crescendo that will forever change their lives. I ended the movie feeling out of sorts and questioning if any of us could ever be in either Temmuz's or Ihsan's figurative shoes,

Of course, the film is not without its failings - the pacing, the supporting characters, and the general feeling of how convenient it all seemed, does affect the believability of the story. The sometimes cartoony CGI employed also detracted from the moment. The actors Deniz Celiloglu and Aras Bulut Iynemli to me, carried the entire emotional heft of the movie between themselves. Deniz keeping Temmuz's heart on the backburner and Aras displaying all using only his face and expressive eyes. 

Another bit I found to be worth of note is the Turkish language used in the film adds so much beauty, at moments sounding Arabic (or Abrahamaic in origin) and in others more aurally Hindi. It just rolls off their mouths with no jarring sounds and just flows into the balmy, sun-tinged videography.

For the time being, the movie can be found on YouTube and watched for free on the YT panel above or this link - https://youtu.be/WWam8jRDiwc . Feel free to view it and tell me what you think. 

I definitely consider this one of my favourite movie. 

Thursday, 14 July 2016

Post Raya Feels

So, 1st of Syawal, Aidil Fitri came recently and life now resumes after a very short break with family.

My sister, brother and sis-in-law and their boys came over to spend some time in Langkawi.


Cant believe how big the boys are now. With such distinct characters too. Amazing.

We had meals at many places too - home, Pizza Hut Cenang, Najjah Restaurant Padang Matsirat and McD (yes, McD!).



I wonder how much weight we put on after a month of fasting.







We mostly lounged around at home (punctuated with more food of course, it is the Salleh Family way) but it was good. Even managed to bring some Grilled Chicken Pasta Bake for the team at work which I heard was very quickly demolished.


Even the cats were happy being constantly showered with attention.


Moments of simple bliss can often be missed mainly because we often forget to look for and enjoy it. But reminisce about your past, and I bet you the world, something will make you curl your lips and smile.

Selamat Hari Raya everyone.

Saturday, 21 May 2016

Blind Faith

Originally by Chase & Status, with a more raucuous edge. This cover version by Jack Watts is sung with such abandon and melancholy.



Blind Faith.

I am a man with a heavy heart
And I dare not turn the pages

It's a blind faith
A cruel waste
One bitter taste
And I know I need this sweet sensation

Sweet sensation
Its the music that we play
That will ease your mind

Tell me what is a man to do
When his mind is working all the time
Keep my soul sane
I won't waste
This time and space
'Cause I know I need this sweet sensation

Sweet sensation
Its the music that we play
That will ease your mind
Sweet sensation
Its the music that we play
That will ease your mind

Sweet sensation
Its the music that we play
That will ease your mind.

Monday, 16 May 2016

Truth.

Their violence, was petty and ignorant, but ultimately it was true to who they were.

The real violence, the violence that I realise was unforgiveable....

Was the violence that we do to ourselves.

When we are too afraid to be who we really are.
posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, 9 May 2016

Langkawi Chronicles : Three Amigos!

Stayed in Langkawi for many months and never once had I really gave the restaurant a chance. It was always a maybe next time or, there is no nearby parking spot.

Today however, the was a spot merely 10 meters away and Boss Lady and I swooped in immediately.

We should have eaten here months ago. The portions are sizeable and very satisfying for big eaters like me.




The service is quick and the food preparation didnt take long at all. I ordered to start, a sharing plate of Nachos with Pico de Gallo and it arrived barely 5 minutes later as a plate of crisp corn chips topped with lashings of soured-cream, pico de gallo, jalapeno and spoonfuls of delish tomato/meat sauce.



Then our mains arrived, Beef Fajitas and Mixed Grill Platter of Chicken, Beef and Lambchop Fajitas. These were serious Man-portions of carnivore favourites on a square sizzling hot plate spitting and sputtering at the table, rewarding you with sweet smells of grilled meats and peppers.




As a Chef myself, I know that their recipe is a slight variation on the usually dry rubbed spice mix, resulting in meats that are more succulent (yet just as delicious, with the cajun-like spices) with some gravy to mop up with the flatbread fajitas. We were given 2 slices per order (we were informed one can ask for more, but 2 was plenty). If you love meats with a lot of character, these 2 dishes will surely satisfy.




The chef then dropped by at our table, regaling us with more bits on the restaurant - there are actually 3 restaurants in the same place: Indian, Tex-Mex and Italian, food uses Halal meats (and no alcohol in the food), they do serve alcohol for those who do wish to partake in beers and tipples.



I must say I am thoroughly impressed with the tastes and portion sizes of Three Amigos. Big dinner for 2 costs a about RM140, including drinks. Makes me regret not coming here sooner.


posted from Bloggeroid

Saturday, 7 May 2016

Such is life....

It has arrived at long last. Ignorance and pretending all is fine and dandy will no longer suffice.

Many years has progressed yet we have not, so it is only fair to both to exit from the stagnate.

Am I sad? Shattered actually. But, this is better than continuing the pretense and hanging on to false hope.



It was good while it lasted. Many moments were blissful. It has become difficult to recall which ones were great when so many have become long silences.

Hope you do better, better than me even. We deserve the best.
posted from Bloggeroid

Wednesday, 4 May 2016

Razee In A Gaze
















I am more than a mere 10 minute test. However, it is an eerie feeling to realise how close this is to home.

Effin' headshrinkers. :)
posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, 2 May 2016

I never seem to ..

Learn.

Sometimes it us better to say no to people.

Especially when not saying no translates into causing myself some difficulty.

Can't seem to develop the ability to just decline helping people.

Most times I feel stupid for being so easy. Other times, I feel like I have done a good thing.

Many will say I have done a favour and that is a good deed well done.

So, If I have done a good deed, why is it so hard for people to simply return the deed in a fair amount of time?

I never seem to.......

Learn.


posted from Bloggeroid

Monday, 25 April 2016

Monday, 11 April 2016

Hipster-Crazy Food Fad

Saw a peculiar video on the net recently about a new dessert called 'Raindrop Cake'.

You know, this one below.


Barely 2 seconds into it, the chef in me clawed out all upset about the thing being called a cake when it is literally an agar based glop of water.

Guess what? These people also agree that it is NOT a cake by any definition.










Them Hipsters are a weird lot I tell you.
posted from Bloggeroid

Saturday, 9 April 2016

Langkawi Food Quirks

One interesting quirk about Langkawi is that halal Chinese style hawker food can be very hard to find.

I have lived here for more than 40months and have not once found a place that offers good dry style Pan Mee.

The local Malaysian eatery chain Old Town Coffee does have a version of it but the taste is far from what I would call delicious.

And therefore I pounced on a bowl offered in one of the lowerground foodstalls at IPC (formerly known as Ikano Power Center), Mutiara Damansara.




This was relatively similar to the one we created in Malaysia Airlines' Golden Lounge a few years back.

And what a joy it was to be able to partake in this scrumptious densely textured noodle dish redolent with sweet, spicy chilli and salty undertones.

Unfff.
posted from Bloggeroid