Prince of Persia : When Being Too Faithful Gives Nothing

Game-based movie is always a dilemma. Most of them ended up failing, with the hard protest from the original game players. Those gamers (me included ;p ) protested the depiction of the character and the inconsistent storyline. Final Fantasy, for example. The gamers expected to see Cloud or Squall in the silver screen, but Square Enix gave us unmemorable female cast, and not even summon monster made any single appearance (save for the Leviathan-like monster). Or Death or Alive which was turn into a cheap rip off of crossover between Power Rangers and Sailor Moon, together with Ayane's purple hair. Uh-oh, that is one hell of a living proof that you cannot translate gaming stuff literary to the real world. Well, FF : Advent Children is one exception, though.

The most recent game-based movie comes from Jordan Merchner's masterpiece, Prince of Persia. A platformer. When I saw the trailer, I was screaming within. Everything was translated literally, with no awkward feeling. The costumes of Dastan are all alike with the game version. The depiction, the action. Well, the movie was adapted from the latest trilogy of Prince of Persia, not the original one.

Watching the movie in its first minute, I felt like playing the game. It shows the platforming action, jumping between roofs, gliding, hanging, and all the stunts. The shape of the houses are faithful to the original game. Hell, Jake Gylenhaal even looked like being prompted directly from the game.

A very faithful adaptation to the game. In fact, it is too faithful. Thus, you will encounter gaming branches and side quest here. Game storyline is made for the sake of exploring various levels and stages, showcasing the beauty of rendering. It's quite normal for a game version to keep losing the sacred dagger, and going to various stages and missions to retrieve it back and lose it again. Gamer will not complain, because they enjoy their involvement. Hell, this is a platformer, not RPG. So, the action speaks first, not the storyline. And this is the point where the movie falls. No storyline adjustment. And due to the fact that Prince of Persia's strength is in the action not the storyline, it became very annoying to watch Dastan kept losing the dagger. Not once, not twice, but many times! Sorry Disney, this time Dreamworks kicked your ass with their How to Train Your Dragon.

Talking about the action itself, I should have not complained. It's quite nice, but too shallow for Prince of Persia. It should be more spectacular! Instead, all the actions here are just too "usual".

Apart of that, the brotherhood thingy is a nice saying. "It takes the strength of brotherhood to keep the kingdom united!"

Dear Someone 3

Dear someone,

I cannot believe that I am writing this unsent letter to you once again. I know that in the last letter, I expressed my intention to forget you. However, in this very moment, I suddenly remember you. That our painful parting created not only sorrow, but also somehow motivating.

I was a disappointment to you for one reason, that I was still staying with my parents until this age. Your commitment at that time was not having a relationship with someone who is staying with his parents. Yet, we clinged for 50 days. Beyond our thought, we already imagined a life without parents, a life for studying abroad. Both of us struggled for getting the awards. Yet, we took different paths.

You decided to stay for the same scholarship, pertaining consistency or just simply being stubborn. Yet I took various chances, the decision trigerring an inconsistence stigma upon me. After our parting, I was totally motivated to really gain the scholarship. I would like to show you how I can still achieve that, even without you being next to me. In fact, my ego told me to prove myself worthy to you. That I am more than you!

People might say that by holding this ambition, it means I still have some feelings towards you. Well, it’s not my place to say that.

The truth was, I felt as a total loser everytime a scholarship rejected me. Meanwhile, you seemed to forget your ambition by staying in a total zone and confessing that you will delay your scholarship. With your so-called withdrawal from the battle, I was still as motivated as before to slap you in the face.

Right now, I am holding this award to study abroad, in one of the most prestigious universities. Meaning, I am going for what we used to fight for. This egotism within me yearn to show this off to you. This mind is longing to shout outloud in front of your face, “Hey, your reason to underestimate me is no longer exist! I am living my own life, far from my parents. Even better, I get this award sooner than you do. Now, who’s the loser, huh?”

But I cannot do that. You don’t care with that, do you? What I can do is only pouring this grudge unto an unsent letter. But one thing that I know for sure, I am more than you.

Iron Man 2 : A Cry of a Fanboy

Iron Man 2 has been out in the movie. Being a fanboy of Marvel comic, as well as being astounded by the first movie, I decided to watch it. The first installment brought a different approach to superhero movie. What made it interesting was the faithful way of retelling the origin of Iron Man. Audience was even presented with the original suit, the yellow tin man. It was also full of humor, made it a fresh movie. The release date of the first movie was also nice for fanboys. At that time, Iron Man was labeled as a jerk, with his bringing about Superhero Registration Act and Civil War. The movie brought him back to his root.

However, the second movie is different. It lacks of humor, unlike the first installment. The superhero action here is also a bit corny. So, you don't get both quality. There are many unimportant destruction. The destruction in the racing was totally redundant. The explosion of various cars also make it a mere eye candy.

In the end of the first movie, most fanboys had already cheered for War Machine and S.H.I.E.L.D. for the second one. Granted! We got War Machine and Nick Fury. But the War Machine is not that spectacular. It seemed to be cramped out. But probably the storyline is not that good.

Pepper Potts fits well in the first movie, but in the second movie, she's nobody. I mean, Natalie Rushman (a.k.a. Natasha Romanoff a.k.a. Black Widow) outshines her. She played well, though sometimes she acts as if she is the amalgamic version of both Natasha Romanoff and Yelena Belova (Black Widow 2).

The plot used here is the Armor Wars. But the execution was too lame. Not that spectacular. In my personal opinion, with Iron Man focused on the character development of Tony Stark, the Devil in the Bottle could be nice. That way, War Machine can be introduced smoother. The enemy here is also not that eye-popping. Whiplash. Errr, first movie's villain was not a well-known one, but it is the first movie, the introduction. I really hope Mandarin would be the villain in the second movie, but Marvel gives us B-class villain, Whiplash.

The interesting thing in every Marvel movie is the cameo. And in this movie, you can see Captain America's Shield, though not in a complete form. Too bad, when I watched it, nobody seemed to recognized it. The cliffhanger in the end of the movie also gives something to cheer about. Nick Fury's proposal, Avengers Initiative. Huray!! Iron Man, Cap, and Avengers! Next turn, we will get Civil War!!!!!!!

Overall, Iron Man 2 is not something to please the fanboys. Those loving explosion and care nothing about the shallow storyline should cheer out loud. But the true believers will just shout, "FIX IRON MAN!"

A Letter to Sarasvati

Oh Sarasvati, the goddess of knowledge and learning,

It is said that you rule all about knowledge, learning, and knowledge. You are also the goddess of speech, the ruler of wisdom. The matron of all teachers in the world.

I just wanna ask you, how to be a good teacher? Should a good teacher be loved by all the disciples? Should a good teacher gave all what the students want? But how do the students know what they need?

I used to hear a saying from a wise senior, to be a good teacher, we should be ready to be unpopular leader. We should be ready to face the hatred from the students, for we should not spoil them. She said that sometimes the students do not even know what they need, and what they want is not always what they need. They have to realize that learning is not always easy and fun all the time. When the time is right, they will even feel the stress.

By the time I heard that, I found it ridiculous. For me, a good teacher should be someone who is accepted by the students, able to give direction from the inside. It worked, in several occasions. But then, when I face the class which I need to push harder, they refuse to work hard. I tried so hard to discipline them, but they saw me as a mere devil. I asked them to work hard, for they needed it, but I was labeled as evil. But I couldn't lower my standard, for they really need to achieve the threshold. If I lower it, they will not be able to gain the respect they need later on. And I don't want that.

To please everybody is not an easy job, not even a good thing to do. Am I not that ready to be an unpopular leader? I know I strayed too far from my ideal figure, but I've tried so hard to reach that. Being Mr. Nice Teacher in this case will not help them, will not help me either.

Oh matron, what should I do? What should I even try to do?

Lead my tongue with the melody of your guitar, and sprinkle my brain with your holy water. Let me dance the rhythm of wisdom, and guide my speech to the road of betterment.

Dear Someone (2)

Dear someone,

Today is March 21. It might mean nothing to you. Probably just another date passing by, probably just another ordinary Sunday. You might just go to church or spend your day in your room. Might be hanging out with some friends.

But this day means something for me. Exactly a year ago, I met you for the very first time. Going to your boarding room, spending the time together while the falling rain beat the earth mercilessly. We talked of Jesus, of Buddha, of Mohamed. Paulo Coelho and other authors came along the course of our sweet embrace.

Slowly, you whispered in my ear, "Would you like to go to church with me tomorrow?" I nodded in an instance, even though I hadn't gone there for months. You brought me back, blinded me with all your sweetness.

You never remember the date. To be honest, if it was not for the date in the certificate I received that day, I would not remember it as well. You never understand the credit sender to your mobile phone at 21 every month.

The day we went our separate way, it created a scar. Leaving me numb even until now. I feel no genuine feeling anymore. Yet, you walked away easily, with the promise that we will still be friends. You still asked me out, leaving some hopes for my heart. I bore all the suffer, just to be with you. Torn apart inside, but keep it up outside.

And you started erasing my name a month ago from your cell. And I realized that I had to erase you from my very core.

Yet, allow me to cry alone at church today. Today would be my first day of going back to church, remembering you for the last time. Praying for you, and hoping to get more power to walk away.

I'll come to church, the very church we went. The very chair we usually sat on. And shedding tears, but this time, I'll be alone........