Friday, November 18, 2011

Making or Breaking Your Identity

Do you know why everyone has an identity? So do I!


Right, so why do you have find your identity? Or your so-called 'persona' you'd like to be or already are in life? Is it therapeutic? Is it fun? Is it because you're an egoistic maniac? Whatever the reason, why bother? You are you, I am me. Simple enough, eh?

Of course you'd like to believe so. But, why don't we just delve a little deeper? It seems that our identity is not what, but how we actually do anything at all. How we think and do things.

Still, it appears that the real question is: Why should we define our respective identities? Shouldn't we keep the ambiguity as it is? Untouched and replenished?

But, I guess, that's for wimps. The very core of identity should be able to differentiate why and how and what and all the questions we have of ourselves. For a moment, just imagine holding onto something that will either make or break you. But you have to choose. Do we hold onto your identity? Or do you let go, and try something new, different?

Doubts. That's what our identities will be subjected to for a very long, long time. To free our identity of doubts is to tell your mind that there is no such thing if fear of something. You can, but you won't. Because we are all scared chickens, we don't want to be doing anything that requires risk of losing our identity.


So, make or break?


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Review of The Week!

Movie : The Avengers (2012)

Awe-inducing, funny and action-packed, this could be the superhero movie of the year (not that there are many).


It is unusual for directors to modify the genre of superhero movies. To be precise, if we are looking for some popcorn entertainment, Joss Whedon could have easily turned this into a full-blown alien-versus-superhero affair (that actually would not be too bad). Interestingly to note however, he does not. With an affinity to blend action scenes with tongue-in-cheek humor, he balances the tone of the movie to be both rewarding and most definitely, superhero-themed.

There are plenty of noteworthy things you can brag about this movie. The cinematography, the script, the visuals, the cast, the production design. Surely though, there would be one or two flaws, but they are not really meant to be called 'flaws' per se. Bending the laws of physics, 'saving the world' is saving the US and how Hulk manages to comply to orders are just some of the minor 'flaws'. These are probably things that you would just like to ignore for the sake of giving the director the benefit of the doubt.

It is quite evident that Whedon has made this film his own. He incorporates humor into almost every scene, as if things are not to be taken too seriously in the world of The Avengers. And it should be like that. Again, the emphasis on superhero movies usually lie on destruction, life-saving and personalization of characters. But here, there is some of that, but not completely. No chessy lines. No rushed pacing. No cliche-ridden narrative. (Just Loki speaking in a not-so-sharp English accent.)

The movie can also be likened to last year's Deathly Hallows (Part 2); a lot of hype, and duly delivered. At least we could expect how the last Harry Potter movie was meant to be : an emotional, epic battle. The Avengers did deliver but there is something different to the whole theme that somehow manages to change our view on how superhero movies should be in the future. Is it Robert Downey Junior's Shakespearean jab at Thor? Or is the excellent cinematography of sticking to single shots instead of quick-fire editing? Heck, it could even be Scarlett Johansson's semi-obscene display of bust. Anyhow the movie is a success, most definitely.


Unprecedented, now that is one word to decribe Joss Whedon's take on a superhero movie.


Personally*... Stay in your seats till the end; there are rumors that an extra scene is added to the US version of The Avengers, for compensation of the late release.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/user/894039/reviews/

Spark of inspiration?