Miah Learns to Write

Yesterday I watched the film Koe no Katachi ( lit. The Shape of Voice; English title: A Silent Voice ). I cried several times throughout the film. For me, it was a sweet blend of tragic, sad episodes and uplifting, hopeful moments that make it easier for me to process without becoming an emotional wreck. After watching it, I now understand why many anime fans were outraged by the Oscar snub. The same thing could be said of many countless anime films out there but I think several bloggers and Youtubers have explained why that is the case. I like the explanations of Mother’s Basement and akidearest on the matter. Spoiler alert : If you haven’t watched the film yet, I suggest that you do. If you could get a DVD of it from your local video store, do so. It’s a wonderful film. When He Met Her The film follows the story of Shoya Ishida and his friends. One day in elementary school, their teacher introduces a new student, Shoko Nishimiya, who is revealed to be deaf. In the beginni...

When I first watched The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies, I was again impressed by the amazing visual effects and cinematography but I felt that there was something lackluster compared to Peter Jackson's work on The Lord of the Rings. To be frank, I thought that the progression of the plot was good and the development of the characters had a finesse to it, that we get to see different sides to them and that they transform as the story moves along. Just as with The Lord of the Rings, most of the tension in The Hobbit is internal and we see how these are resolved in the end. It was not bereft of the stunning fight scenes and the thrill of holding our breaths as we wait to find out whether good or evil prevails in the end. But something that I did notice was the ending. Personally, I thought that there would be some glimmer of hope for Thorin, Kili, and Fili -- that perhaps they were wearing mithril underneath their armor just like Frodo so that they would not be fatally woun...

I just watched the 2006 American comedy drama film, Click, starring Adam Sandler and Christopher Walken among others. I laud the way they mixed the lightness of the comedy and the somberness of the drama. Furthermore, I liked how the message was powerfully brought across through the characters and by a single remote control. The film narrates the adventures of Michael Newman as he travels through time, skipping almost every important event in his life with the help of the 'universal' remote control given to him by Morty, a clerk from the "Beyond" section of the Big Bath & Beyond store. Due to his excessive time jumping, Michael misses almost every big moment of his life - his kids growing up, his wife divorcing him, his father's death - because his body shifts into autopilot mode in the process. While in autopilot mode, it is revealed that Michael makes decisions based on his daily attitude regarding work and family, in which case, his work comes be...

After watching a movie, it's a good practice to reflect upon it and ask yourself certain questions like: "What does the movie say about me as an individual or about human behavior in general?" or "How is society reflected in the movie?" or "What is the cultural significance of the movie?". The reason for a film's greatness may be because they can relate a certain message powerfully to its audiences and paint a picture of humanity for us. The Hunger Games series does all of the above. Quite recently, The Hunger Games: Catching Fire was released in theaters and I was shocked to find myself totally blown away by it. Aside from the wonderful acting by Jennifer Lawrence and the other actors and the crazy cinematic effects, there is a certain element of the story that appeals to my thoughts, to my heart, and to every fiber in my body. Of course, the essence of the revolution and the hunger for deep change truly captivated me emotionally becaus...

Last Monday, my friends and I went to the movies to watch Disney's newest film and the latest addition to the Disney animated features canon, Frozen, and without a doubt, it was a phenomenal movie that truly captured the essence of Disney classics. Frozen definitely deserves the right to be called a Disney film and to be part of the Disney Renaissance as it upholds and continues to further the long-lived legacy of fantasy, imagination, and the spectacle that which is Disney. Disney has yet again raised the bar in creating movie magic and surpassed my expectations. To be honest, at first, I had doubts about the films that came after Tangled but after watching Wreck-It Ralph and now, Frozen (and hopefully, Winnie the Pooh), I cannot deny that the spark of movie genius is back. Disney has made top-notch films that catered to all audiences and they never cease to amaze me with what they can do on the big screen. Disney always seems to impress a sense of joy whenever I watch the...