My Sister's Keeper 試映會

傍晚的時候和我娘出去散佈, 當我們經過Granville上的電影院時, 那裡站在門口的員工塞給我兩張門票, 原來是過兩天要上映的新電影 My Sister's Keeper, 台灣應該翻 "姊姊的守護者". 老早就想看Jodi Picoult的原著, 可惜當時在誠品的時候選擇把書錢花在Phillipe Gregory的歷史小說上~~~ 前一陣子看到小說已翻拍成電影也蠻想去看看的, 現在有免費的招待怎麼能不接受呢?

11歲的Anna自小就為了得了癌症的姊姊Kate捐贈許多身體的部分. 不只是這樣, Anna的出生其實就是父母為了救姊姊而安排的, 連基因也是經過特別調整過的, 為了就是要符合捐增條件. 不管是骨髓, 血液, 還是內臟, 許多她有的都為了治姊姊的病而分給Kate. 某一天當她的姊姊突然病發而急需一個腎臟, 可想而知捐贈者自然就是Anna. 就在這緊急的時刻, 姊妹的父母突然接到被告通知, 原告竟然就是自己的小女兒, Anna自稱自己已經無法在忍耐長期住院, 忍受刀割, 和父母對她的要求, 並且請了律師幫她爭取自己的醫療監管權. 於是全家人長久以來被壓抑的無奈就在這個時候爆發出來了~

一開始只是以為妹妹是一時堵氣才不肯捐贈腎臟救姊姊的, 覺得難以至信, 畢竟姊妹看起來真的很愛對方. 其實看到最後的人都知道其實不完全是這個原因. 但我覺得更重要的是倫理問題. 雖然未成年的孩子是在父母的監管權之下, 但父母就能夠隨意騙騙她說要去買糖果, 結果反而是送進手術室去把一塊內臟割出來嗎? 有一幕是姊妹的爸爸回想當時把不停哭鬧的五歲妹妹抱進手術室, 然後被醫生壓在台上並且強行麻醉. 就算是為了救姊姊, 但其實不管誰看到這裡應該會感覺很心疼吧. 何況, 雖然妹妹的怨言不多, 但父母依然把注意力都放在生病的姊姊上, 所以給予哥哥和妹妹的愛護並不多.

片中的溫馨畫面也不少. 像是姊姊和她同樣是癌症患者的男友約會時的那一段, 雖然兩個都是病人, 但看他們能夠扶持對方像是比誰都堅強. 家人大大小小窩在病房吃Pizza, 全家人去Santa Monica照相,.. 這一系列的畫面恐怕讓在場的所有觀眾想到 "活著真好, 有家人真好" 吧. 片中也慘雜了許多幽默有趣的地方, 有這些元素讓這較悲哀的電影打了止痛針.

唯一我無法認可的就是這不電影改了最不該改的結局 (Spoilers)

小說裡的結局是, 最後妹妹雖然贏了官司, 但不久卻死於車禍. 擁有妹妹醫療監護權的律師決定把妹妹的腎臟捐給姊姊, 並且讓姊姊康復. 電影裡面死的卻是姊姊. 雖然電影想要強調妹妹擁有了自己的醫療監護權, 才讓姊姊的死來成全這一點, 但難道妹妹是真心不想救姊姊嗎? 倫理上來說, 能夠爭取到自己的醫療監護權已經在法律上得到認可, 我不覺得這點一定要延伸到犧牲妹妹的心意和姊姊的生命的地步. 妹妹真正希望的不就是想做姊姊永遠的守護者嗎?

演員上來說~ 36歲Cameron雖然升格演媽媽了, 但還是好美 T_T

童星Abigail Breslin 從Definitely, Maybe時就覺得她不比Dakota Fanning遜色

新人Thomas Dekker很熱 Whooooooo

天璋院篤姬 & 女子之道

It's a bit frightening if I think about it, I mean, I've been watching Japanese dramas since I was 7 but they had all been popular dramas. Atsuhime (2008) is actually my first NHK Taiga drama. I thought there would be a lot of dragging and sope opera characteristics since it's such a long drama, but really, the story is complicated and once you leave the screen for two seconds you won't be able to catch up to the plot I never knew Taiga dramas can be so exciting!

So some brief information about Taiga dramas (大河ドラマ, ) :

Each year, NHK television produces a drama series that begins in January and ends in December. Usually the drama focuses on Historical legends or on fictional dramatized life of important characters from Japanese history. Episodes usually varies around 40~50 I believe. Most of the programs on NHK are educational; that includes its taigas - there would always be a narrator commenting on historical facts in relation to the plot.

Atsuhime is the 47th Taiga drama which was broadcasted throughout 2008. While it was still airing in Japan, it had already made some noise around Asia, at least it got to me. The lead actress Miyazaki Aoi suddenly became a popular figure in Japan (also due to her wedding) and I believe the drama also boosted the tourism industry for Tenshoin Atsuhime's museum and her birth place in Satsuma, Kagoshima. I remember last year the J-pop section on News sites are filled by this Atsuhime trend. It was craaaaazy.

I always wanted to watch this since last year but there were all the other dramas that I have to catch up for each season. Finally two weeks ago I decided to give the first episode a try with my mum. Today we're on the 24th haha.

So Atsuhime....She was the wife of the 13th Shogun of Tokugawa - Tokugawa Iesada. Born 1835 in Kagoshima to a family of Shimazu clan; I guess they're some noble division? She had a dramatic life, first travelling to Edo, then married a Shogun, later was heavily involved in political events during the Meiji Restoration and died at the age of 48.

A really huge attraction to this drama is because the FEMALE IS THE MAIN CHARACTER. I mean, really, how many historical fiction centres around women? How many women are considered significant enough to have their name recorded in history textbooks, especially in Japan?

Oh talk about the casting! A perfect balanced blend of popular idols and experienced seniors! At first I was worried that Miyazaki is too young for such a heavy role, Taiga might not be a suitable choice for Eita as it's his first time taking a lead. BUT I AM so impressed at how well they handle their roles and meeting the NHK level! For the teenage Atsuhime, Miyazaki used her usual Japanese school girl acting, for adult Atsuhime, you could pick out some gradual transformation like her change in voice tone, aura, and facial expression - how she cools down and matures.

AND the scipt. As Tokugawa and Meiji Restoration are one of the greatest turning point in Japanese history, it's generally a contested topic at the same time for experts. The Taiga kept it very subjective and fair, I think this is rather difficult to maintain. What I like the most is it presents how Japan slowly opens up her gateway and began to take part in globalization and took its first step to modernize....in the western perspective that is....not saying that Japanese people were barbaric before........don't misunderstand me...

AND the legendary essence of Atsuhime - friendship, kinship, and the heroine figure is well performed with highlights of qualities - bravery..determination..faith..ethics..you name it, she has it.

於一 (篤姬) 的老女死之前, 曾說過一句影響篤姬一生的話:

"女子之道，是一條直道，掉頭折返，是耻辱"

以現在來看, 與其說是女子之道, 不如說每個人的生存方式時常只限制於一條路, 那條路就是你決定的路. 這也可以說是, 其實每個人都是篤姬, 都和她一樣會碰到困難和失落. 只是篤姬做不管做什麼選擇, 都一定會堅持到底 努力去爭取她想得到的. 每次看到她遇到困難時卻還是不放棄 樂觀的去上戰場 總是會讓我想: "要是我也和她一樣就好了". 我只是認為, 決定歸決定, 但要去面對自己做的選擇並且拋開一切負責到底是需要多少勇氣呢. 想來想去我也曾因為害怕而掉頭折返, 這種感覺的確很不好. 篤姬堅守自己的信念, 不肯退縮的去完成自己認為對的事情, 因此每次看篤姬時都會很感嘆: 真的是個偉大的女性呀!

最後附加這齣大河劇的開頭主題曲 (NHK 真的很厲害, 連主題曲也是自己製作的, 聽說作曲的Ryo Yoshimata 為了寫篤姬的OST特別去篤姬出生地Kagoshima住了三個星期 體驗了當地人們豪爽熱情的氣質, 於是把他對那裡的情感寫了47首曲子, 成了篤姬的配樂. 日劇的OST我最喜歡的是白夜行, Orange Days, 然後篤姬把交響情人夢的OST給擠下去了 哇嘎嘎 這個Opening好比敘述了篤姬的一生, 雄偉的感覺卻夾帶著柔情, 充滿著合式風味!!

原本以為宮崎葵只是去鬧的, 但她的演技真的讓我無話可說啦~~~

值得學習的精神

故事是從兩個星期前開始的
那天剛好是星期六的早上, 我在家睡得正熟
突然我的電話響起來, 我很不甘願的跳下床, 急著跑去客廳接起

半睡半醒的Sherry: mmm... Hello?
電話的另一邊: 喂!?!? 請問是楊XX小姐嗎?!打給我的是一個充滿大陸腔的中年女生, 肺活力大到聲音都快把我耳朵炸暴
Sherry: 唔.. 我就是
電話的另一邊: 啊! 你是楊小姐呀! 您早呀!
揉揉眼睛的Sherry: 早啊 *麻煩快到重點*
電話的另一邊: 呀! 楊小姐! 不好意思啊! 耽誤您一點時間好嗎?
*Shit... 週末早上被這種電話吵醒是最可恨的事*
Sherry: 這個啊.. 咳 (聲音馬上變成黑澀會調) 我爸比和媽咪都不在家耶
我用我往常假裝是七歲小孩的那招
可惡的傢伙: 沒關係的楊小姐! 您也可以的!
Sherry: 喔... 好啊
電話的另一邊: 請問, 楊小姐您認為加拿大收的税金會不會太高?
*啥.. 這是加拿大華人協會的調查嗎? = =*
Sherry: 呃.. 我是覺得有點高 *隨便回答打發這傢伙*
電話的另一邊: 喔喔~ 所以還是會覺得有點高囉, 嗯嗯好的, 我們知道了
*感動! 終於可以睡覺了*
..... 可是這傢伙居然給我沒完沒了

電話的另一邊: 為了謝謝您的合作, 我們想要邀請你去一個我們舉辦的活動下個星期X在渥太華廣場將會有個活動, 請你一定要去!
Sherry: 喔喔喔..好 我一定到
*你買我機票我就去啊 = = *
電話的另一邊: 感謝你! 再見!
我掛上電話, 繼續夏眠很快的我就忘了這件事..........

到了這個星期一的傍晚, 有個中年男生打來找我
"喂?!???! 請問是楊小姐嗎?" 這傢伙肺活量不輸那女的
當我還沒來的及回答的時候..
"快打開電視轉到34台, 你贏了獎, 名字馬上就會被公佈了!"
疑惑的Sherry: 哈?
"快打開電視!!!!!!"
然後就掛掉了

後來我也不知道該怎麼做, 我家也沒有電視頻道, 只好打電話請人幫我看究竟是什麼節目
打給姜玫, 姜玫沒有34台
打給小武, 小武不在家
我也懶得管它是什麼, 就繼續看我的篤姬

過了兩天的星期2早上, 我又被電話超醒了
"喂?! 請問是楊小姐嗎?!!!!!"
這精神飽滿, 加上濃厚的大陸腔的聲音貌似很熟悉.......
很不甘情願的Sherry: 我就是 = =

"恭喜你呀 楊小姐! 你在我們握太華所舉辦的活動當天贏了二等獎唷!!!!!! 唉唷! 楊小姐! 你當天不在現場! 我們試著聯絡你可是都連絡不到! 唉唷!!!!! 我們打了好幾次您的家裡電話, 打不通, 又打手機! 唉唷!!! 可是都沒有人接!!! 唉唷!!!!!
*嚇死人了 我什麼時候把手機給陌生人了, 而且特別是你們這種怪怪的公司*
Sherry: 喔.... 是嗎......
*Shit, 這比被telemarketers更可恨, 居然會被詐騙集團的電話吵醒*
詐騙集團: 唉唷!!! 楊小姐! 我們真的聯絡你好多次了! 可是都找不到你!
*你要重複這個幾次啊 = = *
經過了很多類似的 唉唷這個 唉唷那個....
詐騙集團: 但是, 你終於接電話了, 太好了, 現在就讓我們把獎項寄給你吧!
Sherry: (好玩的來了) 那接受的程序是什麼?
詐騙集團: 很簡單, 您只要給我們你的地址, 一份ID資料, 和銀行帳戶來確定你就是本人就行了
真是個直接的詐騙團, 馬上就要銀行帳戶了 = =
Sherry: 能不能先寄一份有關接收物品的文件來呢?
詐騙集團: 唉唷!!!!!!! 楊小姐!!!!! 我們有很多得獎人要聯絡, 如果要一個一個這樣寄的話 不行的啦!!!!!!!
Sherry: 喔 那沒關係, 算了吧
以為這樣就可以回去睡覺.. 可是...
詐騙集團: 唉唷!!!!!!! 楊小姐!!!!!! 這樣好了, 我給你我們的電話, 您過一陣子在打過來, 我們會向您解釋程序的
你們真的是甩也甩不掉 = =
Sherry: 好啊 那你給我你的電話
這傢伙才放過我

當然我抄電話的那張紙也被我拿去做盒子來丟魚刺 更不要說真的打給她

以為事情就這樣告一段落的我... 沒想到隔天早上...

我 *嗶* *嗶* 的又被電話吵醒
"喂?!!!! 楊小姐嗎?!?!??! 關於那個獎項!!!!"
*火山爆發: 怎麼又是你們!!!!!!!!!*
Sherry: 欸.. 我不太想要耶 = =
詐騙集團: 唉唷!!! 楊小姐!!!!!!!!!!
她嘗試著說服我, 但我大部分之間都在睡覺 = =
最後我以我要去上廁所的藉口暫時逃走

那時.. 愚昧的我以為真的把她打發掉了... 但......隔天早上, 電話響了

開心的是, 先被吵醒的人是我媽
我馬上就知道又是那詐騙集團, 因為雖然電話在我媽耳朵上我居然還能清楚的認岀到那騙子的聲音, 媽唷.. 她不止不放棄的精神讓人覺得可怕, 連嗓門也一樣威武

我媽透過我也知道那傢伙是詐騙集團, 而她卻...
很有耐性的Sherry娘: 嗯, 嗯
Sherry娘: 嗯, 嗯.....可是...我爸爸不在家耶
原來我娘也和我用同樣一招說...
但似乎最後也沒有用, 因為最後我娘終究還是失控了...
暴怒的Sherry娘: 我不要啦!!! 我不要啦!!!

好在, 從此以後那傢伙在也沒有叫我起床了... 至少到今天為止................

記憶中的第一次

人生的回憶中有許多的第一次,.. 第一天上學, 初戀, 第一次出國

打個比方, 我最早的實際記憶是三歲時發生的事情, 當時還記得是和家人開車去 "台中"

結果我突然想要小便, 最後爹只好停在路邊, 讓娘帶著我下車小便, 當時還是晚上說

話說, 最讓我最疑惑的就是我記憶中第一場"夢"

那時我差不多三歲半, 對於這個世界還什麼都不知道

某一天晚上我夢見我坐在一個窄小的空間, 小到都無法伸展

旁邊都是千奇百怪, 不同顏色和大小的 "豆子" 和 "圈圈"

像這樣:

左右邊有兩個小窗戶, 前方有個較大窗戶, 窗戶外面是片天空, 我似乎在飛

當時的畫面, 像這樣:

更奇怪的是我還看到一個像大象的面具, 像這樣:

做完這場夢也沒覺得有什麼特別的, 只不過認為在天空飛翔很痛快

幾年過後, 我看了湯姆克魯斯的有關空軍的電影才有機會看到戰鬥機的內部畫面, 頓時想起我那三歲時做的夢, 當時覺得超級詭異, 重點是當時我才三歲, 看的是卡通, 讀的是圖畫本, 去的是幼稚園, 到底是從哪裡來的這些飛機駕駛艙的畫面呢

一直到現在還是覺得怪怪的說

My neighbour

After moving to Downtown for over a year, I realized that I rarely see my neighbour, or, the person who shares the same balcony as me (of course divided by a thin wall). I realized that I know so little about him! And we had few interactions over this year... to name a few..

1) May - September, 2008 - This is the hottest months of the year, almost everyone spends quite a while on their balcony to enjoy the summer breeze. That includes my neighbour too. He did almost everything on his balcony - cutting his nails, working on his laptop, talking on the cellphone, etc etc. However...

2) June 2008 - Summer approached, everyone opened their windows and balcony doors as far as they can. I was playing piano in my room loudly. Suddenly, I heard my neighbour's door to the balcony opened, I heard him stepped out. Few seconds later he hurried in again, closed his door and locked it. *How rude*, I thought, *He should have finished listening to my performance*.

2) July 2008 - Again on a burning hot day, I would say that person would be foolish if he/she does not open the windows. I started practicing my piano. Then suddenly, I heard a loud thud coming from my neighbour's side - the sound of the window closing. *I guess he doesn't like piano*, I thought.

3) May 2009 - Summer approached again after several months of winter-like weathers. Jack, Anna, and I went on to the balcony to chat. We first took my telescope out to look at stars. Somehow we ended up spying on people who lives in the other apartments.
Sherry: "Check this out Anna! I can see their TV screens!"
Anna: "OHHHH Let me see!"
Jack: "Heyy!! I know this show!"
Then Anna took out the guitar and started playing some random and broken tunes. That was when finally my neighbour's door opened, stepped on to the balcony, and approached the wall that divided us. He said in a very impatient tone: "Can you please quiet down?"

4) June 2009 - A hot day again, both my neighbour and my balcony doors were opened. I was checking out the bananas. I went to Anna, who was sitting beside the balcony door, and said to her "Anna, I think your bananas are weird". I dunno what she smoked earlier but she gave me this lecture about local bananas.... "SHERRY! What non-sense are you taking about! I bought this banana from the local farm, it's environmental friendly and it's organic, SO!" She dropped the banana onto my palms, "APPRECIATE THIS BANANA" Suddenly we heard some rustling from my neighbour's side.

5) June 2009 - On Thursday I felt myself being evaporated, so I laid on the balcony with a pillow in the middle of the night. I then started to sing Hotel California becuase I thought no one could hear me. As I started on the "Mirrors on the ceiling" verse, I heard a loud thud. My neighbour was outside. FML.

6) Yesterday - I got out of my suite to go grocery shopping. As I walked down the corridor, I see sofas, boxes, and lamps piling up outside the suite next to mine. My neighbour's moving.

It's sad. It has been a year and yet I had so little interactions with my neighbour! And already he's moving! What a pity indeed.

Fraser Heights 七大不思議

關於校園的七大不可思議，這並沒有確切的說法，因為每個學校都有類似這樣的故事，大部分都是七個..... 而這當然也包括, 我們曾就讀過的 FRASER HEIGHTS SECONDARY...........................



就讓我來像各位介紹菲莎高地高級中學(好爛的翻譯= =) 的其中一不思議吧, 我稱它為......二樓女廁的怨魂

二樓女廁時常發生過許多奇怪的事情, 譬如說M君曾經看過有個穿著內褲的老奶奶在那裡面用烘手機烘褲子, 也有教師曾經目睹過兩位東方女學生站在不同的馬桶上吵架 (Sherry & Anna), 但......... 最不可思議的是..

若是上下午A block/C block的時候, 當你走入廁所時, 最好要避開第二間, 因為, 你可能會遇見 "怨魂的手"..... 傳說中, 若有女學生在午休後走入二樓的女廁的第二間去方便, 將會突然! 從隔壁間會慢慢的伸出一隻肥胖的手, 朝地上摸啊摸的, 從牆的另一邊也不停的傳來怪異的呻吟, 似乎不停的重複念著 "Where is it?" "Where is it?"

對於這一大不思議有許多不同的說法

說法一: 以前有位女學生是個書呆子, 喜歡抱著Science 9的課本到處走, 有一天被學校的不良少女帶入二樓的廁所並且把她鎖在第一間, 第二天她們打算將她放出來時, 雖說門還是封閉, 但少女卻永遠消失不見了, 只剩下那一本濕透的Science 9課本..... 之後若有學生在午休後去二樓廁所的第二間上廁所, 便會時常看到那隻手到處摸....

說法二: 以前有位女學生不管多努力就是無法在Science 9班上拿A, 在父母嚴格的管教之下她必須無論如何都得要拿到A, 但無法達到目標的她在某一天午休後帶著Science 9課本進入了二樓廁所的第一間, 從此不見蹤影..........

儘管有這麼多不同的說法...... 先讓我來分享我對這不思議的親生經驗吧

2004年的某一天午休後.. 我抱著Science 9的課本準備要去上課, 突然尿急了起來..不得已的我, 只好順道去二樓的女廁解決一些事情. 我走入廁所的第一間, 這時才發現沒有地方放我超大的Science 9課本, 沒辦法我等不及了, 課本就放在和裝在牆壁上的衛生紙盒上面, 終於把私人問題解決之後我起身, 準備沖馬桶, 結果一個不小心撞到我的課本, 在我還沒來得及接住前它就掉進馬桶裡了, 超緊張的我, 馬上伸手進去把課本拖出來, 但已經濕透的它讓我的手划了一下, 朝我隔壁位於第二間得廁所掉下去. 我一緊張, 馬上蹲下, 把手伸入隔壁那一間到處探索, 摸來摸去的找, 還不停的碎碎念著 "ahhh...where is it....where is it...?" 同時, 從那同一間的赫然發出可怕的尖叫聲: "AHH Oh my God a hand!" 我一時心急, 馬上把課本拉回來, 還來不及洗手就衝出廁所. 雖然Science班遟到, 但最慘的是那天老師Mrs.Brar剛好要 "檢查課本" 看學生們有沒有好好愛惜學校公共教材和保持清潔衛生. 我當時好恨啊..好恨啊...

從此以後, 我當天的丟臉的怨魂就待在Fraser Heights二樓女廁的第一間, 會在午休侯的那時, 朝隔壁間伸出那隻肥手, 到處摸啊摸著, 不停的問 "where is it.... where is it...."

Kou: 我的經紀公司是錢怪

2008年8月初柴崎幸在東京舉辦了終場巡迴演出, 當時有位粉絲從人群中問了一句全場都應該很想知道答案的問題:

粉絲: Kou-chan!

柴崎: 嗨!

粉絲: 你有部落格嗎?

柴崎: 嗯?! (汗) (愣) 我... 我.. 有部落格嗎?

全場: .....................

柴崎: 嗯.. 這個.. 沒..有..耶..

柴崎: 真的? 等了我5年了嗎? 不好意思唷! 我會努力的

柴崎: Soro soro, 差不多要唱下一首歌了

或許正如大姐所說的, 自從這傢伙在演唱會上裝傻迴避之後的那一刻, 日本人就發誓要找出來了吧!

這幾天利用假期跑上2ch (日本超大型論壇) 去玩時候發現他們真的很努力的在找. 光是討論柴崎幸的主題就有幾個active主題, 而且..這些討論區發文的速度快的可怕, 數目也超多 (真的是人多嘴雜), 有趣的是, 每一頁都會有一堆"Blog", 或是 "ブログ" (部落格) 這些字眼出現

插曲: 不肯放棄的Nico最後在日本Yahoo知識發現了一個海外粉絲都不知道的事實!!!!
原來Kou是有blog的, 只是這個部落格只限制給攜帶使用者觀看, 並且需要加入會員. 會員月費則是315Yen. 這樣就算了, 自從2005年這傢伙只更新了9次.

我早就覺得很納悶, 現在日本沒有部落格的年輕人算是絕種了, 何況是藝人. 就算藝人不想分享私人生活, 至少也會寫個 "給媒體大眾看的部落格" 吧. 星塵裡面的藝人不管紅的還是不紅的都有寫, 惟獨柴崎幸這傢伙死都不肯. 原來 = = 原來 = = SD連這傢伙的部落格都用來騙錢了..... 真的是錢怪呀....

Anyway, 儘管如此, 之後從大姐那裡聽來才知道, 日本人還是不肯放棄, 認定除了攜帶的部落格, 柴崎幸一定還有一個私人部落格

他們最近在根據最近小幸幹了哪些事 要用關鍵字搜了. 最近那傢伙要拍餐廳的電影, 於是用 "食堂" 這個關鍵字去搜....

"搜到的我頭給你!"