Went to go see Les Miserables with the high school crew. Was bored and decided to experiment with casual makeup. So I put on a little bit of eyeliner, a teeny bit of brown eyeshadow on the corners, and tried curling my eyelashes and adding mascara. I also did I little bit of silver eyeliner on the bottom lid of my 'waterline' as Michelle Pham always highly recommends.
I'm pretty noob at makeup in general, and one thing that I really don't understand is mascara. Like the basics of natural makeup is to accentuate your natural features or make you look healthier (i.e. red cheeks, good skin, red lips) and kind of tone down aspects that you don't really like or certain features that imply unhealthiness (i.e. conceal your dark circles aka tiredness, blemishes, lack of eyelashes? (In contrast formal, magazine, and wedding makeup is more about creating a new look or vibe for yourself....kinda more about artistically accentuating you and your outfit or a style)
But yeah. Mascara is meant to make your eyelashes more defined and more feminine-by adding chunky globs of black onto them. Like I'd understand if it was smooth oily gel that thickens each hair, but in general, most mascaras I've seen are chunky and look like you have crap all over your eyelashes:
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| Full face view |
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| Macara...can you even see the difference? |
So went out and watched Les Miserables. The cast staring Hugh Jackman, Russell Crowe, Amanda Seyfried, Eddie Redmayne, and Anne Hathaway were all magnificent singers and actors/resses, and one of the stronger points of the movie was that apparently the movie was recorded live, so that the songs didn't have that sort of fake, staged sound that most singing incorporated movies have. As my friend stated, pretty much if the actor/ress's voice trembled while they were singing, it would be picked up during filming and recording. [SPOILER ONWARDS- lots of recapping]
My first impression of the movie is that it is long. 3 hours. Straight. Of singing. Like I do love the story lines I think the director did a really good job of communicating the depth and layers of each character, and probably did justice to the original book. However I found it a bit overwhelming for a movie-the quality of a strong good book based movie is that it is concise, but knows where to amplify and elaborate in order to successfully communicate the original author's ideas.
So I reckon the movie incorporated 3 strong storylines. (Although I think the book emphasizes 4?)
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| Hugh Jackman as Jean Valjean (I didn't recognize him at first) |
The first was about the life of a man named Jean Valjean (Jackman) who was condemned to 19 years of slavery after stealing a loaf a bread for his starving nephew, and how he escaped and created a new life for himself away from the law, and his sort of 'rivalry' with the police inspector, Javert (Crowe) who looks down upon him and will not forgive Jean for his crime; forever seeing him as only a thief, and not a compassionate brother. (19 years for one loaf...really?). My friend described Javert as 'black and white', who followed his duty to the ends
Jean is set on parole after his 19 years, where he finds himself scraping for survival and somewhere to sleep until a church bishop, Myriel lets him in, and shares food and shelter and most of all, his kind heart. Jean steals from the church, and is caught; however the bishop denies that Jean stole, and even gives Jean more things to take with him.
I think just these two characters bring a lot of depth. Like how every person has their own stories, and no one is born bad; a lot of anger and bad personalities, or the 'scary people' we see everyday usually originates from something-more often than not from one's upbringing.
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| Russell Crowe as Javert, the inspector who doesn't leave Jean alone |
Like Jean, inside, he really is a kind heart to have wanted to save his sister's son, but after being severely punished for 19 years, and just treated very harshly, it's perfectly normal for him to develop some bitterness and anger- as a result for the hurt that the slavery has inflicted upon him. That being said, Javert is not a bad person either for being an unemphatic inspector. In order to fufill his duties and keep people to the law, he must be stringent, and with so many con artists around, it is impossible to be empathetic as a position of power protecting the law, as sadly, there would be people who would take advantage of such sympathy to fill their selfish needs (such con is demonstrated by the 'innkeeper's husband and wife', who pretty much steal from every single customer and are heavily money and trickery orientated).
(Like relating to real life, today on the bus I saw this couple and a kid, and they dad looked really young; maybe early twenties? And he was swearing and just putting down the little girl, and the mom lightly told him that the girl didn't mean to kick him in the balls, but didn't really tell him off for such appalling behavior. A little kid like that, growing in such a hard environment is not going to grow up secure and happy, but is probably going to grow up with anger and unhappiness towards the father, for reasons she probably doesn't even understand as a response to the hurt and verbal abuse she is receiving now. Initially you might think that the dad is a dick, but again, it's a cycle. His parents probably didn't treat him the best, or didn't teach him proper values, thus he is where he is today; with a kid, probably no proper job, looked like he was doing drugs...Thus I reckon we should be thankful for having morals in us. But also to consider whether or not our morals are based on true reasoning, or are simply inherited.)
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| Anne Hathaway cast as Cosette's mother |
Almost in contrast to bad parenting, the second arc was about Cosette and her mother (Hathaway), and how her mother was struggling and giving everything to her child. Her mother was working at a sewing factory owned by Jean (who had changed his name and become mayor, and quite respectable and successful). She however, got kicked out by his foreman,and was left to scrape a living. This was the one part of the plot that I wasn't completely satisfied with because Jean did not notice her departure, and ignored her screams. (Although he was preoccupied with the inspector). Thus the mother sold her own hair, her teeth, and her dignity and body just to send money to the con artist innkeepers to take care of Cosette. In the end, she does find peace because Jean vows to find and take care of Cosette, and free her, free them both from the hell that they're living in.
Which is interesting how the tension further develops, because at this point, Inspector Javert suspcts Jean under his false name and identity. However, a twist is that they caught another man and took him in as Jean Valjean, and were going to punish him. The real Jean hears this, and is torn. He has worked so hard for his freedom, and is finally successful, only to have another man caught in his place. The tension is that if he were to leave this man and ignore the fact that the man would probably suffer tremendously for Jean breaking his patrol; Jean would be forever free as the police would think that he was caught. However, Jean understands the pain of slavery, and his good and honest heart forces him to confront the court and confess his true identity; saving the man but sacrificing his new life and safety, and threatening the vow of protection to Cosette. The police inspector finds and confronts Jean has to flee and start from rock bottom once again. (I keep typing Corsette...fml xD) Jean pleads to Javert for a chance to finish his vow to Cosettes mother before turning himself in. However, Javert, being true to his duty and unempathetic, declines and pursues.
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| Jean escaping with little Cosette |
Thus I think this beautifully illustrates moral, and how even the actions you don't see can still influence and change a person's life. And the power of promises and commitment is one not to be fooled around with, because I think they are one of the things that hold us humans as an intelligent species together, and alive.
Thus brings us to the third arc, which is my favorite. It is the love story between Cosette and Marius. What I love about this story is that there is the classic, (maybe even cliche) friendzoned one, who in this case is Eponine. Eponine is the con artist's inkeeper's spoiled daughter, who is forever friendzoned by Marius. Marius is your classic..fwaar french guy. He's strong, masculine, brave, and handsome, and is leading the rebels and the revolution. I think one of his best scenes is when he's galloping on his horse with a red flag, showing is bravery and pride and fighting for what he believes in. That was very attractive.
Eponine ends up sacrificing her love to help find Cosette for Marius (Marius fell at first sight when seeing Cosette in the city), and during the battle, she gives her life for Marius. She dies in his arms, and it's heartbreaking because she is so utterly happy to be embraced and loved by Marius for once in her life, even though it is without romantic intent. I think one of the most wrenching parts was when she started spasming due to blood loss as she was dying, and Marius held her tighter and reassured her that he was there for her. There for her to her last breath; although he could not give her himself. . And it's so sad, because Eponine was the happiest she was, that Marius finally looked at her, and she would always be the tragic love story, who gives everything to the one she loves, and is happy as long as he his happy. :'( "The rain can't hurt me now". After being in so much pain and heartbreak, and dying, ofcourse it can't.
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| Marius embracing Eponine as she dies...bittersweetly |
[SPOILER END]
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Anyway, after that awesome movie, we celebrated Mike's birthday and had blackforest chocolate cake. :) I really commend Helen for being an awesome girlfriend; making sure her guy gets acknowledgement for his bday even though it was on Christmas, and even acknowledgement with unfamiliar friends was better than none at all:
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| Happy couple |
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| Blackforest cake slice |
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Oh yeah, I also bought Final Fantasy 13 (preowned). I personally love Square Enix, maybe not for their thorough plots, but their art and character designs are simple sexy and hot and amazing. They're always on the breaking edge of attractive cgi effects and art. If I even continue pursuing art in the future, they would be one of my dream companies to work for.
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| Final Fnatasy XIII |
Then to finish off the day, sister and I made noodles for dinner because mom is away. I reckon food always tastes better if someone else makes it, but it was still good. =D Cooked noodles, made a soy sauce soup and had chicken and beef tripe and ham and veggies with it. Anyway, that's it for today, thanks for reading! =D
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| Dao Shao Mien, ham, egg, veggies |
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