Friday night is normally 'music night' for me. Uhm, not that anything in my life's schedule is 'normal'. I usually spend Friday night listening to my favorite songs and discover new ones... except that all my Spotify, Apple Music and YouTube premium accounts are dedicated to Jungkook's music. That has been the 'norm' for almost a year now when "Still with you"and "My you" came out in July last year. So I am just letting JK own all my accounts... except when his hyungs release new singles or albums. In those cases, I kind of let the hyungs 'borrow' one or two of the accounts in support to and to show appreciation of their efforts. I am still an ARMY - the authentic kind. The kind that cares about all seven guys but with a 'bias'... and a 'bias wrecker' (or 'wreckers', to be accurate, in my case). Obviously, JK is my bias... although he's never been 'wrecked' really, just 'co-biased' every now and then.
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Friday night, movie night
Anyway, this evening is not about music... it's about movies this time.
It's been a very busy, challenging... and exciting week for me - all rolled into one short week. Seriously, I need more days in a week! As darkness crept in, the day got drenched in a late afternoon heavy rain that is becoming more and more a 'regular' thing as we approach the 'wet season' in this tropical country of ours. Too tired to mind all the attention-seeking events of the early evening, including my endlessly beeping phone as it notifies me with this and that, I fell asleep after praying my favorite prayer: the Angelus.
I awoke just before 9:00 pm, and I felt so much better. Rather than going back to work, I decided to just call the night a 'me time'. JK's voice still fills my house... but, rather than watching his music videos, I decided to watch a movie instead. I scanned and scanned Netflix and my YouTube subscription... so many 'serious' films, but I paid them no attention. About five years ago or so, I decided that my days of watching, analyzing and getting emotional talking about serious films are over! No more 'intellectual' films for me... I just want entertainment because, anyway, which film can top the "Godfather" series, "Love Story", "The Way We Were", "Good Will Hunting", and the likes? Of course, all variants of the Avengers, Star Wars,Lord of the RingsandStar Trekfilms, and the likes are exception. Not to say that the movies I watch these days are shallow... I just want straight-forward message, no pretensions and trying-(too)-hard-to-be-deep scripts... and no 'artsy-wannabe' either... to pass the time while getting much needed relaxation and updates on 'pop culture'. I still rave over a number of films, of course... but if it's more than one-and-a-half hour film... I'd think twice. This is why, these days, I go for TV movies.
There are films that are as short as TV movies but as substantial as my old faves. I found one of these gems this evening, and I am so happy! The film is entitled, "Already Tomorrow in Hong Kong" (ATHK), and it's absolutely brilliant!
"You took a chance, and you went for it.
You never have to look back and wonder 'what if'."
ATHK is a nine-year-old film. It stars the fabulous Jamie Chung as the LA-based Chinese-American Ruby Lin, and the brilliant but so underrated, Bryan Greenberg as that "Expat" in Hong Kong, Josh Rosenberg, from New York. I love both Chung and Greenberg... and they portrayed their roles in the film so brilliantly.
The plot is simple enough... just a case of "right person, wrong time": two people meeting unexpectedly and connecting so wonderfully in the chaos of Hong Kong nightlife. You rejoice at how they just hit it off so naturally... except that one of them is involved with someone else. It's like seeing two people enjoying each other's company who are perfectly matched with each other... in wit, in sense of humor, in values and views of the world. They were strangers, and yet, they managed to uplift each other's spirit, and brought confidence when there was doubt. You'd wish that, after that evening when they first met, they'd meet again in the future... and have a chance to be together. And when they did meet later after a year, it didn't feel forced and fairy-tale-ish. The chemistry between them is so strong... it felt as if they were really meant for each other even when the impediments in their becoming a couple were still there, and even more complex this time. Perhaps, it's because Chung and Greenberg are a real couple... and they made the film just before they got married. The chemistry between them just colored the entire film, and it's nothing else but lovely!
The script is fantastic in that it seems simple and straight-forward enough. It feels like eavesdropping in the engaging conversation of soulmates (if there is such a thing) who found each other one fine evening when the stars aligned. The way the two actors brought life to every word with their body language, every glance, every stare, every smile, their tone when they speak... every pause, every small hesitation, every discreet sigh of masked disappointment, every expression of fascination that is pure joy but restrained by a touch of sophistication and the desire for propriety, every playful banter... ahhh, it's too beautiful, I loved it!
The film sets the scenario in which a tug-o-war between what feels right and so natural, and what feels unjust for the people the lead characters are committed to, was central to the story. "Emotional cheating" was a thing in the film. The way the actors showed restrain in fully giving in to the natural course where life seems to take them, and the overpowering longing of being together just because it feels so right was awesome. In the end, they let the viewers decide the ending... and it's brilliant!
Have you already seen this film? Not yet? Intrigue? Good! Go watch... I promise you won't regret it.
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Video credit: The owner is indicated in the video itself. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
I've just been watching this TV movie where a 'city girl' - a 'senseless one', if I may say so, was 'thrown' in the wilderness by a job-related project. She was thrown-in in the middle of nowhere with a bunch of outdoorsy people who, like her, were competing for a contract with an app developer who organized the 'wilderness throw-in'. She was doing so badly... and it's annoying how she was always insanely hysterical at every turn in the wilderness, which, by the way, was so breathtakingly beautiful. There was a good-looking guy in the bunch... and, predictably, he took notice of Ms. Hysterical. And, predictably, she was annoyed at first by his guts and confidence... but eventually, his charm and consistent good nature won her over. Not that I am not complaining... because I am. Uhm, yes, that's right, I am complaining! She doesn't deserve him! Uh, yeah, I know... it's just a TV movie!
But what's my point? I do have a point, see. 😅 In one of those scenes where the story belabored the point of how the 'opposites', Ms. Hysterical and Mr. Cool Outdoorsy, slowly fell for each other, they were crossing a gorge through a hanging bridge. Mr. CO was guiding Ms. H (whose eyes were shut close... what do you expect? 🙄) along the bridge. And then, he paused in the middle of the bridge to admire the beautiful view. Ms. H opened her eyes, and gasped... taken by the beautiful view, too. But, of course, she had to ruin the moment by her 'hysterically impressed' reaction. 🙄
A little part of the Boise River viewed from the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge at the Boise State University campus.
I know, you must be asking - again, "so, what's your point?" Hang on, 'cause I'm not here just to bash Ms. H. I do have a point. Hmm... actually, I have a related story to tell. Back in AY 2021-2022, I was in a Humphrey Fellowship at Pennsylvania State University ('Penn State'). While in the Fellowship, I had a great opportunity to travel around the US again. I chose to go to some of the places that I haven't been before, and joined events that I have not experienced before... and I loved it! One of my favorites is my prolonged stay in Boise, ID. I did a part of my Fellowship there, specifically in Boise State University (BSU), where one of my sisters used to work. I loved it there! It's the closest thing to a real 'happy marriage' between the preserved beauty of nature and urban living. My sister's home, where I stayed, in the four trips that I took to Boise while in the Humphrey Fellowship (twice on vacation with my sister and her husband, and twice on official Humphrey Fellowship business) is located just several hundreds of footsteps from the BSU campus. In the opposite direction from the campus, several hundred steps away, is downtown Boise. There are several parks and points of interest in between... and that was why I loved walking to and from the campus... and taking a walk downtown during lunch breaks or before walking home.
"Boise is located in the Treasure Valley, along the Boise River.
The word 'boise' is French for 'wooded', and the name likely originates from
French Canadian travelers who named the area Boise because it was a rare
wooded valley in the context of high desert area."
One of my favorite walking trails from the campus, specifically, from the library, to downtown and back is through the Bob Gibb Friendship Bridge across the Boise River. There was a long walking trail along the Boise River - the "Boise River Greenbelt", which ran from one region of the Boise City to another. It is a famous walking, running and biking trail for the locals, including my brother-in-law who is an avid 'walker'. The first time I walked along the Greenbelt and crossed the River towards downtown using the Bridge, it was between Fall and Winter time: Thanksgiving Break. And, I was so astounded by the view of the mountains where the river seemed to appear magically, and then disappear again in the opposite direction. I frequented the trail and crossed the river through the Friendship Bridge, and the view took my breath away each time! Mr. CO's reaction in the TV movie reminded me of my own reaction everytime I crossed the Friendship Bridge. I took a few dozen photos and videos as well, especially when I was able to catch the sunset.
In downtown Boise, the Capitol Blvd. where the Capitol is found at its end, viewed from the Boise Depot on the hill.
When I returned to Boise for Christmas break, I was lucky enough to experience a beautiful white Christmas. One of the highlights of my vacation was a sunset walk along the Greenbelt, crossing the river towards downtown together with my sister. And, when I returned in springtime, I got curious, and the Bridge was the first that I visited as soon as I reached Boise... after eating lunch with my sister and brother-in-law, that is. The view at the river, the surrounding lines of trees so green, and the mountains, was just breathtaking! But what is most fascinating was that such sceneries can be found right smack in the middle of the City, and they bind the BSU campus with downtown Boise and the residential areas that were made so pretty by a huge variety of flowers. I enjoyed that very much... along with all those friendly people in Boise that I had the great pleasure to meet, and some became friends.
My 'I was there' photo, taken at the Boise Depot by my sister.
My longest stay in Boise was for five weeks, and it was towards the end of spring and halfway through summer. Naturally, I went crazy! Boise was so beautiful then... and the whole Boise was a-buzz with summer activities. There are days when the City was quiet as most people would spend a long weekend, camping in the woods located in the outskirts of the City, or up the mountains. I do think that it's a fascinating lifestyle, observing environmental sustainability and benefiting from it, too... and I loved it! I wish to be back... and I hope that, next time, it will be for a longer period.
Did I make 'my point'? Hmmm... I guess, not yet, huh? Well, stay tuned then... more to follow!
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Video credit: The owner of the video is indicated in the video credits. Thanks, YouTube, for the video link.
Image credit: All photos belong to me - I took them unless otherwise indicated.
