the Macbeth movie

The Macbeth movie is very dark. Most scenes are filmed in rainy or cloudy days, like the death of Banquo. It somewhat represents that the movie is a tragedy. To be honest, some scenes make me feel sick... like the scene which Macbeth sees apparitions... Actors in this movie never smile, or they smile in a creepy way... It makes the movie very serious. Some transition scenes are filmed skillfully. For example, after Macbeth sees the apparitions, he faints. Then, he doesn't just get up while he is waken by cold water fallen from the top of the cave. But I still think that some scenes looked ridiculous, like the death of Banquo. As a general, how can he just stares at his arrow and pay no attention to his back, which is the most dangerous area. Anyway, this is still a good movie for the good acting and the music. Though the movie is old and the pictures are bad, but these too are brilliant.

Your "feeling under sunshine" post is lovely, Bill. I think you capture such emotional complexity in your exploration of being bathed in light. Good writing!

feeling under sunshine...

The warm sunlight falls on the ground, like the bright sky is raining gold. I am bathing in the colorful aura, which enchanting me forever. Air is soft, and earth is fragrant. I am placed in the lovely campus, with cute creatures all around. Sitting on the lush lawn, I willing to be a grass. To hear the whisper among ants, and share their fairy tales. The water in lake showed multi colors under this gorgeous sunshine. It's not spring, but the rainbow from the heaven broken and fell into the world, which precipitate dreams. My childhood starts to show in my mind, like the old-fashioned movie, which I can never forget. Crying and smiling, playing and studying, beautiful memories fill out my brain. I dip in the magnificent present from god...

Thoughts about "Ithaca"

Odysseus knows the essence of life. As he contacts more physical enjoyments in his journey, he gets deeper in desires, just like what the poem says. Mother-of-pearl and coral, amber and ebony, and sensual perfumes of all kinds. These are really gorgeous, so people are easily enchanted by them. Human can hardly resist temptation, while Odysseus is also a human. He also does something disloyalty to his wife. On the other hand, he meets a bunch of frustrations everyday, like loses crews who can be considered as his brothers. Therefore, it's normal for him to get really frustrated, so his improper behavior can be seen as a way to abreact sadness. It can't be his wish to indulge because he is an outsanding wit with great wisdom. Odysseus keeps Ithaca, his ultimate goal, in his mind, or he stays in Circe's island to spend the rest of his life. Enjoying physical entertainment is just humanity. Actually, they are necessary experiences for a man to learn something, and that's way that Odysseus gets his lessons.

Odysseus just needs a positive attitude! :) I think you're right, though, he fails to acknowledge how much his struggles have changed him and give credit to humans for their ability to persevere!

Odysseus's vision of the human condition

Odysseus's vision of the human condition is absolutely negative. The meaning of existance of human is to suffer according to him. He mentioned that once he thought he was chosen to be a fortunate man, but this totally changed after the journey. Therefore, the reason of the change is his journey. He met so many diffculties and lost all of his crews in order to go home. This is too violent for him. Also, he may feel like that he is a toy of gods. Though some gods, like Athena, helps Odysseus, little actions of the others still can destroy him. That makes him feel sad about human. However, I don't agree him. Gods didn't give us strong bodies but brilliant brian, which is the best of all the other parts. And how people feel depend on their attitudes to life. Consequently, Odysseus can feel happy and lucky if he had a positive attitude. Sadly, he is the bringer of pain. He brings afflication to both himself and his family members...

Kingdom of the dead...

Bill--your description is really interesting and moving. I like the fact that your kingdom of the dead is pretty much a figurative representation of the kingdom of life...greed and uncurbed desires take us to dark places.

Thoughts from the chameleon ...

From this story，I realized that Bourdin，who is the artist of deceit，didn‘t really want to con people. He is actuallly a poor child according to his birth and childhood. When he was young，he was lack of love. In addition to being alone，his mother，who was still immature，made fun of tricking her son. I think that should be where Bourdin’s idea of deceiving people came from. He was a genuis. Absolutely he knew how to cheat people rightly and successfully. "The key is actually not lying about everything，" Bourdin said. "Otherwise，I'll just mix things up." He said that he adhered to maxims such as "Keep it simple" and "A good liar uses the truth" . He had plenty of good experience，but he said，"I know I can be cruel，but I don't want to be a monster".

Bourdin even has fans who worship him for his talent. In fact，I don't feel strange. He is great，a human recorder. He knows human nature deeply. Some people call him "The king of imposters"，but I'd rather "The king of psychologist". Tricking was not what he really wanted to do，but he is really a human recorder.

How the Kingdom of Dead looks like?

In my opinion, the Kingdom of Dead should look beautiful at first sight. It can be a grand palace which is decorated by precious jewerly. Moving music comes out and enchants people, and it smells fragrant. You are easily corrupt in this atmosphere. Then, desires are easily produced. However, if people don't curb them, what you see suddenly becomes different. Endless dark is all around, undyings groan, and it smells choking, just like dead bodies surrounded. And there is no rules. People have absoulute "freedom".

I think you're right--life would eventually get boring if one didn't have to encounter the idea of death and temporality. Good observations.

My bolg

Ok, it's the third time I work on my bolg today. I feel it's really interesting!

I am so boring. This nonsense...

By the way, I wrote a poem last week. Oh my gooooooood, I hate it
:(

Thoughts from Odyssey

1)Penelope is really admirable. A beauty whose husband is far away can keep herself from those suiators is really respectable. The weaving trick, which is the avatar of her wisdom, shows people that so good a wife she is. I respect her for her behavior.

2)Odysseu is obviously not straightforward~ I won't say it's wrong, but his action makes me feel ashamed... And it's a contrast between Odysseu's and Penolope's behavior. It's not fair to Penolope for sure! But she must be understanding right?:D

Be immortal...

Do you want to be immortal? En... an interesting question...
You know, the source of endless life is to be immortal. So many interesting things you can do during your life! So many emperors wished they could be undying!

However, I don't want be like that at all. According to Buddhism, complete life of a person should include death, which is the most important part. People don't know that they should treasure life without death. And most importantly, even play all video games, I feel boring if I don't die!

Hahahaha....

2010 1 24

Hi Bill!
I like your reflection on Avatar. I thought it was a really beautiful film to watch (though the story did not impress me either). Always feel free to use your blog to write about anything you want to! I also want you to write about specific things from The Odyssey. The assignments were to 1)write about the line: "So she finished it off. Against her will. We forced her." This line is about Penelope's trick. And 2) write about what you think of Odysseus's behavior with Calypso and whether it's fair to Penelope.

Please let me know if you have questions! Feel free to knock on my door when you're not sure about an assignment!

Avatar...

I went to Avatar this weekend, which had been expected for a long time.

Special effects and images were amzing. That world was so beautiful! And IMAX was really cool!
But this story didn't impress me deeply. It was not moving in my opinion.

Yeah! You did it! Good job!

First blog in my life

My first blog is set up! Congratulations!
I always try to make my own blog, but I am always too lazy to do that= =...
Now, my English teacher, dear Ms.Bell, demanded me to set up a blog!
Oh my god, I have to put something on it from now on! So hard a job to do!
All right, all right, don't beat me Ms.Bell, you know, it's only a joke.
Congratulations agian!:DDDDDDD
Yang 2010 Jan. 14th