Is your life a tragedy or a comedy?

What sort will your life be if it is a TV show or a movie? sitcom-like comedy, a dramatic TV series, tragic soap opera, suspense thriller, sci-fi/fantasy, horror?

My life is so blessed to be a tragedy! (Not that I’m complaining.) So far, it’s definitely a happy comedy.

I don’t think we have that kind of interesting extra-ordinary lives that anybody would consider watching on TV. But should we be on TV, considering my passive non-confrontational sensitive personality, my struggles with my hyperactive almost-3-years-old toddler, and a fishing loving hubby, who has one-of-a-kind personality and a very interesting job. Our lives as a TV show will probably have a lot of ordinaryness and a few moments of comedy more than anything else.

These question are inspired by the movie ‘Stranger than Fiction’ and reality TV show ‘Jon&Kate plus 8′.

Movie, Stranger than Fiction

In the movie ‘Stranger than Fiction‘, Will Ferrel plays Harold Crick, a lonely IRS agent who lives his life so systematically. His life took a turn when suddenly he started hearing a woman’s voice narrating his life. He sought the help of Jules Hilbert played by Dustin Hoffman, who asked the question about his life, whether his life is a tragedy or a comedy. Since that question, he made a tally about events in his life to evaluate if his life is – comedy or tragedy.

It is actually a good movie. It’s NOT a laugh-out-loud comedy, but it was made better by the love story between this IRS agent and a baker who wouldn’t pay taxes. What a funny combination! And of course there’s the successful novelist who had writer’s block narrating Crick’s life and struggling how to kill Crick’s character in her novel. The movie has a great concept and it’s very well written.

About ‘Jon&Kate Plus 8‘, well what can I say. Their lives including the 8 kids’ are all over the news. Obviously, they have interesting life having 8 kids total to have a reality TV show. I guess their show has turned dramatic to possibly tragic. I do not actually follow this show. I don’t watch reality TV shows (except for American Idol only because I consider AI a singing talent show more than a reality TV show). But with the very few glimpse I had of Jon&Kate from their show while channel surfing, there’s always Kate whining and Jon casting a big sigh, surrounded by 8 busy kids. Did I ever suspect then that they are going to divorce? I had no clue!

Aloha Friday originated in Kailani’s An Island Life. If you would like to join in the fun, simply answer the question as a comment then visit Kailani’s An Island Life for more details. However, your answer and comments are welcome even if you do not want to participate.

• Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)
• The Brave One (2007)
• Michael Clayton (2007)
• Alvin and the Chipmunks(2007)
• Sunshine (2007)
• My Sassy Girl (South Korea, 2001)

Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street (2007)

Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd can act … and sing at the same time! This movie is definitely well made – well acted, well directed and well produced - not a cheap movie to make. However, the story is too dark, and gory for my taste.

I have not seen or heard of the musical play that this movie is based from. I find the story line predictable! I kind’a knew early on how the story will go and how it’ll end.

Throughout the movie, I was kind’a waiting for Harry Potter and his gang to save the day. The dark feel, the gothic look of the movie made it look like it’s one of the Harry Portters movies. And three of the prominent characters of Harry Potter are in this movie, too.

Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead

My most favorite part of this movie is the part when the child Toby played by Ed Sanders, warned Mrs. Lovett played by Helena Bonham Carter, that Sweeney Todd is a bad person – a demon. He then thanks her for her kindness and for taking him in. He swore to her that he will protect her. Mrs. Lovett then assures him that everything is alright and she too swears to him that she will protect him. The exchange between Mrs. Lovett and Toby of these lyrics is tantalizing.

Nothing’s gonna harm you, not while I’m around.

Nothing’s gonna hurt you, not while I’m around.

The melody of the song, and the lyrics of assurance and of good intentions could certainly pass as a lullaby. Except that, after they were singing, Mrs. Lovett locked Toby in her cellar, which almost looked like a dungeon, where all the ground human-meat and left-over skeletons were.

Michael Clayton (2007)

I’m not a fan of George Clooney and his movies. I don’t find him good looking, sexy or whatever they describe him. With regards to his movies, I only liked Oceans Eleven Series because of Brad Pitt and Matt Damon and Three Kings because of Mark Walberg.

Although, I think George Clooney is a good actor, his movies like Syriana, Solaris, Good Night and Good Luck, way too boring serious for me that it was so difficult to keep myself from dozing off while watching these movies.

But, Michael Clayton was not difficult to watch and I’m not disappointed that I saw it.The story is engaging and interesting. The movie is very well acted by the major casts, Tom Wilkinson, Tilda Swinton and Clooney included.

Alvin and the Chipmunks (2007)

I really would love to love this movie. It is after all about cute singing chipmunks, so what’s not to like? But the story fell flat short on humor, while humor is what I have expected from it. But hands down to its special effects – CGI and the music, which are the saving factors of this movie.

Or I must just have too high expectations. And to think, this movie really grossed big time worldwide. Kids probably like this movie, but the kid in me don’t.

Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead

If it’s going to be about singing chipmunks and casted by comedians (Jason Lee from My Name is Earl, Justin Long from Die Hard 4, David Cross from Scary Movie 2, etc), it ought to be funny, right? Well, I found the story of anti-exploitation a little bit serious for the chipmunks characters. And it only has very few funny moments.

The Brave One (2007)

There is no doubt that Jodie Foster and Terence Howard can act.

I think the story is engaging … and shocking. I give it plus points for acting performance, powerful theme and unexpected ending. But the ending is also the movie’s unforgivable flaw.

Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead

The way the lead character, Erika Bain played by Foster, can shoot a gun just like that, with no hesitation, no chit-chat – is really … SHOCKING! I mean, this is unlike other shooting movies where there are more hide-and-seek and chit-chats first before finally shooting each other.

Sunshine (2007)

It’s a Futuristic Sci-Fi about the dying sun and the astronauts attempts to re-ignite the sun. Isn’t that interesting?!

Although, this movie is Science Fiction, there is more drama and intense emotions displayed. With less special effects that’s expected from a Sci-Fi, it would have not worked with bad acting performances. But it is excellently casted by really good actors including international stars like Michelle Yeoh as Corazon, the botanist and Hiroyuki Sanada, as Capt. Kaneda, including Chris Evans, who is usually just the pretty face in his other movies, ex.  Johnny Storm in Fantactic 4 , but in Sunshine. He delivered pretty well.

This movie is a definitely a thrill ride. It extends beyond Sci-Fi, to drama and thriller. The story build up effectively, but to somewhat a disappointing climax. But I still enjoyed watching it.

Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead

The characters are burdened by the extremes of their situation of having to save humanity, and the fact that they may not come back to Earth. It’s very gripping as they make altering decisions one after the other, and deal with mistakes made, the catastrophes they encounter and against the villain.

Chris Evans is unexpectedly good in this movie. It certainly doesn’t hurt that he looks good, too. In Sunshine, he portrays a more demanding role of an outspoken crew member, who is headstrong about completing their mission no matter what’s at stake, including his life.

My Sassy Girl (South Korea, 2001)

As recommended by my dear Sister, I watched it! I’m glad I did. It’s been awhile since I have laughed so hard for a movie. I couldn’t stop laughing while watching this. I laughed until I cried! It is still funny while thinking about it. It is that funny.

The story is full of original and unpredictable plotlines. It is too eventful that this 2-hour movie can make up for 2 separate movies – I think! And it is based from a true story.

Warning: Movie Spoilers Ahead

It’s a romantic comedy about a bizarre love story, that’s funny and very entertaining. Its not the typical boy-meets-girl and they fell in love kind’a story. The craziness and the geekyness of the lead characters are over the top in a really funny way. The combination of a crazy creepy girl and a geeky guy and how she bullies him and beats him up are just too painfully hilarious! Even the way the characters met is funny, extraordinary.

The movie is well casted. The facial expressions made by the lead casts, Cha Tae-Hyun as the geeky Gyeon-woo and Jun Ji-hyun as the crazy girl, whose name is never given in the movie, are just unbeatable.

The film was extremely successful in South Korea. When My Sassy Girl was released throughout East Asia, it became a mega blockbuster hit in the entire region, from Japan, China, Taiwan, Philippines, Hong Kong, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam and Indonesia, to the point where it was drawing comparisons to Titanic. Through positive word-of-mouth, the movie eventually became one of the most popular South Korean films among Asian Americans in the United States. An American remake, starring Jesse Bradford and Elisha Cuthbert, and directed by Yann Samuell is scheduled to be released in 2008. [Read More.]