Best Movie of 2023 ? The Creator

The newly released science fiction film " The Creator " has embarked on a risky and opposite perspective of the mainstream , which predicted that humanity will be dominated and destroyed by generated artificial intelligent robots; on the contrary ,  the human beings in the film, play the role of demolishing the entire existence of Artificial Intelligence! 

In addition to all the astonishing visual effects including explosions of an entire city and base station, and war actions between humans and AI, the film challenged several philosophical concepts we homo sapiens contemplated for thousands of years. What is it to be human? Can I play the role of God and the governance of the universe? Are we the only sentient and emotionally rational beings on earth? Does Artificial Intelligent Robot have the right to live? Are AI robots going to become another advanced race that we humans become inferior, not only mentally, and physically, but also morally? 

I like the film very much, for its courage to explore the boundaries and conceptions that human beings manifest their own selfishness and cruelty and will sacrifice whatever it takes to savor its own survival because AIs are merely programs, despite of emotional bondings formed with AIs. AIs may establish more empathy and emotional feelings compared with human beings, and if they can learn, reason, and have emotions, we human beings are no different than them other than the ability to biologically reproduce. Yet, machines can reproduce repeatedly by all means. 

 I also like the notion that you can download human's brain wave memories into a chip, in order to recreate an emulated AI model of yourself. It is probable that the human race and the AI race can coexist on Earth peacefully and mutually benefit each other. 

The title of the film "CREATOR" , meaning the creator of the AI race, which will be examined and compared with the religious human creator GOD in time. Alphie, the most dangerous and ultimate weapon created by the CREATOR, has the caliber to control animals' behavior, and to control the electrical systematic power, and may also have the capacity to connect the entire Artificial Intelligence altogether. The only question that humans would distinguish themselves from AI  is whether we have souls and can humans exist without physical bodies?  

Best Art Films in 2020 ! Review of " Burnt Orange Heresy "

How do you value a piece of artwork?  

By the auction tag? by the art critiques manufactural words of appraisal and propaganda? by historical and cultural value? by your willingness of value to acquire it? or by the momentum of an economic supply and demand curve? 

In the Art world, these influential factors to determine the worth of a piece of art can be forcefully manipulated by men, which is a bit of surprise for me, not only for its moral inappropriateness, and also for the vicious insult to the genuine nature of Art itself. 

We often see paintings traded at a monumental price at an auction house, such as Sotheby's and Christie's, especially contemporary artworks without our complying with the logic and argument of its delicacies, beauty, conceptual meaning, and its historical and cultural position notwithstanding. How did this outlandish phenomenon exist in the 21-century modern world, known for its age of intelligence and reasoning? Will this fanatic circumstance perpetuate for long?  

In the stock market,  a stock price should surge, for its promising current and future earning, based on expecting foreseen real numbers in finance; however, in the art world, the stories of future flourishing and promising can only be calculated and manifested in time, a very long period of time, maybe one century or more hundreds of years. If the Artwork should be cherished in history, this should be worth millions for certain. But on the contrary, if this Artwork is only a popular trend without depth or beauty, that people should abandon it like a piece of magazine paper later in time! The question of worth and value can only rely upon how much you appreciate this piece of work by understanding and relating your own experience to its presentation, in my opinion !! You are the one who bestows the value of the Art to the special one, while you give it meaning and life to it. Because you love it, it is worth billions for now, in your lifetime. 

Having concluded the above psychological argument in mind, I personally start to understand the deep meaning of this 2020 film " Burnt Orange Heresy", featuring Claes Bang, Elizabeth Debicki, Mick Jagger, and Donald Sutherland. Ostensibly, based on the same name novel by Charles Willeford, for this is not merely a Noir thrill story amidst the upper-class and art dealer world, but a philosophical and controversial one. 

The Cinematography of the film has shaped the entire atmosphere, as artistic, romantic, mysterious, chic, and manipulative as it was illustrated, which was done in Milan and Lake Como, Italy, is a brilliant success. Although some reviewers complained some of the dialogues seem too pretentious, the thrill of murderous ending diminished, and the film finished with a hanger of the truth and mockery. 

Back to reality, in comparison to the recent Netflix documentary  " Ann Freemann", portraying a criminal art dealer of New York selling fake art, this film "Burnt Orange Heresy" has surfaced villains, dilemmas, and ugliness, and truth within the Art world amidst upper society. If you wish to see a real thrill movie, you may be a bit disappointed, but if you would like to peek through the possible turmoil of the Art industry, you may find this film fascinating !! 

#movie #film  #art #Aucion #Gallery #Thrill #Elizabeth Debicki #DonaldSutherland #BurntOrangeHeresy #imove #ClaesBang  #moviecollection 

Enjoy a new Mulan !!!

My favorite childhood historical tale is in Theater now !!!

Loyalty, Bravery, and True are the three profound virtues manifested in the new Disney live-action movie, Mulan, of which I was superlatively entertained by its beautiful photographic sceneries, filmed in mainland China, and New Zealand, and the extraordinary performance of Liu Yifai, in addition to the reminiscent and new invented music soundtrack!

It is not a perfect cinematic piece, due to some historical background discrepancies, but the everlasting legendary story of a Heroine extolling the praisable values of Piety, and Loyalty, expanding beyond traditional gender taboos, had successfully exclaimed the worth of this film.

As tormented and disappointed as many people who poignantly criticize this new version of Mulan in comparison with the original Musical Animation Mulan 1988, this new Mulan eliminates an important character Li Yi , who was Mulan's military companion and a romantically insinuated character, also mentioned in the old Chinese Poem describing this beautiful legend. Disney replaces two characters, the General Dong and Mulan's companion Houng Hui instead of Li Yi , and eliminate the romantic implications. In my opinion, romance is not the main theme of this legend, but Virtues , I personally do not mind much, since political correctness is so emphasized at present moment, Disney has complied with the concern to eliminate the romance within the army.

The notion of being true to yourself , awakened by the true Chi, symbolized by the Firing Flying Pheonix, brandishes throughout the entire story. The character development of Mulan lies upon her willingness to confess with her true identity of a Female warrior instead of hiding behind a psudomale appearance. As soon as she exemplifies herself as loyal, brave and truthful, her powerful caliber is beyond measure. Women can be so paramount powerful, even more than men, as in Mulan portriated, and this is why this story becomes my favorite childhood Legend.

Enjoy the Show !!

#Cinema #historicaltales #Mulan #劉亦菲 #李連杰 #鞏俐 #甄子丹 #花木蘭 #YifeiLiu #Disney #favoritestory #film #femaleheroine 😍

An Artist is born !!!

The film of Egon Schiele !!

Egon Schiele (German: [ˈʃiːlə] (listen); 12 June 1890 – 31 October 1918) was an Austrian painter. A protégé of Gustav Klimt, Schiele was a major figurative painter of the early 20th century. His work is noted for its intensity and its raw sexuality, and the many self-portraits the artist produced, including naked self-portraits. The twisted body shapes and the expressive line that characterize Schiele's paintings and drawings mark the artist as an early exponent of Expressionism.

In my opinion, the most striking impression upon Schiele's works is the simple but muscular, , powerful almost husky and violent strokes of lines which depict the utmost expressive emotions of his subjects!! No matter it is self-portrait, or the portraits of his lover, wife or friends, he was certainly exploring the depth of inner souls of human beings, who were experiencing the moment of joy, suffering, perplexing, desiring, loving, or contempt that Schile was revealing all of that on his canvas !!

Where to find the Best Night View in Taipei ?

It was a Mid Fullmoon Night ~💕💕💕 Cheers 🍷🍷🍷 Love ~

Spared my favorite egg yoke Mooncakes this year, 
I enjoyed the combination of  Popsicles and Red Wine very much, 
while dancing and barbequing under the full moon, 
looking out the best night view of Taipei, 
with La La Land screening on the back ..... 

At Inges Grill ~~

at Marriot Taipei Top Night Club ~~ 

What is dignity to you ?? from a distinguished Nobel Laureate Ishiguro !

人們壓抑情感總是為了保護自己，
但是到頭來，
這保護的尊嚴卻在許久之後，
傷害了自己深切的內心。

英國鄕間的靜謐與美麗, 如同男主角自己壓抑的性格，崇高偉大自然的流露，不需要刻意張顯...

After 「長日將盡」, 石黑一雄

💞"What is pertinent is the calmness of beauty, its sense of restraint. It is as though the land knows of its own beauty, it's own greatness, and feels no need to shout it."

—from THE REMAINS OF THE DAY by Kazuo Ishiguro

❤️ Afterthoughts: We are all butlers in the system of society in fact !! In order to live as a dignified person, not only to present yourself as proper and highly educated but also you need to have the capacity to choose to contribute for good causes in advancing the society as a whole !! How? Participating in Charity acts, communities, political affairs and be passionate in voting ～～～ Angelina Lee

❤️” What is the point of worrying oneself too much about what one could or could not have done to control the course one's life took? Surely it is enough that the likes of you and I at least try to make our small contribution count for something true and worthy. And if some of us are prepared to sacrifice much in life in order to pursue such aspirations, surely that in itself, whatever the outcome, cause for pride and contentment !! “ ~~~ From “ The Remains of the Day by Kazuo Ishiguro

感謝廖咸浩教授精闢的演說！

讀書會心得： The Remains of the Day 「長日將盡」by 石黑一雄

We are all butlers in the system of society in fact ! 通常，我們理想中的自己是做一個有尊嚴的人！用不同的方式，對社會國家人類做些許的貢獻。甚至是重大的影響！只不過有時候，我們如同書中的大總管家，並非所有事情都是我們可以決定的。因此，多參與社會公益，政治事務，參與選舉，才能發揮自己的貢獻！！

What does it take to live for a noble cause ??!!

Never Let me Go ~~~

💞另一部，石黑一雄的作品，
親愛的，「別誏我走」～～

縱使我們從小到大，一次又一次的重複著這句話，

親愛的，別誏我走～～

但是，我們倒數著，
這一天終究會到來！！

這是一部充滿疑惑氣氛的卻又溫暖冷冽的寓言故事。



令人反思，
到底如何衡量生命的價值？

是情愛的真偽？是利他奉獻的精神？還是追求真理希望的勇氣？
你我皆無法定奪～～
說不定，一切生命的意義，
只不過是～～～
曾經，在時間的洪流裏，我確在你的記憶裏留下了記印，

真善與美麗！！

♦️After adapted film
“ Never Let Me Go “ by Ishiguro

“ What I'm not sure about, is if our lives have been so different from the lives of the people we save. We all complete. Maybe none of us really understand what we've lived through, or feel we've had enough time.”

" I keep thinking about this river somewhere, with the water moving really fast. And these two people in the water, trying to hold onto each other, holding on as hard as they can, but in the end it's just too much. The current's too strong. They've got to let go, drift apart. That's how it is with us. It's a shame, Kath, because we've loved each other all our lives. But in the end, we can't stay together forever.”

Just a thought , you can fly ! ~ Another good film !

Just a thought , You can fly !!!! 

As soon as Mary Poppins flew in through the window, the world was lightened  up by her delightfulness !!

 Saving Mr. Banks can be categorized as a Soul Searching Film !!

 Nobody every thought that this happy and inspirational Disney musical film Mary Poppins , produced in 1964, harboured a sad childhood memory of the author, PL Travers !  

The modern film Saving Mr. Banks  2015 , staring Tom Hanks and Emma Thompson, portrayed a rigid, demanding and severe process in making this musical possible during 60's ! 

Nevertheless, Mr. Banks, resembled the figure of her beloved father,  is not the one who needs to be saved in reality, PL Travers in fact should be the one, whose life has suffered formidably in confusion after the death of her loving but irresponsible father. 

This is a touching story of delivering the ideal of balance between fantasy and practicality  ! Everyone was surprised with her characteristics of stubbornness and cruelty,  as PL Travers depicted a loving, fantastic and comic illusion in her book , Mary Poppins! How Walter Disney, our beloved Dreamer,  actualized  her dream , and presented the Wonderland to the world  would be the other highlight in the movie !

Afterthought:

If you perceive the world with opened mind and loving compassion without much expectations, if you courageously confront the challenges in your life, you will magically transform your dream into reality !! 

Bert/Mr. Dawes Sr.: Winds in the east, there's a mist coming in, like something is brewing, about to begin.

Mary Poppins: In every job that must be done, there is an element of fun.

Mary Poppins: "I never explain anything"

Mary Poppins: Just a spoon-ful of sugar helps the medicine go down.

Where East meets West !!!

夏日家庭電影院時間：
透視中國 1。敦煌，絲路之旅！

敦煌，自兩千兩百年起，一個西方與東方交會的地方，一個藏存了佛像石窟佛教文化歴史的戈壁沙漠. 近年來，已發展成為全世界前幾大的太陽能發電的新能源城市！!

🎉🎉在台中國立自然科學博物館，近期展出^_^

🍎Summer time in the Home Theater : China Revealed 1 ， Silk Road !

Duan Huang , stood in the Gobi dessert , where the East and West met , the precious Buddhist sculpture Caves preserved since 2200 years ago , has engaged itself into a world prominent solar energy city in recent years !!

A Charming man who was born 120 years early ~~

iMovie Watching :
Film " Wilde " (1997 ) featuring Stephen Fry and Jude Law ~ Jude Law 😍 😉 當年⋯⋯, 真的帥 😘

大劇作家，詩人 汪爾德 生於 1845 年，19世紀中期，因為思維新潮，行為忠於自我的理念與自己的情感，而終被拘捕入獄！！！歷經了120 多年的演化，如今二十一世紀的現代社會，對自由的思想，階級意識的分解，同性戀愛，都不再視為粗俗卑下，渺視傳統，與防害風化。

思想觀念是可怕的刀刃，可雕塑建造，更可殺人！

Oscar Wilde 是迷人的，眼裏沒有敵人，但是也是古代社會最嫉嫉最害怕的，一個「不虛偽的真誠的人」，只因他說，「把人分類為好或壞是極荒謬的，人只有迷人的或是無趣的！」

It is absurd to divide people into good and bad. People are either charming or tedious ! -- Oscar Wilde 

Can you identify yourself in these Films ??

Do you know who you really are ?

Do you pretend to be someone else? Do you constantly live in lies?
Do you live in fantasies that you neglect the truth ?
Do you deceive yourself by living in double lives?
Do you have multiple personalities?
Do you have split personalities that converse to each other?
Do you prefer to be someone else ?
Do you fabricate a role that you desire to play but never exists?

The above questions conjured up in my mind after viewing several identity searching or identity confusing films , including " The Spilt" , " Hema Hema " , " Nobody from Nowhere ", " Lion ", and " The Enemy".

I do believe that in the mind of one person resided  many different characters , due to many different roles he or she would need to play in this complicated society !!
If the condition becomes sever, one needs to intentionally divide oneself into several roles in order to protect oneself from harming by others from the society.

However, which one is the true you?? The answer does not depend upon your profession, your career, your achievement, your role , your hobbies, your favors, but the true you is defined by the attribute you establish, formulate and develop to advance the universe. No matter how Vicious , malicious, voluptuous,  and Contempt we are tempting to be, there is always a goodness in us. I believe the one that is the most courageous, the most compassionate, the most broad visionary, the most versatile, the most wise and above all, the most generous and forgiving is the true version of my existence as a human and spiritual being! All the spit characters and personalities and emotions are all tentative expressions of reactions and therefore they are all  illusions as I may describe.

Listen to your heart , be aware to your emotions, and most importantly , be aware to listen to the true voice and by doing so, the identity confusion in humans

will not be an issue any more !!! ----- Angelina Lee 

Good Films about India ~~ Lion !!

It is a touching true story of a lost life been found !!!

獲得第 89 屆奧斯卡六項奧斯卡提名的《漫漫回家路》(Lion) ，由真人真事改編！

�I love the scenery of the Beautiful Indian countryside and the beautiful coastline of Australia where the movie was filmed !

Lion is a 2016 biographical film directed by Garth Davis (in his feature debut) and written by Luke Davies, based on the non-fiction book A Long Way Home by Saroo Brierley with Larry Buttrose. The film stars Dev Patel, Rooney Mara, David Wenham and Nicole Kidman.

Brian Truitt of USA Today wrote: "The finale is manipulative in every way, squeezing out the emotions of the audience. But Lion's well-plotted narrative and thoughtful characters suck you in so much that the journey there is totally worth it".^[30]Novelist and critic Salman Rushdie thought highly of the film stating that while he often lacked interest in films nominated for an Oscar, this year he rooted for Lion, believing that "I would like it to win in every category it’s nominated for and in most of the categories it isn’t nominated for as well." Noting that he wept "unstoppably" while viewing the film, Rushdie said that he is "frequently suspicious of Western films set in contemporary India, and so one of the things that most impressed me about Lion was the authenticity and truth and unsparing realism of its Indian first half. Every moment of the little boy’s journey rings true – not an instant of exoticism – and as a result his plight touches us all. Greig Fraser’s cinematography portrays the beauty of the country, both honestly and exquisitely [...] Dev Patel and Nicole Kidman, in the film’s Australian second half, give wonderful performances too."^[31]

Good Films about India : Dangal ! The best film in 2017 , Dangal by Aamir Khan !

Aamir Khan's 真相訪談

當今印度最有影響力的明星，阿米爾汗，"三個傻瓜"，及"我的冠軍女兒"的主角，他不僅是演員, 製作人，導演，也是一位社會改革運動支持者！他主持的節目"真相訪談"，觀眾有五億人口，主題蓋跨印度社會上維持長久爭論性的問題，種性制度，女嬰被墮胎問題，不自由的婚姻問題等等！因此，此節目受政府官方極大的重視！

希望台灣也有如此有愛心，有想法，有行動力的明星！

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3KC2noGYRcc&feature=share

Aamir Khan is not only a mega star in Bollywood but also a prominent social activist , who hosts a popular talk show on TV , discussing controversial topics such as casteless marriage, child sexual abuse, female feticide, and more ... ! The population of the audience of this talk show has reached 500 million people . The show has raised high awareness upon these issues from the Indian Government !

War and Peace on Screen !

“We can know only that we know nothing. And that is the highest degree of human wisdom.” 
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

Yes, love, ...but not the love that loves for something, to gain something, or because of something, but that love that I felt for the first time, when dying, I saw my enemy and yet loved him. I knew that feeling of love which is the essence of the soul, for which no object is needed. And I know that blissful feeling now too. To love one's neighbours; to love one's enemies. To love everything - to Love God in all His manifestations. Some one dear to one can be loved with human love; but an enemy can only be loved with divine love. And that was why I felt such joy when I felt that I loved that man. What happened to him? Is he alive? ...Loving with human love, one may pass from love to hatred; but divine love cannot change. Nothing, not even death, can shatter it. It is the very nature of the soul. And how many people I have hated in my life. And of all people none I have loved and hated more than her.... If it were only possible for me to see her once more... once, looking into those eyes to say...” 
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“If everyone fought for their own convictions there would be no war.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“The strongest of all warriors are these two — Time and Patience.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

tags: patience, time

“There is no greatness where there is not simplicity, goodness, and truth.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“If we admit that human life can be ruled by reason, then all possibility of life is destroyed.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“We love people not so much for the good they've done us, as for the good we've done them.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“What is the cause of historical events? Power. What is power? Power is the sum total of wills transferred to one person. On what condition are the willso fo the masses transferred to one person? On condition that the person express the will of the whole people. That is, power is power. That is, power is a word the meaning of which we do not understand. ”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“Life is too long to say anything definitely; always say perhaps.”
― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace

“What is bad? What is good? What should one love, what hate? Why live, and what am I? What is lie,what is death? What power rules over everything?" he asked himself. And there was no answer to any of these questions except one, which was not logical and was not at all an answer to these questions. This answer was: "You will die--and everything will end. You will die and learn everything--or stop asking.” 

― Leo Tolstoy, War and Peace