Remember my posting on "Garfield"? I happened to see "Garfield: The Movie" today, and found out it is actually enjoyable. It did make me smile and laugh and entertained. On curiosity ground I checked its position in this week's US Chart and apparently its performance isn't that bad. It ranks 5. So I guess despite the bad reviews in IMDB, people still go to watch it and some people DO love it.
I understand that we should never expect the things we read everyday would turn out exactly like what we have imagined. (What does THAT mean anyway? ;)) I certainly didn't expect much from Garfield, so it was a nice surprise for me. In fact, despite of Chris Suellentrop's suspicion that Jim Davis actually wishes "Garfield: the Movie" to flop, I would say that the movie captures what Garfield is: a pure narcissist who always tries to hide his affection to Jon and Odie. While the dog who plays Odie does an impressive job, "Jon" doesn't really reflect the geek in this most popular comic strip in the world. Should Garfield ever exist, he would love this movie, for the very reason of seeing himself on the screen for - like - 80 minutes and getting almost all of the film's dialogues (and monologues).
I've got to say, I love this movie. Sorry Jim, this only strengthen my affection to Garfield :)
Garfield Lagi
GARFIELD
A friend of mine testifies (yes, in my Friendster page - where else?) that I have a huge passion for cats. I'm not denying it. Freud might have associated it to my constant Garfield reading. No offense to Herr Freud, but I love Garfield NOT because he is a cat, but because he is what he is now thanks to Jim Davis. His wit, sarcasm, and even narcissism never fail to bring smiles onto my face - and many times I burst into hysterical laughter. Jim Davis pointed it out correctly: that people like Garfield because they can identify themselves with him, or simply because they want to be him. They want to be brave enough to say what he says, do what he does -- in short, do whatever they want and remain free of worriness, and of guilt.
An article in Slate's 11 June edition by Chris Suellentrop was devoted to this larger-than-life feline. OK, not really. Mostly chronologizing this so-called most popular strip in the globe, it was -- I'd say -- much more of a welcome to "Garfield: The Movie", due out this week across the US. Suellentrop predicts that the movie will never be a hit (in theatres, one may well debate on its DVD prospect), and that it is exactly what Davis might want. Suellentrop underlines the fact that in the late 1980s -- after Garfields products flooded the whole world -- Davis decided to pull Garfield dolls off the shelves. As Suellentrop has argued, what's kept Garfield in business for so long is Davis' canny understanding of how much is too much. And while Davis has in fact agreed to the production of "Garfield: The Movie", he is probably one of the people who are not in favor of the movie's huge success -- along with his rivals.
I've read the tagline, and I have to admit that the plot is so weak. I would even say that such script should be taken an insult for Garfield's intellect, which is far beyond his species -- and to a certain extent, his human "colleagues". If he wanted to, and if he were willing to put aside his hatred to Mondays and mornings, he could've established a detective agency with Quilleran's Koko! (OK, Lilian Jackson Braun would dis this idea, for sure). I have to say that this makes Chris Suellentrop's writing seem correct. Which adult would ever want to see such movie?
I would.
Reagan Passed Away
Ronald Reagan, one of - I shall say - the biggest statemen of the world, left us all Saturday morning (American time) after a long fight against Alzheimer. By 93, he's claimed the longest-living US president.
Though people often referred to him as an ex-movie star, I don't think he was ever qualified as a "star". His acting career was quite short, and the biggest thing he had ever accomplished in the movie industry was being a one-time president of the Screen Actors Guild (one or two? not sure!). It was obvious his talent had always been in organizations and politics.
I remember, when I was little, I was a bit disappointed when he beat Jimmy Carter - Carter was the only name I had always heard and associated with a US president. It took me several years to learn that Reagan's achievement actually outdid his predecessor.
Whenever Reagan's name came up, the following things would always be connected to it:
1. The Iran-Contra.
2. The Star Wars program.
3. The historical SALT.
4. The Berlin wall falldown.
5. Jodie Foster (main motif for assassination trial).
6. Nancy's obsession with horoscope and Frank Sinatra (poor Ronnie...), and clothes.
RIP
Cat's Dream
How neatly a cat sleeps,
sleeps with its paws and its posture,
sleeps with its wicked claws,
and with its unfeeling blood,
sleeps with all the rings--
a series of burnt circles--
which have formed the odd geology
of its sand-colored tail.
I should like to sleep like a cat,
with all the fur of time,
with a tongue rough as flint,
with the dry sex of fire;
and after speaking to no one,
stretch myself over the world,
over roofs and landscapes,
with a passionate desire
to hunt the rats in my dreams.
I have seen how the cat asleep
would undulate, how the night
flowed through it like dark water;
and at times, it was going to fall
or possibly plunge into
the bare deserted snowdrifts.
Sometimes it grew so much in sleep
like a tiger's great-grandfather,
and would leap in the darkness over
rooftops, clouds and volcanoes.
Sleep, sleep cat of the night,
with episcopal ceremony
and your stone-carved moustache.
Take care of all our dreams;
control the obscurity
of our slumbering prowess
with your relentless heart
and the great ruff of your tail.
Pablo Neruda
(translated by: Alastair Reid)