March of The Penguins

看完這部電影，你一定會愛上企鵝。

March of the Penguins是由華納電影和國家地理頻道一同出資拍攝的紀錄片。也是人類第一次深入南極拍攝帝王企鵝的遷徙活動。第一次在電影院裡看到預告片，所有的觀眾都笑翻了。看著一隻隻的圓滾滾的帝王企鵝排成一直線行走、尋找伴侶、互相取暖、躲閉風雪、照顧小企鵝，穿著黑色西裝的他們，感覺真像人類社會的小小縮影，有種熟悉的感覺。

根據紀錄片，每年的二月，南極的夏天接近尾聲，氣溫開始降低、南極企鵝們在此時，反而選擇離開溫暖的海洋，成群結隊的邁向冰原的深處，那裡長年冰天雪地，冬天氣溫甚至可驟降至零下八十幾度，沒有任何的生物能夠存活。為什麼堅持回去?因為幾世紀來，那是帝王企鵝們出生的故鄉，也是他們繁殖下一代的地方。

不知道是靠著什麼神奇的第六感，在一片純白色的雪地中，帝王企鵝們從來不會迷路，約七十里的路程，總是能有秩序的到達目的地。到達目的地後，企鵝們開始尋找伴侶，這一段真是超級可愛經典，你會看到原本一群散亂的企鵝，最後成雙成對，開始培養感情。他們會一起散步、互相依偎、或幫對方清理毛髮，跟我們對愛侶的表現其實很像的。

母企鵝在交配後，只會產下一個卵。剛產卵後的母企鵝，需要馬上進食，因為此時，她們已經近兩個月沒有吃東西，加上產卵消耗的熱量，她必須馬上回到海洋覓食，不但補充體力，也要儲存餵食之後孵出的小企鵝。所以孵卵其實是公企鵝的責任喔，母企鵝必須要小心翼翼的將在腳上的蛋，交給身旁的公企鵝，因為一不小心掉到冰上，蛋殼裂掉，小小的生命也就消失了。

公企鵝超辛苦的，孵卵是一段艱辛的過程，暴風雪經常來襲，雖然有厚重的皮下組織保暖，公企鵝們在此時必須發揮團結的力量，才能渡過難關。他們會聚在一起並將身體緊緊貼近，而且在群體中間的公企鵝會定期的移到群體的外圈，一方面是避免睡著，另一方面是輪流的抵擋風雪，好讓同伴也能享受到在內圈溫暖的體溫。

由於過程很艱辛，只有三分之二的小企鵝能夠順利被孵出和存活，小企鵝超可愛的喔，身上毛茸茸的，頭圓圓的好像一顆麻糬，兩個眼睛像發亮的小黑豆。這時換爸爸回海洋去覓食了，小企鵝由媽媽照顧。媽媽總是把小企鵝夾在腳中間，用肚子下厚厚的毛皮為牠取暖，所以小企鵝就在媽媽雙腿中露出一個頭。小企鵝和媽媽情深，即使長大，會自己走路了，也要硬鑽到媽媽的肚子下面睡覺，重溫孩提時代的舊夢呀。

不知道為什麼，看完了突然有種很幸福的感覺，可能是因為企鵝實在太可愛了，也有可能是從他們身上流露出來的愛情、親情、同袍之情感動了我。真希望能跟自己心愛的人一起看這部片，感覺一定會更棒。

我也要看愛的魔幻

好羨慕好忌妒，我也要看愛的魔幻啦。最近上網不管逛到哪裡都看到這個消息，就是愛的魔幻要到台灣舉辦演唱會了。沒有想到她們變得這麼紅。記得三年前從台灣到美國，我精挑細選了幾張CD伴我同行，愛的魔幻 Greatest Hits 就是其中一張。其實我從來就沒有聽懂她們在唱什麼，從來沒有。可是那夾雜著英文和日文的歌詞，怎麼聽起來就是這麼順暢，這麼有勁，這麼有味道，讓我每次聽到都忍不住想跳舞。還有女主唱那低沉性感的聲音呀，有時候聽起來好像在抱怨咕噥些什麼，正巧宣洩我埋藏在心裡怨恨，有的時候聽起來又一派瀟灑自在，撫慰我的心靈。這些感覺，第一次聽的時候如此，昨天再拿出來聽亦然。唉唉，不知道下次回台灣是什麼時候，一定要把她們的CD補買回來。盼望她們紅到美國來，也來紐約開個演唱會。

Friday Night, Movie Night

Recently, Friday night becomes my movie night. Not only that, I found myself living in a great neighborhood. Cause within 10 mins walking distance, there are Film Forum, Angelika Cinemas, IFC center. Different from the giant movie theater chain, each of them has its own specialties and personalities. I happen to see one great movie at each of the theater.

Me and You and Everyone We Know

Actually, I just got back from the theater. Today is a special day for both the director, Miranda July and IFC center. Cause IFC center is re-opening today with Miranda July's first movie. In the beginning of the movie, both IFC theater founder and Miranda July stood in front of the audience and made a short speech. Miranda even had a short Q and A session after the movie.

Though based on the name, the characters should be like you, me and everybody we know, that ordinary and dull. However, through the eyes of Miranda July, random people’s life is actually full of surprise. We are so indulged in our everyday life that forgets how interesting sometimes those mundane things are. Conversations between these characters are so plain yet so true that it reminds me of myself, especially the angriness, doubtness and happiness within me everyday from the moment I wake up.

By the way, Miranda July is so cool. I like her from the first sight. She looked so skinny jsut like in the movie. But she sounds so convincing and determined when she speaks.

Saving Face

This movie makes me laugh from beginning to end. It is a story about the process of identity searching among Asian American immigrants, the gap between the first and the second generation, and a battle between mother and daughter. Most excitingly is that the background is in New York, especially Asian communities concentration areas such as Flushing and Chinatown. The main characters are the daughter, and her mom. They both have their own secrets (the daughter is lesbian and her mom is divorced but got pregnant by a mysterious guy she’s in love with). They both are isolated from their families, societies and there is a huge gap and silence between them.

Most of the characters speak Mandarin so I feel I am a little bit luckier than other audience because I am able to get all the jokes. The love story between the daughter and her girlfriend is so genuine and touching that's my favorite part of the story. The film unavoidably shows stereotypes of Chinese especially on the first generation. However, it is somewhat true and reminds me of my parents and relatives (that's whawt makes it fun!)

Mysterious Skin

I know this would be a depressing story before watching it. However, my friend told me about the great soundtrack featuring slowdive music especially that Sigur Ros’s music appearing at the climax of the movie. So I went. It turns out that I was not only found of the music, but also the beautiful cinematography.

It’s so sad to see how this terrible experience of their childhood haunted their lives. Towards the end, they finally go back to the house of that terrible night. They cuddled in the sofa describing to each other what happened on that night, and here comes Sigur Ros’s music....then I remember the music and the boy's face last in my mind till I got home. Such a powerful movie...