'The Speech' - Secondhand Lions (2003)

A perfect movie for people who likes to fill some voids in their life.

Its a story about a shy adolescent boy, Walter, (played by Joel Osment), who was taken
by her greedy mother to spend the summer with two hard-boiled great-uncles.  Robert
Duvall played the role of Hub while Michael Caine played the role of the other uncle, Garth,
who were rumored to stash millions in their ran-down shacks. At first the two uncles found
Walter's presence a nuisance  but later warmed up the relationship with some tall tales. The
boy on the other hand was able to revive their youthful spirits.

Have you ever experienced being thrown into a situation you do not want to
get into and with people you don't even want to know or to be with ?  Then this is
one very good movie to give  you an idea how some very bad foul-ups could turn
into something  worth fighting for. The this movie is definitely for you.

Some people never get to enjoy movies because they pay attention to the flaws and foul-ups
instead of looking at the good parts, Like books, and maybe one step better, a movie is made
to convey a message. Its more difficult to relate to the audience for there are a lot of distraction
so the message get lost somewhat unlike in a book where you could explain the mind play in
every scene. Both are good vehicles and it takes a good unbiased mind to read a good novel
and a good mind set ( the therapeutic way ) to appreciate what you are watching.

2 RTU STUDENTS RUINED MY DAY !

Last Monday was one of the blackest day in my life. It was a good day, the sun
was shining bright and I feel so light to start the week.  As I was opening the
roll-up door of my little bookshop, two psychology students from Rizal Technical
University (RTU) greeted me. They patiently waited as I opened the other roll-up
door and start to do business.

The two students were occasional customers having bought some reference books
from our store. Then came one of the most unanticipated question I have ever
heard in my many years of being called a "walking encyclopedia".  The first student
asked me how old I was, so I answered truthfully. "I'm 59 years old, one year to go
before I become a senior citizen. "

All of a sudden, the student's smile turned into one of disappointment. She said,
" Eeww ... we were looking for a 70 year old businessman we could interview for
our case study. Anyway, thanks and have a good day. " She called on her friend and
they started to walk away ... and to think they even wished me to have a good day.
I was smiling at first, but a bit later when I went to relieve myself  I couldn't help
staring at the mirror. With all the creases lined in my face, white hair and white
moustache, I do look older than my real age.

I have never been quite conscious about how I look and except for the arthritis part,
I still don't feel that old. Yet, remembering how the young student looked after
knowing that they hit the wrong target, I did felt old that day. I told my wife about
it, and adding insult to injury, she couldn't help laughing out loud. So this is how
an old man feels when somebody is making fun of his age.

I have always been positive about life. I will mark this day as a start of a new life.
I will work a bit harder in making myself fitter and not as old looking. I won't dye
my hair black, I  need the "old sage look" but I will add muscles to my frame and
follow a better diet to remedy my arthritic hands.

I remember a scene in the movie, "Grumpier Old Men". If ever I grow to be that
old, I would be just like the Burgess Meredith character but a little bit wiser.

LESSONS FROM THE MOVIE TROY

I guess the most relevant part of the movie was when Achilles, played by Brad Pitt, visited her mother, Thetis to seek her advice if he will go to wage war in the land of Troy.

Thetis responded :

" If you stay in Larissa, you will find peace. You will find a wonderful woman and you will have sons and daughters, who will have children. And they'll love you and remember your name. But when your children are dead, and their children after them, your name will be forgotten ... If you go to Troy, glory will be yours.  They will write stories about your victories in thousands of years, and the the world will remember your name. But if you go to Troy, you will never come back ... for your glory walks hand-in-hand with your doom. I shall never see you again. "

LESSONS FROM THE MOVIE : ALEXANDER (2004)

King Philip to Alexander :

" It is not easy to escape our mothers, Alexander. All your life, beware of women.
  They are far more dangerous than men. "

" A king isn't born, Alexander. He is born of steel and of sufferings. A king must know how to hurt      those he loves. Its lonely. Ask anyone. Ask Heracles. Ask any of them. It is cruel. No man or              woman can be too powerful or too beautiful without disaster befalling. They laugh when you rise
  too high. And crush everything you built with a whim. What glory they give in the end, they take
  away. They make us slaves. "


On the other hand,  this is what Queen Olympias have to say to Alexander :

" But beware most of all of those closest to you.
  They are like snakes and can be turned. "

" Fortune favor the bold ones.
  Trust the one who gives you love.
  Life has jut begun, son. Her skin is water.
  Her tongue is fire. She is your friend. Take it.
  If you hesitate, she will strike.
  They are like people. You can love them for years.
  Feed them, nurture them ... but still they can turn their back on you. "


" I am indebted to my father for living,
  but to my teacher for living well, "      -- Alexander

" True love never has a happy ending,

   because there is no ending to true love. "  -- Alexander

" Bury my body and don't build any monument.

  Keep my my hands out so the people will know the one

  who won the world had nothing in his hand when he died. "  -- Alexander

" In the end, when it's over,

  all that matters is what you've done. "  -- Alexander