Halfway through

I've been reading some really great books recently.
Top that all off with movies I never checked out.

I gotta say, I can see what the hype is about :D

(Saw many scenes of couples making out too.... Ah. Ha...ha. Be more mature for goodness' sake, me)
>~<

 Perks of Being a Wallflower
-Definitely, check this one out. Both the book and the movie. The author has a very subtle way of explaining the main character's past at the very end. People often miss it. I say it was very depressing indeed... For it explores the dark side of all the heavy and controversial topics in today's society. It's powerful, accurate, believable, and beautifully written, but it tugs at your heart strings so much you kind of get into a 'mood' for the next three days. At least, that was what happened to me. Couldn't get it out of my head. :(
The movie itself was great in my opinion. Logan Lerman did a great job portraying the quiet, repressed, and troubled teen that was Charlie. The crying scene at the end was exceptionally strong and memorable. :'> (dem feelz)
I really do feel like this movie gives an insight into the two issues of abuse and mental illness---without going all soppy and faked and all drama like. It was really like the recount of someone who has gone through it before... And I think that's something really precious in today's entertainment industry, where stories about abuse, mental illness, homosexuality, or issues of the such are pulled out and overused without truly knowing what it means to go through the such.

Tuesdays with Morrie
-The movie starts off with a working adult who's just too ambitious and busy to spend quality time with his girlfriend. Then someone he used to know---a teacher from the past---Morrie is about to die and he pays the old man a visit. Needless to say, everything changes from there.
Was shown this movie in school... It was so inspirational and so... Agh. Just watch it okay. The title doesn't do justice to the content and messages it sends.
I'm definitely reading the book once I have the time.
There are some really nice quotes in there, questions and things we all think about but fear too much to mention, and it shows it in the most truthful way ever.
"We must all love each other or die."
"Detachment doesn't mean you don't let the experience penetrate you. On the contrary, you let it penetrate you fully. That's how you are able to leave it."

^This one quote struck me right where it contained the most emotions.

Some emotions were never shown. Not meant to be faked or repressed, it's not expressed. That's how it built up. And that's how it haunted... And still haunts me. After all, how do you let go without having ever let it out before?
So it's never advised to deny emotions, as much as it causes you to shake with grievous impulses you always manage to control yet still desire to execute---once you acknowledge these emotions.
Because people take advantage of that.
And you will carry a load so heavy it's a burden, a burden you never deserved or was meant to carry. Lemme insert another quote here, since someone has done something again today that triggers all these. "Hatred is like swallowing poison and wishing the other party will die."
That, I got from some unknown source.
That, I think is very profound and accurate.
That, I think you readers need to know.

That, I hope will help you, if you're struggling. :)

The Winner's Trilogy
-Still trying to find the third book. I think it's not out yet. Granted, it's about love. But it's different in the sense that the first book encapsulates characters who are strong, intelligent, cunning, and yet loving and struggling. The two characters actually do get to know each other rather than just their 'good looks', and when they betray one another, one knows exactly how to pull it off. I'm not really liking the guy since he can get a little blind and cruel?.. Especially so in the second book, while the girl sacrifices (not more, but in a clearer way if you know what I mean).
There's chemistry---a lot of it--- and it's just... Different. Waaaay more than just superficial romance like some movies in my opinion. (Oops, heheh)
The first book was great.
The second... I haven't finished it yet.
Perhaps, this would be something nice to try out for once, apart from the genres you usually go for. ;)

Avatar
-I watched the movie, it was 3 hours well spent.
The art is just gorgeous and the emotions captured on the computerized Avatars are just... Okay, the eyes are kinda blank at times, but for the sake of computers, I would call it a great job well done.
The movie triggered some thoughts too: Humans colonize and harm another species for their own good and greed. Should a human then hurt his own kind in order to protect a worthy cause---that is this new species whom he formed bonds with, who are innocent and who do not deserve the humans' destruction?
Is it wrong to go against your own species if it means you are righting a wrong? What then is right, morals as we know it, morals alike to never abandoning family, or morals alike to protecting what you believe in?

About Time
Another romance movie that explores the topic of time travel.
It's different and definitely thought provoking.
"All the time traveling in the world can't make someone love you."
"The truth is I now don't travel back at all, not even for the day, I just try to live every day as if I've deliberately come back to this one day, to enjoy it, as if it was the full final day of my extraordinary, ordinary life."
See?  It's not just about the sweet dancing butterflies in many romance movies nowadays.

Percy Jackson
-This is way too young for my age, but it was part of childhood that got stopped halfway because of the national exam at 12. I then forgot all about it for several years straight.
It's, well... Very suitable for pre-teens. Really fantastical and just hits all the right spots...
It's really good, and I couldn't stop reading the moment I started it, but it's that kind of perfect story with villains who don't kill the main characters, you know?
I really liked it.
I just wish I wasn't so old and jaded and boring. >~<
*sigh*
I need more fantasy in my life.

I am Number Four
-This series still appeals to me.
Yeah.
Similar to Percy Jackson, but it's still really good.
It's more believable since the characters all already have pasts of their own, and number 1-3 were killed already so I can forgive Four's living. (I do want him to live, tho)
I haven't had time to finish all the books yet tho. Gotta find time for that.
The movie for this and Percy Jackson has things changed, so it isn't as eventful and exciting in my point of view. But if one were to look at them as just movies without comparison to the books, these movies are not bad. :>

Parasyte
-First NC16 movie.
Got caught off guard when the main lead guy and girl started getting intimate.
About humanity and stuffs... Pretty good.
Slight gore in this, so it might surprise you.

The Maze Runner
-You don't realize the bigger purpose and the bigger world outside until you take the plunge of breaking rules that grants you a safe world but which doesn't give you answers. Similar to The Matrix (which was great as well), it's talking about courage to venture out, and the choice between truth and happiness; even thought the matrix focuses more on that.
This was more on hope and how humans always build some sort of system when thrown into a dire situation. This system may be civilized, or it may be savage. Either way, we alike to animals will find a way to thrive as a community, be it ruling through fear and autocracy, or (sometimes) chaos and democracy.

Okay I gotta apologize for these reviews that are getting shorter and shorter.
There's just so many. :p

I watched Titanic and Inception in the past too.
Ooh, were those good.

There's more I wanna be catching up on:
-Interstellar
-Harry Potter
-Transformers
-Chronicles of Narnia books
-Pride and Prejudice
-Batman (the one with the great actor? I wanna see the greatness of it)
-Some Korean dramas... Y'know ;)
-Some anime and manga (speaking of which I have a few favorite ones you wouldn't be interested in ...Sadly.)
-Some Chinese books
-Movies such as Mean Girls
-I wanna try out American chick flicks too. Why not?

But I don't think I have the time. :<

Half of this holiday is already gone but I'm definitely getting the most out of it this time, what with the revision and movie-book marathons and all.