Find that familiar? Well, it is how we usually start our letters, especially to someone we care or love. And today, I find myself endeared to the movie I have just watched - Dear John.
It is a simple love story about a soldier who falls in love with a college student whom he got to know by rescuing her bag that had fallen into the ocean. He is a man who does not reveal much about himself, but love changes all. She is a woman who is unafraid to love, to reach out to autistic people. In two weeks, they found love but only to be torn apart by their own commitments, John had to return to the army and Savannah, back to college. Their love is continued by the numerous letters written to one another, through the letters, Savannah learns more about John and his autistic father and the reason why John's father fell in love with collecting coins.
John have to decide between re-enlisting for the army or staying behind with Savannah after the September 11 attacks. Torn between his sense of duty and love of his life, he makes the decision of re-enlisting after Savannah encourages him to do what he thinks is right. As the days passed by, John lives only to read Savannah's letters, gaining strength and hope from them. But loneliness pushed Savannah towards Tim, a man with an autistic child, Alan, whom Savannah had known for a long time. She finally writes a 'Dear John Letter', John receives the letter not knowing who the third party was. Feeling disheartened and frustrated, he burned all the letters from Savannah which were once his source of hope and life. During a mission, John was shot twice and the last person he thought of was his father which he had never been able to connect with. But upon reading the letter that he wrote to his father at his deathbed, they were able to understand and reach out to one another one last time.
John finally finds out who Savannah married, and instead of hating them. He donated the money he got out of selling his father's coin collection to them anonymously, enabling Tim who had cancer to spend his last months with Savannah and his son.
The movie had a simple plot but the chemistry between the two main characters are amazing, it brings you into their world, feeling their joy when they fell in love, the heartache of parting, their happiness of seeing one another again at the very end and feelings behind "I will see you soon...". It is one great love story...
Have you ever left a conversation or a phone call or even after texting a SMS that you should have said something, feeling that tiny tinge regret of not expressing your opinion or letting someone know something at that moment in time. It happens to me all the time! And I always felt the urge after to turn back, call or text again to finish what I wanted to say, but for some reason, I never let that happen. That feeling is just so 'aaaaarrr', it is as if the words or feelings got stuck somewhere in your system and when they finally make it to the tip of your tongue, it was too late, the conversation or call has ended or the SMS has been sent. So that leave them crawling back, wandering around your throat, not knowing what to do since they simply refused to just vanish into the thin air.
I was texting a friend yesterday while enjoying the movie - You've Got Mail. I... cannot explain my love for old movies just like this one, they are simply magical, watching these movies bring back so much memories! For example, the way of connecting to the internet ten years ago, the dialing of the line with the 'beeeeeeep' sound whenever Meg Ryan and Tom Hanks logged onto the internet brings smile to my face, remembering that was how I did it so many years ago! Oh yes... that friend, so I was texting and I wanted to share, or maybe just to let him know that I was watching You've Got Mail, it was just a though of wanting to let him know more and such but in the end, all I managed to text was: '=) all righty, I will try my best!' I know... it's pathetic, the thought of sharing the never got across in any way. Maybe I was cowardly, or maybe it would seem 'too much' to share so I back off. With so much words that were never said, I am always feeling tinges of regret here and there, so I am wishing one day, these regrets would see the world... that would be nice =)
"Don't you think daisies are the friendliest flower?" ~ Kathleen Kelly (You've Got Mail)
With nothing much to do in Los Angeles and feeling a fever coming up, I decided to stay in and catch a movie on my laptop. After reading several synopsis of several movies, I decided to go with a Japanese movie titled - Koizora. At first, it was a little slow moving and I was starting to get bored, so I turned it off. But something was nagging at me, so I typed in the title name of the movie into the search bar and read the reviews, I was surprised by the raving reviews of the movie and decided to give it a second chance. Boy... was I glad that I did. As usual, being a crybaby, my tears were streaming non-stop.
Koizora also known as Sky of Love (恋空)is a love story between two teenagers - an innocent black-haired girl, Mika and a silver-haired punk, Hiro. It started out when Mika lost her cell phone and found it in the school library. The stranger who helped to retrieve her phone deleted all the phone numbers on her cell phone citing that if the these people are keen to find her, they would call her which I can't help but agree as I have the habit of clearing contacts stored in my phone too, keeping only those whom I know would call.
Unconsciously, Mika and the stranger contacts one another without fail every day, Mika grew curious of the identity of the caller at the other end. And it was decided that they would meet at the school swimming pool before the start of the new term. Upon seeing Hiro, Mika was surprised and reluctant to accept the fact that this silver-haired punk was the gentle caller whom she spoke to every single day but Hiro seems to win her over time after time in his own way and it was inevitable that they became one. Hiro's ex-girlfriend, Saki, was unable to accept the way things were going hired thugs which led to the rape of Mika. Hiro was distraught at his inability to protect his love and sought revenge. As gossips spread like wild fire in school, Hiro stood by Mika and carried her through.
One day, Mika surprised Hiro with the news of her pregnancy in a cafe, Hiro ran off without a word leaving Mika all alone. Mika waited but eventually decided to leave, as she was about to walk out of the cafe, a panting but happy Hiro rushed in with a gift congratulating and asking her to keep the baby. Rings were bought, they decided it was time to meet the parents, Hiro's parents were easy to persuade but Mika's were reluctant to accept Hiro. Hiro decided to quit school and find work which led to the appearance of Saki again, Saki demanded the reason behind Hiro quitting school from Mika which resulted in Mika falling off the stairs. The consequences of the fall came when Mika and Hiro were out on Christmas Eve, Mika doubled in pain and the baby was lost. Mika and Hiro decided that every Christmas Eve, they would visit the place where Hiro once planted the flowers intended for Mika, this place was to be the memory of their lost baby.
Out of the blue, Hiro decided to break up with Mika which left her puzzled, disappointed and hurt, promising herself never to fall in love again since separation would hurt so much. As time passes, Mika found love once again, a man who was gentle and loving, promising to always come back to her like the sea, unlike Hiro who was like the river, taking everything with him and always forward-moving. On the day of graduation, Mika went to the library, a place full of their memories and wrote on the chalkboard found inside:
"Were you ever happy?"
And her question was answered.
"I was once very happy."
But she had to say goodbye, she went to college and hoped that time will fade the memories and remembering it only once a year on Christmas Eve. On a new Christmas Eve, she found Hiro's friend coming in his stead and that was when she found out the Hiro had cancer, the reason behind him leaving her. Her boyfriend was reluctant to let her go but knew that her heart was never really his...
Mika found Hiro in the hospital and reunited, they were happy but it was not long-lasting as Hiro's condition deteriorated, Hiro cried as he wanted more time on earth, he still had so much to do. Hiro asked Mika what happens when a person dies, Mika believes that he/she goes to Heaven there after. Hiro tells Mika that he wants to be the sky so that he could watch over her all the time. Mika smiled and joked that he would be like a stalker. And there and then, she decided that whenever she looks at the sky, she would think of Hiro. On sunny days, it would mean that Hiro is smiling, on rainy days, Hiro is crying, during sunset, Hiro is embarrassed and when night comes, Hiro would be hugging her.
The day came when Mika went to collect the photos that Hiro asked her to develop when he went for his check-up. At the same moment, Hiro was facing death in the hospital, Hiro's sister informed Mika about the situation and she tried running as fast as her legs could carry her, but she fell and the photos covered the ground, she was in every single picture, Hiro had been taking her pictures all the time. She managed to talk to Hiro through a video call, begging him to be strong and to open his eyes; which he did and requested her to smile for him before he left peacefully but reluctantly.
Hiro left Mika a diary, a distraught Mika tried to kill herself by jumping over the bridge but was prevented by the sudden appearance of two white pigeons as she was about to climb over the bridge. The diary which dropped to the ground was flipped by the wind to a page showing a hand-drawn family portrait of three, as Mika picked up the diary and flipped through, every sentence started with her name, every detail was about her, Hiro watched over her till the very end, and now, he would be watching over her forever, from the sky...
2012, a film about the year 2012 where a date is significant to many cultures, religions, scientists and governments. Global cataclysm which would bring much devastation to human race and one's humanity is being tested in times of adversity.
There were many moments where heartstrings were being pulled especially when goodbyes seem to come too late or they were never enough. The selfishness of human beings are portrayed clearly when their lives in danger. Indeed, in such times, but who can boldly proclaim that he/she is a saint who would stay behind and help others in need. When a human is in a tight situation, many changes and abilities are being revealed. True bravery and loyalty will pull many through such times.
This show reminds me of places and destinations I have yet to explore and the reason why I am still loving my job. Most importantly, life is short and you never know when it will come to an end so every day, every minute, every second should be spend doing the things you enjoy and the ones you love, leaving no regrets.
