It took me some time to get out this second part of the NOT to See Movies, however, beware the following comments may contain spoilers. So if you are willing to take the risk and watch these movies do not read any further.
Vantage Point:
8 People and 8 point of views. This is what the trailer sais and man isn't it true!! The movie revolves around a main incident that takes only around 20 minutes. Then the movie repeats it for 8 times!!! It is true that the incident involves the assassination of the US president but come on how much Drama can one put in a 20 minute story?? No matter how you look at it...The movie is action packed but again with some serious flaws in the story line. Till the end a lot of the "twists" do not make any sense. The movie then ends with a pure coincidence that saves the US president. So, the civilized world can sleep in peace... The day is saved.
PS I love you:
She has played the role of a Lesbian and a Boxer very successfully. Then to everyone's amazement Hilary Swank takes a U Turn and decides to take on a romantic comedy. I am not convinced. The movie is essentially barely OK. Hilary's young husband dies after a short struggle with illness. Nonetheless, he leaves to his devastated wife a series of letters to help through the first year of grief. To some this might sound very romantic. To me the movie was a little too cheesy. All throughout the movie, one thought keeps going back and forth in my mind. Was it better to leave the widowed wife to face her grief and moves on?? Or leaving her a series of letters that served mainly to remind her of her loss??
Rendition:
Everyone seems to be making movies discussing Terrorism and the Middle East these days. Well, this is one of these movies. Reese Witherspoon is an American Pregnant wife. For no good reason her husband is kidnapped by the CIA during the course of a bomb explosion investigation. The explosion took place in a North African Country and kills many including an American officer. It is illegal to keep an American (even from Egyptian origins) for no good cause. To avoid this, the CIA transport the accused to the North African country (where there is presumably no law) to keep, question and torture the poor innocent guy. The movie runs two parallel stories in different times. This is a bit confusing but OK (even if I missed the point of the second story.) The second story is about the daughter of the Arab Chief of Police whom his daughter loves the terrorist who plants the bomb to kill her father!!! A typical Middle Eastern Melodrama!!!
These are the movies and this is my opinion and as I said in the beginning. You can watch whatever you like at your own risk.
From The Pavement
Samih
Friday, April 4, 2008
Sunday, March 23, 2008
At the Movies: The Must NOT See List
For the last couple of months, I decided to waste my spare time. Instead of doing anything useful like reading , writing, doing any activities or sports I went to the movies instead. Admittedly, it was a colossal waste …
Anyway, here is a list of the movies I saw and that I WOULD NOT ADVICE anyone to see ever, not in Cinemas, DVD's (even if you decide to buy the cheap 10 LE ones) or Showtime (even if you have the stolen decoded card)
One Missed Call:
This is the only movie that I know of recently that scored Zero in all reviews. It is perhaps one of the worst movies that I got to watch. The plot is very simple: A girl dies. After her death, her friend receives a Multimedia message. On this message, it is recorded the sound of this friend dying. The time of this message will be the time when this friend dies. When the moment comes, she dies. Another friend receives a similar message and the whole thing is repeated again. A handsome investigator gets of course involved with the girl who finally escapes it all. There is a simple twist and a reason written by a 10 year old behind the 5 or 6 deaths of course. The only good thing about this movie that it is very short, less than 1.5 hrs.
Jumper:
Another Super Hero movie, but this time without a super hero. The leading character of this movie has the unique ability to JUMP from one place to other. However, he does not use his POWERS for any common good. He just Jumps around, steals money and travels to different exotic destinations for the fun of it. Things cannot be left at that certainly. There is another group, that for religious reasons, hunts downs all Jumpers and kills them, our guy included of course. One thing leads to the other and the movie ends with a huge twist: The leader of the hunters is the Jumper Mom. The movie then terminates abruptly leaving you waiting for Part II. Not Me certainly…
Golden Compass:
If you are craving for a cheap copy of the Chronicles of Narnia this might be the one for you. Nicole Kidman plays the villain. But obviously she had some stomach problems and constipation during shooting. A lot of things from the original book are missing leaving the storyline with a lot of holes. After 2 hours, nothing much happens and the whole things terminates with a dialogue preparing you again for Part II. The one part movies are getting out of Fashion for the Major Studios that's for sure.
One good idea in the movies though is that every character is accompanied by an animal. This animal reflects this character's personality.
Then I imagined Egypt, 80 million people and 80 million accompanying animals. That would be a sight… and what would be these animals?? That another story.
Wait for us in Part II and more Not to See movies. In our next episode: Rendition, Vantage Point and more…
Anyway, here is a list of the movies I saw and that I WOULD NOT ADVICE anyone to see ever, not in Cinemas, DVD's (even if you decide to buy the cheap 10 LE ones) or Showtime (even if you have the stolen decoded card)
One Missed Call:
This is the only movie that I know of recently that scored Zero in all reviews. It is perhaps one of the worst movies that I got to watch. The plot is very simple: A girl dies. After her death, her friend receives a Multimedia message. On this message, it is recorded the sound of this friend dying. The time of this message will be the time when this friend dies. When the moment comes, she dies. Another friend receives a similar message and the whole thing is repeated again. A handsome investigator gets of course involved with the girl who finally escapes it all. There is a simple twist and a reason written by a 10 year old behind the 5 or 6 deaths of course. The only good thing about this movie that it is very short, less than 1.5 hrs.
Jumper:
Another Super Hero movie, but this time without a super hero. The leading character of this movie has the unique ability to JUMP from one place to other. However, he does not use his POWERS for any common good. He just Jumps around, steals money and travels to different exotic destinations for the fun of it. Things cannot be left at that certainly. There is another group, that for religious reasons, hunts downs all Jumpers and kills them, our guy included of course. One thing leads to the other and the movie ends with a huge twist: The leader of the hunters is the Jumper Mom. The movie then terminates abruptly leaving you waiting for Part II. Not Me certainly…
Golden Compass:
If you are craving for a cheap copy of the Chronicles of Narnia this might be the one for you. Nicole Kidman plays the villain. But obviously she had some stomach problems and constipation during shooting. A lot of things from the original book are missing leaving the storyline with a lot of holes. After 2 hours, nothing much happens and the whole things terminates with a dialogue preparing you again for Part II. The one part movies are getting out of Fashion for the Major Studios that's for sure.
One good idea in the movies though is that every character is accompanied by an animal. This animal reflects this character's personality.
Then I imagined Egypt, 80 million people and 80 million accompanying animals. That would be a sight… and what would be these animals?? That another story.
Wait for us in Part II and more Not to See movies. In our next episode: Rendition, Vantage Point and more…
Wednesday, December 12, 2007
I'm Bored..
I'm bored and I thought everyone should know it.
"What's new to that?" you'll say to yourself, "Aren't we all??"
I'm bored of driving everyday to work. I'm bored of traffic, people not paying attention to where they are going or where I am. Microbuses playing an endless death match and racing an unseen enemy.
I'm bored of TV and movies. For some reason, the world just ran out of ideas. Egyptian films however unlike their American counterparts are both poor in content as well as production.
I'm bored of attending weddings. All the ceremonies are the same, the bride and groom dance, their friends join in. Elder people are, sitting by, nodding with their heads and I don't know if it's of admiration or discontent. Then if you are patient enough you just might be able to grab a bite to eat in the midst of the jam of it all.
I'm bored of meeting my ex-girlfriends by coincidence and I'm bored of my wife getting mad at me for it. No one can own your past. They either own your present or your future. Needless to say your wife owns both.
I'm bored of Christmas. Each year Christmas comes at the same time. They play the same carols and I buy the same things. I'm bored of people telling me that Christmas is not solely for shopping it is a time to cherish with family, to reflect , to love,…
Every year the same Christmas and every year the same words. Has anyone ever thought that may be Christmas is for shopping, partying and having a good time and that's it? Just like Ramadan when everyone insists that it is for praying, supporting the poor and getting closer to God. However, it ends up in a frenzy of TV series and shisha outings…
Do we have to connect our festivities to something bigger than us? And use that as an excuse to take a vacation and have a good time?
Can't we just have the National day for "Eat as much as you can" or the "Sinai vacation Weekend or something?" And embrace our human nature.
Samih
Sitting on the Pavement…. Bored
"What's new to that?" you'll say to yourself, "Aren't we all??"
I'm bored of driving everyday to work. I'm bored of traffic, people not paying attention to where they are going or where I am. Microbuses playing an endless death match and racing an unseen enemy.
I'm bored of TV and movies. For some reason, the world just ran out of ideas. Egyptian films however unlike their American counterparts are both poor in content as well as production.
I'm bored of attending weddings. All the ceremonies are the same, the bride and groom dance, their friends join in. Elder people are, sitting by, nodding with their heads and I don't know if it's of admiration or discontent. Then if you are patient enough you just might be able to grab a bite to eat in the midst of the jam of it all.
I'm bored of meeting my ex-girlfriends by coincidence and I'm bored of my wife getting mad at me for it. No one can own your past. They either own your present or your future. Needless to say your wife owns both.
I'm bored of Christmas. Each year Christmas comes at the same time. They play the same carols and I buy the same things. I'm bored of people telling me that Christmas is not solely for shopping it is a time to cherish with family, to reflect , to love,…
Every year the same Christmas and every year the same words. Has anyone ever thought that may be Christmas is for shopping, partying and having a good time and that's it? Just like Ramadan when everyone insists that it is for praying, supporting the poor and getting closer to God. However, it ends up in a frenzy of TV series and shisha outings…
Do we have to connect our festivities to something bigger than us? And use that as an excuse to take a vacation and have a good time?
Can't we just have the National day for "Eat as much as you can" or the "Sinai vacation Weekend or something?" And embrace our human nature.
Samih
Sitting on the Pavement…. Bored
Wednesday, November 21, 2007
Cairo: The Last Days (Part 2)
Well, if they think they can easily shove me out and forget about it definitely they should think again.
I have been with the National Front since the very start. True the Front existed since the 1940's, but I'm referring to their late resurrection during the late 1980's and 1990's. My name is Amin Tolba and I'm one of the so called "New Generation Steers." or as sometimes referred to as the Guidance Office New Guard.
While other groups chose the way of direct violence to create turmoil and attempt to get to power, I was absolutely against it.
"My brothers, shooting a president or tourists or putting a few bombs in Tahrir Square is not the way that will get us to rule this country. Hear out my plan." And They did…
By the early 2000's, the Front had infiltrated and had some or total degree of control on almost everything in Egypt: University student Bodies, Professional Syndicates (engineers, doctors, lawyers,…), Government Ministries, National TV/Radio, Judges Union,… You name it. We were every where. Ultimately, this lead us to power in 2011.
I walked out of my little sorry room in Arish. I saw a glimpse of my own reflection on the door stained glass window and I wondered. The young man who used to walk in demonstrations in his neat dark green coveralls and black mask is now long gone. All what remains is an old fat and bald sort of a soldier, stumbling in his pale green army suit, drenched in sweat.
I gave my life to the Front. Once they got in power, I was completely forgotten. Instead of giving me a ministry or a public company or something where I can get to spend the rest of my days in ease and peace, The Head Steer called me: "Brother Amin, we have bestowed on you our great confidence. We appoint you the Head of Security in Northern Sinai."
I can nearly see him this Son of B… sitting at the old Royal Palace and laughing with the other bastard Ahmed Ammar, my so called friend and comrade and the new Minister of Petrol and Energy. He has his own airplane I was told. All I have is an Army Jeep and the Sinai Bedouins shooting at me and my men almost every night.
The Front rise to power was too easy, almost inevitable. All the lethal elements were there: An aging dictatorship, a very poor country (the UN officials calling it the Mediterranean Bangladesh) and people drowning in ignorance, sickness and despair.
"The Front is the Solution and We Will Change the Constitution." Our slogan was like a drug to the masses. Most of them did not even know what constitution meant.
Everyone wanted to change the status quo and We seemed like a viable choice at a time, especially for the unknowing majority. A religious group who got out of his way and got into politics; speaking in the name of God and promising a better life in this world and heaven thereafter. Nothing could beat this deal…
What the common man did not know is that religion and politics do not mix. Or to say the least they do not mix well. Just like heaven and earth, could these two mix?
Politics has nothing -and never had anything- to do with religion. The only religion politics know is the religion of power and the faith of using all the means possible to obtain it and preserve it.
It was may be 7pm on this early October night when I took off with my Jeep. I was only accompanied by my young right hand guy Mahmoud. I've been arranging and anticipating this meeting for may be 8 or 9 months now. We drove for like 2 hours towards the heart of Sinai and into its high mountains. The unpaved road twisted endlessly up and down till we finally reached the specific GPS point. Our rendezvous were already there.
"My name doesn't really matter, I am here representing the Kingdom and some of its friends. The Front regime has gotten absolutely out of hand and I believe that it is up to us now to put things right." Said the man with the dark blue jeans and khaki sweater. He was in his early 40's and obviously the boss of the party meeting us.
Before, I could reply by anything, he opened a suitcase stacked with Dollar Bills. "This will help you to insure the allegiance of the Bedouins and most of your men." He added smiling.
"We shall arrange for the triggering event in Cairo. Also, I'm coordinating with Nabil Fawzy Militias from Upper Egypt." I responded "Everything will go as planned!"
We shook hands and he walked towards his car. Then he looked back "Also, a continuous supply of ammo and weapons will be secured through our contacts in Elate." He drove away.
"This is the time. This is the place. We have to make a stand. We have to give in to the will of God. It is His will that we should put an end to the Tyranny that is eating our country. Our lives are worth nothing. We give it happily to restore the rule of Allah…"
The entire camp roared with enthusiasm.
I put on my ultimate serious face and the thought lingered in my mind: Does anyone sincerely believe this nonsense?
How could they believe that any God -if one really existed- would let or allow thousands may be even millions to die in his name??
I have been with the National Front since the very start. True the Front existed since the 1940's, but I'm referring to their late resurrection during the late 1980's and 1990's. My name is Amin Tolba and I'm one of the so called "New Generation Steers." or as sometimes referred to as the Guidance Office New Guard.
While other groups chose the way of direct violence to create turmoil and attempt to get to power, I was absolutely against it.
"My brothers, shooting a president or tourists or putting a few bombs in Tahrir Square is not the way that will get us to rule this country. Hear out my plan." And They did…
By the early 2000's, the Front had infiltrated and had some or total degree of control on almost everything in Egypt: University student Bodies, Professional Syndicates (engineers, doctors, lawyers,…), Government Ministries, National TV/Radio, Judges Union,… You name it. We were every where. Ultimately, this lead us to power in 2011.
I walked out of my little sorry room in Arish. I saw a glimpse of my own reflection on the door stained glass window and I wondered. The young man who used to walk in demonstrations in his neat dark green coveralls and black mask is now long gone. All what remains is an old fat and bald sort of a soldier, stumbling in his pale green army suit, drenched in sweat.
I gave my life to the Front. Once they got in power, I was completely forgotten. Instead of giving me a ministry or a public company or something where I can get to spend the rest of my days in ease and peace, The Head Steer called me: "Brother Amin, we have bestowed on you our great confidence. We appoint you the Head of Security in Northern Sinai."
I can nearly see him this Son of B… sitting at the old Royal Palace and laughing with the other bastard Ahmed Ammar, my so called friend and comrade and the new Minister of Petrol and Energy. He has his own airplane I was told. All I have is an Army Jeep and the Sinai Bedouins shooting at me and my men almost every night.
The Front rise to power was too easy, almost inevitable. All the lethal elements were there: An aging dictatorship, a very poor country (the UN officials calling it the Mediterranean Bangladesh) and people drowning in ignorance, sickness and despair.
"The Front is the Solution and We Will Change the Constitution." Our slogan was like a drug to the masses. Most of them did not even know what constitution meant.
Everyone wanted to change the status quo and We seemed like a viable choice at a time, especially for the unknowing majority. A religious group who got out of his way and got into politics; speaking in the name of God and promising a better life in this world and heaven thereafter. Nothing could beat this deal…
What the common man did not know is that religion and politics do not mix. Or to say the least they do not mix well. Just like heaven and earth, could these two mix?
Politics has nothing -and never had anything- to do with religion. The only religion politics know is the religion of power and the faith of using all the means possible to obtain it and preserve it.
It was may be 7pm on this early October night when I took off with my Jeep. I was only accompanied by my young right hand guy Mahmoud. I've been arranging and anticipating this meeting for may be 8 or 9 months now. We drove for like 2 hours towards the heart of Sinai and into its high mountains. The unpaved road twisted endlessly up and down till we finally reached the specific GPS point. Our rendezvous were already there.
"My name doesn't really matter, I am here representing the Kingdom and some of its friends. The Front regime has gotten absolutely out of hand and I believe that it is up to us now to put things right." Said the man with the dark blue jeans and khaki sweater. He was in his early 40's and obviously the boss of the party meeting us.
Before, I could reply by anything, he opened a suitcase stacked with Dollar Bills. "This will help you to insure the allegiance of the Bedouins and most of your men." He added smiling.
"We shall arrange for the triggering event in Cairo. Also, I'm coordinating with Nabil Fawzy Militias from Upper Egypt." I responded "Everything will go as planned!"
We shook hands and he walked towards his car. Then he looked back "Also, a continuous supply of ammo and weapons will be secured through our contacts in Elate." He drove away.
"This is the time. This is the place. We have to make a stand. We have to give in to the will of God. It is His will that we should put an end to the Tyranny that is eating our country. Our lives are worth nothing. We give it happily to restore the rule of Allah…"
The entire camp roared with enthusiasm.
I put on my ultimate serious face and the thought lingered in my mind: Does anyone sincerely believe this nonsense?
How could they believe that any God -if one really existed- would let or allow thousands may be even millions to die in his name??
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Cairo: The Last Days (Part 1)
Part 1:
June 17, 2015:
I got stopped again today at a security check point. The soldier who stopped me was merely a boy in his 17, 18 at the most. His beard hair was no more than pale patches here and there on his face. But, The old desert green uniform and his Afghani soft wool hat gave him a menacing look.
"ID,.." he said averting looking at me directly. He checked the ID and looked at me quickly. "Hide you hair woman!" he said harshly while handing me back the document. Hastily, my hand ran to push the fallen hair lock under the veil and I walked away as fast as I could.
Since, the last couple of explosions down town, security measures have been very tight. Even here in Heliopolis (Haii El Safa, they now call it) there is practically a check point on the corner of every major street.
Tarek came back very late from work. His pipes manufacturing business has been doing very good lately. However, his problems also increased dramatically. He always shared some work details with me.
"I'm practically paying everyone I deal with", he said, disgusted, during supper. "The labors' office, the social insurance, taxes, local authorities,.." are all on my private payroll. "I'm doing all the work and everyone else is getting the profit…"
Tomorrow, I'll go to visit mom. She moved very far at the very end of Nasr City. Now, with the new, unwritten, law preventing women from driving. I'm only left to the wretched Microbus to take me there.
July 10, 2015:
I am so bored.
Tarek spends most of his day at work and I'm left trapped here at the house. It is true I never really worked since I got married 15 years ago but in the old days there was so much to do. Even on an absolutely empty day, I could still read the papers, watch TV or even sometimes surf the net. Now, I'm a little bit living in a closed sphere. Since the National Front came to power 4 years ago, they have been bit by bit restricting our exposure to the outside world. It all started with the very strict law against satellite dishes and cable networks.
"They only undermine our faith, promote imperialism and show sex and nudity films and series," The Guidance Office announced. An ultimatum of 2 days was given to get rid of all dishes. These who did not respond got a 20,000 LE fine and 20 lashes.
So, I'm left stuck with 2 TV channels that only talk about the after life and a paper that has the unique job of promoting the Guidance Office ruling members and mentioning every day some fake facts about how Egypt is the greatest country on earth…
July 28, 2015:
I got a letter from Adham today. It was dated June 15, 2015. Well, it did not take that long. I heard from some friends that it takes at least a month for a letter to get through the huge pile up at the Central censorship office. It was his words but the hand writing was of a grown up person…
It has been now almost a one and half years since we sent Adham to his Aunt.
"Schools here are crap. Besides, he will get a chance to see the world. Do you remember the World honey?"
Adham is only 12. At 12, a kid should be with his mom. I put the letter in my closet drawer and cried.
Three years ago, I was so mad when I noticed the surge of people and businesses, local and foreign, leaving Egypt.
"Nothing has changed." I used to say to my friends. "They can never be more corrupt than their predecessors!" "At least, this government was chosen by the people. They are men of faith as well as politicians." I used to repeat this over and over.
Tarek, on the other hand, had more insight.
Once the old government was overthrown, my step sister who she and her family happened to have Italian Passports, left the country almost immediately.
"We have too much at stack here and as you said nothing Really has changed." Said Tarek to me.
However, I noticed that little by little he is shrinking his business and reducing his "heavy" belongings. He sold his office and worked from the factory. He sold his parents house and an empty lot of land he owned. He even tried to sell our little house in Marina. I was so against it and even cried hard to dissuade him. I wish I hadn't. Now, Marina is a ghost city and the house is worth nothing...
June 17, 2015:
I got stopped again today at a security check point. The soldier who stopped me was merely a boy in his 17, 18 at the most. His beard hair was no more than pale patches here and there on his face. But, The old desert green uniform and his Afghani soft wool hat gave him a menacing look.
"ID,.." he said averting looking at me directly. He checked the ID and looked at me quickly. "Hide you hair woman!" he said harshly while handing me back the document. Hastily, my hand ran to push the fallen hair lock under the veil and I walked away as fast as I could.
Since, the last couple of explosions down town, security measures have been very tight. Even here in Heliopolis (Haii El Safa, they now call it) there is practically a check point on the corner of every major street.
Tarek came back very late from work. His pipes manufacturing business has been doing very good lately. However, his problems also increased dramatically. He always shared some work details with me.
"I'm practically paying everyone I deal with", he said, disgusted, during supper. "The labors' office, the social insurance, taxes, local authorities,.." are all on my private payroll. "I'm doing all the work and everyone else is getting the profit…"
Tomorrow, I'll go to visit mom. She moved very far at the very end of Nasr City. Now, with the new, unwritten, law preventing women from driving. I'm only left to the wretched Microbus to take me there.
July 10, 2015:
I am so bored.
Tarek spends most of his day at work and I'm left trapped here at the house. It is true I never really worked since I got married 15 years ago but in the old days there was so much to do. Even on an absolutely empty day, I could still read the papers, watch TV or even sometimes surf the net. Now, I'm a little bit living in a closed sphere. Since the National Front came to power 4 years ago, they have been bit by bit restricting our exposure to the outside world. It all started with the very strict law against satellite dishes and cable networks.
"They only undermine our faith, promote imperialism and show sex and nudity films and series," The Guidance Office announced. An ultimatum of 2 days was given to get rid of all dishes. These who did not respond got a 20,000 LE fine and 20 lashes.
So, I'm left stuck with 2 TV channels that only talk about the after life and a paper that has the unique job of promoting the Guidance Office ruling members and mentioning every day some fake facts about how Egypt is the greatest country on earth…
July 28, 2015:
I got a letter from Adham today. It was dated June 15, 2015. Well, it did not take that long. I heard from some friends that it takes at least a month for a letter to get through the huge pile up at the Central censorship office. It was his words but the hand writing was of a grown up person…
It has been now almost a one and half years since we sent Adham to his Aunt.
"Schools here are crap. Besides, he will get a chance to see the world. Do you remember the World honey?"
Adham is only 12. At 12, a kid should be with his mom. I put the letter in my closet drawer and cried.
Three years ago, I was so mad when I noticed the surge of people and businesses, local and foreign, leaving Egypt.
"Nothing has changed." I used to say to my friends. "They can never be more corrupt than their predecessors!" "At least, this government was chosen by the people. They are men of faith as well as politicians." I used to repeat this over and over.
Tarek, on the other hand, had more insight.
Once the old government was overthrown, my step sister who she and her family happened to have Italian Passports, left the country almost immediately.
"We have too much at stack here and as you said nothing Really has changed." Said Tarek to me.
However, I noticed that little by little he is shrinking his business and reducing his "heavy" belongings. He sold his office and worked from the factory. He sold his parents house and an empty lot of land he owned. He even tried to sell our little house in Marina. I was so against it and even cried hard to dissuade him. I wish I hadn't. Now, Marina is a ghost city and the house is worth nothing...
Thursday, November 8, 2007
An Ending without Closure
Tarek woke up with an unusual uneasy feeling deep inside. He has been going out with Touta for 6 months now. And it all seemed like a dream. He loved her from afar for years. Now that they are together he couldn't help but to love her even more. For the past few weeks however, the ride got a little bit tough. Nothing out of the unusual. After, the initial "I love you just the way you are" phase, it is normal for the gears to grind against each other. He was just hoping that this period will be shorter that longer.
After, a more than mild argument, there was no contact for a couple of days. Then Just yesterday, Tarek has called touta. But he could not get through to her. She was not at home and did not call back.
"I'll call her again today" he said to himself.
"She's in the bathroom, she'll call you once she gets out" came the dry answer from the maid.
She never called.
Now, 10 years, a wife and a kid later; Tarek still feels a squeeze in his heart when he remembers this story.
We all passed through this situation in one format or the other. It might be at work, with friends or even within our family. However, I believe that a love ending so abruptly and inconclusively is perhaps the most painful. (That is unless you have a beloved one in the army and is Lost in Action somewhere.)
Each story has to have a solid end. We were brought up this way. A sports match has a result, an essay has a conclusion, even some of Youssef Shahin movies have a well defined end and a love affair must have a closure.
Just imagine this, you go out with the boy/girl of your dreams on a first date. Everything goes perfectly well and then you never hear from him/her again. This open finish is unacceptable for most. The obvious reason is "why?", "what went wrong?", "Don't I deserve an explanation?" a couple of words on the phone, sms or even an email or a message on Facebook??
Relationships come to an end all the time but they don't just vanish into thin air for no reason.
Well, Actually they do and the more serious and long term the relationship is the most prone to sudden and inexplicable failure it is.
The most prominent reason of the Break-up in a serious relationship is nothing!! In the famous book "Drifting Marriage", it is concluded that around 70% of marriages (and this can be expanded to all long term commitments) end for no specific or major cause. By time, under the pressures of life and by accumulation of minor squabbles people just drift apart. From lovers, to roommates to strangers. One of them then just walks a way.
As put very simply by 12 years old Dina: "One day my dad left home."
I think that there is nothing more painful than a story -whatever this story might be- without closure. At this instance, one is left empty and lost. He has so many words left unspoken. His mind and emotions are trapped within the merciless walls of "what if's" endless possibilities and his heart is stalled lingering on a deserted trail.
After, a more than mild argument, there was no contact for a couple of days. Then Just yesterday, Tarek has called touta. But he could not get through to her. She was not at home and did not call back.
"I'll call her again today" he said to himself.
"She's in the bathroom, she'll call you once she gets out" came the dry answer from the maid.
She never called.
Now, 10 years, a wife and a kid later; Tarek still feels a squeeze in his heart when he remembers this story.
We all passed through this situation in one format or the other. It might be at work, with friends or even within our family. However, I believe that a love ending so abruptly and inconclusively is perhaps the most painful. (That is unless you have a beloved one in the army and is Lost in Action somewhere.)
Each story has to have a solid end. We were brought up this way. A sports match has a result, an essay has a conclusion, even some of Youssef Shahin movies have a well defined end and a love affair must have a closure.
Just imagine this, you go out with the boy/girl of your dreams on a first date. Everything goes perfectly well and then you never hear from him/her again. This open finish is unacceptable for most. The obvious reason is "why?", "what went wrong?", "Don't I deserve an explanation?" a couple of words on the phone, sms or even an email or a message on Facebook??
Relationships come to an end all the time but they don't just vanish into thin air for no reason.
Well, Actually they do and the more serious and long term the relationship is the most prone to sudden and inexplicable failure it is.
The most prominent reason of the Break-up in a serious relationship is nothing!! In the famous book "Drifting Marriage", it is concluded that around 70% of marriages (and this can be expanded to all long term commitments) end for no specific or major cause. By time, under the pressures of life and by accumulation of minor squabbles people just drift apart. From lovers, to roommates to strangers. One of them then just walks a way.
As put very simply by 12 years old Dina: "One day my dad left home."
I think that there is nothing more painful than a story -whatever this story might be- without closure. At this instance, one is left empty and lost. He has so many words left unspoken. His mind and emotions are trapped within the merciless walls of "what if's" endless possibilities and his heart is stalled lingering on a deserted trail.
Thursday, November 1, 2007
At the Movies: El Shayateen..
Since I was a little kid, I was a big fan of the El Shayateen El 13 (The 13 devils) novels.
It was a series of books intended for youngsters in which a group of young Arab adventurers fight evil under the leadership of a mystery man called Mr. Zero.
Each one of them belonged to a different Arab country and used a code number besides his name. No. 1 was Ahmed from Egypt.
The movie full name is called El Shayateem, the Comeback.
Hence it is about the return of a reluctant Ahmed for a new adventure; after what appears as a failed mission that took place 20 years ago.
This time the fight is against a vicious Antiquities smuggling gang. The movie contains a couple of nice twists and is entertaining as a whole. Especially bearing in mind that the this is the first full feature for a young director/scenario writer.
The movie starts with the wrong assumption that everybody has a back ground of the original stories. This left 90% of the audience quite clueless for perhaps the first 15 minutes. Then another slow half hour was lost watching Ahmed attempting to gather up his team as well as bits and pieces of the conspiracy at hand.
The movie picks up some pace after that when the action begins. Although, in my opinion, a specialist in action sequences was badly needed. Too much hand held camera and fast camera motion do not necessarily mean suspense and action!! The film music was basically a series of 1970's motives, a little bit more effort and tunes were also needed there.
All the girls in the movie seem to like Ahmed but nothing materializes; as he is too preoccupied in his current mission as well as full of remorse over the last adventure that went bad a long time ago.
So after 2 hours, all the bad guys are neutralized except for their leader who escapes in anticipation of a sequel.
Do not hold your breath though, I do not think this sequel will see the light any time soon.
It was a series of books intended for youngsters in which a group of young Arab adventurers fight evil under the leadership of a mystery man called Mr. Zero.
Each one of them belonged to a different Arab country and used a code number besides his name. No. 1 was Ahmed from Egypt.
The movie full name is called El Shayateem, the Comeback.
Hence it is about the return of a reluctant Ahmed for a new adventure; after what appears as a failed mission that took place 20 years ago.
This time the fight is against a vicious Antiquities smuggling gang. The movie contains a couple of nice twists and is entertaining as a whole. Especially bearing in mind that the this is the first full feature for a young director/scenario writer.
The movie starts with the wrong assumption that everybody has a back ground of the original stories. This left 90% of the audience quite clueless for perhaps the first 15 minutes. Then another slow half hour was lost watching Ahmed attempting to gather up his team as well as bits and pieces of the conspiracy at hand.
The movie picks up some pace after that when the action begins. Although, in my opinion, a specialist in action sequences was badly needed. Too much hand held camera and fast camera motion do not necessarily mean suspense and action!! The film music was basically a series of 1970's motives, a little bit more effort and tunes were also needed there.
All the girls in the movie seem to like Ahmed but nothing materializes; as he is too preoccupied in his current mission as well as full of remorse over the last adventure that went bad a long time ago.
So after 2 hours, all the bad guys are neutralized except for their leader who escapes in anticipation of a sequel.
Do not hold your breath though, I do not think this sequel will see the light any time soon.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)