The Dark Tower (Movie, 2017)

While the actors did a good job with their roles, the movie itself is like a very bad imitation of Dark Tower fan fiction, especially confusing for newcomers. You have to be a fan in the first place to know what is going on. The tie ins from the Stephen King universe were clearly marked but poorly executed. No wonder I cannot understand it!

芳華小說 (2017, 嚴歌苓)

你是否留意書頁上那一行英文：you touched me，你觸碰了我？

看完小說後發現，《芳華》這兩個清脆響亮的字太過美好。也許美可以用來包裹假象，謊言，背叛。姑且理解《芳華》作为書名，是因故事從“青春時代”寫起；《芳華》的故事說到底，其實又是一個很老套的三角戀：劉鋒愛著林丁丁，而何小曼又愛著劉峰。劉峰的愛耗盡了他，而何小曼的愛，也耗盡了她。故事的結局，是相對完滿的：四十年後，劉峰與何小曼生活在了一起，但他們卻仍舊做不成愛人。原因還是上面說的，青春時期那激烈而迸發的愛情，已經消耗得他們所剩無幾。

故事發生在“文化大革命”的末期，很多巨大的歷史事件都一筆帶過，但嚴歌苓在處理這些時，使用的卻是一種充滿了黑色幽默的方式，將一切背叛都寫成笑談，將批判寫成了狂歡。它似有若無地存在，但又總不讓你抓到她的把柄。

《芳華》是一個人性展示台，小說，永遠是寫人性的。嚴歌苓的小說我看得不多，但是太灰暗太排他性了，永遠都是小穗子的視覺。

夏有喬木雅望天堂 (2016, movie)

願天堂沒有這樣的青春。

雖然這部影片的片名讓我有點懵, 片名老長老長的，害我記了半天。仍舊無從粉飾這一故事本質的蒼白，青春固然有著多種的樣子，但諸多國產青春片對青春臆想的虛假卻是共通的，看著那令人無奈的虐情，只叫人唯願天堂沒有這樣的青春。

一部中國的青春電影為什麼要請韓國的導演來指導，難道中國自已的導演都指導不了一場屬於中國自已的青春影像？誠然趙真奎將電影賦予了一種韓式的浪漫唯美，但一個他國導演卻無從在這乍看唯美的畫面中尋覓以青春的共鳴，整個故事幾乎與地氣二字斷層，不倫不類的建立於一個虛無縹緲的基礎上。電影透過雅望的三段情感和一條插科打諢的配角輔線，只是一再的渲染以刻意的虐情，整個故事的氣氛都是壓抑絕望的，看得人格外添堵。

情節完全不合邏輯，難怪雅望最後要遠走高飛。

Pirates of the Caribbean: Dead Men Tell No Tales (Movie, 2017)

This fifth film in the "Pirates of the Caribbean" franchise is a great popcorn action movie. There's no plot, really: the whole movie is basically a couple of groups of people chasing each other to get to the Trident of Poseidon first, which will allow its possessor to rule the seas. 

Finally, the story line provides much needed closure to the original love story between Will and Elizabeth. Allah!

Jingle Bells

LAPD office Xmas tree decoration

生花正風體

Xmas bouquet for Mom

Strolling at the Huntington Library

Homemade 花式年糕：內容包括桂花釀、紅棗碎、核桃碎，上灑桂花

Hubby's win win at LAPD Division Xmas party

Independence Day: Resurgence (Movie, 2016)

There was very little character development, and a  made-no-sense queen alien. At the end of the film you also discover that this queen alien isn't all that bright since she chases a school bus pointlessly for what felt like twenty minutes, then dies because her shield randomly goes down for no reason. It is a bad sequel. 

生花正風體一種生

Merry Xmas

Tai Chi potluck Thanksgiving feast

Wonder Woman (Movie, 2017)

A good blend of action, humor, and dialogue. Great job of creating that superhero feeling, and making you cheer for her. Lots of good action. Cool effects. 

Turkey time

生花新風體

Happy Halloween

Flower Market field trip

 Linda, Miao Sun, Hai Dung, Milly Chung

King Arthur: Legend of the Sword (Movie, 2017)

The Legend of King Arthur is remade in a fantastic way. Fast moving with thrills and chills. Timeless themes, the battle of good and evil, but with modern relevance too. The bad part is that Merlin is mentioned but never seen. Plus it jumps around from one scene to another, that doesn't even make sense. 

生花秋之交生

Mei Ling Ouyang's Birthday party at The Athenaeum, Pasadena

Shau Mei, Mei Ling & Donald Ouyang, Justine Shen, Frank & Judy

 Birthday bouquet I made.

Mei Ling Ouyang & Justine Shen at ECC volunteering

KP friends gathering at Suouplantation, Arcadia

Yogi Shah, Bonita Prince, Russ Hovanesian