down with sheila-like sensibility

it's strange finding myself with this blog, wondering what i should write. conversations with ritz about public blogs crop up perennially - this time i decided to just do it, even though we've always agreed that blogs are complex things. for one, i hate the idea of being judged by what or how i write (might as well 'fess up now: i'm a crappy writer when it comes to anything other than english essays, lacking the eloquence of my counterparts). and the idea of conveying private thoughts in an incredibly public medium freaks me out a little. but if i don't have the guts to post entries read only by friends and acquaintances, then i might as well forget about pursuing a career in publishing or teaching.

i say this as disclaimer to what i'm about to do now, and that is, talk about something i've wanted to discuss with others but was unable to for fear of boring them. it concerns an obsession with mine which most people don't understand. not the obesssion part; the sheila-actually-obsesses-over-things? part.

...Christian Bale! recently rewatched Little Women for the nth time, and all the wonderful scenes have just been replaying in my mind these past few days. truth...Little Women was one of my favourite books as a 10-year old; i used to address all my diary entries with 'Dear Beth' because Beth is the sweetest and gentlest of the March sisters. :)

so for the fun of it, here's a list of Bale movies i've seen and want to see. you will be surprised at some of the titles...and have probably watched him in quite a few without realizing it!

checked off
- 'Empire of the Sun': he was only 13 when he took on the starring role as an English boy separated from his parents in Shanghai, the day the Japanese invaded (1937? ahh my chinese history is rusty.) bale's performance was so amazing a movie academy created a whole new award for him - best juvenile performance.

- 'Pocahontas': yes the disney movie! ahh bet you didn't know that he voiced Thomas' character (the guy who gets arrowed by the native americans by the river)

- 'The New World': those who can appreciate or at least tolerate slow, achingly beautiful scenes with zero dialogue should watch this...it's a modern re-enactment of the Pocahontas story. coincidentally, it also stars Colin Farrell who i used to obsess over 4 years ago hahaha

- 'Little Women': :)

- 'Equilibrium': a cult video classic amongst some guys, it is apparently often shoplifted from video rental places cuz there were limited copies produced! having said that, i hated this movie. it was like a really bad version of the Matrix with a lot of guns, solemn guys in black suits and pseudo religion/science vs morality stuff.

- 'The Prestige': Bale was good, but i liked the other magician-flick 'The Illusionist' with Edward Norton more

- 'Howl's Moving Castle': you HAVE to see this animation movie by Ghibli Studio if you haven't already! same director as Totoro, Spirited Away, etc.

- 'Batman Begins': one of my favourites :) but i still like the older Michael Keaton batman movies

to-be-checked-off
- 'The Portrait of A Lady': couldn't believe he was in this movie!! those who knew me well during the IB years probably remember me carrying around this book by Henry James (THE master of novel-writing...you must read 'The Turn of the Screw' or 'Washington Square'). it was cuz i wrote my extended essay on this book! it's just too bad there isn't a rental copy in Singapore :(

- 'Harsh Times': Bale plays some deranged American soldier who returns from the Gulf War. the trailer was... .... intense stuff.

- 'The Dark Knight': batman sequel! summer 2008

- '3:10 to Yuma': the title refers to a train bound for Yuma. Christian Bale is a ranch owner who volunteers to hold, then escort an outlaw (Russel Crowe) to his hearing in Yuma. okay so i've never even seen a Western, but the whole Bale/Crowe conflict in the story seems pretty intriguing. see the trailer at: http://www.310toyumathefilm.com/ it releases on sep 7th - so soon!!

sorry...i've bombarded you all long enough :D. i'll try posting something less self indulged next time. if this has piqued your interest in the actor, then yay i'm glad :)