Blood Diamond and The Holiday

I went to cinema with Fang's parents and Fang. The first one we saw is Blood Diamond. A new production about illegal diamond trade in western African region, the film tried to communicate too many things simultaneously. I feel the movie is, therefore, very crowded. Aside from its political correctness, it is quite interesting if you compare Danny Archer (by Leonardo DiCaprio) from this film to heors from Out of Africa (1985). Denys George Finch Hatton (by Robert Redford) is a grown-up Danny. Although they live in different time period, they face the same dilemma: the passion for the Africa and the passion of love. In the end of the film, Danny killed his boss and the guy said "T.I.A, right?" THAT IS AFRICA! It sounds like a curse, for all the resource-rich African countries are all in wars and their people are suffered. Unfortunately, the semi-happy ending of the film does not offer a solution to current situation; instead, it leaves the task to each audience. The Holiday is a good choice for holiday season. The major element of the comedy is to reverse the gender role in relationship. The story begins with two thirty-something who suffered from their relationship and decide to exchange their houses for the Christmas. Amenda from L.A. ended up in a small town near London and met Graham (a single dad with two daughters). The plot is simple. Amenda is head-strong and tough in relationship and very practical, but Graham is soft and romantic and live the moment. The reverse role of male and female in this relationship makes it funny and sweet. When you watch the film, you know their relationship won't last long as Amenda had correctly pointed out, however, I enjoy every moment of watching it as Graham would suggest.

Kinsey! After the two film, I see Kinsey the day after. Such a moral challenge even for today's audience. It is not about the open discussion of sex in the film, but the tension between Kinsey and his wife. The film portrated Kinsey as a scientist and his scientificness made him churchy and dogmatic in his life. I wish to learn more about the controversy and its association with the sex liberation in 1960s and 1970s. I wonder have anyone done similar study about chinese population.