impressive poster

What is happiness? What is love? What is success? What do you live for? Who are you? What should you be like? You can provide various answers to these questions. But the simplest way to deal with them is to figure out what you need and what you want.

“I am an adult. I know what I want.” For an adult, what he wants usually equals what he needs. As a man grows up, he gradually get rid of his naivety, fantasies, but becomes more and more sensible and practical. He is down-to-earth. However, a kid knows little of himself, and less of the world. Sensibility but not sense dominates him. He wanders aimlessly in his world, just like a cloud up in the air.

Ryan is the kid, while Alex is the adult. Ryan led a life of hedonism. The only aim of his life was 10.000.000 miles, a symbol of success. Unexpectedly, the balance of his life was broken after a hearty conversation with his brother-in-law. When his brother-in-law began to doubt the meaning of marriage, of life, Ryan began to examine his own life. It suddenly occurred to him that not all the things could be explained as meaningful. You should not give up life simply because it tortures you. Nor should you refuse marriage because it fetters you. Life is hard; life is troublesome. But the essence of life is to experience, that is to live with whatever God gives you.

Ryan & Alex

What Ryan wanted is not what he needed. What he really needed was Alex, and a warm and cozy home. Thus, an instinct pulled him from the air to the earth. The instinct is called love, which always exists inside one’s heart but becomes dull and numb as time goes by. But the fact only proved his naivety. The instinct dropped to impetus.

The impetus of brother-in-law is the freedom in the air, and it in turn took him back to the earth. On the contrary, Ryan’s impetus is the true love on the earth and it sent him back to the air. Indeed, happiness is inertial, springing from repetition.
The ending reminded me of the Hurt Locker. Just like James, Ryan restarted his trip on plane without knowing the deadline. His happiness is only available in one place-up in the air.

Director: Francis Ford Coppola

Cast: Robin Williams/Diane Lane/Jennifer Lopez
The accepted genre of this film is comedy. Actually, it has two different personalities. It begins as a comedy, but then it gets serious. The transition from comedy to drama is a little abrupt, but the film manages the trick.

Jack is a ten-year old boy with a serious problem-he ages at four times the normal rate. As Jack’s mind grows at the normal rate mentally and emotionally, his body continues to age rapidly. He must also have some grown-up feelings to go along with his grown-up body.
The dialogues in this film are inspirational and educational. They give viewers some thoughts on what a true friend should be, what an adult should be and how to live a short but full life.

Woodruff: You know why I like to teach children, Jack? So I don’t get so wrapped up in being an adult. So I can remember there are other things that are important in life – like riding a bike, playing in a treehouse, splashing in water with your good shoes on. And you, my friend, were my most special student. And until recently you were everything I ever wanted in a student. You were a shooting star amongst ordinary stars. Have you ever seen a shooting star jack?
Jack: No.
Woodruff: It’s wonderful. It passes quickly, but while it’s here, it just lights up the whole sky – it’s the most beautiful thing you’d ever want to see. So beautiful that the other stars stop and watch. You almost never see one.
Jack: Why?
Woodruff: Because they’re very rare. Quite rare. But I saw one. I did.
Jack: I just want to be a regular star.
Woodruff: Jack, you’ll never be regular. You’re spectacular.

Louis’ Monologue in class:
I want to be just like my best friend when I grow up. He’s only ten but he looks much older. He’s like the perfect grown up because on the inside, he’s still just a kid – he’s not afraid to learn things or try things, or to meet new people the way most grown-ups are. It’s like he’s looking at everything for the first time – because he is. And most grown-ups aren’t like that. Most grown-ups just want to go to work and make money, and show off for the neighbors. And more than anything, he knows how to be a great friend, more than most people who look like adults. So I may not know what I want to be when I grow up, and right now I really don’t care, but I do know who I want to be like. I want to be like the giant, the big guy, my best friend, Jack. Thank you.

Jack sleeps with his parents

Jack’s Monologue on graduation ceremony:
As we come to the end of this phase of our life, we find ourselves trying to remember the good times, and trying to forget the bad times. And we find ourselves thinking about the future. We start to worry, thinking, “What am I gonna do? Where am I gonna to be in ten years?” But I say to you, “Hey, look at me.” Please, don’t worry so much. Because in the end, none of us have very long on this earth. Life is fleeting. And if you’re ever distressed, cast your eyes on the summer sky, when the stars are strung across the velvety night. And when a shooting star streaks through the blackness turning night into day–make a wish; think of me, and make your life spectacular! I know I did. I made it, Mom. I’m a grown-up.