The Lake House

Fuelled by some strange desire to get out of the house, I went to watch The Lake House on Sunday. It really did seem like a good plan to relax and have a good, er, cry - that was until I was settled down in the cinema, only to be surrounded by couples, couples, and MORE couples (hopefully all made up of one male and one female, though I decided not to inspect, just in case). Well, I was the only strange girl seated in seat G:07 with my mother and aunty beside me (I was actually quite proud of the fact that I was NOT seated with a boyfriend of any kind), AND, I was also the only person there eating a lot of food (cheesy hotdogs! nachos! FOOD!), because it seemed that everyone else was too busy whispering sweet nothings into each others' ears. Talk about feeling out of place.

So the movie finally started, after countless ads for Samsung, HSBC and the like - though I must say I quite enjoy watching pre-movie ads, especially ads for movies that are "coming soon". I remember seeing this one before Cars, which featured a bunch of singing penguins on top of a snow capped mountain. My ideal movie! HAHA. Anyway, back to what I was saying, the movie finally started, after countless ads for Samsung, HSBC and the like. It was all well and good; nice movie. Not like those soppy love stories, but rather, an interesting (though predictable) storyline with good actors. I may be reading too much into it, but I do believe there actually was a deeper meaning behind the whole show, something to be learnt from it, about love transcending all boundaries, even time, and the sad painful truth about waiting, perhaps even waiting all your life for something that may never happen.

Now, the only thing that got in the way of my fully enjoying the movie, were (some of) the very annoying couples I chanced upon.

Couple #1
Where: Girl seated in G:08 and guy seated in G:09
What: Young couple, either in their teens or early 20s, too dark to see anything else (thank goodness)
The Situation: The girl started to cry (I don't blame her for this, because right at about the same time, I myself was trying very inconspicuously to wipe away my tears on the pretext that my eyes were itchy - now that I think about it, could explain how I got that eye infection that resulted in my being absent from school yesterday - though my mom saw right through it and handed me a packet of tissue paper). Instead of just leaving her to cry it out, Mr Boyfriend proceeded to turn to her and very gently wipe away her tears with the back of his hand (please excuse me while I throw up, thanks). Then, like that wasn't enough, he began to coo adoringly, "Why you craaiii? Don crai lah, eeet's okay. Reeelee. I'm here..."
What the girl did: Lap it all up and bury her head in his chest.
What I would have done: Firstly, tell him to keep quiet in a VERY FIERCE way (basically to shut up la). It's the middle of the movie, at a very sad and important part, and he starts TALKING. Quite loudly too, might I add. Plus, like it's not embarrassing enough that I'm sobbing away, he has to publicly humiliate me by telling half the cinema. Secondly, get his hand off my face. I actually have tissue paper for wiping my tears. Thirdly, break up with him. I already had a bad impression of this couple when they walked in late, and he was helping her carry her pink handbag. I CANNOT stand men who carry their girlfriends' handbags for them. I mean, what's up man? Be a man! And must he talk to her like she's a dog or a hamster or something, as if she doesn't understand his good English? In this case though, the guy wasn't the only one at fault, considering how the girl fell into his arms like she was just WAITING for him to dry her tears and comfort her. Oh well, what can I say? They were made for each other, like a substrate to an enzyme (okay, this is a very bad analogy, something like Miss Tan's analogy on going to a buffet with a stomachache and eating only porridge. Don't worry, I still don't get it).

Basically, this went on throughout most of the movie. Very irritating, especially since I was hoping to get a good cry out of it (it's rare that I cry at movies that actually permit you to cry because even while watching cartoons, when everyone is feeling happy and joyful, I'm crying. Famous examples include Lilo & Stitch, Finding Nemo and Brother Bear. I'm officially embarrassed now; believe it anyhow), but their constant hugging and whispering and sobbing and giggling was restricting me. I regret not situating myself between my mom and aunt. I will remember to do that next time, lest I get victimized by another couple.

Well, after lots of crying and smiling at sweet moments on my part, the movie ended and the lights came on (I did not for one moment look to my right, where the aforementioned couple had been seated. In fact, I stood up, and using my hair to cover my very red nose and eyes, quickly walked out of the cinema). BUT, the plague of the annoying couples (or boyfriends, rather) was not yet to end.

Couple #2
Where: Girl and guy standing behind me on the escalator
What: I don't know because I didn't look back - might've punched the boyfriend if I did
The Situation: Just when I was thinking about how much I actually enjoyed the movie, and was reflecting on the meaning behind it all, I became an unfortunate audience (eavesdropper, rather) to an extremely disturbing conversation - the guy was expounding very passionately, on "Reasons why The Lake House is illogical and impossible". Sir, it is a MOVIE, for crying out loud. About two people who communicate with each other despite living two years apart, no less. It would be SCARY if it was logical and possible. Still, he continued his one-man debate, pointing out all the loopholes in the movie, and why watching it was a complete waste of his money and time. If a movie about a mailbox that can pass letters from one party living in 2006 to the other living in 2004 has not a single loophole and seems perfectly normal, then I think I'd better get down to writing a letter to my boyfriend who's currently living in the year 1911 and experiencing a revolution in China. I was SO annoyed.
What the girl did: Or rather, what she DIDN'T do, and that is protest
What I would have done: Firstly, tell him to keep quiet in a VERY FIERCE way (i.e. to shut up. I seem to enjoy doing this). If he doesn't, I will whack him on the head with my shoe. Then, I will tell him all the things I've said above. If he does not concede defeat, I will do the most logical thing - break up with him. Who needs a boyfriend like that? Darn, I should have told his girlfriend that on Sunday! Okay, now where's that mailbox when you need it.

Well, being a Sunday, with the next day being Monday (groan), I had to get home quick. So after buying dinner at the food court, we drove home. Eating terriyaki chicken with rice for dinner while watching the last episode of CSI season six made me very happy again (I am easily contented and satisfied), but obviously, those two couple were pretty hard to forget about.

Hmm. I seem to have something against couples (thinking back to another post not too long ago. Touchy Feely, anyone?). Or boyfriends.

Haha, good for me. (: