The Banquet

After Bio paper. went out with CT, Shu Yi, Phil and Wei Lu to chill. Headed to Lido area where we coincidentally saw Suat, Liling and Jay who were going to watch Little Miss Sunshine. Enjoyed a meal of cheese fries over light banter and laughter.
We bought our tixs and went to Far East Mall to windowshop. Looked at all the bling stuff: bags, bracelets, trinkets, earrings, dresses and others. Tempted to buy a pair of dolphin earrings but controlled the urge and departed with a relatively heavy wallet.
When we got ourselves cosy and comfortable in our seats, we were highly surprised to see Larissa, Zinc and Yun Lin arriving later! Talk about coincidences. The Banquet, loosely based on Shakespeare's Hamlet, although no less tragic, was a rather worthwhile watch. The cinematography was excellent; the lush, vibrant colors of the palace decor setting the splendorous mood for the film. Depictions of violence were done tastefully instead of gore-splattered. Every line of the character seemed to have a double meaning or something to ruminate about.
Most of the characters had their own complexities and failings, rendering them more human, rather than an embodiment of a certain trait. I actually felt quite sorry for Ge You, the throne usuper, as the story moved inexorably to its devastasting climax. Zhou Xun was certainly brilliant as the innocent, devoted lover of the Prince Wu Luan. I really wouldn't mind watching it again...