Eternal Summer

Bleak institution of uniforms?

Just the other day I was online on a forum chatting when I overheard a post-adolescent James Dean railing against the strict conventions of enforced uniformity in schools. Never actually occurred to me that had become one of the latest cause celeb since it happened to be something I took for granted back in school. Along with our jurisprudence and the quintessential evening tea with crumpets, we also received an excellent system of education from the colonial Brits ( though that's also progressively falling apart ever since ).

Not to mention strict school dress codes.

Doubt anyone ever thought of bucking the rigid rules of uniformity though a few rebellious ( and fashionably challenged ) boys tried their best to individualize them with torn cuffs and sloppy ties. Sure it was boring, it was blotchy dull green slacks and white shirts for all but I thought it actually helped since I didn't have to spend twenty minutes each morning trying to figure out which shirt matches my shoes ( and my bag, my pencil case, my drink bottle etc. ).

Not to mention there was a sense of bleak solidarity whether prince or pauper since we were all dressed in equally awful uniforms. :P

And awful though it might have been, the uniforms certainly didn't detract from the appeal of the hotter boys :) Just look at these boys from the Eternal Summer. Regulation shirts and slacks certainly didn't stop them from ogling each other discreetly - and falling in love. :)


Our two main protagonists in the movie meet back in primary school - preppy boy-next-door Jonathan is the shy, bookish geek while the darkly alluring Shane is the brash, gregarious sort who's good at sports but lacks interest in his studies. Forced to buddy up together, they eventually become inseparable as friends and even ten years later in high school, are still utterly devoted to one another with a near palpable undercurrent of affection. A fact that is soon noted - and exploited - by the savvy new girl in town, tomboy Carrie.

Familiar enough themes from our own schooldays - think teenage angst and apparent loneliness, think friendship and coming-of-age. For those who mooned hopelessly in school for that all-wonderful but unattainable wonder jock in school, for all the lovelorn folks who've wondered even briefly what love would be like with their best friend - go watch this...

Though I'm the hopeful sort who views it with rose-tinted glasses, tell me what you thought about the oddly ambiguous ending :P Movie actually reminds me of one of my favourite songs ever.