Timeless Love

As much as we're supposed to abhor piracy, there are days that we have to thank our local bootleggers for their heroic efforts in bringing certain controversial movies that would be otherwise banned from our innocent, child-like, easily-led eyes. But I promised myself this wouldn't be a screaming rant against mindless censorship so I shall resist the temptation to leap onto my own private soapbox. Instead, all I have to say is a huge thank you to all you blond-highlighted DVD pirates ( especially the sexy, semi-shirtless ones ) for bringing movies and series that would otherwise only be seen by rigidly conservative, holier-than-thou censors.

Hmm... was that a rant?

Thanks to their efforts, I finally managed to get my hands on Brokeback Mountain. Sorry, Heath and Jake ( and the adorable Ang Lee ), but I had to resort to blatant piracy.


Why can't we make this work?
Since I've already read the incredibly short novella of Brokeback Mountain a while back, the bittersweet ending of the story didn't hold any surprises for me. The love between the taciturn Ennis del Mar and the charming Jack Twist spans almost two decades - and it's heartbreaking to see the two men seeming unable to quite grasp the sweet promise held by their first passionate meeting at Brokeback Mountain.

Surely everyone has heard about the controversial romance between two cowboys but there is more to the movie than that as it brings to life the tragedy of two men who simply can't have what they want - as year after year, they try to rekindle their clandestine romance through awkwardly termed fishing trips only to have their seemingly normal everyday lives slowly crumble into inconsequential dust. Although the more open Jack is all in favour of setting up permanent camp, fear of societal prejudice forces the repressed Ennis into denying his own feelings leaving his poor unrequited lover twisting in the wind.

Didn't feel like watching alone so I called up a friend. Since he did make an odd comment once about wanting to watch Brokeback, Big Bicep Barry would have been the obvious choice to call but the man's stuck entertaining his migrant workers - who are obviously bored to tears during this long holiday. So I called up the one guy I knew I knew would be utterly bored ( if not rabidly murderous ) with mandarin oranges and family reunions by now. Surprisingly my cynical ISO thoroughly enjoyed the movie - although I have to admit he wasn't as taken by my enthusiasm for the movie.

Paul : I want my own Brokeback!
My ISO : Yeah, right. You'd rather be caught dead before climbing up that mountain.
Paul : You're wrong there! I'd wash clothes by the river. I'd catch fish and roast them over an open fire while I waited for my husband to ride home to camp.
My ISO : The last time you camped was back in school - and as I recall you actually hated it. Do I have to take out that picture of you covered in mud and leeches again?
Paul : Damn. But I'll do it for Jake Gyllenhaal.
My ISO : Sure. I'll believe it when I see it.

The man knows me too well. Alright, so I'd prefer my men just a tad more citified. Uncivilized is fine by me but I simply cannot rough it out for days on end. Just imagine being in the mountains without broadband!