I still can't believe it myself but this weekend, Mike and I went to see two movies together. I cannot even remember when the last time we did this was. Or, if we ever did this. We didn't get to see Brokeback Mountain. We did get to see Memoirs of a Geisha (my life story) and Chronicles of Narnia. I rarely, if ever, fully read reviews about movies I see. Not because of any superstition but because I just never get around to doing it. I did hear badly mediocre things about Geisha. I also heard good things about Narnia. Well, I loved loved loved loved loved Geisha. Narnia... not so much.

Of course, this just proves my thinking: no matter what anybody says about anything, you have to try it yourself. One person's opinion is exactly that... theirs. Again, as with anything else, your experience with something is totally yours. I've adored Zhang Ziyi in everything I have seen her in. I was disconcerted by the fact that they were all speaking English. I got over it because the movie was so damn beautiful. Michelle Yeoh was just stunning. Just absolutely beautiful.

A friend asked me why I was so enamored by the movie. With the risk of sounding cliche: it felt good to see a movie where Asians are the key characters. A movie where people with the same racial profile as mine are playing the major leads. It matters. It matters for the same reason Brokeback Mountain's gay cowboys matter. Because when stereotypes are constantly played to beat you down, being seen as part of the fold helps you up. Later.  ¶ 9:05 AM