Snow White and Stories Yet to be Known

“Mirror, mirror on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all!”

Who would ever forget this famous line from the all time children’s favorite fairytale  Snow White and the  Seven Dwarfs  made more popular by Disney’s adaptation of it as an animation. I bet that most girls of young age, if not all, would easily relate to this while the not-so-young would just easily shrug it off.

Taking  note of this,  Director Rupert Sanders take us a notch higher in his depiction of 2012 film Snow White and the Huntsman  based on Brothers Grimm’s German fairytale. The movie incorporates elements that not only kids could relate to but rather whips off a concoction of beauty, magic, love and pain which I bet could poke every viewers’ thoughts and feelings.

I was already rooting for this movie when I saw it’s trailer a month ago. It turned out to be more than what I ever expected. It is anticipated to have superb visual and sound effects popping out of the screen. When you get to watch it, it gets you high as your lenses and tympanic membranes feast on its splendour. But what’s more remarkable is the mystery cloaking every scene moves you and tickle’s the mind to think. The movie is a play of literal translation of the epic fairytale and the metaphors of the elements integrated.

"Lips red as blood. Hair black as night. 

Bring me your heart my dear, dear Snow White." 

- Queen Ravenna

Characters, unlike what we have already seen in cartoons and other movies, were introduced an inch deeper as we are presented with their aspirations, fore-stories, pains and inner demons.

Snow White (Kirsten Stewart), all known as the sweet and vulnerable princess, was showed as a warrior ready to fight for what is righteous. I would also say that anyone could simply show pity to Queen Ravenna (Charlize Theron) , the dark and wicked witch, once one knows the story behind her revenge. Eric, the Hunstman (Chris Hemsworth), though flaunting a brute and all too-masculine vibe is surprisingly hiding a husband wounded from his wife’s death.

 

One major twist in the movie is that it was graced by eight dwarves instead of the popular seven (which every kid would dispute). One of which was Gus, who died after being pierced by an arrow to protect Snow White(that probably explains the seven). It is common in a fairytale for the princess to end up marrying the Prince. Who would ever know that a Prince could not bring Snow White to life but a Huntsman instead.

Drafted in a Victorian setting, the contrast of the dark castles against the whimsical forest and its creatures (somewhat like in Avatar) strike a balance in the film. The iconic figures such as the apple and the magical mirror were retained but tweaked a bit. Some representations of the psychological and emotional dilemmas of man could also be cited (e.g. the Dark Forest, the raven, age etc.).

“I’ve seen what she sees. I can kill her.” - Snow White

In the end, as most fairytales do, is a happy ever after when light defeats the evil. Overall the movie is worth the bucks. If you want a new kind of fairytale and adventure, I recommend that you watch this. Just don’t start comparing the books and other stuff, just enjoy and relax.

Numbers and Paper Cut

No more crying over spilled milk! I apologize if this was posted late. I needed time to wield my confidence back so I entered senti-mode. Albeit everything that has happened I still have reasons to smile.

I am now back in the most comfortable profession one could ever dream of, that is, being (again) unemployed. Hardworking as I might have been, it did not pay off at all. Like the old cliché, I did my best but my best wasn’t good enough. Or was it?

All I thought was that I am doing good because of the false hopes of the scorecards our TAs have been blasting. I succumbed to the idea that I was in good faith. Complacency had me defeated.

The time that I was asked to sign for my termination, thoughts were all over me. I was a natural ‘geek and meek’ that I couldn’t even utter a word when TL Mayu was dropping the news that the company is left with no choice but to lay me off and three more other colleagues. The numbers that I saw in the papers that I signed is a plausible evidence of failure to that effect.

Although I did work my ass off, I did regret one important thing that my previous BPO company has thought me. I was all the time working hard but it was stupid of me not to work smart. While I wouldn’t be able to negate the effects of the failing scorecard I should have tried to do something prior. I knew that there was something wrong but I opted to be a dimwit. I could have asked. I could have clarified stuff.

I could blame the TAs that it is their job to set correct expectations and provide us coaching sessions anchored on the true scorecard. I would say it’s quite a shock how ambiguous a score of 4.00 would suddenly go down to 2.56. One would not easily buy that yet the cards were all laid down. Staring at me. Mocking! It's my fault all along.

TL Joje and some colleagues showed empathy by saying that something was wrong. I was advised to tell HR my point on the matter. I agreed to inform them at the exit interview but saying so could no longer twist the upshots in my favor. I could talk trash about them. They  may be reprimanded but they would remain employed. As for me, I could suck it all up and move on.

I am a victim of my own idiocy. The thing is, I loathe confrontations. I would rather stay silent. To my blithe understanding, people should be righteous or even kind enough to do their jobs as they are expected. Well, all is done. No more crying over spilled milk (repeat repeat?).

The sad part is having to leave a bunch of people whom you are comfortable to work with and whom you considered as family. 

At the end of the day, I am the loser.

Surprisingly, I never thought that the paper I signed could cut me in half.