向世界出發 - 預告篇

原本已經開始寫這個旅遊entry，但越寫越長。。。唯有先賣個關子
吃了最鮮甜的生蠔、最貴的奄列、最美的甜點、最香的麵包、最wut dut的德國菜、最好的朱古力，看了最震撼的現代藝術、最浪漫的日落……

等我慢慢寫吧。先看圖：

美味的朱古力

Mont-St. Michel的日落
完美的婚禮After party
遠離煩囂的水鄉小旅館
瘋狂購物團

色彩繽紛的飽點
令人讚嘆的藝術
海市蜃樓?
歐洲的咖啡室。。。還有更好的下午時光嗎？

I venture into the World...

向世界出發。。。

歐洲，從香港去要大約12個鐘。對一個身形高的人來講，坐Upgrade不到的經濟客艙差不多是酷刑。不過，始終都成6年沒去過，而意大利更是第10個年頭，去逛逛都是時候。

接Fun的Blog, 發覺原來我多去過世界上13%的國家。這兩年成績都不錯，越南、柬埔寨、印度、尼泊爾。。。雖然沒有踏足比較遠的郊區，但都足以感受到不同民族的風情、每個國家的風景。河内的林蔭街道、法式建築；暹粒的沙塵、吳哥窟的驚世文化、令人摸不著頭腦的皇城、廟宇；孟買的繁華、文化的深厚；喜瑪拉亞山的宏偉、尼泊爾人的笑容。。。

今次的行程：巴黎、威尼斯以前都去過了。Mont St-Michel, St. Malo 及德國的Kassel會是新的目的地。不知道會否為我帶來什麽新的體驗？不如先作個預告 :)

正在plan明年的新旅程：非洲！（去探朋友）

See you in 2 weeks. :)

Late nights

連續幾晚開夜，今天人都半死狀態。但也沒有想象中辛苦。
好在終點在望，而且在等我的是一個歐洲旅程。興奮十分。

住在工作附近的好處，就是可以久唔久番屋企休息一下。前天在灣仔同D Friend睇完戯，去做埋gym，然後回家看我近期每個禮拜都追的"Ugly Betty"。Ahhhh~~~完美的一個晚上。。。跟著就是番公司做野lu。。。比想象中OK既。其實flextime work都幾好架，可惜公司沒有這個policy。OT 就可以flextime. They never care about what time you leave work... just have to show up on time.

Oh well.

講開Ugly Betty，套劇質數真係好好。有豪門恩怨之餘，又有"The Devil Wears Prada"。我覺得套劇講人與人關係講的好好。。。前幾集提及亞Mark最終向其母come out。Handle得好好，點到即止。每個角色都沒有因爲個topic有點兒敏感而破格。Character development很強很特出。無論是Betty, 或是Alexis，Justin或Henry，角色都有深度，不只是一個平面。講Ignacio，Wilhelmina兩個各自的綫都很好，有持續性。Amanda更是個show的一大配角。有她出場的戯非常搞笑。She's bitchy, she's superficial, she looks great, and she rocks. Everybody needs a bitchy friend like her.... haha.

我本人十分極力推介！！！

Making my Blog more INTERESTING wor....

Given heads up by Fun, copied from a very impressive all-around blogger Wordy (THANKS), see below to get to know me better la...

Your Blogging Type Is Thoughtful and Considerate

You're a well liked, though underrated, blogger. You have a heart of gold, and are likely to blog for a cause. You're a peaceful blogger - no drama for you! A good listener and friend, you tend to leave thoughtful comments for others.

What's Your Blogging Personality?

You Are 50% Weird

Normal enough to know that you're weird... But too damn weird to do anything about it!

How Weird Are You?

You Are 58% Jealous

You're a fairly jealous person, but it's nothing to beat yourself up about. A little jealousy is perfectly normal, though sometimes you take it a little far. Recognize when jealousy is taking over your life, and try to hold back your impulses. You'll be a better (and happier) person for it!

How Jealous Are You?

You Are From Neptune

You are dreamy and mystical, with a natural psychic ability. You love music, poetry, dance, and (most of all) the open sea. Your soul is filled with possibilities, and your heart overflows with compassion. You can be in a room full of friendly people and feel all alone. If you don't get carried away with one idea, your spiritual nature will see you through anything.

What Planet Are You From?

You're a Little Stupid

You got 9/10 questions right! Or at least careless. Better go back and recheck your answers!

Are You Stupid?

Your Seduction Style: The Natural

You don't really try to seduce people... it just seems to happen. Fun loving and free spirited, you bring out the inner child in people. You are spontaneous, sincere, and unpretentious - a hard combo to find! People drop their guard around you, and find themselves falling fast.

What Is Your Seduction Style?

This is so much fun, I can do this all day... haha.

Stomach problem, again

今年都唔知做mut,每幾個禮拜就肚屙。有時仲發燒。是否今年有凶星高掛？

病得來，心情又唔好、脾氣差；搞到成日黑面神gum既樣，仲瘦左成10磅……識我既人都知道，我怕瘦，而家直情瘦到面都lup埋。

心情唔好，連至親的都黑面對待；沒辦法，請了解我的苦況。唯有講聲對不起，Sorry lor.

剛剛從尼泊爾回來，過兩個禮拜又去歐洲了。You're right, I'm excited too。本身的工作甚少需要出差（最多都只是去附近的省市），而歐洲都有成6年沒去過了。記得從某雜誌專欄中看過，年輕人應該每年都到一處沒去過的地方旅遊。今年都起碼去過尼泊爾，下個月還會去法國的Mont St. Michel及德國的Kassel。唉，d歐羅gum貴，我想暑假之後要再次瘦身了，沒錢開飯啊嘛。

今天Fun告知一個好消息，就是Sandy真的會在11月開個唱，而且仲會在最新的EMAX Star Hall 舉行。無論是場地/形式而言都會是嶄新的嘗試，希望出來的效果會滿意吧。開gum多場，應該睇邊場呢？

不如又睇睇相哩。。。

Pashmina 是尼泊爾/喀什米爾的著名特產。Quality及style都有好多種。價錢由HKD$200至$1,000都有。

另外，茶葉都是尼泊爾山區的特產。Ilam及Darleeling就是該處最頂級的出產。還有花茶、生果茶等

每個地方的戶外廣告都有一些特點。尼泊爾有很多香煙廣告（仲沒有法律管制），通常都是一個很專業look的男士在喜瑪拉亞山脈下用手機講電話。

在Baktapur這個UNESCO世界遺產中這個廟宇的柱上，刻有Karma Sutra經文裏面的幾個做愛場面。其中比較搞笑的是有個女人被男伴搞時在洗頭。唔知是個男人技術稍遜，還是女人的房事都是比較死板/千篇一律呢？

Mid-Summer's Day Dreaming

剛剛從尼泊爾回來。gum就過左一個禮拜。

第一次因爲飛機機件故障而需要押後行程。。。一整日。。。好在買了旅遊保險，可以賠大約$650。好過無。

原本走之前想寫寫有關回歸十年的一些感受；始終我還記得10年前6月30日我回到香港看回歸的一個旅程，還記得當天舊同學說了一句“歌舞星平、粉飾太平”。好一句“粉飾太平”。

gum，2007年都仲有半年，留待遲D才再回望1997罷。


尼泊爾是一個可愛的小國，而加德滿都就是她的補給站。因爲要參與朋友的傳統婚禮，所以沒時間去其他城鎮，如風景如畫的Pokhara。但也不要緊罷，加德滿都市内的景點多的是。今天沒時間詳細解釋，不如看看一些相吧！

貪玩

多謝,Safety!!!!

後面就是加德滿都山谷，天朗氣清的時候可以看到喜瑪拉亞山脈

Through the years... (Sporadic updates)

今晚maang車邊，去睇左“每當變幻時”。港產片來説，都算過得去啦。兩位主角交足功課，事關角色與兩位的形象頗爲相似，算數啦，起碼唔係諧星做文藝片主角。okok啦。仲有盧Deh-wick、馮淬帆，都算新鮮既。。。
其實套戯除左一段不太令人感動的關係之外，首主題曲/戯名是小弟比較感受深的一環。下午跟 Funfun MSN時至開始領會歌詞中要“刮醒你”的溫馨提示：
每當變幻時


原曲：
月光小夜曲 - 紫薇 / 每當變幻時 - 薰妮

作曲：周藍平 填詞：盧國沾

懷緬過去常陶醉 一半樂事一半令人流淚

夢如人生快樂永記取 悲苦深刻藏骨髓

懷緬過去常陶醉 想到舊事歡笑面常流淚

夢如人生試問誰能料 石頭他朝成翡翠

韶華去 四季暗中追隨 逝去了的都已逝去 啊

懷緬過去常陶醉 想到舊事歡笑面常流淚

夢如人生試問誰能料 石頭他朝成翡翠

如情侶 你我有心追隨 遇到半點風雨便思退

常見明月掛天邊 每當變幻時 便知時光去

啊 常見紅日照東方每當變夕陽 便知時光去

每當變幻時

最近，“十年”呢個話題電視、報紙、電台通通都在討論，除了“每當變幻時”之外，“老港正傳”都係食住呢條水，與港人緬懷回歸以後每件大事、每個難忘得片斷、每個你與我都記得的故事。記得，在美國讀高中的時候，聽説每個美國人都會記得穿梭機挑戰者號於1986年升空爆炸的慘劇，並會記得當時一刻自己在那裏在做什麽。然而，對當年在香港10嵗的我來說事件只是美國的新聞一則；並因爲腦筍都未生埋，而不明白對當時世界的影響。。。

1989年，讀中一的我突然有一天假期，班主任亦跟我們有一個特別的談論，六月的這一天，真是過得不平凡。我只是依稀記得她跟我們說，八年之後，當香港回歸中國時，我們將跟當天在天安門廣場上的大學生年紀差不多；類似的事情會發生在我們身上嗎？幼稚的我只想。。。1997離太遠吧，世界每天都在變，不可能在發生罷！


有什麽對我來說等同對活在80年代的美國人看穿梭機挑戰者號爆炸的回憶？可能個人大了，香港回歸後，實在有很多人和事是令我難忘的。給我一點時間，中文寫作對我來講，實在是困難及需時 ：）但以下是其中幾段；先看看片/圖片罷！

下次再加多D！

Retail spaces? MORE?

MegaBox opens this week, but another mega mall is coming at the end of 2007...
"MegaBox" in Kowloon Bay
MegaBox is actually part of Kerry Properties' Enterprise Square Phase V development (the office towers retain the name). The retail component itself is about 1,100,000 sq ft of floor space, undoubtedly one of the largest in Hong Kong. With Hong Kong's first IMAX Theatre and an international-standard-sized ice rink, MegaBox aims to become a new retail magnet for a new development area (they call it "up-and-coming"): Kowloon Bay. Standing at 19-storeys high, the design of MegaBox is revolutionary... with carparking at every level... can you imagine the time it'd take just driving up and down the parking garage? I haven't been there myself, but there are already many photos available online, and I could also see the big red box almost everyday when I commute.
"Elements" at Kowloon Station
While recent focus on Kowloon Station has been on the 118-floor International Commerce Centre (ICC), with the new Ritz-Carlton on the top 15 floors, and the twin-tower skycrapers, hotel-cum-service apartment W Hotel and "Cullinan" project next door, "Elements", the 1,000,000-plus square feet of retail space (comparable size to Mega Box, IFC Mall, etc) is another "Super Mall" that we will roam in the near future.
Named "Elements" there will be 5 Themed Areas, each devoted to one of Nature's Elements: Metals, Fire, Wood, Water, and Earth. In addition to large "duplex" shops, there will be a 700,000 sq ft. of outdoor space for shoppers to enjoy the podium space. There will also be an ice-skating rink, and a 14-screen cineplex. While this mall is positioned to be another upscale shopping mall (like IFC), it will also strengthen the weakest component of the whole development and the surroundings. Residents at The Waterfront, Harbourside, The Arch, and Sorrento currently have to commute to nearby Harbour City or Olympian City to stock up for their daily needs. It is hopeful that upon completion of Elements and ICC, the comprehensive development intention of this whole Site will be achieved.
I find the biggest failure of this whole development is its integration with the surrounding. It is virtually an "island" which you would only get there by MTR. There is NO pedestrian foot traffic at all, as surrounding uses are mostly elevated roadways, entrance portal to the Western Harbour Tunnel, a vacant waterfront site reserved for the West Kowloon Cultural District (which I should add is NOWHERE near implementation timeframe), and a temporary golf course and a Drive-In Theatre. Of course pedestrian traffic hinges on the implementation of the waterfront promenade that would be part of the WKCD, yet its development timeframe is so uncertain, Kowloon Station will remain a destination to be served mainly by MTR... which is not such a bad thing, as Hong Kong has always been known to have an efficient mass transit system. But from an urban planning and urban design point of view, we should encourage people to utilize outdoor spaces more often than air-conditioned indoor ones. Think about all the energy required to air condition a big space!? And a bit of walking and breathing of fresh air is good for the mind and the body.
Other big malls in Hong Kong:
Shatin New Town Plaza (including Phases I & III and Grand Central Tower): 2,000,000 sq ft.
Harbour City (including Ocean Terminal, Ocean Centre, and Harbour City): 1,913,000 sq ft.
Festival Walk in Kowloon Tong: 1,200,000 sq ft.
Cityplaza (Taikoo Shing): 1,100,000 sq ft.
Times Square: 936,000 sq ft.
Telford Plaza (Phases I & II): 850,000 sq ft.
IFC: 800,000 sq ft.
Grand Century Place (Mong Kok KCR): 720,000 sq ft.
Pacific Place: 700,000 sq ft.
apm (Kwun Tong MTR): 630,000 sq ft.
Tai Po Mega Mall: 600,000 sq ft.
Langham Place: 587,000 sq ft.
Tsuen Wan Plaza: 584,000 sq ft.
Metroplaza (Kwau Fong MTR): 540,000 sq ft.
Citygate (Tung Chung MTR): 520,000 sq ft.
Olympian City II: 510,000 sq ft.
Marine Square (Tsing Yi MTR): 500,000 sq ft.
The Landmark: 400,000 sq ft.
(I only realized we have so many medium-sized malls after doing this research)

New and exciting vacations!!!

After planning for a couple of months, my summer travel plans are coming together piece by piece...
Most importantly, I finally got approval from work, so now everything is set to go. *YEAH*
Well, there will be two trips this summer, both rather big ones... because they involve places I have never visited... And as I have planned last year, this summer's return to Italy will mark the 10th Anniversary my first and only visit to Italy (gosh... how time flies), a country with so much history, such beautiful architecture, and MANY things good-looking. Would be so much fun to dig out the journal I kept (the only journal I've kept, EVER) and visit the same places again.
Last time I went there all alone, made a couple of friends along the way, and was semi-adventurous. I had just graduated from college, and was living a dream. Now, 10 years on, am I any wiser or smarter? Will I see these things any differently than before?
Well, at least 10 years on, those famous sites will still be there, as they were then. They never seem to change much over such little time, do they? Staying beautiful, magnificent to look at, still loved by visitors the world over. What if the same happens to us?

28

Multiple of 7?
The Perfect Age?
Number of good friends?
Or your new nickname, Aaron?
Despite cool weather, choppy waters, and the Sun playing Hide-and-Seek, a boat cruise in late April couldn't be more fun. Good friends, new faces, cool sports, fun games, plus "Gweilo seafood" and good hazelnut cake from Agnes b., this marked a great beginning of Summer 2007! Now I just have to get in better shape for the shorts and tank tops.

Shanghai Shanghai

A short trip taken recently...
Visiting Shanghai is like coming back to HK in the 1990s. Everytime you come back there'd be a new skyscraper. But of course the rate of growth in Shanghai is a bit more mind-boggling... could all those humongous buildings be leased out? Millions and millions of square footage of offices... This gamble's gotta be a big pay out (or a real bomb?). World Finance Centre is finally becoming a reality, having been the architectural dream of the 1990s, only to be disrupted by a blib during Shanghai's office slump in the aftermath of the Asian Financial Crisis. Now, in it final construction stage (top 1/4 of the building) it's already overtaking JinMao as the tallest office building in Shanghai. Can't wait to see the completed structure and the Park Hyatt at the top portion late next year.
This time though, besides seeing new constructions, new completions, staying at a new hotel, I also tried new restaurants, new streets, and a new phenomenon.
____________
What do you think these people are doing here?
Attending an Art Fair?

Trading collectibles?

A garden party?

Or selling junk to the "Lao Wai"? Well, I had heard about this from a news report from Beijing about 2 months ago. This is match-making in the 21st century China. It turns out these are parents of both young males and females, gathering at a corner of People's Square every weekend, posting banners about their children and hoping to hook them up with a perfect suitor. Read this one: "Looking for Marriage: (Lone daughter of the president of a real estate company) Unmarried 34-year old with good looks, 160cm tall, graduated from the teaching institute and was a primary school class teacher, dealer for major accounts of a trading firm; first-class honour at a national speech competition, winner at a parent-child singing competition, can do simple house chores; would like to find a match with a loving heart; if any available male are interested, no matter your looks or your height (34-55yo), ok if you have slight disabilities, but marriage house in Shanghai is a must, please contact... Patented intangible asset will be awarded to the successful.... CANDIDATE?
I sometimes wonder, is hooking up that difficult in China, or are these extreme cases where getting married is just a task they have to accomplish... for the family, or for the job? For residency in Shanghai, or for whatever reasons... There were actually agents working in this match-making... but then of course! If the parents care so much about their kids' marriage, they need professional help! I am probably hot property if I'm available to them... I am sure (I swear they were all looking at me with interesting and inquisitive eyes)...
_______
Very happy to have found this area called Tianzifang in Tai Kang Lu. It was written up in various magazines, and it did not disappoint. Sort of like Xintiandi, sort of like Moganshan. It is a neighbourhood of old Shanghai Shikumen architecture, with new funky boutiques selling clothes, curios, jewellery, furniture, and cafes and restaurants are here and there. There was an ex-garment factory workshop building built in the 30s now converted into studios and workshops for clothing traders, archi firms, and galleries. Cool place. I like this place better than Xintiandi because there are still inhabitants in these old structures... adds a bit of authenticity and human touch to the whole area. Plus the place is less commercialized than Xintiandi (thank god for the absence of Starbucks)

____________
Then of course there's part of the old being torn down... here's the last bit of the famous Shangyang Market being demolished: _________
And last but not least, the best Shanghai Tangbao (Xiaolongbao) I've ever had. Jiajia (Huanghe Lu x Fengyang Lu, thanks to recommendation from Ame) is not far from Nanjing Lu/People's Square, and their regular xiaolong gets sold out early. We were only left with either all-crab, or crab+pork. But man, it's so hot, and the meats were so fresh, skin's so yummy. Not a big fan of xiaolong, but these were the best I've ever tasted.... yum!
Also tried this Japanese place called "天家" (Huashan Lu x Tai'an Lu, thanks to recommendation from Funfun and Ame) specializes in Toro and crab. oooh... hot pot was so good! sashimi was so good! cold crab was so good!
Also tried "1931" (Maoming Lu South x Nanchang Lu). Decor was nice and warm, food is ok.
Short breaks once in a while is good geh..... ;)

HKIFF 2007

15 films in 3 weeks. Sounds more than it is, really. The "worst" this year was still only 2 films a day. Don't think I could handle running between venues for 3 films in one day anymore like previous years... haha.

Sakuran ...B+... the colours, the clothes, her counter-culture attitude, her ill-temper. Realizing the importance of not giving up on hopes, but questionable ending.

Tuya's Marriage ...B-... must admit I fell asleep through bits of the first half. Actress's performance was great, and you could feel her conflicted emotions and the harshness of reality. But I wasn't very touched.

Black Gold ...B+... like the message the movie carries. It's what a documentary should be. Coffee drinkers, especially those frequent Starbucks customers, should take note of the effects of their consumption behavior on individual coffee growers in Ethiopia. (see my earlier blog entry)Bobby ...B/B+... respectable directorial debut for Estevez, and what a star-studded cast (see my earlier blog entry)

Stranger than Fiction ...B+/A-... quirky movie, food for thoughts (see my other blog entry)

Dark Matter ...B-/B... tragedy played by 2 wonderful actors, but were they necessary? (see my other blog entry)

Destricted ...C-... ever felt like you're at the wrong place at the wrong time? I was looking at my friend mid-way through the movie, and asked why we are at a Governmet venue watching real PORN with 300 other movie-goers... maybe it was just an excuse to watch porn with a group of strangers? Sorry, a complete waste of time for me.

No Regret ...B-... Had a bit of expectation from a Korean film on a sensitive subject matter. Story is not that outstanding, and the twists are just a bit far-fetched. There are bits that are enjoyable, but overall it's a disappointment. (see my other blog entry)

The Go Master ...B-/B... A biographical account of a great Go player? I fell asleep in the first half of the movie, which also featured Sylvia Chang but I only saw her maybe ONCE throughout the movie. Just didn't see the greatness, or the point of his life that I could draw from or identify with. Maybe it was just to tell the life story of a great man living through difficult times during WWII? Identify crisis, disillusionment, simply... lost?

Like a Virgin ...A-... My absolute delight this year. The story of a chubby Korean boy determined to chase his dreams even if it meant facing and tackling family problems head on (literally). Inspiring story of being convinced of something, and doing something about it. GREAT performance by the actor, with many many funny scenes.

The Page Turner (La tourneuse de pages) ...B... A creepy movie about revenge. How far would you go to take revenge? So much so that you'd devote your youth doing so?

My Best Friend (Mon Meilleur Ami) ...A-... another delight, and it gives a good examination of how far, or how difficult for some to make friends, or to realize that friends are not far to find, just that we need to cherish them. Great performances by the two male leads. You will feel the warmth by the end of the movie. I was touched.

Four Minutes (Vier Minuten) ...B+... A very tense movie, very binding, and draws your attention throughout. Ill-fated love, war, Nazis, prodigy, molestation, prison brutality, and great music... somehow they all meld together and give us a very powerful story of anger, ugly secrets, marvel at Godsent talent. Also great performances by the two female leads.Klimt ...B-/C+... Was he crazy? or was he CRAZY? I fell asleep... again, and also did not understand what was going on.

For Your Consideration ...B-/C+... A slight disappointment.... Hollywood's joke on its own isn't that funny afterall... or maybe it just chose the wrong things to poke fun at? Boop jobs, face lifts, rumormills, not-so-funny show hosts, cheap talent managers, aspiring actors... So stereotypical, maybe it's real, but ... *yawn*

Overall I think I picked some really good ones this year, without major disappointments. Good to have finally run through both the Arts Festival and HKIFF now. Schedule is finally back to normal for now. Oh one more thing.... I don't understand why HK audience have to react to LOUDLY and a bit over-the-top. Was the joke REALLY that funny? And hello... the line hasn't been said in the dialogue yet and you're already laughing at the Chinese subtitles.... isn't that just a bit annoying?!

No Regret (2006)

CW said, it also seemed as if the movie was directed by a young new director, who put random elements into the story to spice it up... which at the end created a mish-mesh of bizzare events... like, rich guy going to the night club going bezerk trying to look for his hustler, rich guy doing a bunch of self-cruelty acts to express his dichotomy between his life as the successor of his parents' large corporation, and the desire of a lover he was so obsessed with. Others: hustler's sudden reversal of attitude towards the rich guy, hustler's turn to violence when he mistakenly thought he was being rejected, the rich guy's wavering attitude towards the hustler (does he want him or does he not?), an untimely car crash, or an untimely sexual urge...
The movie turned so tragic, it was almost comical. For me, the movie could have ended when the hustler realized that their affair is not sustainable... but then, what would be the point of the movie? So I think the writer felt they had to add some bizzare events to make an impact on the audience... but I completely fail to see the point of violence and the subsequent events in the car.
Is it a cultural difference? or is it related to their relationship? The hustler had always found the rich guy "disgusting", and the rich guy felt disgusting too, having lived a so-called double-life, but in fact it was only so because of his parents' refusal to accept who he was.
These movies are usually bittersweet, as in most other ones about relationships having to go great lengths to see fruition.... but this was just strange and bizzare...

Dark Matter (2006/7)

Never knowing the events that preceded the movie, I thought the movie was a fair attempt to illustrate the pressure for Chinese to excel abroad, with parents in the Mainland awaiting news of success to be shared with neighbours, and old rivals schoolmates to defeat in terms of academic success. But then, why would that warrant a movie made, and with A-list stars? So why did Merryl Streep get involved in this movie? Her role, the wife of a philanthropist with a deep interest in the Chinese culture, offered not much of an "added value" to the plot. She tried her best to help these Chinese transplants connected with the American culture; always supporting, almost like a counselor to them. What role did she play in the ultimate tragic end of Liu Ye's character? Could she have make a difference in the outcome? No. Is her character pivotal in his ill-fated dream of the Nobel Prize? No. Merryl Streep, if anything, only added a drawing power; her character doesn't mean much to the plot or help our understanding of the motives or the lessons to be drawn from such a dark end. Does it even matter, that Liu Ye's character was modified from the events the movie was based on, that we should be sympathetic to the postgraduate hardships in research and dessertation politics?

Was the movie just a story of somebody who is not accustomed to dealing with failure/setbacks, not willing to work with the "system", and augmented by being alone in a foreign land and the lack of companionship, even if he tried to reach out for that? But really, would these lead to those tragic ends? What role does Streep's character play in that?....
For the NYTimes article, please go here:
http://www.nytimes.com/2007/03/27/science/27dark.html