RIP 'O Captain, My Captain' - Robin Williams as John Keating in Dead Poet's Society

We all have teachers like 'John Keating' from the movie Dead Poets Society, the first "serious" role comedian Robin Williams did which made the Academy notice that he can really act!

Cry cry talaga ako sa movie na eto kasi when the movie was released in 1989, I was at a point in my life where I could really relate to the character who was at odds with his parents regarding his choices in life. I was actually shocked that the character committed suicide since I was also contemplating on doing that. Thankfully, that movie was enough to prevent me from killing myself at 18.

It's a bit ironic that news reports have been telling that Mr. Williams apparently took his own life. Chronic depression is like a ball of iron tired to your feet, weighing you down even if you're trying to find happiness in life. Must've been really hard for him since he was a natural comic.

Anyway, the man offered the world so much joy and laughter in his movies - so it's fitting to just celebrate that - his greatest achievement and legacy to us all - and for all generations to come!

Borrowing from Walt Whitman, "O Captain, My Captain", RIP.

Death to Smoochy Is Not So Bad

I can't believe this movie is ten years old already.  I don't remember exactly why I missed it but watching it today at HBO, I did have a good time!  Edward Norton, Robin Williams and Catherine Keener are all my favorite actors so watching it was no problem.  It's a dark comedy though since although set in the world of children's television, there is murder and violence and betrayals! 

Still Lovin' Dead Poets Society

I just had my lunch today and I chanced upon this classic movie, Dead Poets Society, coming on in HBO, and I decided to watch it again.  As the film began and proceeded, it felt like I was just having a conversation with an old long lost friend.  And as I read the reviews this movie has online, I knew that I was not the only one touched by what this movie preached about - carpe diem!  I know all of us have a teacher very much like the character played by Robbie Williams here and how that teacher has touched our lives and molded us to the people we are now today.

What I focused more, as I watched this movie now, is how the movie suddenly had that suicide tucked into its plot - because when I saw it first, way back in 1989, I knew that if I were in that guy's shoes, suicide would be the first thing for me to do.  But now that I am more mature and more successful, that decision would have been foolish and loser-like.  And well, I saw a boy trapped and unwilling to assert himself against a domineering parent.  And understood again, why he would do a reckless and unforgiving thing.

The movie still made me cry even now.   Oh Captain, my Captain!