I have a new favorite movie of all time. And it may not seem all that great to many others, but I like it. Plus I think it was coupled with the fact that I could relate to it very much, plus I have a knack for different stories running in parallel, all very intense and well portrayed, plus Jude Law is so damn good looking.

I've always wanted to see that movie, The Holiday, since I first laid eyes on the trailer. That time it was just one of the handful of movies on my neglected to-watch list, and so I didn't think it was really anything more than a lighthearted movie about two women looking for themselves in an unfamiliar place over the holidays.

Well, well. To my surprise, it had much more depth than just that. All of them (and there were really four of them) each had their own story, each unfolding in its poignant way. Quite gracefully choreographed by the scriptwriter, I must say.

And I particularly like the fact that the little nuances of the plot, the little comings and goings you'd expect to be a default in such a scene (such as his still standing there on the porch when she runs back to him after leaving) were modified to make it seem less of a flick, and more of something that you'll actually find if it had been real life. A case in point is my standing-on-the-porch example. As a matter of fact, when Cameron runs back to him, he isn't standing on the porch anymore (Jude Law, good looking as he is, would have looked ridiculous standing there for give or take fifteen minutes waving at a cab that's already about a mile away). She finds him in the kitchen in tears, and in shame at being caught crying after losing her.

The direction, too, was fascinating. It was one for the sitcom books. :) Situational talaga ang pagka-funny niya. In particular, I enjoyed the telephone scene, with all the four characters in it.

Plus it's just a wonderful story, especially miss crème brulet's half of the story. Fun and exciting and unexpected in every corner.

These, among other things.

Although I do feel unsure about the unsureness of one pair's future, even though the ending was really happy. :) But that's about all the let down I can think of.

I believe though that part of my falling in love with this movie is timing and experience. I probably wouldn't have chosen a better time to see it (though I can't really say it was planned--was about to study math when I saw it was on HBO). Had I seen this earlier in my life, I wouldn't have had enough of the experience I have now to relate to, and appreciate it as much as I did this evening. I'd have to say this was especially true for the scene with Kate Winslet's speech looking back at every little detail, looking for what it was that she had done wrong. That whole speech, I could understand from start to finish. Martyr ba? Hahaha.

That's about it. Do watch it. It's fun. :)

Merry Christmas.