movie review: The Purge series

Assalamualaikum readers

today i would like to change the tune of my post. since lately all i have been discussing about is relationship and where i stand.

I watched these three movies over a period of 3 months i believe. something in me wanted so badly to watch these movies, just to see how sick the movie was.

The Purge (2013)

The world is ahead by a few years somewhere in 2020s where America is the leading country with annual crime rate of 1-3%. So how does America reach such a low annual crime rate?

There was an annual purge, where on this particular day, you are allowed to kill anyone you like, commit a crime and you will not be hold accounted for. There will be no police, hospitals or fire departments for a whole 24 hours. The entire country will be on shut down mode, basically.

People will carry weapons and go on a purge, where they can finally take the frustration for an entire year and lash out of the enemy. There was even a part in the movie where experts voice out their opinions on the pros and cons of the annual purge.

But the sick thing about this movie and its concept is that the people believe that they could cleanse themselves from hatred and sins once they purge. killing the person they hate would make them pure again. they have released all anger and frustration against the person.

At first this concept seemed like a decent concept. you could kill anyone you hate. so that instead of you committing a crime on any other days, and end up going to jail, you could kill someone and get away with it.

But, will you ever feel better? What makes you think you wont feel the rush you felt when you first committed the purge?
What guarantee do you have that you wouldn't take part in the net annual purge, just for fun?
This is where i found myself sick in the stomach.

yes, America is a leading country, could boast up that they have the lowest ever annual crime rate, but what you done to the minds of your citizens?
what are you teaching kids? that they could get away with a crime as long as they act smart-taking part in the annual purge?
and what if the kids grew up resenting their parents for being too strict on them, that they could kill the parents and that's okay?

also, you are teaching kids that no one is to be trusted. that you could only trust yourself.
even if the person is innocent, you cannot save them, because all you think is yourself. you become selfish. even if people are in need, you just close one eye and turn the other way.

i know the world is so crazy right now. nobody is to be trusted.
but to teach children that everyone is evil and bad is't healthy as well.

wait until you watch The Purge: Anarchy. It gets even sicker.

The Purge: Anarchy (2014)

So, the annual purge was a success, where the annual crime rate has lowered even more, about less than 1%. oh wow!

but, this time, the government has establish a team of people, to set their aims on the homeless and poor as victims of the annual purge. so, now, it has nothing to do about killing those you hated or resented your entire life, it's all about numbers.

the government believe that the poor and homeless are the ones pulling the economy down because they are providing money for these people.
what will happen when you wipe them off the streets? you could save up a bunch of money!

see where the sick element lies?

innocent people were hunted just because they couldn't pay taxes or the government just felt like they are a burden. this special organization target certain areas where the poor lived and conduct the purge.
and this special organization consists of people who are really sick in the head. they have no feelings whatsoever. all they know is kill, kill and kill some more.

another part or scene from the movie that was so mind boggling to me is that the rich has raise money for charity or for the organization on the day of the annual purge, where they bid on the victim. and for every successful kill they make, they raise money! what on earth?!!
the ones who would like to participate in the purge will have to pay a certain amount of money (like an entrance fee), and would be given weapons and night vision glasses so that they could hunt the victims down and kill them. and for every kill, the organization raise some more money. 
how could you even put a number or value to what a life costs? even the poor has worth of life. oh, God.

but then, humanity is somehow restored, giving us hope that there's still good people in this hatred world. the man who was saved from The Purge (previous movie) started a new movement, to go against the purge. and they help save the innocent and homeless, and go against the government.

also, the guy who initially planned on purging for his son's death, turned out to just forgive the person who killed the son. He said there isn't any good out of this purge. by killing the man, he will leave the children fatherless and a widow. and so he decided to forgive the man and move on with his life.

and then you'd think we're done with the series. and you're wrong.

There's another movie.

The Purge: Election Year (2016)

this is probably the end of the series. 

it's about two candidates: one who supports the annual purge and the other who goes against violence.

the movie starts off pretty fairly, there aren't much deaths as expected. it was less traumatizing for me. less purging scenes.

but one disturbing scene was a group of school girls who purged by killing their parents first. and it was so disturbing, i couldn't accept the concept. how will she live with her life after this? she was so disturbed mentally.
good thing is she died somewhere in the movie. 

however, another disturbing scene from the movie was the candidate who supports the annual purge used mind games to play with religion. he was able to influence a religious man, we'll call him Brother A (i don't know his position in the church, but i believe he has a high position in the church hierarchy). 
the man brainwashed Brother A by pursuing him to take part in the annual purge, telling him that he could cleanse himself by purging against this poor victim using weapons that were rinsed with Holy water. that scene was so disturbing on so many levels i can't even explain.

i don't wanna get into the religious facts that i know nothing about, so i would recommend you guys to watch it for yourself. 

but this time, there's so much improvements on the humanity aspects.

since there aren't any medical help on the day of the annual purge, there was a team of people who work as volunteers providing medical support for people who need help. they help by temporarily stabilizing the condition until it's safe for these people to seek medical attention first thing the next morning once the purge ends.

the candidate who faught against the annual purge won and it gives hopes that people no more need to hide and feel scared for 12 hours in their house for one day in a year, fearing for their lives. 

so, would i recommend people to watch these movies?

Yes and No

Yes to those who have the gut to watch cruelty take place in front of your eyes for about 1 hour and 40 minutes roughly. 
Yes to those who loves to think critically like i do, think of what the future might look like for the next generations to come.

No to those who would end up puking or traumatized mentally of the thought people killing innocent people just for the sake of taking part of the annual purge.

wassalam.

marriage...yes or nah-aah?

Assalamualaikum readers.

i know lately all i have writing about has something to do with relationships. it's just that i'm going through the phase right now where everyone is talking about marriage.

my sister just got married, and now it seems like, the spotlight is on me.

question after question has been shot towards me whenever i am at a family function.

and sometimes, i do have some doubts. of whether i should walk down the path or not.
sometimes, all i wanna do is get married and start a family.

I DO.

Pros.
- i would get a new family. i could be a good listener to a new sister or brother, an aunt to a little niece or nephew. help my mother in law in the kitchen, listen to my father in law talk while we watch TV. 
- have a companion 24/7. the one who would listen, cry and laugh with me through my ups and downs, accept me and stand by my side as i reveal my crazy side.
- finally start a family. i wanna have lots of kids. to educate them on how to be a great person not only here, but even in the afterlife. Teach them what it's like to survive on this planet, cherish all the moments and love them unconditionally
- have a better support system. when i am down, i know for sure i have my husband to turn to, who will build me up once again.
- have a superman who could fix everything up. if my pipes need plumbing, he'd get down on his back fixing it, if my light doesn't work, would get on a ladder to fix it, sees a cockroach or any scary insect, would save his wife and kill it? hahha...

Cons.
- i really don't know how to cook, haven't mastered anything in particular. if i get a picky husband, i'm doomed. 
- pretty lazy at times, so my house would be a pigsty. and what if my husband has OCD? *gasps* definitely dead.
- i don't like to be controlled. so if he expects me to be this and that, and if i can't be, then there would be trouble in paradise.
- am i ready emotionally to share everything private with him? 
- will he willingly accept me for who i am? what if he hates me after he sees my flaws?
- how will i cope with family matters, finances and work....and on top of that him?

I'M SORRYY...

Pros.
- life would be fun. i can do whatever the heck it is i want.
- all my income from work would be mine and mine alone. maybe i would give them to my parents.
- don't have to deal with family dramas. mother in law, sister in law, husband....house, kids...
- hmmm...get a cat?

Cons.
- forever lonely. i would never understand love, be loved.
- grow old with my cat? that's so sad..
- depression. all my friends and friends would probably get married and i would forever be haunted with the same question "when's your turn Ema?"
- i would have to be my own Superman....battling roaches and other crazy insects in fear. 

well...seems like there's so much advantages if i get married. maybe not now. someday. once i found my Superman?

anyways, i hope all of you out there who's thinking about marriage, just be true to yourself, say YES when you have thought about it and feel like you're ready about it. because there's no turning back after you said yes. 
pray and have faith in God that he would help guide you in every choice that you make. insyaAllah...

thanks for reading. 
bye.

women, wrestling and body shaming

I grew up with wrestling because Abah is a crazy maniac when it comes to wrestling. Mum didn't say much and just went with it.

i don't really remember the fights or the wrestlers i watched growing up, because i was so little. But i do remember icons like Jeff Jerrett, Diamond Dallas Page, Stone Cold, The Rock, Shawn Michaels and Scott Steiner. it was only when i was much older, when WWE was made and Stoen Cold retired when i started having my own personal interest in wrestling.

Even though i know that wrestling is a bunch of bullsh*t, that the wrestlers are "acting" or that everything that happens were pre-planned, the fact that the talent is real, is not a joke. the talent that these superstars have in them is nothing but genuine.

Anyways...before i rant too much and go off course, i would like to emphasize that the women's division has come a long way since when they first started.

when i first watched wrestling, i fell in love with Trish Stratus and Lita. These two wrestlers were the few who played the most part in changing the stigma in women's wrestling. Another wrestler who played an evil character, who could wrestle was Victoria.

Trish VS Victoria

 Previously, women wrestlers were stick thin, with blonde hair and skimpy clothes. the board only allowed very few matches among these women. and, they weren't really wrestling.
they would host Evening Dress Matches and Bra and Panties Matches. even worse, there was once they had to wrestle in mud.

During the era, Trish and Lita would dominate the wrestling, getting into matches with each other, winning over each other in different matches. They would jump from the top rope, frog splash, superkick....real wrestling.

After them, came more names like Mickie James, Melina, AJ Lee, Natalya and Naomi. And recently, more and more wrestlers are making their names by the risks they take and the moves they make in the ring.

AJ Lee performing Black Widow

so, i've talked about women and wrestling. where does body shaming come in?

i would like to sincerely apologize to all. growing up with wrestling where women were stick thin figures, and pretty faced, i started judging the ones who weren't pretty enough or thin enough.
this is what sports entertainment has done to me in the past.
i judge the wrestlers by the way they look and dress, and not the way they fight and wrestle.

now, the Divas division has so many body types, broad shoulders, short and thin, muscled women, plus size women, women with hair extensions and colourful clothes.

Naomi in her glow in the dark...everything!

only recently i understood the value of a woman, and that i should never judge them because of their appearances. it took me a while to understand and digest that these women are working really hard in the gym, working on their persona and performing safely in the ring to bring entertainment to fans all around the world.

i don't judge wrestlers based on their weight anymore. all i look at now is that these women are athletes and their accomplishments they've made in their career.
i hope i am able to teach and educate my children along the way that look isn't everything.

so i would like to urge everyone to stop body shaming anybody, even yourself. 

But there's a hope that's waiting for you in the dark,

You should know you're beautiful just the way you are,

And you don't have to change a thing,

The world could change it's heart,

No scars to you're beautiful, we're stars and we're beautiful.

- Alessia Cara

thank you.

relationships?

Assalamualaikum

today,i am going out of my comfort zone, talking about relationships.

am i in a relationship? no.

so why bother? a lot of things came up. need to express myself perhaps. *giggle nervously*

okay, here's my idea of an ideal healthy relationship.

- parents approval is utmost important
- honesty comes in handy all the time
- the other half not too clingy
- he is stable? (financially, emotionally)
- a family person

Unfortunately for me, i have developed a barrier around me, where every corny scenes i watch i the drama or movies is just too corny and will not work with me. gotta try harder, mate.

i watched movies where guys would hint that they like the girl and the girl would go Ga-Ga over the guy.
that's not me. i went bombarding the guy with too many questions.

scenes of men buying food specially for the girl and presents the food in front of her, expecting her to feel loved and finally falling for the guy?
i declined the food and offered it to someone else.

you know in the movies where the girl would have trouble carrying heavy stuff and the guy would come running, helping the girl?
i pretended i was strong and carried the heavy box myself, until my aunt asked help from a guy nearby. i just don't like giving up.

texting back and forth about nothing until late into the night?
i just doze off without informing. sorry, sleep in more important.

asking if i have eaten or prayed or farted several times a day?
i ignored all of the questions. sorry, none of your business?

oh God. 
something is wrong with me.

yes.

i don't believe in all these.

i don't know if i have the patience to even go through all of the above, with me knowing i'm not ready for a relationship. 

i broke it off, came clean and prayed a lot to God. 

a friend told me to pray. if he's the one, he'll come rolling. if he's not, he'll be far far away.

problem is....

when you have been through all of the above (or maybe a little of the above) in a short period of time, it becomes an addiction. you wanna text or say something, just to keep it going. hoping everything would go away and things would remain at a friendship level.

however, i do realize not everyone is like me, at a pace where i am not seeking any form of relationship, i just need a friend. 

i realize that there are people who is only interested in becoming friends, only if they know there's a possibility of the relationship to bloom or take the next stage. 

i am okay with that.

remember the criteria of my ideal healthy relationship? honesty.

as long as you're honest, insyaAllah, you'll be okay. 

think of it this way:

are you more willing to hurt someone's feeling before anything goes further, or would you rather break his heart after giving him so much hope?

the choice is yours.

my last piece of advice (not really my advice, it's a friends'), if you're in the same dilemma as me, pray. pray. pray. 
seek His forgiveness. beg Him for His mercy.

Before i bid my goodbye, no, i'm not some hot stuff in the family. please, i'm nothing close to being HOT.

Wassalam.

lose yourself or be responsible

Assalamualaikum readers...

Alhamdulillah, i have passed my final exams and currently at home gaining weight + helping my mum and dad with house chores...occasionally + catching up on all the dramas on TV.

I have been watching multiple shows on TV and a bulb just went on in my head. i've got an idea for my blog.

there's a channel on ASTRO 732, Crime & investigation, and it shows a lot of crimes happening all around the world, and i umped into a show i dont quite remember, but it tells a story of a child who was online as a teenager and somehow she got kidnapped by an older man.

Also recently i watched an episode of Sister Wives where the first wife was caught talking to a man online and later found out that the man was actually a woman. This caused her marriage to fall apart and the family shattered to pieces. The husband was upset, the other wives were upset, and they don't know where this would end.

I have ran into similar stories while watching Oprah a long time ago, where they were talking about pedophiles and internet. And at the end of the segment, Oprah Winfrey concluded that there are monsters online.

I don't agree 100% on that statement. I'm sorry.

I believe there's the victim also shares a portion of the blame, not the bad guy alone.

and then i watched Law and Order: SVU, where Sergeant Olivia Benson (Mariska Hargitay) mentioned in one of the episodes that the victim is always never to be blamed.
i agree partially on the statement.

eg: a young teenager knowingly went into a "Dark Room" with a guy she has a crush on, despite understanding the meaning of entering the room with the guy (the room is where people have sexual intercourse, and have their names written on the wall)

i mean, if she doesn't like the idea, then she should have rejected the guy when he proposed the idea. She even consented and said Yes when he asked her. Then after she was assaulted, she claimed she was raped.

then, who is to be blamed?

same goes to the Sister Wives and victims of pedophilia mentioned by Oprah.
They knew there are bad people online, the solution is simple, don't get engaged to them. they are STRANGERS. you should never ever believe a word they say. even the pictures they upload may not be theirs.

i just don't like the idea where the victims stay victims. sometimes, they just play the VICTIM CARD.

back to my initial story, someone i knew went out willingly at midnight to meet a friend somewhere, alone.

there's so many red flags! how can you not see them?

- its midnight (can't it wait until tomorrow morning?)
- you're alone (what if something happens to you?)
- the person is of an opposite sex

sometimes i wonder if i'm too evil to judge people too quick or am i just being too careful?

honestly, up to this day, i've never meet anyone alone anywhere.

once, i had to meet a guy friend to pass him my flashdrive, just at sunrise. I dragged my roomate don with me to meet him.
The meetup didn't last more than 1 minute, i swear.

but what's wrong in playing safe?
why not?

anyhow, allegations were made but no one was there to backup the story. (see the importance of tagging along a friend?)

so...the conclusion is, be careful and responsible. or lose yourself.

thanks.

Wallahualam.