A story from two perspective / movie review / ad review

THE BEAST AND THE UNDEAD

THE BEAST !

(From the perspective of Roxane)

Roxane, a 22-year-old with long hair and a penchant for heavy makeup, found herself in a terrifying predicament on a rainy night in Romania. Her car had broken down at 3 am, leaving her stranded 20 km from the nearest town. As the rain poured and the temperature dropped, panic began to consume her as she considered her limited options.

In her desperate state, Roxane remembered a grand mansion she had passed just before her car gave out. It looked like her best hope for shelter from the cold rain. The mansion was a colossal and imposing structure, surrounded by a regal wooden gate that added to its ancient charm.

(a view of the gloomy mansion )

Upon entering the mansion, Roxane immediately sensed its abandonment, yet it was surprisingly well-preserved. Furniture was draped with white cloths, safeguarding them from the ravages of time and dust. The high ceilings and European architecture contributed to the eerie ambiance. An unsettling feeling of being watched sent shivers down her spine.

Whirling around, Roxane was startled by an enormous family portrait, nearly as tall as herself. The figures in the painting had an eerie quality, leaving her feeling unsettled. Her discomfort deepened when the distant howl of a wolf pierced the silence, prompting her to peer out of a nearby window.

Suddenly, a rattling sound emerged from behind her. She turned to see a rat scuttling across the hallway. Unease settled in as she heard the creaking of the old wooden floor and footsteps approaching from the hallway. The flickering of a candle in the distance grew brighter, accompanied by heavy, irregular breathing.

Terrified, Roxane sought refuge behind the partially opened window, closing her eyes in fear. An eerie melody from an old piano in an adjacent room only heightened her anxiety.

Upon cautiously reopening her eyes, Roxane found that the figure had vanished. Deciding it was time to make her escape, she rushed to open the grand door, but to her dismay, it was locked. Panicked, she attempted to force it open, creating more noise in the process. She heard footsteps approaching again, this time faster and from the room with the piano.

Desperate to evade whatever lurked in the mansion, Roxane sprinted upstairs in search of a hiding place. She stumbled upon a large cupboard with slits at the top, big enough for her to fit into. She tried to close the cupboard door quietly but was overcome by paranoia, resulting in a loud bang.

A minute passed in silence before she heard footsteps again, this time right in front of the cupboard. The heavy, beastly breathing of the unknown presence filled the air. Panic consumed her, and then, there was a blood-curdling scream from outside. In terror, Roxane joined in with a high-pitched scream of her own.

(the beast)

After some contemplation, Roxane decided to attempt an escape, as she no longer sensed the presence nearby. Upon opening the cupboard, she discovered a set of keys on the floor. Presuming they would unlock the main door, she cautiously made her way to the main hall, covering herself with a long white cloth to avoid being seen.

There, she encountered a small, hooded hunchbacked creature in the hallway. It emitted the same demonic scream and fled, sending Roxane into another fit of terror.

In a state of sheer fright, Roxane sprinted toward the main door. As she ran, she continued to encounter the hunchbacked creature, which pursued her towards the back of the mansion, its terrifying scream still echoing in her ears. Finally, Roxane reached the nearest town, forever haunted by the memories of that night and left to wonder what might have befallen her if she had been caught by the mysterious and nightmarish presence in the abandoned mansion.

.......

THE UNDEAD !

(From the perspective of Amos)

Amos, an 85-year-old man with a hunchbacked posture, wrinkled skin, and very little grey hair and a broken growl like voice , led a rather uneventful life as the caretaker of a grand mansion in Romania. This mansion had once been home to a tall and slender woman, the owner's mother, who had recently passed away. Amos often hoped for something interesting to happen in his life, but the mundane routine of maintaining the mansion offered him little excitement. Little did he know that a chilling and inexplicable encounter westabout to disrupt his monotonous existence on this particular night.

It was around 3 am, and Amos had just finished his late dinner, preparing for his usual nightly rounds through the mansion. He resided in a small shed behind the imposing structure and entered through the back gate. His primary task was to hunt down rats, as they were known to damage the valuable furniture within the mansion. However, Amos expected nothing out of the ordinary to occur in this grand, yet dull, European abode.

As he moved through the house running behind the rat, his candle suddenly extinguished, an occurrence that had never happened before. Perplexed, Amos attributed it to a broken window, although he couldn't recall any windows being open. What unnerved him more were the wet footprints that appeared on the floor, glistening like water. His gaze was drawn to an open window with a curtain concealing something lurking behind it. He could make out chunky boots beneath the curtain, an incongruous sight in this traditional European house. His instincts told him it was a trick of the mind, but doubt crept in.

Amos tried to dismiss the strange happenings and moved forward, but then a single piano note echoed through the mansion, emanating from the room beside him. Assuming it to be the rat, he ventured into the room to capture it. As he approached, ready to pounce, a loud banging echoed from the main door in the hall. Startled, he rushed back into the hall, only to glimpse a tall and slender figure darting up the stairs from the corner of his eye. Panic surged momentarily, but his focus shifted to the open window which from which gust of wind had entered . The suspicious figure and chunky boots were gone. His heart raced.

Amos decided to ascend the stairs in pursuit of the elusive figure, his anxiety mounting. With each step, he contemplated various unsettling possibilities, including the notion that it might be the restless spirit of the mansion owner's deceased mother. Shaking off this thought, he reached the landing, scanning left and right. Suddenly, a door slammed shut somewhere behind him.

(the red eyes in the closet)

His nerves frayed, Amos investigated the noise, only to find a broken cupboard whose door had never fully closed before. As he reached for the handle, preparing to open it, his eyes met with an eerie sight. Glowing red eyes stared back at him through a slender slit in the cupboard—a demonic apparition from the past. Amos screamed in his old and screechy voice, and the response was an eerie high-pitched scream, reminiscent of the late mistress.

In his panic, Amos stumbled backward, accidentally dropping his keys. When he regained his composure, he decided to flee to his shed to call the police. Descending the stairs, he was met with a chilling sight—a tall, slender figure with a white cloth covering it, and blood-red eyes that oozed crimson. He screamed once more, accompanied by the ghastly wail of the apparition, and made a desperate dash for safety. He broke a ground-floor window and fled towards his shed.

When the police arrived, they found no evidence of the apparition or any intruder. Amos abandoned his job, leaving behind a new chilling rumor about the haunted mansion, forever scarred by the inexplicable and terrifying events that had unfolded that fateful night.

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TITANIC

(A film review)

Released in 1997 with a colossal budget of $210 million, James Cameron's "Titanic" is an iconic romance movie. Some of his other works include "Avatar" and "Terminator." The film stars the brilliant Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater in the lead roles. You might have seen Leonardo starring in other movies such as "Inception" and "The Wolf of Wall Street."

 The majority of the film is set in 1912, following the Titanic's maiden voyage from Southampton, England, to New York City and its tragic encounter with an iceberg. Though based on real events, Jack and Rose are fictional characters.

 The film begins in the present day, with a modern explorer embarking on a quest to recover a precious Titanic relic. His journey takes an unexpected turn when he encounters Rose, a survivor willing to recount her incredible story and assist him in his quest. We're transported back to the early 20th century, where Rose (Kate) is a wealthy young woman trapped in a stifling engagement with the antagonist. She falls passionately in love with Jack, a poor artist from a different world than hers. Their intense romance unfolds onboard the Titanic, bringing joy to Rose's life for the first time as their relationship transforms from strangers to inseparable lovers, culminating in a tragic collision with an iceberg. As the ship starts to sink, Jack and Rose fight for survival against all odds while evading the inhuman antagonist.

(An iconic scene from the movie)

 "Titanic" is replete with numerous iconic moments throughout the film, to the extent that almost every scene feels iconic. However, I did find Jack and Rose's romance to be sudden and idealized, lacking the typical concerns of real-life relationships. But this could further underscore the extraordinary, almost otherworldly nature of their love, perhaps what we call pure love. The inclusion of Jack, Rose, and their romance amidst the Titanic's catastrophe is executed superbly. Leonardo DiCaprio's performance, characterized by his natural romantic and charismatic persona, is excellent, while Kate Winslet portrays Rose with utmost grace. The film vividly illustrates class differences and the mindsets of the rich and poor, making "Titanic" a cinematic masterpiece that seamlessly blends history with timeless love and depicts love, passion, grief, greed, selfishness, sacrifice, and the nature of us humans.

 Celine Dion's "My Heart Will Go On" soundtrack further immerses us in the story, leaving an indelible mark on global audiences.

The movie is an iconic masterpiece that is a must-watch for all

(The Trailer)

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UNHATE AD REVIEW

(Pope Benedict XVI in a passionate embrace with Egyptian Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb.)

United Colors of Benetton, renowned for its history of controversial advertising, pushed boundaries in November 2011 with the launch of its audacious 'Unhate' campaign. This campaign featured digitally manipulated images of influential political and religious figures, including US President Barack Obama , Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, North Korea's Kim Jong-il , South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak and more kissing their adversaries passionately . The objective was to promote global tolerance and combat hatred with the kiss symbolizing love .

The campaign's imagery was striking, placing the word 'Unhate,' the brand's logo, and the central theme of passionate kiss at the forefront, set against a blurred background. These provocative images were displayed in symbolic locations across the world, from Tel Aviv to New York, Rome, Milan, and Paris.

(US President Barack Obama , Venezuelan President Hugo Chávez, North Korea's Kim Jong-il , South Korean President Lee Myung-Bak)

With 'Unhate' the brand wanted to challenge the conventional belief that "love and hate exist as polar opposites". Instead, it portrayed these emotions as coexisting in a delicate and unstable balance, urging a shift toward love and understanding with the mantra: "Don't hate, Unhate."

 Predictably, the provocative nature of the ads generated immediate controversy. The Vatican, notably, swiftly condemned an image featuring Pope Benedict XVI in a passionate embrace with Egyptian Imam Ahmed el Tayyeb. Vatican spokesman Rev. Federico Lombardi described the digitally altered image as "unacceptable," "offensive," and even "blasphemous," touching a nerve with the faithful.

 However, it wasn't just the kisses that stirred controversy; the campaign's endorsement of the LGBT community was another focal point of contention. Benetton, no stranger to provocative advertising, had previously featured themes like a priest kissing a nun. The brand's shockvertising strategy, characterized by bold and boundary-pushing content, had consistently garnered attention. Despite facing backlash and calls for boycotts, particularly in France and Italy, the 'Unhate' campaign continued to capture global attention. It even earned the prestigious title of Best International Print Campaign at the Cannes Festival. The decision by Benetton to remove the contentious image only added fuel to the campaign's buzz, underscoring the marketing wisdom that attention-grabbing ads are often the most effective - you could love it or hate it, but you certainly couldn't ignore it.

(Another controversial campaign by Benitton )

 Moreover, Benetton went above and beyond with a artistic and touching video for the campaign and also establishing the UnHate Foundation, dedicated to promoting tolerance and combating hatred, aligning with the brand's core values. This venture exemplified Benetton's transformation from a mere clothing manufacturer into a formidable social force.

 In conclusion, Benetton's 'Unhate' campaign, marked by its shockvertising strategy, ignited worldwide conversations about tolerance, love, and hatred. While opinions on the campaign varied widely, there's no denying that it left an enduring imprint on the realms of advertising and advocacy, a testament to Alessandro Benetton's visionary leadership.