L-O-V-E
Tired of unrealistic and predictable love stories with a happy ending? Well, then I believe 500 Days of Summer is the probably the right show for you. Oh and if you are wondering why are there 500 days of summer in a year, don’t worry; it just proves that you are still sane.
Summer ( Zooey Deschanel ) is an independent and intelligent lady who isn’t interested in love after a bitter divorce. Tom ( Joseph Gordon Levitt ), on the other hand, carries a childhood fantasy of him finding his true love and living with her happily ever after. And I won’t want to spoil the show, by going too much into detail about how the show will progress and all. But like how the film so boldly tells us right at the start of the show: this is not a love story.
However, there are certain parts of the show that I personally find quite interesting and true to life, as far as romance is concerned.
2. I am personally a subscriber to the belief that people are more inclined to form a relationship with those they perceive as similar to them. And common interest plays a vital role in such belief.
2. The Joy and Happiness in Romance. This scene is probably one of the most heartfelt scenes in the movie. As it simply brings us back to the very core of love and romance. The nostalgic feeling of waking up in the morning and feeling as if he/she is the luckiest person in the world is probably something everyone can relate to when they are in love.
3. Expectations vs Reality. Like it or not, most relationships do not progress or work out the way we expect it to. So often, the media presents us a fairy tale concept of how a relationship should be like, that we tend to turn a blind eye to the harsh reality of it.
4.The next clip probably has no relation to relationships in general. But I personally enjoy this part of the movie as it is something so lighthearted and one that we can easily relate to. Role playing in Ikea? Definitely something I would enjoy doing with the partner.
Well, I am not doing a movie review here, but 500 days of Summer is definitely a must watch, as there is so much we can bring out of and relate to in this movie. To end my post, I would like to share with you something that I chanced upon recently on the internet. Its about how kids perceive love. (http://home.att.net/~scorh2/MeaningOfLove.html )
Enjoy!
on the contrary, i dont think all people turn a blind eye after watching the unrealistic portrayal of love in the media. some people, like me, critize love shows to DEATH because it is so unreal. LOL! nice entry btw, im watching this show tomorrow (:
yunshan
October 8, 2009 at 3:53 am
Hey adrian! I watched this show with you guys! =)
Really enjoyed it and found that the director did a good job with the portrayal of what most relationships are. This is a classic case of “opposites attract”.
Life and love is indeed something worthwhile, and something worth exploring. I do enjoy love stories with happy endings. Sure, they may seem unrealistic because we all know that life is not all peaches and cream. But people still hold on to such ideals in the hope of having a chance to experience it.
audrey (:
October 8, 2009 at 1:04 pm
I TOTALLY LOVE THE MOVIE PLS? haha.. i mean, some people love a person, but do not end up with them most of the time. its sad, but we have to accept it. guess that is life.
vanessa
November 1, 2009 at 7:53 pm
Hey Adrian, I caught this show a few weeks back and loved it! As what you have mentioned, it’s not a typical romance story, and I found the part on how Tom tries to get over Summer also reflected adequately how most of us try to get over a heartbreak. Love the quotes on how kids perceive love by the way(:
HuiLin
November 8, 2009 at 8:28 am
yes it definitely is a MAJOR nice show yo!
certainly, 500 is not a typical love story and even though it did make me drool at certain romantic scenes.
but at the end of the day, it all brings out one point, that things happen for a reason doesnt it.
how else would he have met autumn? =))
minzhi
November 8, 2009 at 12:34 pm
Although i have not had the time to catch this movie, alot of reviews and hype has been made over this show..
Personally, i think the unconventional plot of having a lady who does not believe in love, whereas the other partner, who believes in love is truly refreshing. Deviating from the typical plot of girls being the emotional side of the relationship and having the mindset of a fairytale relationship certainly brings a new twist to the storyline and would impress with its “dare to be different ” approach. Definitely not the typical love story.
Edrea
November 8, 2009 at 12:59 pm
This was a rather quaint movie. (o: I liked how it didn’t portray love and relationships in the typical happily ever after POV. Relationships don’t work out sometimes. That is a fact. Sometimes all these lovey dovey movies give us the wrong impression of love, and give us unrealistic expectations that are actually the downfall of many relationships.
I just thought the ‘Autumn’ part was rather corny.
Tam Mei
November 8, 2009 at 1:39 pm
Good analysis! Although i haven watched the movie, but i have a clearer idea of this “new age, un-typical fairy tale” genre of movie.
I personally also, believe that people are more inclined to form relationships with whom they perceive to be similar to them, reasons being.. common interest/hobbies/lifestyle/habits and even proximity plays an important role.
Louisa althea.
November 8, 2009 at 1:51 pm
well, there is a local version of 500 days of summer. I probably am the first to have watched it. You get what i mean right?
Anyway, “fairy tale romance” do exist! It probably occurs in the tenth relationship which one has been through. Its kinda of like a try and error theory.
That probably explains why the male lead met autumn!
zhihao
November 8, 2009 at 2:15 pm
yes i understand what u mean bro.
and yes indeed, such fairy tale romance is possible, but with much patience involved.
Love is PATIENT, Love is kind huh? (:
whatisadriansblog
November 8, 2009 at 2:33 pm
the expectations of love is now currently as high as a skyscraper thanks to stereotypical shows which portray love to be always and forever perfect and 100% happy ending.
Thank God 500 days isnt one of those cliche shows.
Love is never easy, not so simple to make someone fall in love with you, not so easy to maintain a good relationship..
Give and take, we all have to do that so that we can balance the goodness between both parties. Thats one way to get a happy ending…
sarahjane
November 8, 2009 at 3:05 pm
I guess love movies sometimes have the feel-good effect and that is what normal people like us want. to escape from reality maybe?
But anw, good review of the movie!
Ritzley
November 8, 2009 at 3:05 pm
“When my grandmother got arthritis, she couldn’t bend over and paint her toenails anymore. So my grandfather does it for her all the time, even when his hands got arthritis too. That’s love.”
AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW! MUST HAVE SOMEONE TO PAINT MY TOENAILS TOO!
Love makes the world go round~~~~~~
Expectations VS Reality.
Yeah… Tell me, how many dramas have couples ending up together after undergoing so many crisis (breakups blah blah) ALMOST ALL! And such lovey dovey dramas like Oh the poor plain girl meet a rich young man and they fall in love in the end. Tell me again, what are the chances of that happening in real life? Yes, fairy tale romance will probably happen if we are patient in waiting…. But i will probably wait till i’m old and haggard and die of loneliness.
Although i didn’t watch the movie, but by reading reviews and raves from people (like you, seetho!) I believe this is a movie which can really portrays reality. Just like how van has commented, “some people love a person, but do not end up with them most of the time. its sad, but we have to accept it. guess that is life” Yes, this is life. We do not have life that just revolves around falling in love with princes, losing our glass slippers or getting married in a carriage.
I know it’s too late, but i must find a way to catch this movie toooo!
EDWINA
November 8, 2009 at 4:21 pm
yess this story is about reality.. unlike other stories where it always ends up in a successful love story, in real, not all love is successful.
“dont always live with wat u wan, learn to live with wat u get”
who would not wan Megan Fox.. but not everyone can get her.. same thing..
Ahmad
November 8, 2009 at 4:38 pm
what is love? does it allows us to be selfish like what the female lead did? suddenly leaving because “hey i dont feel you’re the right guy so im just going to walk out of your life without thought for you.”
selfish selfish, so very selfish. if love was like this (the female lead), then make war, not love.
Faith
November 8, 2009 at 5:13 pm
I agree with you, this movie is a must-watch!! It was really awesome. Light-hearted, fun, but at the same time deep, thought-provoking and touching.
It taught us about giving up and moving on. And what stopped Tom from putting the relationship behind was that he consciously remembered the happy times spent with Summer and not taking into consideration the rough times they went through.
But I really wanted Tom & Summer to get together!! Though if they got together it’d have become a typical love story haha (:
Amanda
November 8, 2009 at 5:17 pm