Eye of the Beholder.

I love movies that make you soar.

The ones that make you take a deep breath and smile at the ending. Not the cutesy ones with a lovey dovey ending or the cheesy happy ones with a lame moral. But the movies that don't quite give you a sense of closure yet make you feel like the world is somehow just a little bit more profound, more meaningful, more beautiful.

Those are the stories that you remember.

Recent movies that have made me feel this way....

Valkyrie
I'm a soldier, but in serving my country, I have betrayed my conscience.

As any other movie, there were mixed reviews about this film. Personally, I thought it was thrilling, epic, and oddly romantic. Not romantic in that kissy kissy I LOVE YOU sort of way, but romantic in that somber, glorified, moving sort of way.

I found this story to be heart-wrenching. After all, everyone knows how it ends because we all know how WWII ends. It cannot be a happy ending. History tells us that... something went wrong. Yet, to watch the entire plot unfold was entrancing. The characters were so passionate about what they were doing and what they believed in. I mean, many of those in the Resistance could have been in Hitler's inner circle but chose to resign instead, simply because they did not agree with what Hitler was doing. That shows true courage. It would have taken much more strength to be a German opposing Hitler than an outsider opposing Hitler, that's for sure.

The ending always loomed before me when I was watching it. I did not want it to end that way. Maybe, by some miracle, the story would end differently and history was somehow rewritten in the course of the 2 hour movie. But nothing changed. It ended with loud gunshots in the silent theater, like a smack to the face. It was so heartbreaking.

All these men, decorated, respected, and powerful in the ranks of the German army, chose to sacrifice their lives for a belief, a cause, an ideal.

I felt so little in my measly existence, but it made me feel so righteous to relive their story. Who knew that such a little piece of history that I had never known would move me so strongly.

Of course, Tom Cruise delivered a solid performance as Colonel von Stauffenberg, not that I had expected anything different. He has a strength and intensity that makes me love to watch his films. His portrayal of Stauffenberg was truly believable. He was decisive, intelligent, and powerful. He was a strong leader and a devoted husband. Admirable qualities for an admirable man. Cruise pulled it off fantastically.

And as I am a sucker for angsty love scenes, here is one of them.

Sword of the Stranger

I am not usually one for anime movies, but this one is pretty amazing.

Do not be fooled by its animated exterior. This film is not one for the kiddies. Filled with blood, gore, and enthralling action sequences, this somewhat cliche of a plot ties along beautifully with the great animation and character development.

The nameless samurai of the film is definitely my favorite character. Haunted by the wars of his past, he has vowed never to use his sword again, choosing instead to tie it shut and only fighting with the sheath on, should he have to. I find him to be any typical reluctant hero. But that does not make the story any less touching.

The nameless ronin is a righteous and kind-hearted man. Though he may have some ghosts in his past, he is not proud of what he has done. His care for the young boy in the story clashes with his hard-ass exterior, but it suits him well. Just let me say it now, I LOVE THIS KIND OF CHARACTER. It totally makes me melt :D

The ending is a beautiful blend of action and musical score. The climactic fighting sequences are placed against a backdrop of instrumental music, making the scene that much more melancholy, that much more beautiful.

The addition of a cute dog doesn't hurt either.