Summary
The setting of the story is from the little town named "Wall". As its name called, there is a long wall surrounding the town. For centuries, there is a guard living by the wall and he stays there in order to prevent people of the town getting across the wall to the outside world. Nobody in the town knows how the outside world is like.
In the beginning of the story, there is a man of the town, Dunstan Thorn, who tries to get across the wall in order to see the outside world. He managed to get across it. And then he found there is another world with magic. All things there are so fatanstic to him. There are people who use magic, sell "living eyeballs", and witches. He met a beautiful woman there, and fell in love with her. In fact, she was the enslaved princess named Una. However,she won't be free from the incantation unless the bad witch dies.
He found a magic town outside the Wall.
He met a beautiful woman and fell in love with her there.
After nine months when the man came back to his home, he received a baby from the "Wall Guard". The old guard said that the baby was put near the wall and he just knew that the baby was for the man, so he sent the baby to him. The baby's name is Tristan.
Time passed by, eighteen years later, in the royal palace of the kingdom Stormhold, the king is going to die. Before he died, he threw a ruby necklace out of the window far away into the sky. And he said to his sons that the one who could get the ruby back and also recover its brightness will be the next king of the Stormhold. There are seven sons and a daughter from the king. The daughter is Una, the enslaved woman I mentioned above. Three of his sons had already dead by killing each other in order to get the throne. They became ghosts (in this movie, all the dead sons from the king became the ghosts which is visible by the audiance). And the rest of the sons still began to kill each other to get the throne and set off for a trip to find the ruby. On the other hand, when the ruby gem was flying into the sky, it collided with a star, and they fell on the ground together.
Meanwhile, Tristan grew up in the town. He was trying to churting a beautiful woman, Victoria. And there is his rival in love, Humphrey, who is also the suitor for Victoria. Victoria's birthday is next week. Humphrey is going to buy a ring for Victoria to propose her. And When Tristan and Victoria are having a picnic, they saw a shooting star in the sky. Then Tristan made Victoria a promise to get the star back to her in order to win her heart.
The fallen star Tristan and Victoria saw is the same star of the one which collided and fell down with the ruby gem.
When Tristan tried to get across the wall, the Wall Guard told Tristan that there once a man getting across the wall. And that was his father. Tristan got home and asked his father about what he heard. Than his father told Tristan about his life background. Twenty years ago, his father got across the wall, and met a woman there, and they fell in love with each other. The woman is Tristan's mother. However, she was enslaved and couldn't get across the wall the him. His father said that there was one thing his mother left for him, and gave it to Tristan. It was a magic candle. It can immediately bring a person to a place where the person was thinking of when holding the candle.
Oringinally, Tristan wanted to find his mother, but he was not so concentrated on thinking of her. He thought about Victoria and the star when holding the magic candle. And then immediately he disappeared from his father's eye and showed up in front of a beautiful woman who was lying in a big crater.
She is the fallen star.
Tristan found that the girl wearing the ruby necklace is the star. She is the star which had just fallen down on the ground (it is a magic world). Tristan then decided to bring the girl back to Victoria because of the promise. Tristan uses a little magic thread to tie the girl with himself in order not to let her go. The girl had no choice but to follow Tristan. The girl's name is Yvaine. Tristan and Yvaine began their journey back to the "Wall".
Yvaine became the one everybody was looking for in the magic world because she was the fallen star and she wore the ruby necklace. There were three sons from the king of Stormhold just starting their journey to look for Yvaine. On the other side, there were three bad witches who also wanted to capture Yvaine. The three bad witches could become young forever if they can eat Yvaine's heart. That is, Yvaine is a star. The star's heart has the power of immortality, so the three bad witches wants to kill Yvaine and eat her heart.
The bad witch
On the night, Tristan tied Yvaine beneath a big tree and went to find some food. While Yvaine was sitting near the tree, there was an beautiful unicorn showing up. The unicorn saved Yvaine, and Yvaine ride the unicorn to leave alone. When Tristan came back to the big tree, he found that Yvaine was gone. However, Yvaine was just going to step in the trap which the bad witch set for her. Yvaine was in a big danger. When Tristan was sleeping, he heard the voice from his mother. She told Tristan that Yvaine was in big danger and he had to save her. Meanwhile, one of the three sons from the king also arrived here. Tristan and the royal son went to find Yvaine. The son from the king was killed by the witch. And in order to save Yvaine from the witch, at the desperate moment Tristan used the magic candle.
Tristan and Yvaine showed up on the cloud and they were found by a pirate boat (sailing on the cloud in the sky). At first, they were very afraid of being killed by the pirate. However, the captain liked them. They became good friends. The captain promised to help Tristan back to his town. During the time in the boat, Tristan and Yvaine had a really good time. Their relationship became closer and closer.
The boat sailing in the sky.
They got off the boat, said goodbye to the captain and sailors, and continued their journey to Wall. On the road, they accidentally met the other witch. They oringinally wanted to ask the witch for direction to the town. But the witch used the magic to make Tristan a mouse and took him in her carriage. Yvaine didn't know that Tristan can understand what she was saying. Yvaine told the mouse that she loved him.
They arrived the place near Wall and the witch turned Tristan back to human. They lived in a small inn. Tristan told Yvaine that he had heard what Yvaine said in the cart and told her that he also loved her.
In the next morning, Tristan left early to the town alone. He brought a piece of Yvaine's hair to meet Victoria because of the promise he made - to bring the star back to her. However, he wanted to say goodbye to Victoria because he found his true love - Yvaine. But, when Victoria saw the things Tristan gave her, all the things became stardust. All the Yvaine's hair became stardust. Tristan suddenly understood that Yvaine can't get across the wall. She would die if she gets across the wall stepping onto the human land.
On the other hand, Yvaine was very sad after she found Tristan gone in the morning. She thought she lost him. She walked alone to the town. On her way to the town, the enslaved princess saw Yvaine. She risk her life by locking the witch who enslaved her in the cart following Yvaine only to save her. She tried to tell Yvaine that she can't get across the wall. When Yvaine was just going to step the first onto the human land, the enslaved princess saved her.
Meanwhile, the bad witch came to here. She killed the witch who enslaved the princess, but she captured both Yvaine and the princess together back to her big house. The only left son from the king (other sons either killed each other or was killed by the witch) and Tristan went to the big house. Tristan wanted to save Yvaine, and the royal son wanted the ruby necklace which was worn by Yvaine. The fight began.
They were captured by the bad witches together.
The princess was saved first. She told Tristan that she is his mother. She is the woman whom Tristan's father met twenty years ago outside the Wall. And she is also the sister of the royal sons from the king. And then the three bad witches killed the only royal son. Tristan fought terrible with the three bad witches. Finally, Tristan successfully killed three witches and saved Yvaine.
Tristan and Yvaine became the king and the queen of Stormhold. They ruled the kingdom for eighty years. In the end of the story, both of them became stars in the sky so as to have immortal life.
Vocabulary& Phrase
1. snowdrop 石蒜科雪花蓮(植物的一種) N.
2. delude 欺哄, 迷惑 (+into) V.
3. poppycock 胡說, 廢話 N.
4. omen 預兆, 兆頭 N. / V. 預示
5. champagne 香檳 N.
6. ipswich 易普威治 (英格蘭東部一城市) N.
7. shudder 顫抖 V.
8. deathbed 臨終所臥的床, 臨終的一段時間 N.
9. dictate 口說, 口述, 命令 V.
10. cretin 矮呆病患者 N.
11. decrepit 衰老的, 東倒西歪的, 破舊的 Adj.
12. divination 占卜, 預測 N.
13. crater 火山口, 隕石坑 N.
14. moron 低能, 傻瓜 N.
15. florin 弗洛林幣 (英國以前的二先令銀幣) N.
16. dilly-dallying 遊手好閒 V.
17. tavern 小酒館, 小客棧 N.
18. ordinance 法令, 條令, 儀式, 傳統的風俗習慣 N.
19. hilarious 極可笑的, 歡鬧的 Adj.
20. soothsayer 預言者, 占卜者, 算命者 N.
21. runes 盧恩文(古代北歐民族使用的文字), 神秘的記號 N.
22. extravagant 奢侈的, 浪費的, 過度的 Adj.
23. dire 悲慘的, 急迫的 Adj.
24. gibberish 胡言亂語, 無意義的聲音 N.
25. brig 雙桅橫帆船 N.
26. celestial 天空的, 天國的, 神聖的, 精妙的 Adj.
27. airborne 空運的, 空中的 Adj.
28. warlock 法術士 N.
29. radiant 光芒四射的, 容光煥發的 Adj.
30. impertinent 不恰當的, 不切題的, 傲慢的, 無禮的 Adj.
31. morale 士氣, 鬥志, 道德, 品行 N.
32. reminisce 追憶, 回想 V.
33. sling 扔, 投, 擲, 拋 V.
34. wench 少女, 村姑, 蕩婦 N.
35. howling 咆哮的, 哭哭啼啼的 Adj.
36. parochial 教區的, 地方性的, 眼光狹窄的 Adj.
37. scurry away 匆匆跑開 V.
38. marauder 掠奪者, 搶劫者 N.
39. ventriloquist 腹語表演者 N.
40. scum 鐵渣, 浮渣, 社會渣滓 N.
41. buccaneer 海盜, 西印度海盜(十七世紀時掠奪西班牙船隻及殖民地的) N.
42. waltz 華爾滋舞 N.
43. two-faced dog 雙面人, 表裡不一的人 N.
44. helm 舵 N.
45. squander 浪費, 揮霍 (+on) V.
46. conterproductive 產生不良後果的 Adj.
47. intercept 攔截 V.
48. poltergeist 喧鬧鬼 N.
49. caravan 商隊(來往於沙漠的), 車隊(移動著的), 有蓬卡車(或拖車), 活動房屋(可用生口或汽車拖曳的) N.
50. pervert 歪曲, 濫用, 使變壞, 使走上邪路 V.
51. slattern 蕩婦, 舉止隨便的女人 N.
52. riddance 擺脫, 解除 N.
Quote& Good Saying
Yvaine: If there's one thing I have learned in all my years watching Earth, it's that people aren't what they may seem. There are shop boys and there are boys who just happen to work in shops for the time being. And trust me, Tristan, you are no shop boy. You saved my life. Thank you.
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Yvaine: Aren't you tempted?
Tristan: Tempted? By what?
Yvaine: Immorality. Let's say it wasn't my heart. Not me. Just a star you didn't know.
Tristan: You seriously think I could kill anyone? I mean, even if I could... Everlasting life? I imagine it would be kind of lonely. Well, maybe if you had someone to share it with. Someone you love. Maybe then it might be different.
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(When in the caravan, Yvaine talked to the mouse - Tristan)
Yvaine: You know when I said I knew little about love? Well, that wasn't true. I know a lot about love. I have seen it. I have seen it centuries and certuries of it. And it was the only one thing that made watching your world bearable. All those wars. Pain and lies. Hate. Made me want ato turn away and never look down again. But to see the way that mankind loves. I mean, you could search the furthest reaches of the universe and never find anything more beautiful. So, Yes, I know that love is unconditional. But I also know it can be unpredictable, unexpected, uncontrollable, unbearable and , well, strangely easy to mistake for loathing. And what I am trying to say, Tristan, is I think I love you. My heart, it feels like my chest can barely contain it. Like it doesn't belong to me anymore. It belongs to you. And if you wanted, I'd wish for nothing in exchange. No gifts, no goods, no demonstrations of devotion. Nothing but knowing you love me, too. Just your heart in exchange for mine.
Reflection
I really like this movie! Actually, I have already seen this movie before, but that was a long time ago. When I was looking for the new movie to see for this week in the library, I saw this DVD. And I made the choice immediately to borrow this DVD back. It was on TV when I saw this movie last time. I remember this movie gave me a very good impression. I like this movie for some reasons. By the way, I think the main characters are so good-looking. The male main character is so handsome and the female main character is so beautiful. And also Tristan's mother is so beautiful, too.
First, I think the setting and the plot of this story is so fantastic. I am the person who really likes to read science fiction. The setting of the story is totally different from the world we familiar with. It is in the world people can use magic. When Tristan's father went to a little magic town outside the Wall in the beginning of the movie, he saw so many kinds of strange things. When he asked the beautiful enslaved princess about the price of the strange blue balls, the answer is a kiss, the memory before he was three, or one of the skill he has. I think reading the science fiction or watching science-fiction movie can make me indulge into another fairy-tale world. Seeing this movie just makes me have this feeling - being in the different world from mine. The kingdom, the enslaved princess, the handsome prince, the witch and the fantastic advanture, they are all fascinating elements from the fictional world.
Second, I think the visual effects of this movie is also very good. The scene of the shooting star and also the crater of the fallen star are made so great. The appearence of the castle which was built up on the large rock is amazing. In addiction, the flying pirate boat is so cool and so astonishing. And also the magic of the witch made me surprise. Furthermore, I think the scene which impresses me the most is the scene of the ghosts. In the story, all the royal sons would become ghosts when they died. The ghosts look transparent and can pass through all the substantial objects with their hands. I have never seen the ghosts in another movie before, so it made me feel like something new.
Third, I think some quotations from the movie are so meaningful. Yvaine said, "...people aren't what they may seem. There are shop boys and there are boys who just happen to work in shops for the time being. And trust me, Tristan, you are no shop boy. You saved my life. Thank you." I think the shop boy means nobody. Tristan thinks himself is just an unimportant person who chases the girl, get married, and live his life commonly. However, to Yvaine, he is not just a shop boy. He saved her life, and that makes all the difference. I think from this I learned that don't ever look down ourselves. Don't lack of confidence. Like Tristan, he thought he was just a shop boy. But who knows that he would kill the bad witch, save the beautiful girl, and be the king of the Stormhold kindom? Moreover, another quotations from the movie are also significant. It is the conversation between Yvaine and Tristan. Yvaine asked Tristan whether he would be tempted by the everlasting life or not. Tristan told her that if he could get everlasting life, he might be very lonely unless he finds someone he loves to share with the rest of the time. Also, when Yvaine told Tristan she loves him in the cart. She also describes human's love so beautifully.
To sum up, these three points are the main reasons why I love this movie. The setting and the plot of the story, the visual effects, and some meaningful quotations are so great and remarkable.
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