"This is not a love story, this is a story about Love."

Finally watched (500) Days of Summer after the putting it off for hmm... about 500 days. Simply because I really need to be in the mood or have company to watch those types of movies. Ended up watching it alone anyway, but I'm happy I did, cause the movie really took me through an emotional ride: 95 minutes of laughters, tears, anger, and frustrations... This entry is not only a brief review for the movie, but it is also the thoughts I have gathered and put down before my short-term memory goes away.

Be careful reading what's next if you have not seen the movie and want to see it, I don't want to ruin anything for ya ;).


Within the past few days I have heard or seen the words "soul mates" more than I have had this whole year. I take that as a sign that encourages me to put some thoughts into understanding its meaning.

Everyone can find him or herself in the shoes of at least one character in the movie. If it's not Tom, a sweet and innocent guy who believes firmly in true love and that one day he will find his "soul mate," the one he will marry and live happily ever after with; or Summer, to whom true love, or simply just "love" does not even exist. To her, if it happens, it happens, she just needs to feel right about it. Then it must be Rachel, the little sister who is always there listening to her brother's confusions; McKenzie who is the ultimate "player," or actually the ultimate "loser" in love; Paul, the normal yet committed type of guy who's been in love with the same girl since 7th grade and wants nothing more than what he has; or last but not least, Vance, Tom's boss, who sounds like he had known what love is for more than 21 years: "she's the light that guides me home..."

Each and every character, from small to big, represents the society and the different types of people living in it. Each of them has a totally opposite view on love and life, but somehow got together to paint us this sensible, even cruel, picture of expectations and realities.

Tom is the ultimate "dreamy" guy, he is cute, smart, romantic, believes in true love, loves architecture but ended up writing greeting cards, just because "things didn't work out." He knew from the moment he saw Summer that she was "the one." After getting to know her, he was even more sure that she was his "soul mate" and that he was "in love" with her. And even though she made it clear that she "doesn't want a relationship", he still kept trying because he hopes his actions can speak louder than words and eventually she will fall in love with him too.

However, life is not always how we want it to be.

On the other end of the spectrum is Summer, the ultimate down-to-earth girl with a strong personality. She is adventurous, charming, also sweet and smart, but real and unromantic. She thinks there's no such thing as "true love," and "women do not need men to survive." She went into her "fling" with Tom knowing exactly what she wants. She does not want anything serious, but the idea of having Tom by her side was just too good to resist. She knew that leaving him when she is not sure about anything else would not be a good idea. That might be why she stayed. However, as soon as her "right" one comes along, she automatically knew. Then she left.

I admire how real the movie is. But it also makes me angry at how people sometimes act. I treasure honesty in any type of relationship, and what drives me crazy is the fact that Summer could not come to Tom and tell him that she was engaged. Finding out that hurtful truth with his own eyes was probably the worst thing that could happen... and it breaks my heart. I loved how the scene was put together to emphasize the world falling apart around him, the dramatic effects did work its best.

Leaving the plot of the movie, I myself believe Summer was, after all, Tom's soul mate. She was the one who supposed to come along to "wake" him out of his current miserable life. In an unpleasant way, she encouraged him to fight for his dream - to become an architect like he had always wanted to be. By leaving him, she taught him more life lessons than he would have ever learned. In some way, you can say that she "killed" his theory and belief about true love and fate, but the truth is, Summer had taught Tom about the REALITY of life, that good things really end for a reason, and that reason is so that he can meet his Autumn, who may not be his "soul mate", but she might be the "right one" for him.

And of course, I believe Tom was also the one Summer supposed to meet. She was so unsure about everything while she was by his side, but that only helped her realize immediately when and with whom she was "sure" about. And just like that, she was also awaken, to be able to say "fate brought us together." I'm happy to say that in some way, Tom really did put romance in her life.

I will end this entry with a quote, a long quote I came across recently. It really made me think, and in a certain way, I believe it is true. If at any point in our lives we find our "soul mates", fall in love, get married and live happily ever after, then we can call ourselves "the lucky ones." However, I am pretty sure that more than one of us will end up with someone totally different, someone we would never expect to be with... So... think for yourself and see if you have been in Tom or Summer's shoes, and how did you react to everything? Life sometimes is just a series of events, good or bad, we are the ones to decide.

“A true soul mate is probably the most important person you’ll ever meet, because they tear down your walls and smack you awake. But to live with a soul mate forever? Nah. Too painful. Soul mates, they come into your life just to reveal another layer of yourself to you, and then leave. A soul mate’s purpose is to shake you up, tear apart your ego a little bit, show you your obstacles and addictions, break your heart open so new light can get in, and make you so desperate and out of control that you have to transform your life.” 

                                                                       ~Elizabeth Gilbert