Story of boy meets girl

It's been a week since I saw '500 Days of Summer', but scenes from the movie keep visiting my thoughts that it somewhat feels like it was only yesterday when the lives of Summer and Tom touched my heart. There are a number of reasons why I can't get their story off my mind. Let me start of by saying that the movie is not just a love story; rather, it's a story about love. The movie begins with Tom's frustrations after his break-up with Summer, and how he tries to relive their 500 days together to try point out where he went wrong. The movie goes back-and-forth: from the very first time they met, to days without Summer, and over again. What makes the characters so believable is the fact that in every relationship, we've all been Summers and Toms at one point.

Just like Tom, we know that break-ups could indeed feel like the end of it all. And sometimes, the only way to find peace is by obsessively thinking about that one person, and reminiscing past memories so you can dissect the things you may have missed or failed to do. Just like Tom, we know what it feels like to give your all and to only get your heart broken in the end. It's not easy. Some people just get stuck in their misery and never move on.

But there are also Summers in every relationship. The cynic: who is just afraid of love. Who wants to give love a chance, but holds herself back every time opportunity permits. Who isn't really sure of what she's looking for. But is at the same time, just waiting for the right person to assure her of things she's never certain of.

Aside from the connection we all get from Summer and Tom, the movie is composed of so many memorable scenes that you can't help but be drawn in to its every detail. One of my favourite parts is the 'expectations vs. reality scene'. We each have our own notion of what love is supposed to be like. We have come across people who have warned us of how difficult love can be, and how wonderful it could be at the same time. We usually base love on books we read, songs we listen to, and from movies we always see. We create ideals, and we tend to create expectations in our heads. And one day we just wake up, realizing that things never really turn out the way we want them to.

The movie 500 days of summer brings us back to the sometimes-forgotten-world of people we meet everyday. It helps us see the kind of love that real people share amongst each other - that there's no such thing as a perfect relationship. Some last, some just don't; and there are always awkward moments in-between.

I could go on all day talking about how wonderful this movie is. But before I ruin the movie for you, head to your nearest theatre and check if they have it. This is definitely worth your every penny. And if you're also a sucker for good movies, this one would surely top your list.

But before I leave, let me just share one line that I absolutely love:
Tom's best friend: "Robin is better than the girl of my dreams, because she is real."