Little stars in the world...

I happened to watch "Taare Zameen Par" this friday. Though I normally watch such-hyped movies on the day of release, I deferred it as I read in reviews that it is one of those "senti-types"(And I don't like to pay to get senti!). But now I gotta confess that the movie was a fine one, in the likes of "Anjali", "Kannathil muthamittaal" and other exquisite movies directed by professionals like Mani Ratnam. And as a debutant director, Aamir Khan has done a pretty decent job. It was a neat subject, delineated with finesse. I know it is too late to write a review, but I'm sure this movie belongs to the cadre of movies which has no-heroine, no-love, no-nonsense, no-dream songs and only sensible sequences. It is a must-watch for parents and for those others, who need a smile on their face and as well, a lump in their throat for full of the second half of the movie!

[Update : "Tujhe Sab hain pathaa hain na Maa...." is the song that plays in my ipod in repeat. - that song wriggles my heart!]

Dinosaurs and me!

History channel says Earth will dry out to a desert in about 2 billion years. Our planet will be nothing more than a barren land and would be devoid of any living being after that(expect for cockroaches maybe!). Human beings would be extinct for sure. Looks like that’s what marks the end of 'Kali' yuga. Or maybe the takeover by 'Kalki' avatar.

Whatever…I'm better off than Dinosaurs, for they did not even know they would be extinct!

The Great Debaters...

Let me start with the rating : 9 on 10. Yup, "The Great Debaters" is the movie I just saw this evening. And it is fantastic! It is basically a movie on life of black people in 1930's, but it includes a lot of other cognitive contents like inspiration, encouragement, courage and ofcourse involvement. I felt this movie was similar to a few of my other favourites like "To Kill a Mocking bird", "12 Angry Men" and the like. But taking such a movie in today's scenario is definitely a great attempt. The movie is based on debate competitions and how the team from a little school in Texas(with only colored people) goes on to win other colleges and ultimately even Harvard, under the able guidance of Mr.Melvin Tolson(Denzel Washington).

And I was surprised when I heard that it was directed by Denzel Washington himself, in addition to playing one of the lead roles. Denzel Washington is proving that he is a great actor again and again. I was impressed with his previous movie "American Gangster", where his performance with effortless ease made me wonder. And this time around in "The Great Debater", he has shown the necessitated variation and the docile on-screen appearance. From a gangster to a school professor - he proves that he is one actor who deserves more than a couple Academy awards.

The movie was a little slow at times, but it for sure demostrates what winning is all about. The last 15 minutes of the movie, where this final debate happens, the students from Texas talk about Gandhiji and Satyagraha, affirming Civil disobedience is right. And hearing our country's name more than a few times gave me a trivial proud feeling. And above all, the movie is based on a true story!

I only wish we make such movies in Kollywood or Bollywood...

Christmas and my weekend...

What a weekend had this been?? My activities in a nutshell:

1. Paid a visit to New York City - Realized I still love my home away from home
2. Watched National Treasure – Understood treasure hunting is a little better than software industry!
3. Watched Mamma Mia Broadway show – Best thing that happened to me, of late
4. Met my friend on his bday – Got him a surprise gift, only to be surprised that he got the same gift for himself a day ago!
5. Tried Puerto Rican food – Made me realize I love India
6. Portrait of my face – After 20 mins of motionless stature, I saw the painting to realize I couldn’t recgonise myself. Phew…but one thing became clear: how difficult it would have been for Kate Winslet in the movie ‘Titanic’ (yaa yaa, so for DiCaprio)!
7. Went to Saravana Bhavan – Felt Puerto Rican restaurant was better
8. Watched Final Destination 3 and Poseidon – TV is the best invention in this world!
9. Watched 'Oram Po'(tamil movie) – Chennai Auto-rickshaws in street-racing! Enjoyed watching it.
10. Drove to Pittsburg on Christmas day – Had a darshan of Lord Balaji and lots of desis. No traffic in the freeway :)
11. Sad part - Did not watch even a single episode of Everybody Loves Raymond these 4 days :(

MAMMA MIA..!!

I happened to goto one of the famous Broadway shows in NY this weekend. In spite of the fact that I was a resident of New York city for almost 3 years, I never got a chance to make it to one the shows. But now that I moved to Pennsylvania and came down to spend this weekend at New York, I made it to "Mamma Mia", one of the famous shows running for over 5 years. Maybe the adage "Nearer the temple, lesser the devotion!" held true i my case. Whatever.

And my reaction to the show was nothing short of a gaped "Wow!!". I have seen many stage plays in Chennai, both at the amateur level and at the professional level. As a matter of fact, I have performed myself in many stage plays and skits during my school and college. But what I witnessed at the Winter Gardens was nothing close to whatever was even in my imagination. I got a strong feeling that you gotta stock more talent in yourself to act in a Broadway show than in Hollywood movies. People say Broadway shows are the stepping stones to Hollywood. I felt it should be the other way round.

The on-screen co-ordination the artists show, their choreographed movements, their musical gestures, their dialog flow - everything was stupendous! In the two hour show, there wasn't a single speck of flaw, whatsoever. If the on-screen artists contribute 40 percent to the success of the show, the orchestra contribute another 40 percent. For this was a musical show, the entertainment and enthusiasm would be null, sans good music. The orchestra, who were under the stage were in complete sync of the show on the stage, under the able direction of the Conductor/Music director.

Almost all the songs were a hit already and the way the orchestra played them made the audience go foot-tapping most of the times! And the remaining 20 percent of the success is contributed by the lighting and the stage organization. Yeah, be it an island or a bedroom or a dance bar, they were able to depict it as-is on the stage. And if the heroine dreams in her sleep, they were able to delineate that as well. All with just lighting and characterization. Wow!

And the last 5 minutes, every single person in the audiences was clapping in sync and I knew most of them were doing that involuntarily, falling trap to the music and the entertainment. They were completely glued to the stage, as the characters made their final appearances and bowed to the audience. Most of artists received standing ovation and am sure they deserved it.

Overall, when somebody spends 8 to 10 times the cost of a single movie for a Broadway show, they do expect ENTERTAINMENT and the Broadway show folks make sure they do!

To say in a simple sentence, "I felt the purpose of my birth"!

I am Legend!

I am of the type, who can't enjoy Fiction movies . But "I am Legend" is one movie, which gives you the edge-of-the-seat excitement, almost thru-out the 2 hours of the movie. And Will Smith, as an actor has done an exquisite job. If this movie turns out to be a success, 80% of the credit should goto this man. I would compare his performance to Tom Hanks' in "Cast Away", for the role of Will Smith in this movie is a little complicated, taking into account the expression of fear and the survival traits he shows. He has meticulously handled a lot of close-up shots and some for prolonged durations, posing the perfect expressions. He is for sure maturing as an actor, movie by movie. If his performance in "Pursuit of Happyness" was good, "I am Legend" it is very good. He gets a 9 on 10 for sure. For most part of the movie, Will Smith and his sole-comrade, German shepherd run the show. Dr.Robert Neville(Will Smith), being the sole human survivor in New York City, after an incurable virus attacks the world, tries to survive and find a cure too.

The graphics in the movie is impeccable and I have not seen New York city in such a dilapidated shape in my dreams too. My eyes fell for it. But the only thing I don't understand is why wild Animals get into New York city, when the city becomes devoid of humans for 3 years(because of a virus attack). Other than that, I found every aspect of this movie captivating. The movie has got a clean logical story line, threatening sound effects and the right screenplay to be called a horror-fiction entertainer. Now I want to read the book written by Richard Matheson, on which this movie is based.

"I am Legend" is for sure, worth a watch. My rating : 8 on 10.