There's a car, and in that car sit the people you cherish most. They are happy, happier than you've ever seen them and that makes you happy too. The car is sailing smoothly down a road at night and there are enough streetlights to guide your way, but up ahead, slightly in front of you there are no more lights. There's darkness. You know someone should be keeping an eye on the road but you are all so happy. Your heart fills with foreboding but you cant seem to tear yourself away from the beautiful moment you are presently residing in even though you know something dreadful is on its way, you dont want to think about it. Imagine this and you will know how it feels to watch STANLEY KA DABBA(SKD).
SKD is one of those rare movies that manages to pull all the right heartstrings. It has just the right amount of sugar and spice and though far from perfect it has enough class to prove once again that Indian cinema can go way beyond cliched love stories if it wants to. SKD is a delightfully told story of, you guessed it, Stanley, an innocent little boy of class 4-F who revels in telling the world stories, especially about his mother. He has a motley group of friends each with his own special charm and individuality, and dont be surprised if halfway through the movie you start replacing their faces with those of your childhood friends. They way SKD goes about, its hard not to get nostalgic. Remember those young school days when we used to run around in shorts and the best time of the day was recess? When we used to fight over petty things like whose half of the desk the others hand is? Or the teachers with their own pecularities, some we loved (Miss Rosy) and some we just hated (Mr. Verma)? I dont know about you but i found it extremely difficult not to end up putting a face to almost every character in the movie. That's how simple and well thought out every character was and it helps that acting was superb, whether it be the kids, the teachers or the priest. Oh well, not the priest, he just looks like he stepped out of a modelling catalog and jumped into a white robe. :P
Ironically enough Stanley is the only kid in the classroom without a dabba. There's a story behind it but i wont reveal that. It would suffice to say, you know from the start that there is something wrong but given the cheerful paths the movie takes, you keep trying to push that thought out of your mind. Divya Dutta does a wonderful turn as the lovable english teacher, Miss Rosy, and Amole Gupte (you know, Bhope Bhau from Kaminey!!) is equally wonderful as the food-crazy hindi teacher out to terrorize an entire generation of students. His character is at times a bit unbelievable but he makes the best out of it. Stanley(Paartho) at his best is completely lovable and it his worst is still equally lovable.
This is a must watch for everyone who still remembers those days of carefree running around, its a movie that brings a smile to the inner child and at the same time there is a dark undertone that reminds us to be thankful for the good fortunes we have. Its not Oscar Winning material but for sheer charm and a wonderful moral i'll have to say it ranks right up there with movies like Taare Zameen Par.
Give it a try, Have a smile.
VERDICT: LIKE
Saturday, May 21, 2011
Sunday, February 20, 2011
LOST (the TV series)
I don’t remember how it began, all I know is how it made me feel when it ended. For nearly two years now I have been watching this series and in that all that while I have quit it more than once but now as I’ve atlast come to its end, I’m kinda glad I always came back. It may not always have been perfect and god knows that its left enough ends open to drive hard core fans mad with frustration, but there was a sweetness and a sense of fulfillment down to the very last frame that it will take ages (if ever) before the silver screen can ever dream of matching up to it once again.
In short, it’s the story of a bunch of people who survived an airplane (Oceanic 815) crash on a strange island filled with smoke monsters, shabbily dressed ‘others’ whose only job seems to be tormenting the survivors, time travelling portals and vaults with buttons that need to be pushed every 108 minutes to prevent the world from ending. PHEW! Seems heavy, right? Right. It is. It is a story with enough twists and turns to give a roller coaster ride an inferiority complex. One minute you think of the place as an island lost in time, the next it will seem like hell (or purgatory maybe) with god and the devil fighting over the duality of humankind nature. It is a tale woven with such intricate detailing that the pieces are falling into place right till the end and all of it shot with such meticulous detailing that you will struggle to remind yourself that its not real. And the characters! The characters! What can I say that is not already said by enough people already? John Locke, Linus, Sawyer, Shephard, Desmond! The list might as well comprise of the entire cast because each and every one of them is beautifully etched out by the writers and brought to life by the actors. They are a pure joy to follow.
But that is not the reason why I write now. It lasted six seasons and I’d be lying if I said I remembered pretty much what went on. I’m not a fanboy here to rave about how cool to backstory and mythos of the series are (though they evidently are) or tell you that you must watch this. That’s up to you. All I’m here for is to…. I don’t know. I finished watching it, and for some reason I suddenly felt sad and happy all at the same time. For all its twisted plots, when it finally struck its last chord, it wasn’t one of heroism or good & evil or of even survival, but instead of a simple idea called LOVE.
It reminded me that its not about the end or even the journey, but who you take along with you on that journey. Life is a complicated, bitchy sort of phenomenon that we all have to ‘live’ through :-) .It will always have its ups and downs and though you might achieve a lot and do many great things in the course of this life, you will never be able to appreciate it until you have someone who is willing to go on the ride with you. Its about having a hand to squeeze when the your roller coaster is just tipping at a peak or a face to kiss when you get off all trembling. We all need someone, and though we might never accept it, it just makes the road so much more easier.
Admit it. We are human and we aren’t meant to be alone.
I don’t know about you but I’m a strong believer in the person they call the THE ONE. The one who is meant just for us and we for them. The one who will be the yin to my yang (that doesn’t sound right :P). Many will scoff at the very thought but I cannot help it. It just makes too much sense to me and perhaps its faith that we are here for a reason (another concept that the show deals with beautifully). Life is too short to be spent living in doubt and denial. Perhaps I will turn out to be wrong and it will end only in disappointment, but if I’m right then I’ll be happy. I’ll be content. And in a world as fickle as this, it will be more than anyone can ever dream of.
In short, it’s the story of a bunch of people who survived an airplane (Oceanic 815) crash on a strange island filled with smoke monsters, shabbily dressed ‘others’ whose only job seems to be tormenting the survivors, time travelling portals and vaults with buttons that need to be pushed every 108 minutes to prevent the world from ending. PHEW! Seems heavy, right? Right. It is. It is a story with enough twists and turns to give a roller coaster ride an inferiority complex. One minute you think of the place as an island lost in time, the next it will seem like hell (or purgatory maybe) with god and the devil fighting over the duality of humankind nature. It is a tale woven with such intricate detailing that the pieces are falling into place right till the end and all of it shot with such meticulous detailing that you will struggle to remind yourself that its not real. And the characters! The characters! What can I say that is not already said by enough people already? John Locke, Linus, Sawyer, Shephard, Desmond! The list might as well comprise of the entire cast because each and every one of them is beautifully etched out by the writers and brought to life by the actors. They are a pure joy to follow.
But that is not the reason why I write now. It lasted six seasons and I’d be lying if I said I remembered pretty much what went on. I’m not a fanboy here to rave about how cool to backstory and mythos of the series are (though they evidently are) or tell you that you must watch this. That’s up to you. All I’m here for is to…. I don’t know. I finished watching it, and for some reason I suddenly felt sad and happy all at the same time. For all its twisted plots, when it finally struck its last chord, it wasn’t one of heroism or good & evil or of even survival, but instead of a simple idea called LOVE.
It reminded me that its not about the end or even the journey, but who you take along with you on that journey. Life is a complicated, bitchy sort of phenomenon that we all have to ‘live’ through :-) .It will always have its ups and downs and though you might achieve a lot and do many great things in the course of this life, you will never be able to appreciate it until you have someone who is willing to go on the ride with you. Its about having a hand to squeeze when the your roller coaster is just tipping at a peak or a face to kiss when you get off all trembling. We all need someone, and though we might never accept it, it just makes the road so much more easier.
Admit it. We are human and we aren’t meant to be alone.
I don’t know about you but I’m a strong believer in the person they call the THE ONE. The one who is meant just for us and we for them. The one who will be the yin to my yang (that doesn’t sound right :P). Many will scoff at the very thought but I cannot help it. It just makes too much sense to me and perhaps its faith that we are here for a reason (another concept that the show deals with beautifully). Life is too short to be spent living in doubt and denial. Perhaps I will turn out to be wrong and it will end only in disappointment, but if I’m right then I’ll be happy. I’ll be content. And in a world as fickle as this, it will be more than anyone can ever dream of.
Tuesday, January 18, 2011
Batman (1989)
HAHA! One of my favorite superhero movies of all time and yes, its as great as Nolan's Batman. Directed by the twisted maestro Tim Burton this was THE superhero movie for a very long time. It has a just the right mix of the comic element and the gritty to make it a perfect watch for fans of all ages. Note that Batman has been in continuous evolution since his original inception by Bob Kane in 1939. He has passed through numerous hands and phases including the iconic Batusi dancing version of Adam West to the gritty old man in Frank Millers Dark Knight comics (1986). Burton's Batman draws inspiration more from the latter than any other source and while still rooted in its comic origins. Whereas, the Batman we are now familiar with, the dark and foreboding character of the (k)night, is based more on the recreation by Frank Miller forgoing all camp often found in comic-book movies. That aside, this movie is still one hell of a ride.
First up, the star of this movie is once again, you guessed it, JOKER. A grinning, electric buzzer wielding, 3-foot long gun totting, 'i'm only smiling on the outside' psychopath played to near perfection by the ever-amazing Jack Nicholson. His character is a mix of the insane and the terrifying. If he's one second cracking jokes about his own looks then the next he's jamming a quill down a man's throat. He is the character we fell in love with, the one that has been portrayed to perfection, and if there were to a contest on who the best Joker was, he'd win hands down (No offense to Mr. Ledger, he did a terrific job but his impression was just plain scary and lacked the eery comic sense that has always defined the Joker).
Michael Keaton's batman leaves a somewhat to be desired physical appeal, but is made up amply by the expert direction and screenplay. Batman's first entry on the rooftop where he beats up two thugs and holds one over the edge only to introduce himself to him is one of the greatest Bat-Scenes ever. And this movie has the BAT-PLANE!!!! What more can you ask for?? The scene where it emerges out of the clouds and stalls in front of a full moon to form the Bat-Symbol is enough to make the ten year old within you scream for joy.
Yes, there is an abundance of camp and cheese that might put off many of the present day Nolan-purists but this movie isn't about trying to be intellectual. It assumes that we already know the values the BAT stands for and builds upon it in childish yet dark-action packed way that only Tim Burton could accomplish. It will yank at your memory cells and remind those of you who you used to enjoy the comics and cartoons when you were younger. It is about cool toys and cars, of a caped crusader of precarious morals but oh so cool to look at, of a crazy guy in a purple suit that you cant help but love and the idea that one man can make the difference. So if you havent yet watched it, do yourself a favor and rent it atleast.
Holy super video tapes Batman!! We have to watch this!!
Verdict : Super Like!!
First up, the star of this movie is once again, you guessed it, JOKER. A grinning, electric buzzer wielding, 3-foot long gun totting, 'i'm only smiling on the outside' psychopath played to near perfection by the ever-amazing Jack Nicholson. His character is a mix of the insane and the terrifying. If he's one second cracking jokes about his own looks then the next he's jamming a quill down a man's throat. He is the character we fell in love with, the one that has been portrayed to perfection, and if there were to a contest on who the best Joker was, he'd win hands down (No offense to Mr. Ledger, he did a terrific job but his impression was just plain scary and lacked the eery comic sense that has always defined the Joker).
Michael Keaton's batman leaves a somewhat to be desired physical appeal, but is made up amply by the expert direction and screenplay. Batman's first entry on the rooftop where he beats up two thugs and holds one over the edge only to introduce himself to him is one of the greatest Bat-Scenes ever. And this movie has the BAT-PLANE!!!! What more can you ask for?? The scene where it emerges out of the clouds and stalls in front of a full moon to form the Bat-Symbol is enough to make the ten year old within you scream for joy.
Yes, there is an abundance of camp and cheese that might put off many of the present day Nolan-purists but this movie isn't about trying to be intellectual. It assumes that we already know the values the BAT stands for and builds upon it in childish yet dark-action packed way that only Tim Burton could accomplish. It will yank at your memory cells and remind those of you who you used to enjoy the comics and cartoons when you were younger. It is about cool toys and cars, of a caped crusader of precarious morals but oh so cool to look at, of a crazy guy in a purple suit that you cant help but love and the idea that one man can make the difference. So if you havent yet watched it, do yourself a favor and rent it atleast.
Holy super video tapes Batman!! We have to watch this!!
Verdict : Super Like!!
Saturday, January 15, 2011
Hotel du Lac by Anita Brookner
Ever so often (well not so often even) you will chance upon a great book that you never knew existing. That is the beauty of shopping at second hand book shops. You can’t go there searching for a certain book or a certain author, there’s no guarantee you’ll find it, but what you do find is an assortment like no other. Its like a magic box, you never know what you will get. This Christmas I had the good fortune of finding myself at one such place. Its located in Nehru Place in New delhi, for all of you who care to know, and its run by this delightful old man with whom I had wonderful conversation on topics ranging from books to art. He recommended me two books that I might never had purchased myself, the first is the Hotel du Lac and the second is Guards! Guards! By Terry Pratchet which I will be reviewing in a while. I would recommend anyone who wishes a good read to visit this place because both of them were incredible.
Hotel du Lac is a very different sort of book than the sort I usually read and I was a little apprehensive to say the least when I first began it, being already informed it is a love story. I admit I forced myself to trudge through the initial chapters, not because of any fault of the writer but my own inherent disregard of Romantic stories, and was slightly hesitant even to accept the characters lest I grew fond of them. But as I made it past my initial pessimism I found myself quite enjoying the company of the residents of the Hotel du Lac.
The story in itself is a very simple one and would have fallen quite flat in less capable hands. The Booker Prize of 1984 is a testimony to this statement. It is of a middle aged woman, Edith, a writer, who has found herself in banished (self-imposed) to the hotel du lac – a less reputed holiday get away that believed in serving only a limited clientele of only the highest social distinctions. The reason for her exile does not seem quite evident till about half way through where it is revealed that she is in hiding after having her heart broken by a married man, her lover, and she is here to get away from the pain, to finish her current novel and most importantly, protect him from further embarrassment.
And though Edith is the main protagonist in this tale, the true star of the story is a certain Mrs. Pusey (yes, that’s her name and stop snickering). She is an embodiment of everything perverse in the upper classes. She is presumptuous, self indulgent and narcissistic and refuses to acknowledge anyone else’s importance other than her own. She is countered by another intriguing lady – Monica, a more a younger and less successful version of herself (perhaps the reason why they resent each other so much) who is on sabbatical after having embarrassed her husband more than once. She makes her gold digger tendencies easily perceptible.
The story in the end is less about love but about the fallacies that the concept of love presents. Edith, a woman torn by the love of a man whom she can never have, someone who used her a side dish for the better of her life, Mrs. Pusey for whom love means no more than the act of looking into a mirror and Monica who has fallen head over heels for the deep pockets of her man and believes in leeching it as much as possible. All this is brought to the forefront by the arguably, undeterminable character of Mr. Neville - a smart, middle aged gentleman with the charisma, charm and a bank account that all women desire. He tries over and over again to convince Edith of the futility of love and asks her to embrace his views of objectivism and utility. I will not disclose you the ending but it will suffice to say that it’s a clash of ideas of the two, of whether love is a bond or is it a treaty to signed, stamped and executed to meet social requirements.
The story in itself opens up a worthy debate for us who might still believe in the hope of a perfect loves and old age spent in the cheerful company of soul mates. Is it worth waiting for the one even though we might not ever find them? Or is it better to settle for the one that offers the most stability and security even though the sentiments may not be in line? It’s a pertinent question when you think about it because in the end almost most of us will end up having to compromise on our choice, love is not in each one’s destiny but is not the pursuit of it worth the risk? Whatever be your choice, this masterclass in the English language will whet your appetite.
Verdict: Seconds Please
Hotel du Lac is a very different sort of book than the sort I usually read and I was a little apprehensive to say the least when I first began it, being already informed it is a love story. I admit I forced myself to trudge through the initial chapters, not because of any fault of the writer but my own inherent disregard of Romantic stories, and was slightly hesitant even to accept the characters lest I grew fond of them. But as I made it past my initial pessimism I found myself quite enjoying the company of the residents of the Hotel du Lac.
The story in itself is a very simple one and would have fallen quite flat in less capable hands. The Booker Prize of 1984 is a testimony to this statement. It is of a middle aged woman, Edith, a writer, who has found herself in banished (self-imposed) to the hotel du lac – a less reputed holiday get away that believed in serving only a limited clientele of only the highest social distinctions. The reason for her exile does not seem quite evident till about half way through where it is revealed that she is in hiding after having her heart broken by a married man, her lover, and she is here to get away from the pain, to finish her current novel and most importantly, protect him from further embarrassment.
And though Edith is the main protagonist in this tale, the true star of the story is a certain Mrs. Pusey (yes, that’s her name and stop snickering). She is an embodiment of everything perverse in the upper classes. She is presumptuous, self indulgent and narcissistic and refuses to acknowledge anyone else’s importance other than her own. She is countered by another intriguing lady – Monica, a more a younger and less successful version of herself (perhaps the reason why they resent each other so much) who is on sabbatical after having embarrassed her husband more than once. She makes her gold digger tendencies easily perceptible.
The story in the end is less about love but about the fallacies that the concept of love presents. Edith, a woman torn by the love of a man whom she can never have, someone who used her a side dish for the better of her life, Mrs. Pusey for whom love means no more than the act of looking into a mirror and Monica who has fallen head over heels for the deep pockets of her man and believes in leeching it as much as possible. All this is brought to the forefront by the arguably, undeterminable character of Mr. Neville - a smart, middle aged gentleman with the charisma, charm and a bank account that all women desire. He tries over and over again to convince Edith of the futility of love and asks her to embrace his views of objectivism and utility. I will not disclose you the ending but it will suffice to say that it’s a clash of ideas of the two, of whether love is a bond or is it a treaty to signed, stamped and executed to meet social requirements.
The story in itself opens up a worthy debate for us who might still believe in the hope of a perfect loves and old age spent in the cheerful company of soul mates. Is it worth waiting for the one even though we might not ever find them? Or is it better to settle for the one that offers the most stability and security even though the sentiments may not be in line? It’s a pertinent question when you think about it because in the end almost most of us will end up having to compromise on our choice, love is not in each one’s destiny but is not the pursuit of it worth the risk? Whatever be your choice, this masterclass in the English language will whet your appetite.
Verdict: Seconds Please
Sunday, January 9, 2011
No one killed Jessica
I liked it. I can easily say it was one of the best hindi movies i've seen in a while. I had gone in kind of expecting the typical bollywood melodrama but thankfully i was disappointed in that aspect. Its a movie that hits you right at the start and keeps on doing so continuously. Loved Vidya balan's performance. She proves yet again that she is one of the best actresses in the country and that too without having to show off her 'jawaani'. Rani mukherjee puts in a commendable performance as well alongwith the guy who played the good cop, Rajesh Sharma i think (atlast a bollywood cop with scruples). The rest of the casting and acting was quite decent too.
There was a natural air to it all to make it all even more believable and knowing how the story goes beforehand, you find yourself getting angry even before the witness turns hostile or the accused is released. The only one flaw(small) i found was the cursing. Not that i mind it but everytime someone tries to curse in english, say b**** or f*** i found myself wincing. Too forced it seemed, as if just for the sake of having said it. But other than that, TWO THUMBS UP! One for the movie, the other for the music score, which was awesome too.
Now, the movie puts up certain questions, or statements rather. Some obvious, others quite not so. Let me start with the former. The most obvious is the age-old power and money story, that of those with both can get away with anything including shooting a person at point blank range in the midst of 300 people strong crowd. The very thought of it is enough to make you sick and knowing that it really happened makes you want to kill somebody yourself. Our country's gone to the dogs we say and we fed it to them. The good news is that we still might be able to save it. If we are able pull together we might just bring down the edifices of wanton power as shown in the movie. With the growth of internet reach and mobile communication in the country, getting the word out on issues is just a click's worth of work. People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, the governments should be afraid of the people (refer to 'V for Vendetta').
Another issue brought up that i really liked was that of the need for a proper witness protection program in the country. Though in the movie its just a passing reference its importance was thoroughly felt. It is an old issue which is still in the works, probably being slowed down by the same bureaucrats who thrive in its absence. The very fact that even after so many such incidents any form of it has failed to materialize is evidence to the fact that there is something very wrong with our country. Sometimes i feel like it has lost all sense of conscience and is acting like a little child with wild abandon oblivious of the consequences. And its not just the people in office and power, everyone is a part of the gang, all the way from the media to you, me and the local rickshaw wallah who wont run the meter.
And even though movie tries hard to end on a positive note, to make you believe that justice has been served, we all know the course history will run. Just a year and a half ago, Manu Sharma was released on bail and found partying once again. Media uproar led to his prompt return behind bars but it is only a matter of time before this nation grows tired of this news and he slips back into his former life unnoticed.
Because though they have tried hard to make us discount our prejudices against the media of being TRP whores and cast them in a new light as altruists with an inane sense of justice, their true face has been there for all to see. i dont think i need to elaborate any further on this.
We're a society with way too many problems and too little solutions. The power to heal lies in the hands of the people. It is a slow process where the results are mostly far from satisfactory. But we have to persevere, no matter what the odds, and most of all we need to uphold in our actions the very values of democracy that we seek to redeem.
Viva la Revolucion!!
Verdict : SUPER LIKE
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
There was a natural air to it all to make it all even more believable and knowing how the story goes beforehand, you find yourself getting angry even before the witness turns hostile or the accused is released. The only one flaw(small) i found was the cursing. Not that i mind it but everytime someone tries to curse in english, say b**** or f*** i found myself wincing. Too forced it seemed, as if just for the sake of having said it. But other than that, TWO THUMBS UP! One for the movie, the other for the music score, which was awesome too.
Now, the movie puts up certain questions, or statements rather. Some obvious, others quite not so. Let me start with the former. The most obvious is the age-old power and money story, that of those with both can get away with anything including shooting a person at point blank range in the midst of 300 people strong crowd. The very thought of it is enough to make you sick and knowing that it really happened makes you want to kill somebody yourself. Our country's gone to the dogs we say and we fed it to them. The good news is that we still might be able to save it. If we are able pull together we might just bring down the edifices of wanton power as shown in the movie. With the growth of internet reach and mobile communication in the country, getting the word out on issues is just a click's worth of work. People shouldn't be afraid of their governments, the governments should be afraid of the people (refer to 'V for Vendetta').
Another issue brought up that i really liked was that of the need for a proper witness protection program in the country. Though in the movie its just a passing reference its importance was thoroughly felt. It is an old issue which is still in the works, probably being slowed down by the same bureaucrats who thrive in its absence. The very fact that even after so many such incidents any form of it has failed to materialize is evidence to the fact that there is something very wrong with our country. Sometimes i feel like it has lost all sense of conscience and is acting like a little child with wild abandon oblivious of the consequences. And its not just the people in office and power, everyone is a part of the gang, all the way from the media to you, me and the local rickshaw wallah who wont run the meter.
And even though movie tries hard to end on a positive note, to make you believe that justice has been served, we all know the course history will run. Just a year and a half ago, Manu Sharma was released on bail and found partying once again. Media uproar led to his prompt return behind bars but it is only a matter of time before this nation grows tired of this news and he slips back into his former life unnoticed.
Because though they have tried hard to make us discount our prejudices against the media of being TRP whores and cast them in a new light as altruists with an inane sense of justice, their true face has been there for all to see. i dont think i need to elaborate any further on this.
We're a society with way too many problems and too little solutions. The power to heal lies in the hands of the people. It is a slow process where the results are mostly far from satisfactory. But we have to persevere, no matter what the odds, and most of all we need to uphold in our actions the very values of democracy that we seek to redeem.
Viva la Revolucion!!
Verdict : SUPER LIKE
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
V for Vendetta
before i begin let me clarify one thing, the movie is not the same as the original graphic novel. Though they share the same the name and characters, the setting and scenarios might seem similar, they are still two completely different souls.
The graphic novel -
overview - set slightly in the future when nuclear war has destroyed most of the world and England has survived somehow, mostly by staying out of it. The country is being run by a fascist government, who believes in unilateral thought so as to maintain control. But they do so as a reason to keep the country together and prevent it from destruction. Here now a character called V emerges. He is a mysterious character who has set his goal of bringing down the present government and restoring democracy. he also has an underlying tale of revenge. He is dressed in a cape and wear's a Guy Fawkes mask. His acts range from vicious murders to destroying buildings, mostly monuments that are symbols of the government's power. He promises the people a revolution. He is aided in his quest in part by a young girl - Evey Hammond, who finds in him a protector from her troubled past. Later on in the story in he tortures her only to make her faith in him stronger and towards the end when he dies, she takes on his visage and completes the revolutions.
Perceptions - Alan moore's V for vendetta deals with the question of the veracity of terrorism to solve the system's problem. Mind you, in his story the government is restrictive but not to extremes and the reasons behind it are quite justified. The reason for V's dissent is open to discussion. It is easy to perceive him as either an extremist or a revolutionary, it all depends on one's point of view, quite like many scenarios in our country. Are his actions born more out of frustration or impatience? Does he act for the sake of the vox populi or that of vested interests? will his actions change things for better or lead to more decay?
As a person who found himself with a foot on both sides of the line at the end, i must say these are questions that must be asked and answered by only those who choose to act on such impulses. As a citizen of 'democratic' country and that too living in one of its most stable regions, these questions mean little to me first hand. But what they do do is give me an insight into what those who we consider terrorists might be thinking, of why they act so rashly.
Perhaps it is then human nature to lash out against any form of governance and control? Why is it so necessary for us to hate any form of command? Is it some primal urge for violence that cannot be controlled? i have come to believe so, because no matter how well maintained a civilization might be, there is always dissent and always the possibility of upheaval.
As a story, it is well scripted, the characters well etched out but the initial few chapters do suggest a sort of political naivete, Though this does little to dampen the pace and grandeur of the plot. The story moves from one set piece to another with ease and the narration and monologues are at par with those you might find in only superb theater productions. A great example is that of the conversation V has with the statue of Madam Liberty before he blows it up. He does both sides himself and accuses her of having cheated him and bedded other men, and the whole while dramatically reacting as if it were an actual conversation.
The character of V itself is one of the most intriguing characters you will meet in all of literature. He is at once Utopian and dystopian, from virulent to tranquil, you will deem him stark-mad one second and nodding in agreement with his ideas the next. He is no super-hero, not even a hero, just a man led by his beliefs and his quest for a better world by whatever means he deems necessary. I dont think i will meet someone quite like him ever again.
in conclusion, this is one of the books you MUST read if you are into graphic novels and even if you aren't, you should find yourself a copy and stop considering them as just comics (please do yourself a favour and rid yourself of the notion that anything that is drawn is for children. you are missing out on some of the most spectacular and thought-provoking stories that the human imagination has to offer).
VERDICT : BANG! brains blown out!
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
the motion picture -
overview - the characters in the movie are mostly the same, but the setting has changed. The system is still fascist in nature but power is the main motive. The people in power have risen up only due to greed and false propaganda. The citizens are no longer contained for the sake of their own safety but for that of retaining complete control. V has risen to counter this system. He is the voice of the people who have grown tired of of the law being manipulated by the echelons of power while the same laws ensnare the common man. He becomes a vigilante dealing justice to those who deserve it and he promises the country freedom in a year which he does so with the help of Evey (and though she does not don his visage in the end, her actions are somewhat to the same effect).
Perceptions - there are no two sides to the story here. The system has failed and the blunt question to be answered without hesitation is : "will you be the one to fix it?" perfectly summed up in one of the last lines of the movie when Inspector Finch questions Evey on the identity of V, she answers "he was my father, my mother, my brother, my friend, he was you and me"
so does this make it one sided? a weaker version of the original? perhaps or else perhaps it makes something entirely new. I dont know about you but i found the world described very much similar to ours. Everyday we hear new stories about the rich and the powerful getting away with whatever they do and the common man who stands by the sidelines watching the Tamasha. For me, i remember the first time i saw it when it came out, i couldn't think about anything else for the next couple of days. I kept on thinking if this was the answer and even now i'm not sure that it isn't.
"people shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of the people" he said. But is it true? what chance do people have against the vast powers of the system? Complete, i say.
this movie isn't about the question of terrorism as most would have you believe, because terrorism implies terror and the character of V in this inspires anything but terror. He is the spark that ignites the fuel, the starter of the domino chain, the symbol behind which all rally. (We are still awaiting ours.)The movie is about change, and of forcing it when things get out of hand, of the power of simple symbols such as buildings to influence the course of history and of ideas like freedom and democracy that stand the test of time because "ideas are bulletproof".
that aside, i found the changes made in story and plot quite intelligent (a direct conversion would have been disastrous). And being produced by the wachowski brothers ( the matrix) some cool action scenes were to be expected. In the acting department Natalie Portman steals the show, especially her 'conversion through torture' scene was stellar. The dialogues are a class apart. They are not just copies from the novel, Instead i found most of them to original creations themselves like the Introduction given by V to Evey when he first rescues her, which is one of my favorites.
Evey: who are you?
V: who? who is but the form following the function of what and what i am is a man in a mask.
Evey: well, i can see that.
V: of course you can. i am not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
VERDICT : SUPER LIKE
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
The graphic novel -
overview - set slightly in the future when nuclear war has destroyed most of the world and England has survived somehow, mostly by staying out of it. The country is being run by a fascist government, who believes in unilateral thought so as to maintain control. But they do so as a reason to keep the country together and prevent it from destruction. Here now a character called V emerges. He is a mysterious character who has set his goal of bringing down the present government and restoring democracy. he also has an underlying tale of revenge. He is dressed in a cape and wear's a Guy Fawkes mask. His acts range from vicious murders to destroying buildings, mostly monuments that are symbols of the government's power. He promises the people a revolution. He is aided in his quest in part by a young girl - Evey Hammond, who finds in him a protector from her troubled past. Later on in the story in he tortures her only to make her faith in him stronger and towards the end when he dies, she takes on his visage and completes the revolutions.
Perceptions - Alan moore's V for vendetta deals with the question of the veracity of terrorism to solve the system's problem. Mind you, in his story the government is restrictive but not to extremes and the reasons behind it are quite justified. The reason for V's dissent is open to discussion. It is easy to perceive him as either an extremist or a revolutionary, it all depends on one's point of view, quite like many scenarios in our country. Are his actions born more out of frustration or impatience? Does he act for the sake of the vox populi or that of vested interests? will his actions change things for better or lead to more decay?
As a person who found himself with a foot on both sides of the line at the end, i must say these are questions that must be asked and answered by only those who choose to act on such impulses. As a citizen of 'democratic' country and that too living in one of its most stable regions, these questions mean little to me first hand. But what they do do is give me an insight into what those who we consider terrorists might be thinking, of why they act so rashly.
Perhaps it is then human nature to lash out against any form of governance and control? Why is it so necessary for us to hate any form of command? Is it some primal urge for violence that cannot be controlled? i have come to believe so, because no matter how well maintained a civilization might be, there is always dissent and always the possibility of upheaval.
As a story, it is well scripted, the characters well etched out but the initial few chapters do suggest a sort of political naivete, Though this does little to dampen the pace and grandeur of the plot. The story moves from one set piece to another with ease and the narration and monologues are at par with those you might find in only superb theater productions. A great example is that of the conversation V has with the statue of Madam Liberty before he blows it up. He does both sides himself and accuses her of having cheated him and bedded other men, and the whole while dramatically reacting as if it were an actual conversation.
The character of V itself is one of the most intriguing characters you will meet in all of literature. He is at once Utopian and dystopian, from virulent to tranquil, you will deem him stark-mad one second and nodding in agreement with his ideas the next. He is no super-hero, not even a hero, just a man led by his beliefs and his quest for a better world by whatever means he deems necessary. I dont think i will meet someone quite like him ever again.
in conclusion, this is one of the books you MUST read if you are into graphic novels and even if you aren't, you should find yourself a copy and stop considering them as just comics (please do yourself a favour and rid yourself of the notion that anything that is drawn is for children. you are missing out on some of the most spectacular and thought-provoking stories that the human imagination has to offer).
VERDICT : BANG! brains blown out!
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
the motion picture -
overview - the characters in the movie are mostly the same, but the setting has changed. The system is still fascist in nature but power is the main motive. The people in power have risen up only due to greed and false propaganda. The citizens are no longer contained for the sake of their own safety but for that of retaining complete control. V has risen to counter this system. He is the voice of the people who have grown tired of of the law being manipulated by the echelons of power while the same laws ensnare the common man. He becomes a vigilante dealing justice to those who deserve it and he promises the country freedom in a year which he does so with the help of Evey (and though she does not don his visage in the end, her actions are somewhat to the same effect).
Perceptions - there are no two sides to the story here. The system has failed and the blunt question to be answered without hesitation is : "will you be the one to fix it?" perfectly summed up in one of the last lines of the movie when Inspector Finch questions Evey on the identity of V, she answers "he was my father, my mother, my brother, my friend, he was you and me"
so does this make it one sided? a weaker version of the original? perhaps or else perhaps it makes something entirely new. I dont know about you but i found the world described very much similar to ours. Everyday we hear new stories about the rich and the powerful getting away with whatever they do and the common man who stands by the sidelines watching the Tamasha. For me, i remember the first time i saw it when it came out, i couldn't think about anything else for the next couple of days. I kept on thinking if this was the answer and even now i'm not sure that it isn't.
"people shouldn't be afraid of their governments, governments should be afraid of the people" he said. But is it true? what chance do people have against the vast powers of the system? Complete, i say.
this movie isn't about the question of terrorism as most would have you believe, because terrorism implies terror and the character of V in this inspires anything but terror. He is the spark that ignites the fuel, the starter of the domino chain, the symbol behind which all rally. (We are still awaiting ours.)The movie is about change, and of forcing it when things get out of hand, of the power of simple symbols such as buildings to influence the course of history and of ideas like freedom and democracy that stand the test of time because "ideas are bulletproof".
that aside, i found the changes made in story and plot quite intelligent (a direct conversion would have been disastrous). And being produced by the wachowski brothers ( the matrix) some cool action scenes were to be expected. In the acting department Natalie Portman steals the show, especially her 'conversion through torture' scene was stellar. The dialogues are a class apart. They are not just copies from the novel, Instead i found most of them to original creations themselves like the Introduction given by V to Evey when he first rescues her, which is one of my favorites.
Evey: who are you?
V: who? who is but the form following the function of what and what i am is a man in a mask.
Evey: well, i can see that.
V: of course you can. i am not questioning your powers of observation. I'm merely remarking on the paradox of asking a masked man who he is.
VERDICT : SUPER LIKE
(for rating pattern please refer to post #1)
PROLOGUE
hey everyone,
this is my new blog dedicated to my opinions of 2 of my most deepest passions - literature and movies.
for those of who you know me, i dont need to tell you that how much i believe in the power of ideas and what better source than the two stated above. For those of you who don't know me, let this blog be an introduction. This blog is less about actual 'reviews' that tell you about language and structure or acting and screenplay, but instead it is more about what the stories mean, what they convey, about how they relate to us and our world.
So if you are looking for standard reviews to tell you whether to watch a particular movie or read a particular book, i suggest you go somewhere else, but if you care for stories and ideas, stay on.
:-)
okay, first of all let me be clear that i am not reviewing books and movies in any particular pattern, just the ones i feel like reading or watching, either new or old.
secondly, these are my opinions only. i am human and hence to err, and you are free to state your own point of view in the comments section
third, please do pay for the stuff you read and watch. support the arts.
other than that i hope all of you enjoy this site. just using this as writing practice and a point of promotion for great stories with great ideas.
RATING SCALE:
stuff will be rated into the following classes (equivalent to a scale of 1-7):
1) F.U.B.A.R. (refer to saving private ryan)
2) money flushed down the toilet
3) nothing memorable
4) LIKE (refer to facebook)
5) Seconds Please
6) SUPER LIKE (refer to comments in facebook)
7) BANG! brains blown out!
this is my new blog dedicated to my opinions of 2 of my most deepest passions - literature and movies.
for those of who you know me, i dont need to tell you that how much i believe in the power of ideas and what better source than the two stated above. For those of you who don't know me, let this blog be an introduction. This blog is less about actual 'reviews' that tell you about language and structure or acting and screenplay, but instead it is more about what the stories mean, what they convey, about how they relate to us and our world.
So if you are looking for standard reviews to tell you whether to watch a particular movie or read a particular book, i suggest you go somewhere else, but if you care for stories and ideas, stay on.
:-)
okay, first of all let me be clear that i am not reviewing books and movies in any particular pattern, just the ones i feel like reading or watching, either new or old.
secondly, these are my opinions only. i am human and hence to err, and you are free to state your own point of view in the comments section
third, please do pay for the stuff you read and watch. support the arts.
other than that i hope all of you enjoy this site. just using this as writing practice and a point of promotion for great stories with great ideas.
RATING SCALE:
stuff will be rated into the following classes (equivalent to a scale of 1-7):
1) F.U.B.A.R. (refer to saving private ryan)
2) money flushed down the toilet
3) nothing memorable
4) LIKE (refer to facebook)
5) Seconds Please
6) SUPER LIKE (refer to comments in facebook)
7) BANG! brains blown out!
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