Breakfast of Champions by Kurt Vonnegut

I'm a Vonnegut virgin - I'll start with that. I've never read his work before so if you're expecting a detailed review stacking up 'Breakfast of Champions' to his other works, you'll have to look elsewhere.

Incidentally, Breakfast of Champions (BoC from here on) is also an awesome title that is a compelling argument in itself to read this book. Plus, it is layered with copious amounts of subtext which you will notice only after reading the book.

Now, moving on and sticking to the virgin metaphor, I've heard Vonnegut quoted so often that if I didn't know any better, I'd have to assume that he was some kind of writing demi-god capable of impregnating people's minds by the mere flick of his pen. For all I knew, he was sex itself. 

But like most first time experiences under the covers, Vonnegut's BoC is a whelming experience. Not over-whelming, nor under. Just whelming. It's a good book that will satisfy you but one that will never really enjoy. It's a teaser of all the fun that can be had with the writer but not really a very memorable experience in itself.

The book is a satire on American cultures and values, and in a broader sense, on human nature itself. It has some excellent metaphors and the dilemma of one of the two lead characters, Dwayne Hoover, wherein he believes everyone but himself to be an unfeeling robot set on Earth just for his purposes raises some deep philosophical questions that beg to be answered.

There are also stories within the story in the form of books written by Kilgore Trout, the other lead character, who is a poor science fiction writer. It is one of his works that sets the aforementioned Dwayne off into his delusion about unfeeling robots. These numerous 'books' spread across the course of the story act as mini parables which draw interesting parallels with the different plagues of our day and age. For example, there's a story of a planet the inhabitants of which are automobiles who live off oil and eventually make their world inhabitable. I don't need to explain what this is supposed to signify and there are many more such books in there that talk about everything from wasting food to the ostracization of intelligence.

And this is where BoC's problems begin. As it is Vonnegut utilizes a very abstract form of story telling which is a mixture of text riddled with crude hand made drawings. Add to that the two dozen or so ideas he tries to propagate at once, and the whole thing starts feeling less like a book and more like a long, winded sermon. I don't know about you, but I prefer my books to more subtle with their ideas (or at least have strong forward momentum with their stories) rather than trying to hammer them in.

But that's not to say that the ideas he pushes aren't worthwhile. If anything, they have made me mull over them plenty during the course of my reading. There are some deep and disturbing thoughts he brings to the surface that we all must acknowledge. And there are some genuinly witty laughs to be had while pondering over them. The characters are sharp and well thought out, and there is a deliberate chess-like pace to the story as all the pieces move to their predestined conclusion. It's just a shame that in the end, the otherwise interesting premise comes off as secondary to the ideas expressed in the story rather than the other way around.

At the end of the day it's all a matter of taste I suppose. BoC is more akin to Paulo Coelho's 'The Alchemist' in its abstract story centred around strong philosophical messages, and less like Neil Gaiman's 'American Gods' which is also a take on American culture and vices, albeit with more emphasis on the story. 

BoC is not a book for everyone (and probably not even me) but it is an intelligent one. I'll give it that. Vonnegut is a master of the inner workings of human behaviour, and while I may not have really enjoyed the story that much, you know a book is always worthy of being read if it makes you ponder over it for days after.

— Sidharth Sreekumar

The Book Thief by Markus Zusak

You know you’ve read something truly wonderful when you can’t stop thinking about it — even when you are asleep. Like the kind of book that digs its way under your skin and quietly makes a tiny hovel in the most forgotten recesses of your heart.

There aren’t many such books, but I tell you now without any doubt — The Book Thief is one of them. Beautiful. That's how I would describe it if I had just one word to breathe.

Beautiful.

It’s a triumphant piece of literature that wrings you through the entire emotional spectrum. It will make you laugh and cry, fall in love, and hate venomously, and at the end of the day it will break your heart with the tenderest of care. This, my dear friends, is what storytelling is all about.

Set in the all too common setting of Nazi Germany with an all too common protagonist in the form of a surly 10 year old, Liesel Meminger is a girl surrounded by war and death. Given this, the book would seem to have a lot going against it and little new to offer, but that definitely isn’t the case here. From this pot of commonness, Markus Zusak manages to pull out the most alluring of tales. Like an expert magician with an empty hat, he manages to pull out not only a rabbit, but an entire cornucopia of delights and wonder.

The Book Thief also has the most unassuming of narrators, the unlikely Death which makes the entire experience somewhat surreal. Death, who was busier than any man in this dark period of our history, finds himself (herself?) drawn to this little girl with a dangerous habit of thieving books. Death’s observations are sometimes funny and often poignant, and serve as a reminder of the futility of war. It might seem like hammering in the point to some people, but maybe that's the point. We never learn, do we?

The world of Liesel Meminger is a magical world populated with characters that are as alive as any of us. And that is why it’s gut-wrenching knowing where all this is headed while the characters in the story still believe otherwise. From the stoic Hubermanns who take in a child to raise as their own and later on a Jew, to the wannabe negro and hopeless romantic, Andy, who shall forever be in love with Liesel, the book is rife with characters that will nest in your hearts for a long time after.

Also, the structure of the story is such that Mr. Zusak chooses to give us the ending right up front so that we don’t have any allusions of happy endings, but the journey there is such a beautiful one that we keep hoping against hope for a miracle (like no doubt many who lived in that time did). But we know the author isn’t lying. There are no real happy endings. Just lessons we learn along the way — in case we survive that long.

Part of the exigency in putting up this review now is thanks to the upcoming movie adaptation. Yes it’s got Geoffrey Rush in it, but by god! if it hasn't sucked the life and soul out of the original work like a monstrous amazonian tick in an Alan Quartermain story! Judging by the trailer, it seems as if they’ve thrown everything that was amazing and unique about the book by the wayside in favour of another generic, "up-lifting", World War II movie. BAH!

So do yourself a favour. Go pick up a copy of The Book Thief. Read it. It will do you good. It’s chicken soup for the soul but only better. And if you can’t afford it, borrow it from me. This is one book I believe everyone should read. It is human and real, and veined with a childlike innocence that will drive a splinter through your being. So go. Now. You can thank me later.

— Sidharth Sreekumar

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey

Here we go again!

First of all. . . WOW!! The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is an amazing movie! I made sure I didn't go in with any high expectations, but now that I've watched it I can safely tell you that it is safe to set the bar as high as you want. Peter Jackson has lived up to his promise of delivering a spectacle and then some. Sure, there are some minor technical issues and a lot of it depends on what you are expecting but at the end of the day THAUJ (yes, that's what I'm going to call it henceforth. For one, because it's easier, and mostly because it sounds somewhat like a dwarven name - THAUJ THE TERRIFIC) sweeps the floor with its competition.

Adapted from Tolkien's "The Hobbit" - the precursor to the LOTR, THAUJ is the first in the part of a new trilogy. Stretched and extended by heavily borrowing from the original book's footnotes and appendices, the movie is a much more detailed (and at times more tedious to some) retelling of the original.

As the first movie in the new prequel trilogy based on Tolkien's "The Hobbit"- the precursor to the LOTR - , THAUJ tells the story of how Bilbo Baggins (Frodo's uncle if you wish), a rather well-to-do and happy-as-you-please hobbit ends up being unsuspectingly sucked from his quiet home in the shire and thrown into a merry troop of dwarves on a quest to regain their lost homeland from the dragon Smaug the terrible - all courtesy of a familiar old wizard.

Riding on the back of something as magnificent as LOTR trilogy, it was always going to be an uphill task. But it is a task made much easier with an expert cast and the indelible Peter Jackson back at the helm. Seriously, we should just make a law that says any epic work of fantasy must and only must be handled by this man. This is his calling. This is his maksat in life. He brings to life Tolkien's works in a way no one else ever can.

Adapted by the very skilled team-up of Peter Jackson and Guillermo Del Toro, THAUJ is the first of a sprawling three-part epic. While anyone who has read the book can you tell you that the original is not nearly as extensive to warrant three movies, let alone three, three-hour long movies, it is in this extension the true magic of THAUJ lies. The Hobbit book was never as nearly as descriptive as the LOTR and Peter Jackson has done well to pull in extra bits (which end up being more of the majority here) to weave another compelling journey tale.

THAUJ does well in all aspects of what a fantasy adventure should be —great characters, fantastic action, sufficient comedy and a well crafted world—and if there is one quibble most movie-goers will go home with is that it's a bit childish. Then again, so was the book — deal with it! There is no point in comparing this with its much superior and sterner cousin, instead just enjoy enjoy it for what it is — another delectable romp through the realms of Middle Earth.

Though the choice to go complete CGI might be a bit of an off-putter (as compared to the LOTR where CGI and old-school effects were mixed in equal quantities), as CGI has the uncanny ability of looking great in the present but ageing really fast over the years. There's a good chance that in a few years you will be laughing how fake the white orc looks.

But besides that, it is a thoroughly enjoyable movie—as long as you are ready to drop your LOTR based predilections. I am already looking forward to the next installment (which might have something to do with a certain Mr. Benedict Cumberbatch) Plus, its got an utterly hummable theme song that has the tendency to make you want to go hunting for lost magic rings yourself. Here you go...

Life Of Pi (movie)

A lot of people believe that the "3-D revolution" that is taking place in the wake of Avatar is just a fad, a new fangled attraction that will soon lose its charm without adding anything concrete to the art of cinematic story telling. But then again, the same was also though about CGI, color and sound, and look how they turned out. While it's true that 3-D has been beaten to an inch of its life in the past few years with every Tom, Dick and Michael Bay trying to squeeze in as many exploding robots and sissy face Shea Lepoops into every frame, it doesn't mean that the technology has no potential. All it needed was a skilled helmsman to take the oar and guide it to shore.

Enter Ang Lee.

Life of Pi had always been regarded as one of those unfilmable books. It was the story of Piscine Molitar Patel, or Pi, who was migrating to Canada with his family and a bunch of animals from the zoo they used to own in Pondicherry, when a storm capsizes their ship. Pi, the sole survivor, escapes on a life boat along with an odd menagerie of animals that include a zebra, an orangutan, a hyena and a bengal tiger, and makes his way across the Pacific ocean whilst coming to grasp the complexities of faith, life and everything in between.

As someone who had read the book a long time back, I had never imagined that I would ever get to see it play out on the big screen, let alone in 3-D. It was just that strange and mystical a story. But then I am glad to report, that this is one of those rare movies which actually does justice to its source material. Yes, the director has taken some creative liberties, but none of them that actually detracts anything from the whole experience. And the 3-D, let's just say that it is good enough to take a dive in and go for a swim.

Life of Pi is a movie that works on so many levels. It already had an amazing story that has been adapted with a tempered hand and then superbly directed for good measure. It has great performances from both Suraj Sharma, the newcomer and the star of the movie, and the eclectic cast of actors that support his tale. It has great CGI (at least that's what I think it was) that never makes you doubt for a moment the authenticity of Pi's carnivorous shipmate. And finally, it has fantastic cinematography that if nothing else will make you want to believe in God. Honestly, there are some shots that I don't think I will be forgetting any time soon. (you'll know them when you see them)

Ang Lee has always had a penchant for capturing the intrinsically beautiful but with Life of Pi he has outdone even himself. Hardly a frame goes by where you are not bombarded with either a riot of colors or a serene simplicity that you never knew could ever exist. From film roll to film end, Life of Pi seems like a giant canvas being painted over with the most meticulous of details. If nothing else, it is a work of art. I don't know any better way to put it.

But while I was swayed by the breathtaking visuals and enjoyed the steady handed direction of a movie that in lesser hands would have been worth less than a bowl of tiger crap, I could not help but be a bit dismayed at the ending. Maybe it was because I already knew what was coming, but somehow for all the beauty and spectacle that preceded it, the end never really caught me. I felt strangely disconnected as the final scenes played out. Maybe I was still lost in the thoughts of some of the most breathtaking moments caught on film I had ever seen or maybe there are some things that better felt read. Either way it did diminish a bit of the grandeur of the experience for me.

Nevertheless, that little hiccup aside, Life of Pi has been one of the most sumptuous movie experiences of the  year and definitely the most beautiful. I have never been happier since Avatar to have watched something in 3-D and especially on a giant screen. The tiger itself was worth the prize of admission. I don't know about oscars and the like but this definitely has earned a place in my books amongst the best of the year. Right beside Hugo, The Avengers, Moonrise Kingdom and Cloud Atlas.

p.s. and as a friend of mine pointed out. This is not an Indian movie people, so don't Slumdog Millionaire it!

Cloud Atlas (The Movie)

“Our lives are not our own. We are bound to others, past and present, and by each crime, and every kindness, we birth our future.” - Somni 451


My dear Sixsmith,

I witnessed a marvel today. A strange and beautiful movie called Cloud Atlas. At first it seemed too huge and unwieldy, ever in the danger of crumbling under its own weight. There was just so much to behold at once, and with a timeline that spanned centuries through six different stories it was almost inevitable that incoherence and confusion would somehow seep in. There is the story of friendship between Ewing and the black stowaway; the criminal mystery of Louisa Ray; the comical escapades of the elderly Mr. Cavendish; the inspiring uprising of Somni 431 - an android in a futuristic Seoul; a post-apocalyptic tale of a man searching for courage; and then there is our story Sixsmith, of love and loss, and inspiration that will forever define the future.

The movie constantly teetered on the edge of turning into a colossal mess, and to many people in the audience I realize that is just how it might have seemed judging by the vocal complaints flying during the show. It was at times incomprehensible, and to add to that many of the actors were cast in different roles in different stories. While Tom Hanks might be an innocuous doctor aiding with an investigation in one story, he would return as an Irish writer or a tribal goatherd in another. This just further added to the confusion. If you are not paying attention, it is easy to get lost in who is what and where.

But as it went on, as it wove six distinct and seemingly unconnected tales together, I began to fall in love with its imperfections and blemishes. Sure it was not perfect. Far from it. But, there are works of art, Sixsmith, and then there are labors of love, and Cloud Atlas is the latter. And like all true love it is not perfect - for all it struggles, it endures. Nobody can deny the heart that went into making this movie. Most such movies suffer because not enough though is put in though has been put into them. No one can say the same about Cloud Atlas. If anything, Cloud Atlas has too much thought out into, and with three directors all putting their all into it, you can almost literally see each of the separate stories battling it out on screen to be the better one. Each vignette seems like a hand-crafted story of different genres that will rarely be coupled together let alone be packed all six in one. A guarantee, that you have never seen anything quite like this before.

There is so much to say about this movie that I would never know where to begin. It is a movie with so much going on at once that it is sure to polarize audiences for decades to come. Like the rare few before it like Blade Runner, which have broken free of pre-existing moulds, there will be no person who comes out of the hall and say "it was ok". You will either love it or hate it. And like Blade Runner I might never fully understand grasp all the high ideals and concept that the movie concealed, but I do know this that yesterday, I believe I would never have done what I did today. I feel like something important has happened to me. Is this possible?

Watch Cloud Atlas.

Love,

Robert Frobisher

THE AVENGERS

Oh my god, I cant even think straight right now. If you can put adrenaline, passion, love, sex, and everything similar you can think of in a blender, puree it to hell, and down a dozen barrels of the concoction, you might just end up with a feeling similar to the one I had after watching ‘THE AVENGERS’. To say it is brilliant would be a gross understatement. It would be like saying the sun is warm or the universe is decently spacious. The movie is a miracle. Anyone who has even a slight understanding of the marvel universe, or has even seen the recent standalone pictures of Thor, Captain America, Iron Man, and the Hulk could fathom the insurmountableness of the task of putting them all together in one single two and a half hour movie. That’s like asking to fit the Hulk in a pepsi can. I can’t even begin imagining how one would even start with it, but if anyone can do it, it had to be Joss Whedon (Director).

I know a lot of people might be going to watch this movie just because of the lead characters, but for me the pull was knowing Mr. Whedon was at the helm. For those of you haven’t heard his name, think Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Angel, and Firefly. I have loved all his previous works and expected a decent product from him. The trailers were a bit unconvincing though I must say but I was stoked enough by the time I entered the hall (I was the only guy there wearing an Avengers t-shirt).  The movie had a lot to live up for, mainly decades of comic book lore and the expectations of generations of fans, and I am glad to say that it not only meets them but surpasses them in Hulking leaps and bounds.

The movie first and foremost is about a team like none other. A team of heroes who are as likely to beat the crap out of each other as they are to pummel an enemy, and this is evident in every single frame. Captain America (Chris Evans) is your honorable, to-the-letter soldier, who has suddenly found himself displaced in time and struggling to keep up. His own stand alone movie left a lot to be desired, but in this outting I found myself cheering every time he stepped in front of the camera. His nobility has a way of reaching deep into your chest and tugging at the right strings to make you smile at his righteousness and courage. Robert Downey Jr. a.k.a. Tony Stark a.k.a. Iron Man is back to what he is doing best, i.e. pissing off every single person in the room. Be it taking on Thor in an all out battle (thundering), stealing secrets from under Nick Fury’s nose (cheeky), provoking Banner to turn into Hulk (comic), or taking potshots at Cap’ for his lack of modern day knowledge (witty), his blatant narcissism will win you over. And it doesn’t hurt that the Iron Man suit is more cooler than ever! (Yes Jaarvis, you too).

Thor will always be a tough character to tackle but as in his previous film, Chris Hemsworth fills the demi-god shoes perfectly. His otherworldly approach to every situation and his high-handed style of speech make him stand apart in this already heady crowd. Plus he’s got a super hammer and schoolboyish grin everytime he swings it, even at the Hulk whose praise I was leaving until the end.

First up three words – HULK! HULK! HULK! The show stealer, the show stopper, the master of ceremonies, the winner of the spotlight award -  the hulk yanks the movie all unto himself. If I loved the hulk before, I revere him now. He smashes, he busts heads, he is everything you expect from a superhero and more. You have to see it to believe it. His scenes will leave you screaming with joy and jumping from your seats whooping and dancing in the air. Hulk is the man! And Mark Ruffalo’s world weary, resigned Bruce Banner complements the severity of his alter-form completely. While the hulk is brutal, Banner finds repose in avoiding conflicts through wit. When the green rage monster will break bones at the slightest insult, Bruce will take everything thrown at him with a pinch of salt. It’s the perfect duality and my favorite character of the whole ensemble seeing that the Hulk has always been one of the most relatable superheroes of all time. The very concept of losing yourself to anger is a very humanly intrinsic characteristic, and knowing this allows you to appreciate his awesomeness even more.

And yes, yes, I have not forgotten – Scarlett Johansenn (Black Widow) is there too and she kicks ass like never before. She is stunning and beautiful and sexy and depending on your sexual preferences, the second best thing in the movie (the first still being the Hulk). Her story opens up even more and so does her relationship to Hawkeye (Brett Renner) who is also marvelous in his role too.

The most amazing thing in the movie perhaps is not the action (of which there is tones) but the amount of content that they have been able to cram into a single film. The character development is brilliant and even former fringe players like Nick Fury (Samuel L. Jackson) and Agent Coulson get more etched out here than in all their other movies put together. All in all, each character is better represented here than in their own movies (Iron Man and Thor might be the only exceptions).

The story itself is a pretty simple one with Loki (Tom Hiddelston), banished from Aasgard at the end of Thor drifts off into space, returns with an alien army to take over the world, and Nick Fury assembles the avengers to defend us. But like they say, the devil is in the details, and so it is here. This movie is riddled with amazing conversations and meticulously placed jokes, most of them occurring in the midst of epic battles. Each characters relation with the other gets etched out during the course of the story and by the end what we have is a comprehensive understanding of what the Avengers are capable of – and with a major reveal at the end of the credits showing us the next villain -  you realize that this was infact just a two and half hour long prologue to what is yet to come. God bless us all.

IN SHORT: There is action, there is humor, there are heroes and there are villains. I wont spoil anything for you by describing any scene in length or short, because the whole thing is that amazing. This is a ride everyone must take for the love of their inner child. Unlike the recent dark turn comic book movies have taken since Nolan’s Batman, The Avengers embraces its roots unabashedly. Think of all the cartoons you watched, the comics you read, and the toys with which you played out fantasy fights. Whedon has captured them all. This is a movie meant for pure joy, and if you are even half as in love with any of the characters as I am, you will walk out with a major pain in your face muscles from carrying a ear to ear grin from title shot to credit roll.

VERDICT: BANG! brains blown out!

The Descendants

I love dysfunctional families. Don't ask why, i just do, there is just something oddly comforting about them and that is why i found The Descendants struck such a strong chord with me. At its core its a family drama about a man who finds out his wife was cheating on him, but its the superficial charm, wittiness, and overall sweetness of the whole story of a man struggling to figure out the WHY while at the same time stretching to hold his family together, that wins you over in the end.

George Clooney does a wonderful turn as Matt King, the protagonist of the story, and the man on a mission to find his wife's lover. Think about it. Bring to your mind the one person you truly care about, the one that you know you will be with forever - your names etched in stone, and then imagine finding out that they never really cared. That the person was cheating on you the whole time while you gave them your whole heart, never suspecting a thing, and that when you finally find out, the person is no longer even there to answer the burning WHY. Imagine this and you will know the agony of Matt King, as he struggles to cope with a dying wife in a coma on the one hand, and the revelation of her deceit on the other. Should he remain the dutiful husband and stay by her side, forgiving all her misdemeanors as every breath may be her last? Or should he give into the pain of the betrayal? Throw into the mix two unwieldy daughters, one who wants nothing to do with him and the other too young to actually grasp the magnitude of the situation, and a family deal underway worth half a billion, and you have the potential for a very heavy handed, sweeping melodrama.

And this is where The Descendants stands head and shoulders above its competition. While the Alexander Payne (Director) could have easily taken the sappy, melodramatic route, he chose instead to give it heart. Instead of sobbing, you find yourself smiling at each frame (with chords of sadness plucking away in the background) as Matt King first grapples with his own emotions and then with that of his children, who pulls in tow, as he travels around the beautiful settings of Hawaii searching for the man who was sleeping with his wife (because he has to confront someone and it obviously cannot be his comatose wife). Scenes such as when Matt first learns of his wife's infidelity and then runs all the way to his sister-in-law's house in sandals and shorts to ask her if she already knew, or when he and his daughter's visit their estate for the last time, reminiscing over memories that will be soured forever, stick with you in a sweet a way like candy to the roof of your mouth - you know its not good, but you cant help but enjoy the taste. Even his final showdown with his wife's lover is bittersweet, a single scene resonating the beauty and the pain of the entire movie, and of a man who has a family to look after and a final goodbye to be said to a wife he loved with all his heart.

The Descendants in the end stands out, not just because of tremendously great acting or smart screenplay, but the simple fact that it puts before you a most saddening of tales and still manages to leave the hall smiling and happy. It is also sprinkled throughout with lines that will linger with you long after, and a feeling of fulfillment can ever accomplish. This is a movie you MUST watch, and if you already have, recommend to others.

VERDICT: BANG! brains blown out!

p.s. i leave you in the end with some of the aforementioned quotes. I hope you enjoy them as much i did.

"Somehow it feels natural to find a daughter of mine on a different island. A family seems exactly like an archipelago - all part of the same geographic expression but still islands - separate and alone, always drifting slowly apart."

"You give your children enough money to do something, but not enough to do nothing."

" What is it that makes the women in my life destroy themselves? "

Stanley Ka Dabba

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

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.

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!!

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

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)

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)

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!