King Arthur

I have never studied about Arthur before, so historically and factually I am not the best person to comment on the depiction of King Arthur in the movie.

Its tale of honor, comraderie, leadership, friendship, treachery, bravery, slavery and above all freedom.

King Arthur - man of his words, leader who believes in doing what he preaches, puts the knights welfare before his own interest, compassionate, brave, skilled, one who stands up for the needy, whatever you need from a leader. He does not command his knights, his knights take up the battle for him. Lancleot asks- 'Is this Rome's quest or is it Arthur's'. In the final battle against the Saxons, the reason the Knights decide to fight, is for Arthur. Arthur proclaims, 'I do not fight for Rome, I fight for a cause which no man can probably understand.'

Guinevere - When she was rescued from bondage, I hardly knew that she is going to be such a fire-brand. She is brave, courageous and helps Arthur think for the Britons. She being rescued by Arthur himslef, is definitely destiny's design :)

"Finally I found a man worth killing"

The Express

Truimph of the human spirit; the need to excel, the coming together of a great team, the ups and downs of young boy with the dream to dream big.

Driving Lessons

I picked it up for Luara Linney, but then I guess her talent was grossly under-utilized. Never the less there were other parts of the movie which I enjoyed a lot. The literary references, the eccentric and free living, the on-the-go decisions, the companionship, the rescue from the play...Overall decent, you would not loose much if you miss it either...

Silent Light (Stellet Licht)

Winner Jury Prize at Cannes 2007

Nominated for Golden Palm

Directed y Carlos Reygadas

The stillness and the pace of the movie is something which was evdident from the very start. 'It 'It grows on you'- Puma; I felt the same thing happened with Silent Light.

I decided to give the movie the pace which it wishes to take, and relaxed myself and brought myslef in the same rhythm. It helped me relsish the idyllic settings. I kind of was able to sit and see the sunset; which I think have not been able to see for days together. Movies grab you from whatever you are doing, wherever you are; and throws you into a different time and space. If you give it what it takes, you have travelled with the movie, with the characters and become a integral part of whatever happened.

There is a limit to which a movie can make you 'get deep' into the subject, Silent Light explored that very limit. The movie is shot very aesthetically, gives lot of attention to detail, withot any much development happening by means of dialogs (it happens otherwise). I feel it can look all meaningless and pointless, if one is not able to give the time the movie demands.

Shakespeare in Love

I had seen Shakespear in Love before in college, but then I realized I didnt even remember the plot or the climax...I had to watch it again, and it happended this weekend.

Master William Shakespeare - burning in love, man with the gift of the words, a die hard romantic,

Viola - dreamer, charmer, actor, disguied, madly in love, obedient, dutiful daughter, Gwyneth Paltrow does it all, and all too good

"What light is light, if Silvia be not seen, What joy is joy, if Silvia be not by? Unless it be to think that she is by and feed upon the shadow of perfection."

"Oh, I am fortune's fool, I will be punished for this!"

"I have spoken with your father."

- "So my lord? I speak with him every day."

"My Lord--when you cannot find your wife you had better look for her at the playhouse."

"Have her then, but you are a lordly fool. She has been plucked since I saw her last, and not by you. It takes a woman to know it."

" Yes, the illusion is remarkable and your error, Mr. Tilney, easily forgiven, but I know something of a woman in a man's profession, yes, by God, I do know about that. That is enough from you, Maser Kent. If only Lord Wessex were here."

Seven Samurai

Akira Kursowa's undisputed masterpiece; no synopsis can do justice.

Branded ‘Chaddis’

Kya tu chaddi pehen ke aayega?
Look around and I see it is me they are talking too
I trudge along

‘Forum Mall’ mein chaddi?
I look at glances and notice the whispers
Not sure what went wrong
I trudge along

Chaddi mein trip pe jayega?
In sweltering heat, for day trip, shorts are not in?
I trudge along

Chaddi to Chaddi hai
‘Its should be comfortable, it should trendy
Pepe or Papa who cares’
I trudge along

Chaddi with a T-shirt
‘T-shirt is a T-shirt whether with tag or w/o
You care for a tag, you got it all wrong’
I trudge along

Branded Chaddis
I am not sure if its still in
Whether the tag matters or not
I trudge along

Birthday Girl

I picked up the movie for Nicole Kidman; and I must say I was not disappointed one bit. Neat plot, Brit accent, loads of Russian, funny, engaging, a bit philosophical, similarities to Punch Drunk Love…

Alice Doesn't Live Here Anymore

I had heard Cliff Richard’s Carrie and I felt may be it was an OST from this song, so I picked up the movie. Little did I now that it was directed by Martin Scorsese and that it starred Ellen Burstyn whom I had first seen in Requiem for a Dream. Neither did I know that it had won Ellen a BAFTA award too.
Alice Hyatt is a woman of sorts, her son well his favorite word is weird, and she wants to be a singer. She just happens to fall for the wrong men all the time, it kind of reminded me of Beautiful Joe somewhere. There are some good moments in the film.

Sense and Sensiblity

Directed by Ang Lee

Academy Award Nominations and Wins

•Academy Award for Best Picture (nominee)

•Academy Award for Best Actress (Emma Thompson, nominee)

•Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress (Kate Winslet, nominee)

•Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (winner)

•Academy Award for Best Cinematography (nominee)

•Academy Award for Best Costume Design (nominee) •Academy Award for Best Original Score (nominee)

•Mrs. Dashwood — the second wife of Henry Dashwood, played by Gemma Jones. In more than one way, I tend to believe every time I see the movie that she is close to what Jane Austen describes in the book for instance the content smile she displays when she discovers the new found attachment between Edward and Elinor; how she breaks down when Willoughby has to leave for Devonshire, her stoic presence at the dinner when the Ferrars are around…
•Elinor Dashwood — the eldest daughter played by Emma Thompson. First of all an excellent adaptation, followed by an brilliant performance. I relate a lot to the character, and the nuances of what she says make the whole plot a lot intriguing for me. Her interactions with Edward Ferrars, Colonel Brandon and the agony and turmoil during her conversation with Lucy Steele, Emma brings out all the emotions so beautifully on screen. •Marianne Dashwood — the romantically inclined daughter who does not believe in hiding her feelings, is played by Kate Winslet. Kate is able to so well bring out the characteristics of Marianne, that its difficult for me to see Kate in the movie as Kate. She is Marianne from start to finish; no glimpses, no shades of the Rose (Titanic) at all. The way how she blooms in love, how she expresses her discontentment, how she remarks about her sister’s liking to her mother…well there is no end to recollecting what all I liked from the movie.•Edward Ferrars — the elder of Fanny Dashwood's two brothers is played by Hugh Grant. He brings out the reserved, soft spoken, well mannered, adaptable, kind and the man who keeps his word, well in his performance as Edward. I really like the library scene with Margaret, the horse riding session with Elinor, his conversation with Elinor about Colonel’s offer and their final meeting.
•Colonel Brandon — a close friend of Sir John Middleton, played by Alan Rickman. A strong, dependable, well mannered, chivalrous gentleman. Alan brings out the character, with his mature looks and calm temperament. He fondness for Marianne and the family, makes him a confidante for the family and he being their well wisher, always shares his views and opinion with Elinor. I am in awe for the strength of his character, the old fashioned chivalry, and his reserved self.

Choke

Some time back I got to know that Chuck Palahniuk has written another novel Choke and it’s being made as a movie. Well, after the affect ‘Fight Club’ produced on me, ‘Choke’ was something I was very eagerly waiting for. Gradually it slipped out of my mind and I completely forgot about it. Yesterday while browsing through the new releases at my DVD store I spotted ‘Choke’.
Choke was a cross between Californication and ‘High Fidelity’. A guiding narrative speaking on behalf of an eccentric ‘sex-addict’…It’s too early for me yet to form a concrete judgment and write off the movie. I still need to put together some more sequences to figure out if they give a twist to the whole understanding.
One thing for sure, Choke in no way matches the raw intensity of Fight Club, it does not even close to it. I think it’s better to put them as two different genres. That would do justice to both.

My space has a new address- BTM II Stage 27th Main

After staying for six years @ house #38; I moved to this new address. I have a kitchen, which is fully functional but I am not sure how to put it to use. I have a residence with more sq.ft than before, not sure how to keep it spic and span. Lots of windows, of all sizes, but no curtains yet. My windows are almost 8-9 feet high; but narrow. My room must be some 20 ft high like those from the colonial British architecture. So many things to do, so many things to explore. Not been able to completely identify myself with this new space yet. Not feeling completely @home yet.

I have my bed to sleep on, and a window to peep out....Will this space ever become 'my space'

TGIF

Not always I go to a eating joint for great food or for that matter great service. There are so many memories associated with some places; its almost like reliving those moments again. The music, the food, the taste, the décor just re create old memories for me. Its strange how places help me re collect so many small small incidents which lay buried deep down in memories. All of a sudden I feel its just few days back that all those things happened; but in reality it may have been years together. It’s a comfort to realize that I am still there to relish those old moments and place while others have disappeared into different corners of the world. They are busy discovering new places and creating new memories while I stick on to the old ones dear to my heart…

Delhi 6

Delhi 6

Crowded lanes, jostling people on streets, cycle rickshaws, old and dilapidated shops, tourists with cameras, people asking for directions, people eating food on the streets, honking cars, beggars, houses on top of the shops with peeping eyes from the windows, sweet meat shops, binders, publishers, vendors, children playing on the streets, men with the prayer caps, women in burqa, Karim’s - mouth watering sheikh kebab, sheermal, khameeri roti, nihari, mutton keema, kheer, people from all parts of the world brought together by the sheer taste of the food, all differences melting down with the aroma of the food, waiters managing the temperament, heat, and the orders from the demanding customers, and much more…