Deception at Thirteenth Floor

Inception- A brilliant story and more brilliantly shot.

Christopher Nolan had this idea from the time of Matrix and The 13^th floor and Dark city. They were based in the principles that the world around you might not be real. The Virtual world had some great examples of Labyrinths and Penrose stairs, limbo city which were very aesthetically shot.

Sharing dreams, stealing ideas from dreams and more difficult- planting an idea was a real rollercoaster.

The story was tightly wounded with loose ends which were tied again. The first half will keep your mind at a fast pace deciphering Nolan’s idea about Dreams inside dreams inside dreams. The level of dreams were designed and grafted in a way that it looked real. However Second half nearing end was little stretched out. The extra extended level and their time dimensions were not mapped as correctly as it should be. Memento’s Director had a clear set marked this time that the audiences are smarter this time.

The Mombasa chase sequence was hand held but was impactful. The Matrix style of discussion about architecting dreams between Cobb and Ariadnae had some great camera graphics and was composed to bite nails. Cobb as lucid dreamer, the very first time he woke, after falling in water was critically too good and had no holes. The Zero gravity fight at second level Dream was a cult sequence, though second’s to Neo’s bullets in Matrix.

From Deception to Inception of Dreams inside your minds was the plot of Heist to become the world’s great Energy Company looked just satisfactory. The Employer of Cobb for the Last Job was not in clear, as Saito who Met Leo in the last scene was less convincing. When Saito said:-“You remind me of someone... a man I met in a half-remembered dream. He was possessed of some radical notions.” made an impact and the flashback movie became quite linear.

Performance by Leonardo and Ellen Page was satisfactory, but Marion Cotillard as Mal was more convincing. She looked stunning and played a great spoilsport for Cobb’s guilt inside his own dreams.Michael Caine and Joseph Gordon-Levitt performance was a stealer from Leonardo D Caprio.

Nolan added a new dimension to the imagination. It was a mind boggling movie after Matrix and The 13^th Floor. An event that is a beginning; a first part or stage of subsequent events is not only inception; But an Abrupt end which was very predictable from the beginning of the movie; proved Nolan’s too literate and logical debate over virtuality. The Scene was cut when the top begins to wobble, leaving something for our dreams.

2 and Half Stars for Nolan’s Original dream and Reality.

 

Only Salt

Only Salt, No Pepper, No Masala – Bland.

Salt is no Bond. And Angelina Jolie never said- “My name is Salt, Evelyn Salt”.

Jolie’s tasteless profile with skeleton hanging out of her skinny body needed just more than mere Salt.

Once the director of ‘The Bone Collector’ and ‘Clear and present Danger’ has lost his touch with Tom Clancy and took a dive with Ian Fleming.

This absurd action movie was all about a Spy (With no Meat and definitely no Underwear), Jumping from one truck to another truck to another truck without a broken bone, sweat or expression.

The Russian plot was taken from some old graveyard and then a sex-change operation was carried out to convert Tom cruise into Angelina Jolie. Plot had many holes, but when did action movies had.

When same Phillip Noyce (The Saint, Patriot Games) directed Jolie in ‘The Bone Collector’, I could not resist her lips and rounded chicks. The plot and the actors made you grab your chair till the end with all the turns and twists. but Salt’s vengeance was predictable.

A good blend of Jason Bourne, Ethan hunt and James bond need more than just Salt.

You will wonder how easy it looks to kill a Russian President and then Mr. President of United States.

You will again wonder where she carried all her Bazookas.

You will wonder how she passed the Whitehouse security wearing a bulletproof.

You will wonder when US secret agents used handcuffs whose hinges are connected with a long chain, long enough to hang someone till death.

You will wonder how sanitary pad can be used instead of Band-Aids.

You will wonder how a Spider’s poison can kill you only for 2 days.

You will wonder why you wasted your precious time.

You will wonder.

PS:It didn’t qualify for any Stars.

Mani Ratnam ki Aag………… oops RAAVAN.

Well, A wonderful camera along with some world class frame captures, Thanks to Santosh Sivan. He held the camera with very subtle and slow movements during the jungle he dreamt. The same camera went eerie during the fight scenes and dances, proving that directorial ventures are not the same for Sivan.

You can compare the body capture of Aishwarya and the jungle during cinematography was similar to Kareena in Asoka. When the camera and elements are both in motion for prolong time, you not only feel headache but a burning question why? Why? Ravan proposed to Sita and accepted his guilt rotating. And above all why Santosh was rotating? Dark Gloomy filled with Multani mitti and turmeric faces was shot perfectly, but I hope they should be shot still to make them as Art.

The story lacks the gripping power of Ramayana, and you can go buy yourself cheese popcorn without adding any further doubts. Valmiki must be cursing Acharya and Mani for this poor adaptation of Ramayana mixed with Maoist. Please expect The mighty Ravana (a great scholar and a capable ruler) as a Hideous Maoist. The Movie opened with a scene from Dantewada massacre and a brilliant casting. Soon the slow motion and weak story prevailed the first half and destroyed it completely.

Weak story was never expected from a director of Mani’s Calibre. Well, Well Well…. Every masterpiece comes with a patch and surely this is the weakest Daub of Mani Ratnam’s career. Ravan’s motives were well justified in a truly gripping scene were Priyamani played a very suitable role. Ravi kisen played the role of Kumbhkaran in a very rustic way. The dialogues were very north but he was holding South style banana leaves for his gastronomic delights. Needless to say that Govinda did justice to Hanuman, but he was not given good dialogues.  Overall the Dialogues were too dramatic and filmi.

Now coming to Junior AB, well he is still a junior and ruined most of the passionate frames with madness. There is always a fine line between Madness and passion. Aishwarya delivered the “Bak..bak.. “Dialogues better than him in the end of the movie. However she carried her Eyeliner throughout the jungle, Mani overlooked the makeup artist’s overdo. Her bruises were very flimsy and never gave an impact (not even with her expression). She was shot brilliantly and her eyes are having gossamer touch.

When you go wrong, you go wrong… Action and choreography was ruined to extremes. The jump scenes were repeated many times. Shyam Kaushal and Peter Hein made use of too many ropes. However last fight scene was shot aesthetically. Even AR Rahman could not do justice to nicely penned lyrics. The last song was heavy with lyrical delights but was overshadowed by light outs. No comments on overhyped south star Vikram. It’s not his fault; he was trying harder when sharing screen space with Aishwarya.

The plot mixes the ethical conflicts equally but failed to deliver into a well said story. When you take a plot from Good vs. Evil and you cannot describe the King from the Demon, you land up watching a King-size disappointment.

Altogether, RGV ki Aag was better than Mani Ratnam Ka Raavan.

1/5 Star is for Santosh Sivan cinematography.

Refrences:

Critical reception

http://saish746.blogspot.com/p/m.html

God-Political-Father

How can you mess a greatest epic with the greatest novel. If you want to witness that mess--watch Raajneeti.

The movie revolves around two sub-families killing each other and talking through media for the chair of CM. All the drama started with a heart attack and the half brothers started the deadly Mahabarat.

This long movie was no good as the endings were known and the Goldclass seats were too comfortable. This combination was also not good, to sit you throughout. This is one of the Jha’s worst story line with the weakest dialogues. Surprisingly RGV’s adaptation was more grasping and full of expressions.

The protagonist’s choice was expressionless yet thoughtful which was not captured by the rolling camera. Kaif was the chosen girl unlike Sarkar and she messed it up whole time.

Unnecessary kissing and Intimate scenes spoiled the rhythm, with each one night stand turning into a pregnancy. Jha is not great in Romance and female portraits. Apharan, Damul, Parinati and Gangajal are his best and they are no comparison to the newest politically incorrect.

Ajay Devgan was wasted like a side kick to flashy Manoj bajpayi. The story was weakened further by so many killings followed too easily to the same family. The slap by the police officer will make you remember Godfather I, but soon the comparison with Young Al pacino and Young Ranbir will bring you back. Arjun As sunny was not furious and from the intelligent lot. Every killings and hired murders were done so directly that it didn’t go down well. The Gay man, who betrayed on his soul party, just to protect his gayness, will actually make you think about the story writer missing the punch. The Gay partner was murdered like a horse in his sleeping bed. A bad copy. Not expected from Prakash Jha. And to add, I did not see Naseer and Nana stealing a single frame.

Two parties game in the movie is unusual in the Indian Politics, Shruti seth as the bait was even worse and didn’t explain anything. The changing game of the reverse was too repeated that it became mundane. No longer was the thrill held.

Somehow Ranbir’s coldness was depicted well, but Jha tried hard to explain the motive behind it, which was not at all needed. The only thing I liked in the movie was the thought full smoke. Ranbir definitely smokes better than Ajay (in Gangajal). Atleast he held the cigarettes better than the expressions.

However Arjun, Ranbir and kaif should go back to Akhtar’s,Chopra and Johars.

The worst part of the movie was the Kaif’s speech at the end of the movie. Thank god it was her’s first speech and thankfully the last.

Half stars for the cigarettes ashes…..

BYE BYE 2009

2009

An year of recession and No Hike should have something best to compensate the deeds. I am jotting down all the good things that happened to me in 2009. The year went without any resolution and failed attempts to promote myself as Handsome. Ooooppppss!! I could not put my weight back to 70's scale. Nevertheless I enjoyed a lots of Biryani in Hyderabad and Bangalore. I learnt to cook excellent biryani too, with Desi Ghee.
The Year was bad for the finances, yet I bought three gadgets/Machines that were needed and used extensively to the idea of satisafction and salvation. I became traveler Byond! (A copyrighted name), when i bought A DSLR, A HP Pavilion and A RoyalEnfield Thunderbird 350CC.
I met excellent people made excellent groups and started Facebook application. Though i created my account 4 years before but was stuck to leave Orkut. Thanks to Orkut that they changed their classic view and copied facebook, and i was forced to stuck with originals.
Here are the lists of want went good happenchance or planned:


Best movie: DevD, Gulaal

                       Inglorious Bastards,Invictus

Best Songs (Music directors/Lyricist and Singers):

From movie DevD(Amit trivedi)/ Gulaal (Piyush Mishra)/ Kaminey (Gulzar/Vishal)

Best Destination: Sharavathi River Valley trek and Sarchu

Best Ride: Lepakshi bike ride 2009

Best Food: Karimeen in Kerala, Special Chicken biryani (Meghna Biryani).

Best Place to Eat: Café Rendezvous (Pondicherry), Kakori Kebabs in Heera Panna,

Best Drink: TGIF followed by Little Italy.

Best Trip: Coorg-Madikeri 2 day Ride.

Best Book: Sam's Story, Lonely Planet

Best Dare: Paragliding and Snoring (Ya you got it right)

Best comic strip: 

Best Buy: My RE Thundebird 350CC roaring thumping Mean Machine.

Best TV find: NDTV Goodtimes- Highway on my plate.

It made me go to restaurants for 4 times just after watching it. Yummy and Down to earth.

Best Google Search: Trips to Sharavathi, Bike4sale,

Best portal: I got hooked to Facebook and Twitter like all others, but thank God still no idea about Farmville and Mafia.

Best News: Gulzar did not go personally to receive Oscars;

Pink Chaddi Campaign became a hit on 14^th Feb 2009,

Best Moments:  Should I Discuss it ----Ok I got a phone call from my sister in Dec2009 and my world got empty and shattered yet it was the best. Keep Guessing You Morons!!

                    

Avatar: beyond the bandwagon

Avatar:  beyond the bandwagon

A Critical Analysis.

I was wondering why the name Avatar first, checked Wiki and got this as an explanation, In Hinduism Avatar or Avatāra (Devanagari अवतार, Sanskrit for "descent" [viz., from heaven to earth]) refers to a deliberate descent of a deity from heaven to earth, and is mostly translated into English as "incarnation", but more accurately as "appearance" or "manifestation". ¹

In the movie however the Blue humans were considered as humans and Humans were like Gods from Above Earth. Hilarious but acceptable.

Then I checked Avatar on Google on its uses. The proliferation of avatar’s second meaning can be traced to Second Life, a multiplayer online virtual world, where players fashion their own online personae called avatars. Yahoo! implores instant messengers to “Express yourself with Yahoo! Avatars” (barely customizable icons) — a synonymy of online personae has emerged.²

Now here we have James Cameroon imagination coming to reality on celluloid as Avatar.

Yes most expensive film ever made, and most talked film of the decade perhaps the century.

Jim became the God. However for a movie which lacks the thrill, punch lines and above all a nice story. Anyways none of the previously released movie of Cameroon has a great story. He relied more on technology and always believed in pushing its limits. And he has done a marvelous job by doing Avatar.

Avatar is not an animated movie, as assumed by many. But its graphically made like 300,Harrypotter series and many… so what was new here, nothing even the hype was same like before a little more glorified.

The entire world crashed for Bandwagon effect.  I also read some critics saying that “Avatar” story is too simple, one Gujarati critic Jay Vasavda wrote that the story was kept intentionally simple so that the audience can be visually mesmerized instead of getting diverted with the complexity of the story. It means that he wants to convey the message that James Cameroon is not smart enough to handle a complex story with visuals as great. Either one has to take a back seat. Poor Jim.

I consider Jurassic park and Matrix for bringing cult status by technology. Avatar is just an extension with extra hype. I don’t have to visit movie theatres to see technology and no story. Jim tried to put the Navis expressions in the frame but again it was too plastic and digital that it lacked passion and yielded too many yawns. A kid will surely enjoy the movie for its action and adventure. T2 was a masterpiece and so was Titanic. Avatar is obviously better than piranha’s II, Abyss, and true lies.

Increasing heights, changing colors and decreasing few fingers can convert a human into navis. The funny part is that you have a tail and a plug-in like tentacle. The plug like is like a male multi threaded pin plug which you can plug into horses, UFB(Un identified flying birds). To tame anything even plants all u need is to pull and plug. The glowing jungle looks mesmerizing but is kept too dark and bluish.

The philosophy of transmogrification looks so insipid that you may feel a sense of easy imagination adding some extra masala off your kitchen self. Calvin’s transmorgnifier box was only better to scare Hobbes, but we are not stuffed toys.

The Human chief looks very ill and too inhuman in the actions. There was a clear antithetical between good and bad, Humans were not humans and the non-Humans were like Humans. Jake was the link between these two worlds, fevicoled by a bollywoodish love story. Guy meets gal in the jungle. With his childish calm and naughtiness win over her heart then fight with the world to win over gal’s society. DDLJ rings the bell. Not exactly; but a bell is a bell and it may sound akin.

Overall a half star for the graphics and 3D.

*

The lights :The lighter side of lights

The lights

Recently Indian Govt announced the mandatory statutory warning on the cigarette packet with graphical inputs. I liked this move as to support the illiterate population of India who could not read the labels before. Now they could see the self explanatory pics and warn themselves. Suddenly a deeper thought came in, do these illiterate smoke these cigarettes or they rely more on hand rolled smoking leaves or beedi as they are called here.

I checked the Beedi labels and was not surprised to find any such warnings there. The survey has shown no decrease in the use of cigarettes after the new act was introduced; rather an increase in more intakes by more young population shows the uptrend. But Government of India has done a marvelous job of introducing the pictorial warnings and slept off. I also know about the survey which says that the smoking ban has reduced the health problems, Air pollution near the vicinity of ban and decreased sell of tobacco products by 10-20%.

It was soon followed by, the smoking ban in office premises. Which also is as flattery as it can be?

Just visualize this, earlier you used to blow the smoke out to the atmosphere from your office rooftop, now you do the same from the roadside. The amount of monoxide going to the atmosphere is same as before. It does not matter where it comes from the office toilets or from the car. The Earth does not care about the source.

I agree that passive smokers can have an excuse for not accompanying till the office gate. But when its business, friendship, you cannot ignore. Passive smoking continues.

Irony has it by its horns. You cannot smoke in office, you cannot smoke in public places, but you can smoke in your home, in the car. You can smoke while driving too! A better way is to pull over your car, ask the traffic cop for the lights, say thanks you and drive off while you puff.

Smoking by definition means carrying or in possession of any lit tobacco product. This ban looks good for restrictions which include risk of fire in areas with explosive hazards; cleanliness in places where food, pharmaceuticals, semiconductors, or precision instruments and machinery are produced. But a ban in lawyer’s office, a ban in IT office premises looks clown’s decisions. But no wonder this country is full of them and at political posts.

 Bhutan, a tiny country which counts its growth in terms of GNH (Gross national happiness) is the only country where there is Ban on cigarettes. It means you cannot buy/sell/manufacture the tobacco products in Bhutan.

If the govt is really serious on the health of the citizens, it should follow footsteps of Bhutan.