Random Musings

The Dark(est) Knight

2008-07-20T12:06:00.000-07:00

Jumping to #1 in the IMDB top 250 films of all time within 3 days of getting released is an unheard of achievement. Yet it has been managed by the recently released The Dark Knight. Being more of a psychological thriller than a superhero flick this movie presents a completely new take on the battle between Batman and his nemesis The Joker. At the end of the movie what remains with you is the mind games played by The Joker and the moral dilemma faced by both Harvey Dent and Batman. Heath Ledger as The Joker is the most menacing villain I have ever seen. His mannerisms, dialog delivery, ruthless attitude and a dark psychotic philosophy really make you pray for his victims. The rest of the cast is just as good but The Joker steals the show all the way. Also this is the first time I have seen a superhero movie with such an intricate plot line which actually works. The story has space for everything from action, revenge, drama, to shock value. For me it is the best superhero movie ever. Well whatever said about the movie is less. Just go and watch....

Ice Ice baby!!

2008-07-14T08:59:00.000-07:00

Saw this somewhere online. Can't make out whether its real or morphed. Can you?

Change of Gaurd

2008-07-06T13:22:00.000-07:00

Just finished watching the best Federer - Nadal final ever. Still can't believe it. The best possible description of it was given by the Commentator

" They don't bring out just the best in each other anymore, they bring out the Superhuman"

How true....

From Bad to Worse

2008-07-02T14:56:00.000-07:00

...... and here comes Hancock flying through the air, destroying half of LA in about a span of 5 minutes. No story, a single expression bearing Will Smith and no real VILLAIN in a superhero flick!!! wtf were they thinking? Its not a comedy, nor drama, nor action. Its just a pathetic attempt of confused writer and frankly not even worth the 60 odd rating on rotten tomatoes.

I read today that some Hindi movie Mukhbir will have a full refund policy. How I wish it was applicable yesterday too. I seriously need some cheering up after last night's movie. Hopefully Cedar Point this weekend will do the trick.

Movie Time!!!

2008-07-01T09:49:00.000-07:00

For the last so many weeks now me and my friends here at PSU have been following a tradition of watching at least one movie per week in the theatre. Well being in a small town our entertainment options are limited and frankly I have always been addicted to movies. Keeping with that tradition in the last two weeks I have watched Get Smart and Wanted. Two movies, one a very subtle straight faced comedy, the other a typical action movie.

In the era of American Pie and Superbad it was so very refreshing to watch a movie with a completely different kind of comedy. Steve Caroll takes you on a fun ride through his numerous goof ups and keeps a poker face throughout. I don't know how he manages that. It reminds me of another comedian (my favorite ever) Seinfeld. If you have watched Seinfeld you would know that this guy is always on the verge of bursting out but manages to keep his cool. It is this effort that makes you laugh even more. The other two attractions of the movie were its WWE stars, Dwayne 'the Rock' Johnson and our own The Great Khali. Being a die-hard Rock-Stone Cold era fan I would always have been biased about the Rock. But he really seems to have become a good actor. The Khali looks both menacing and vulnerable when he needs to. The female lead in the movie Anne Hathaway, I would have watched her even if she could not act for her life.

Coming to Wanted, after cursing Hindi movies for their mindless plots for years and years now I had the (mis)fortune of watching Wanted. I am still wondering why I could not 'Get Smart'. The less said about the movie the better. If I had to watch such stupid films (a tattoed Angelina Jolie back not withstanding)I would much rather watch demigods like Mithunda and Rajni who at least have enormous flair and make you laugh.

Next on the list is Hancock. Lets hope Will Smith lives up to the hype....

Lonely Root Three

2008-06-12T17:11:00.000-07:00

Its amazing how you end up finding pieces of brilliance in the most unexpected places. Recently I had gone to see Harold and Kumar - Part 2. Expectedly it was a pure slapstick comedy (a genre which is most overdone and extremely painful to endure) but quite bearable as compared to its other contemporaries (Will Farrell, Adam Sandler fares). Anyways I never had a lot of hopes from this movie. But in the climax an innovative piece of poetry made it all worth the time I spent watching the rest of it. Here it is for all those who have not seen the movie, enjoy...

I’m sure that I will always be
A lonely number like root three

The three is all that’s good and right,
Why must my three keep out of sight
Beneath the vicious square root sign,
I wish instead I were a nine

For nine could thwart this evil trick,
with just some quick arithmetic

I know I’ll never see the sun, as 1.7321
Such is my reality, a sad irrationality

When hark! What is this I see,
Another square root of a three

As quietly co-waltzing by,
Together now we multiply
To form a number we prefer,
Rejoicing as an integer

We break free from our mortal bonds
With the wave of magic wands

Our square root signs become unglued
Your love for me has been renewed

Finally....

2008-05-02T11:17:00.000-07:00

Finally I have arrived in India and it was without any major hiccup although I did have to endure 14 hours of the most annoying and obnoxious couple sitting next to me on the flight. It feels good to at last be here after two years and a couple of pathetic miscalculations which cost me time and a lot of money.

On another note Massa won the Turkish GP giving me hope of winning back 50 bucks I lost to a friend two years ago.

Also Manu won the first round with Giggs (their most loyal and underrated player ever) helping them to the league win. Looking forward to the champions league final.

Hope to catch up with all my friends and family out here and most importantly gorge on all the food I can.

Of Resolutions and Inspirations

2008-03-27T02:13:00.000-07:00

Lately I have been in possibly the biggest rut of my life. And whenever I find myself in this situation I have a very typical way of getting out of it. I will make unrealistic resolutions and pursue them with a lot of passion for about as much time as it requires for me to stumble upon something else I find interesting...which is not very long mind you. Suddenly my passion for my earlier pursuit is substituted by a very distinct sense of disinterest and the new one posseses me completely (I wish I had the same attitude towards girls). I have gone through phases of trying out swimming, percussion, singing (my close friends will differ on whether I have moved on from this one though), astronomy, the regular culprits like stamp and coin collections, painting cartoons, reading, football, and very recently snooker, bowling, beer, rifle shooting and keyboard.

That first rush of learning something new is actually what drives me. The thought of producing something that gives me immense pleasure and the satisfaction of doing something well enough works as my inspiration to attempt the impossible.

I went on a similar spree recently and one of the things that I took up was learning violin. Within the few days that I have been trying to learn this instrument I have understood that I am going to have a tough time. Needless to say that I really suck at it at least right now. Every time I practice my arms hurt, I get frustrated at the fact that I cannot get the simplest of notes right. The instrument makes noises that can at best be described as braying (an uncanny similarity I must say). But on the other hand getting even the slightest most easiest piece right gives me the kind of joy that I have not experienced in a long time. And that I think, is the key towards persisting with a certain activity. Every time I hear the Bombay theme, The Godfather theme, a symphony it makes me want to achieve that sound, that feel and that skill. Given the fact that I have taken up probably the most difficult instrument to learn of one's own self I guess I have few very tough times ahead of me. But as they say no pain no gain.

So I hope I sustain this enthusiasm and I can inspire some of you to take up something you never thought you would.

Till my next big pursuit...

Discovering Beer

2008-02-10T15:43:00.000-08:00

Benjamin Franklin once said that ' Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to prosper'. Now I have always been quite the agnostic but well it certainly made me think twice. Ever since I was introduced to drinking by my 'well wishing' friends I have always been in love with this oldest of alcoholic beverages 'Beer'. It is one of the most widely consumed drinks and I understand why. There's something about its chilled frothy nature that has really gotten to me. A friday night hanging out with a group of friends and chugging down mugs of chilled beer is something I look forward to. However now I have not only come to enjoy the ABV in it but also trying out different varieties and the subtle differences in them.

Recently I got a poster as a gift from a friend with 50 beer brands on it. I had tasted only 10 out of them and I must say it sucked. I was amazed at the amount of variety that beer had to offer. Beer has been around since a long long time. European countries have been the leaders in beer production in terms of both variety and number. Apart from the very basic differences viz. between ale and lager beer there are so many varieties based on their flavors, preparation technique, storage and method of dispensing. Reading about all this kind of compelled me to go out there and try different beers.

So next thing I know I visited the Otto's Pub and Brewery, voted one of the 50 top places to have a pint in USA and highly recommended on a number of blogs, in my town and I had the most amazing experience at trying out new flavors of beer. There was apple based beer, apricot based beer and a number of other flavors as well as a a collection of pale ales and stout beer. In short it is a beer lovers paradise. Now for someone like me who has been a beer lover from the word go it was quite a bit intimidating but also exciting at the same time, not to say intoxicating.

However a word of caution if you are starting out try to find someone who can guide you well. The taste for beer is an acquired one and if you start with the wrong one then you could end up not trying another one ever.

So now I am on a mission to try out as many beers as it is possible and I hope to share each and every flavor with you. So if you haven't as yet had the chilled crisp swig of this wonderful drink then hit the nearest pub because you are missing out on one hell of an experience.