Egad. Now I don't really want to complain, but it is a sad fact that there are a lot of things wrong in this world, nothing more so than the problem of paper shadows.
This is when things remain only on paper, and no real work actually occurs.
That's why there is so much chaos and poor planning and management in this country.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Monday, June 21, 2010
Invictus
Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever Gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unfraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever Gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.
In the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.
Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unfraid.
It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll.
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.
William Ernest Henley
Sunday, June 20, 2010
The power of a book
Can the written word have so much power? And if not the written word, what about oral recitations? That's what you learn from this film that I saw yesterday called "Book of Eli" starring Denzel Washington.
Set is a post-apocalyptic future, this film centres around Eli who is trying to head west with a copy of the Holy Bible. No surviving copy exists, except for his. This book has so much power that there are factions trying to capture the book, in a bloody tangle.
I thought the movie was just okay. It has a hidden meaning, with layers. I was tired though, Delhi was burning with a temperature of 43 degrees celcius (100 degrees fahrenheit) and there was no electricity in Gurgaon for around three hours. Needless to say, I was really tired at the end of the day, and all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book, which is what I did. I'm reading Into the Wild right now, and it's pretty good.
But my husband wanted to watch a film, so we did. I was kinda tired, but I stayed awake throughout.
I give it a 2.5/5.
Set is a post-apocalyptic future, this film centres around Eli who is trying to head west with a copy of the Holy Bible. No surviving copy exists, except for his. This book has so much power that there are factions trying to capture the book, in a bloody tangle.
I thought the movie was just okay. It has a hidden meaning, with layers. I was tired though, Delhi was burning with a temperature of 43 degrees celcius (100 degrees fahrenheit) and there was no electricity in Gurgaon for around three hours. Needless to say, I was really tired at the end of the day, and all I wanted to do was curl up with a good book, which is what I did. I'm reading Into the Wild right now, and it's pretty good.
But my husband wanted to watch a film, so we did. I was kinda tired, but I stayed awake throughout.
I give it a 2.5/5.
Thursday, June 17, 2010
Daybreakers (2009)
What would you do if you were part of a group of a handful of humans left on this Earth? And all that surrounded you were these bloodthirsty vampires, who lived on blood harvested by an evil greedy corporation that is intent only on profits?
That's what this film is about. We watched it late into the night - I missed my episode of Castle for this (I like Castle with it's debonair Nathan Fillion who is actually quite a good actor in this series.
I didn't really like it much - too much gore. But it is an interesting plot.
Then I came back from work today and I was just so hungry. So I cooked - aloo tikki. Not really that good, no coriander, no peas... but I must say it was edible, which is the first step in cooking!!
Tomorrow is mom's birthday, so I'm going to take Mom's present home. My brother and sister (along with our spouses) got her a very pretty silk white suit. It'll look damn pretty.
I'm glad Mom doesn't read this blog!!
That's what this film is about. We watched it late into the night - I missed my episode of Castle for this (I like Castle with it's debonair Nathan Fillion who is actually quite a good actor in this series.
I didn't really like it much - too much gore. But it is an interesting plot.
Then I came back from work today and I was just so hungry. So I cooked - aloo tikki. Not really that good, no coriander, no peas... but I must say it was edible, which is the first step in cooking!!
Tomorrow is mom's birthday, so I'm going to take Mom's present home. My brother and sister (along with our spouses) got her a very pretty silk white suit. It'll look damn pretty.
I'm glad Mom doesn't read this blog!!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
The White Ribbon (2009)
A German film set in the pre-WWI period, directed by Michael Haneke, this film is a disturbing look at the repression that local society was under in a small town in Germany. This is a town ruled by the Baron, the Pastor and the Doctor, all patriarchal male figures who dominate the landscape and its people. Their children are under their control, and it is this repressive element that causes some of the children to lash out at the others.
It's a taut script, and well made. Nothing much really is revealed towards the end. The story leaves it open. It won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 2009.
What is The White Ribbon? The Pastor ties it on his kids to signify purity and chastity. On the boy it is tied on the arm, just like the Nazis would tie on the Jewish community to set them apart.
Even if you push someone to accept a set of values that they don't believe in, will these types of things work?
I read somewhere that the Director was trying to also show how many elements in today's world are similar to those of pre-1913 Germany and how the regime of intolerance and repression that we find in many countries of the world today will lead to a situation like that in the 1910s to 1940s.
The world is after all, in its children's hands.
It's a taut script, and well made. Nothing much really is revealed towards the end. The story leaves it open. It won the Palme D'Or at Cannes in 2009.
What is The White Ribbon? The Pastor ties it on his kids to signify purity and chastity. On the boy it is tied on the arm, just like the Nazis would tie on the Jewish community to set them apart.
Even if you push someone to accept a set of values that they don't believe in, will these types of things work?
I read somewhere that the Director was trying to also show how many elements in today's world are similar to those of pre-1913 Germany and how the regime of intolerance and repression that we find in many countries of the world today will lead to a situation like that in the 1910s to 1940s.
The world is after all, in its children's hands.
Monday, June 14, 2010
Shutter Island
Directed by Martin Scorsese, this film stars Leonardo Di Caprio as a tense on the edge federal marshall looking into the disappearance of a female inmate at a federal incarceration facility called Shutter Island.
It's well directed, taut and keeps you engrossed till the end. I can't say much, cuz the storyline shouldn't be revealed. Let's just say that it's more cryptic than it lets on.
I liked the film, I thought it was well made and even though I guessed what was happening, I didn't understand the whole thing till the end. Ben Kingsley is just so versatile - yesterday I saw him in Prince of Persia and today he is playing a psychiatrist in Shutter Island.
It's well directed, taut and keeps you engrossed till the end. I can't say much, cuz the storyline shouldn't be revealed. Let's just say that it's more cryptic than it lets on.
I liked the film, I thought it was well made and even though I guessed what was happening, I didn't understand the whole thing till the end. Ben Kingsley is just so versatile - yesterday I saw him in Prince of Persia and today he is playing a psychiatrist in Shutter Island.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Prince of Persia
So anyone who has been a kid in this world would have played the video game Prince of Persia sometime in their life. I remember being the little prince, running around everywhere, drinking poisoned potion in an effort to save the lovely 2 dimensional princess from the evil Wazir, who has her trapped in a room full of little cushions and fluffy mattresses.
Hence we set off yday to become mall rats and watch the latest Disney movie called Prince of Persia. After snarfing down my delicious Chinese noodles, we set off for the multiplex.
It's a boon that we live only 10 minutes away from what is arguably one of the best places to spend the weekend in Delhi. Select City Walk and the two malls that adjoin it, give you a lot to do, in terms of walking around, browsing the various displays and eating - national past time for me and my husband.
Having bought three novels recently, I have curbed all desires to buy any more books for the next three months until I finish all the books on my bookshelf. This includes Thomas Friedman, P G Wodehouse and William Dalrymple. In India authors, 1/4th of a Rushdie novel is left, which I really should finish.
My verdict of Prince of Persia - well the effects were good. The Princess was beautiful. The plot was interesting.
All in all, 3/5 stars.
Hence we set off yday to become mall rats and watch the latest Disney movie called Prince of Persia. After snarfing down my delicious Chinese noodles, we set off for the multiplex.
It's a boon that we live only 10 minutes away from what is arguably one of the best places to spend the weekend in Delhi. Select City Walk and the two malls that adjoin it, give you a lot to do, in terms of walking around, browsing the various displays and eating - national past time for me and my husband.
Having bought three novels recently, I have curbed all desires to buy any more books for the next three months until I finish all the books on my bookshelf. This includes Thomas Friedman, P G Wodehouse and William Dalrymple. In India authors, 1/4th of a Rushdie novel is left, which I really should finish.
My verdict of Prince of Persia - well the effects were good. The Princess was beautiful. The plot was interesting.
All in all, 3/5 stars.
Thursday, June 10, 2010
Absolute chaos
Today I went for admissions to Delhi University. As you know, DU is having admissions now and I'll be going for a law programme this year alongwith work. I figured, hell, let me get another degree.
Now I scored pretty high in the entrance exam - 45th All India, Thank You Very Much!! :) :) I'm damn kicked about it, but the way things were over there it was scary.
It's not like they don't have the infrastructure, or the manpower. But everything was just so damn chaotic. Absolute pandemonium. Even I didn't know what to do. Even before this there was an issue - because my admit card didn't reach me in time.
They said 10:30, and I was there. But it was utter chaos. Nothing was organised. One guy was telling you one thing, and then doing another. I was damn bugged.
It was wierd at one level.
See, they have a hall. BUT NO SIGNS. They have the forms, but they don't distribute it properly. They have counters, but no lines. They have people around to guide you, but they're not really guiding you.
I drank 500 ml of water in 2 minutes after getting out of that place. It was HELL!!
Then I called my parents and I ranted and raved.
Really, there is no one on this Earth who does more for us than our parents.
Now I scored pretty high in the entrance exam - 45th All India, Thank You Very Much!! :) :) I'm damn kicked about it, but the way things were over there it was scary.
It's not like they don't have the infrastructure, or the manpower. But everything was just so damn chaotic. Absolute pandemonium. Even I didn't know what to do. Even before this there was an issue - because my admit card didn't reach me in time.
They said 10:30, and I was there. But it was utter chaos. Nothing was organised. One guy was telling you one thing, and then doing another. I was damn bugged.
It was wierd at one level.
See, they have a hall. BUT NO SIGNS. They have the forms, but they don't distribute it properly. They have counters, but no lines. They have people around to guide you, but they're not really guiding you.
I drank 500 ml of water in 2 minutes after getting out of that place. It was HELL!!
Then I called my parents and I ranted and raved.
Really, there is no one on this Earth who does more for us than our parents.
Sunday, June 6, 2010
Rajneeti (2010)
Rajneeti is the latest instalment in the Prakash Jha directed group of films focusing on a political family in India. Awesomely enough, it really shows quite well how the political scenario in our country is proceeding today - with a bit of exaggeration of course, as is expected of a top of the line Bollywood production.
Don't expect no masala - this film has plenty of that.
The only one recommendation given to me was that we should watch it from the very beginning - which was understandable, because it puts a lot into perspective. Arjun Rampal deserves to be applauded - alongwith Ranbir Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai. Nana Patekar was brilliant, as was Ajay Devgn. Katrina Kaif played the sweet soft white character in the film. She did add a certain dimension to the movie - and she was also looking quite pretty.
At three hours, the film doesn't appear to be so long and really pulls along very well. It is fast paced and the first half an hour goes in trying to figure out who is who and what is what. I also thought that the way the aam janta was depicted was also very well done.
5/5 in my opinion. Don't expect a bit of exaggeration though!!
Don't expect no masala - this film has plenty of that.
The only one recommendation given to me was that we should watch it from the very beginning - which was understandable, because it puts a lot into perspective. Arjun Rampal deserves to be applauded - alongwith Ranbir Kapoor and Manoj Bajpai. Nana Patekar was brilliant, as was Ajay Devgn. Katrina Kaif played the sweet soft white character in the film. She did add a certain dimension to the movie - and she was also looking quite pretty.
At three hours, the film doesn't appear to be so long and really pulls along very well. It is fast paced and the first half an hour goes in trying to figure out who is who and what is what. I also thought that the way the aam janta was depicted was also very well done.
5/5 in my opinion. Don't expect a bit of exaggeration though!!
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