total timepass...

For the last year, most of my posts on this blog have not been about social/political events happening around me that make me want to express my reaction at their occurrence. They have all been on more neutral and easy topics: movie reviews. Maybe because I am staying in a country where the happenings around me don't affect me at an emotional level to make me want to comment on them? And my own country is too far away for me to be able to feel strong emotions for them? Questions I don't know the answers too.. But then events happen (thank Indian politicians for that!) when all those strong emotions are stirred up again..! And here I am, writing, trying to express my exasperation and the feeling of helplessness at Indian politics (this time in Bengal) .. Maya Diaries were the flavour for the last few years. And now that behenji is not on her throne for the moment, a new didi has taken her place; to give us stories of new heights of what (stupidities?!) a person in power i

The Grand Indian Tamasha (IPL) is back again! A couple of months of total entertainment, that's what it is. Hate it or like it, its here to stay! And to enjoy:) I have been a follower of IPL almost since the time it started, more so since I was staying in Mumbai during that period. And when in des , its tough to not get involved in the whole hoopla. I have been a Delhi supporter since the beginning, because of staying in Delhi for a long time, plus being a Sehwag fan. Not because he is the best Indian batsman out there (he isn't) but just because there is no one like him out there. To be fair, Delhi did perform well in the first couple of seasons too. Never winning the trophy or getting close to it, but putting in a decent effort at least! And so was a lot more fun following the IPL. Last year was different though, they sucked thoroughly, and were at the bottom of the heap. And with it, went through the window, my interest in IPL too! It's tough to follow so many match

Hunger Games has been getting so many good reviews recently, you couldn't really escape seeing it. But though most people I know have liked it, I just couldn't take to it. Its a well made movie, no doubt. Well directed, well acted, awesome cinematography, with it all seeming so real. There is no other area of the movie I found lacking other than its basic premise. For me, it was the basic context of the movie which I could just not take to. A future world where children are made to fight to death for survival? I think that's where my mind just stopped taking anything in. How is something like that possible, even to think? I wouldn't even want to imagine something like. No, I did not like the movie, would given it 3 stars still since I think it was well made.

21 Jump Street is a comedy movie based on two high school non-buddies becoming buddies while in police academy and being sent back to school in an undercover operation. One of the guys is a 'nerd', while the other is the 'cool kid'. But once back to school, the roles are reversed. The nerd now hangs out with the cool kids in the school while the cool guy becomes a nerd. Both of them bumble in their policework all the time and thats what this movie is all about. Its a good movie, with lots of laughs. You enjoy the ride. Wouldn't say that its great though. There are lot of loopholes in the story, and lot of things don't seem plausible. The tone of the movie also keeps changing all the time. From a light school comedy to murders all around. Found that little discomforting. But on the whole, a good movie for a fun evening. Would go with 3 stars on this one.

Kahaani.. that's a nice one (watch it!)! And I think I can easily say, what a good movie by Hindi movie standards!! After a long time, a Hindi movie which has a strong well thought out story, is slickly edited and keeps you gripped and interested all along! The positives are many. Its a completely different movie than most of the usual fare we see. It could even have been one of those very nice but low budget movies which are made but not seen by all. The presence of Vidya Balan however has made the movie a lot more noticeable. She has acted well again (and seems to be choosing her movies well lately, Jessica, Ishqiya, Dirty Picture, Kahaani etc).  Maybe another National Award? The whole cast is well suited for the roles they play, Rana as the well-meaning young cop helping out Bidya! He has acted brilliantly, with all his emotions and feelings very well conveyed and felt by the audience at all times. The assassin does what he is meant to so well, it actually scares you! An a

The Book of Mormons is a hilarious musical running on Broadway currently. This play is already a hit, the ticket waitlist runs for months! Somehow we managed to get tickets for it, after standing in a queue for two hours, but it was definitely worth it! The play traces the adventures of two Mormons, Elder Price and Elder Cunningham, who are sent to Uganda to convert the locals to Mormonism. What ensues is a riot of events, ups and downs, like encounters with the military General and so on, leading on to Elder Cunningham teaching a modified version of Mormonism to the locals to get them to convert. The jokes are hilarious and sometimes downright slapstick. But nowhere do they cross the line. And the play does end with a positive note, a religion is what solves the people's problems and helps them keep the faith. That's what's most important... The acting was good. The dances and songs well crafted. The story and dialogues funny. A true and fun entertainer, a must-watch

Agneepath.. Agneepath.. Agneepath! Vijay Dinanath Chauhan! We've heard these words before and now we hear them again! The new Agneepath got quite good reviews from most reviewers but people we know have not really liked the movie. We for one found it quite watcheable actually, more so maybe because I don't remember the original. So it was just like a new movie for me, nothing to compare with and so not that bad! Anyways the movie is quite ok in the first half, but the second half is just too much of senti with no real value. In terms of acting, Hritik was good, a very different Vijay from THE original Vijay. But doesn't matter, he was his own. Sanjay Dutt is scary like anything! He looks just what he is trying to portray. Rishi Kapoor was different. Priyanka Chopra was irritating and expendable. The best of course was Chikni Chameli, totally awesome! The plot of the movie had a BIG gaping hole though in my opinion. Half the movie shows Vijay's efforts to become po