Nuances

Let's talk about Hitchcock

2011-07-11T23:28:00.001+05:00

Shall we?

Well, if I really must have a reason to talk about Hitchcock I'm going to have to rewind and fast forward quite a bit...

Too often the excuse for silly, immature, by the numbers cinema is passed on to the audience.

It shouldn't be.

See the argument goes that the audience can't, or won't be bothered, to work out "complex" ideas in a film. And someone who's new to the medium, or who hasn't checked out cinema going back a few decades or more, might be forgiven for thinking as such.

Actually, no. If you're a "movie lover" and haven't checked out at least some "old" movies/films by the likes of Orson Welles, Akira Kurosawa, François Truffaut and other such masters, then shame on you.

Well... not really shame on you... more like your loss... your serious loss.

Trailer for Akira Kurosawa's 'Rashomon'

So, let's talk about Hitchcock. Still no?

I see.

I might have been a tad vague in my reasoning for talking about Hitchcock. Hmmm... how to put it?

Okay.

You hear about how everyone... well a few people... well... maybe just a few critics are deriding that little film about robots in disguise? I mean it's the most recent picture in a trilogy of sorts... You know... the one with the giant robots and huge explosions and other... you know... explosive situations? Yea. That movie.

A lot of the times that sort of thing, because of the fact that maybe it's taking in boat loads of money, is justified, with "audiences really prefer not to think through a movie" - I'm just paraphrasing here mind. And recent, slightly skewed "research" might lead one to justify that...

Hence my want to talk about Hitchcock. Errr... no? Why? Cos we can talk about all those other guys I mentioned before you say?

Trailer for François Truffaut's 'Les Quatre cents coups' (400 Blows)

Yea. You should really go check those guys out. Their work is beautiful, evocative and thought provoking - even when they're working with black and white and no explosions. But while they may have had mainstream appeal in their own right I wouldn't go so far as to say they had global appeal in their time... alas, they seem to have trouble with global appeal even in our time.

So.

Really.

Let's talk about Hitchcock.

Yes?

Good. Great!

He proved that you could make money with "high concept" films while not alienating the audience and still garner critical acclaim and global fame... although initially, he may have had a tough time getting some American critics to see the value in his work.

I see you pulling away now... a few more minutes? I promise I'll make it worth your while.

Trailer for 'Psycho'

Heard of 'Psycho' (1960)? No. Not that 1998 version - which I hear was a travesty... No I really didn't watch it. There was no need to. Go see Hitchcock's original Psycho you'll see what I mean - it was shot in black and white but even with that "handicap" it does so well in eliciting a visceral reaction out of you.

If you've heard somebody describe any story as a "modern, psychological yarn" you will be surprised to see how much of that you see here in a film made in 1960 - and how much faith, unlike most modern mainstream directors, Hitchcock had in his audience.

So you think that Psycho is not that hard to follow compared to "modern" standards?

You should check out 'Vertigo' (1958).

Trailer for 'Vertigo'

Technical innovation aside, the story telling is intense, complicated and riveting. And I would argue that its complexity holds up even by modern "intellectual" standards.

That's all well and good you say? You want a pop-corn movie? One that you can sit back and enjoy? One that takes you through exciting chases, chills, thrills and a few laughs?

You don't mind all that and a little bit of intelligence and humour do you?

Try 'North by Northwest' (1959) on for size. But be warned - it's more than a bit intelligent and it has a brilliant sense of humour. You get chases, mistaken identities, spies, damsels who are decidedly not in distress (Who'd have thunk?!?! In the 50s?!?!), killer crop-duster planes... KILLER CROP-DUSTER PLANES DAMMIT!!!

Trailer for 'North by Northwest'

And those are just some of the highlights of his career.

Some of his work has inspired, and keeps inspiring, some of our greatest filmmakers today.

Take a look at Christopher Nolan's work and I can't help but see a Hitchcockian sense of humour and a sense of the same crisp, lean narrative.

Does 'Memento' (2000) not have a wicked sense of humour while making your mind do summersaults? That's kind of what Hitchcock does with North by Northwest although with a much lesser degree of a mental workout - that he leaves for Vertigo.

You know that thing that David Fincher keeps trying to do ever so often with the long, uninterrupted shots? He tried it a couple of times with 'Fight Club' (1999) and 'Panic Room'(2002)? I'd go so far as to argue that that was pure Hitchcock inspired - see 'Rope' (1948) and you'll get where I'm coming from.

Tailer for 'Rope' - like a few of Hitchcock's trailers
contains little from the actual film.

So yea.

That's why we needed to talk about Hitchcock.

Also, remember the other guys I told you about? Well... Hitchcock was my stepping stone to those guys. No. He's not less important than they are - if anything, for me, he might be slightly more important.

So what it comes down to... what I guess I am saying is...

It's okay if you make "crappy" movies - just don't justify it by saying that the audience won't get it. Yea... what I'm saying is... the audience are intelligent enough to grasp almost anything you can throw at them.

Seriously.

If they weren't David Lynch and a few other directors you might have heard of wouldn't have careers.

Edit; July 12, 2011:

I consider myself not adequately chastised for missing out on naming Ingmar Bergman in my original post - that is one name which should not have been missed. I've attempted to fix this inexcusable oversight by adding a link to the original post - I felt it might be cheating to edit the text afterwards. Thanks to shaari for bringing this to my attention.

Does nobody get Superman?

2011-06-26T00:05:00.001+05:00

Or rather, does nobody given the responsibility of bringing the essence of Superman to the "mainstream" not understand him?

Smallville just(ish) completed an extremely successful(how?!?!?!) 10 seasons and I'm left thinking "Five for Fighting" understood Superman better than the writers on that show.

"Superman (It's not easy)" by Five for Fighting

Yea, I know they set the "no tights, no flight" rule WAAAAAay in the beginning and maybe THAT should've been the first clue that they didn't get Clark.

Not. At. All.

And it pains me that it went on for so long, twisting the Superman mythology left and right and generally messing things up in the least creative ways imaginable - it even proved unsalvageable to Geoff Johns.

Promotional photo for Smallville

BUT it happened. And, thankfully, it's over. Yet it's left this really bad taste in my mouth. A feeling of despair permeates my soul every time I hear about any new Superman related developments.

Don't get me wrong. HUGE fan of Christopher Nolan's directing and David S. Goyer's writing. And although Nolan is not directing the next Superman film, that honour falling to a Zack Snyder of "300" and "Watchmen" fame, I am willing to suspend my skepticism one final(?) time - cos that's at least part of what Superman is about.

Isn't it?

Ever the eternal optimist. Ever the eternal "boy scout". Ever the eternal barometer of doing what's right, even when the odds seem insurmountable and grossly out favour him - and through it all you know that he will emerge untainted and heroic... even if it meant dying.

What's that you say? Smallville was a reimagining of sorts? It was an attempt to go another way? What coulda been?

Then why do it as Superman? It could have been the origins story of another superhero altogether - a new one. Oh... right... without the name recognition a lot less of the series would have been commissioned and therefore it would not have been as successful?

I beg to differ.

Cover art for Superman: Secret Identity

Superman: Secret Identity did all of that and more and STILL managed to retain the essence that is Superman. It's a shame that it can't be made into the next Superman film though... but MAN is it a beautiful story... Kurt Busiek and Stuart Immonen out did themselves, and most Superman writers in recent memory, and they weren't even writing about "the real" Clark Kent...

Secret Identity moved me and provoked thought about heroism, our global condition and obligation(s) - all the while staying true in service to its inspiration.

We should be so lucky if an iota of that thought process went into anything Superman that is to come in the near future...

Burn baby, burn!

2009-08-08T17:05:00.017+05:00

Some things just jump at you.

The first I'd heard of it was just the name. Just that it was a great piece of science fiction that might be developed into a film by Mel Gibson – given that this was just after Braveheart (1995) and the fact that I was on my way to becoming a science fiction nut must have been why it stuck.

Another reason might have been that, even though I read a lot, I'd never read a full-length science fiction novel. I had watched, and continue to watch, a lot of such films but had never read a book. Yet another reason might have been that Ray Bradbury, one of the greatest science fiction writers of all time, had written it.

But, I digress...

I had totally forgotten about the book until our lecturer Kit Leee (three 'E's not two – now known as Antares) asked us to write a book review that was not really a book review.

Sitting in a taxi, on my way to college I noticed its code number, used to identify it to the station, comprised of 4-5-1 . 'What a strange coincidence!' I though. And that's how I wound up with the subject of my non-review;

The 50th Anniversary Edition cover art for Fahrenheit 451

Fahrenheit 451 (1953), the book about a fireman who lit fires. A book that takes us to a future which holds reading or owning books illegal. Where books are burnt because they 'confuse ' us.

Herein followeth the review:

Taking its title from the temperature at which book paper auto-ignites Fahrenheit 451 is supposedly the story of Guy Montag – fireman no. 451. A fireman who burns for a living. A 'fireman' who is good at what he does.

He burns books because they make society 'unhealthy' – because the books make 'no sense ' and speak of things other than 'reality'. He is good because he does what he does without question.

He enjoys the sound – the searing death rattle of the pages as they're consumed by the orange beast. And the glow of the flame, as it shifts colours from red to blue to black/grey and orange transforming the pages to ash that scatter and dissolve in the wind, thrills him.

But then along comes Clarisse, and out go Montag's automated responses to books. The animal instinct which closed on, and ripped the books apart before he set fire to them, starts to turn the pages with the gentlest of touch, reading from them, soaking up their knowledge and emotion, reaching awareness from within.

Fahrenheit 451 is often heralded as the classic bestseller about censorship but at a cursory glance the word 'censorship' does not have the full impact, that perhaps it should.

I mean, what does somebody withholding a few books mean, right?

But as far as things go in the 'normal' world, it's not quite as simple. It's not just the books, but what they stand for (as Beatty, the fire chief whose words are laced with phrases by old poets and philosophers, so that he may more easily identify elements in society who may be in possession of the 'contraband', so hastily admits).

Art from 'Ray Bradbury's Fahrenheit 451: The Authorized Adaptation'

The liberty, the hope, the knowledge, the insights, the joy, the pain, all this and more which the books have on offer. The sheer emotional and intellectual gratification that is feeling, trust, love; hidden and unbidden. What it means to think, what it means to have ideas, what it means to reach out, what it means to stand out, what it means to stand out. What it means to be an 'individual' a person with thoughts, views and personal feelings of how things should be. A person with morals, a person with their sense of morals. THAT is what's really at stake.

In Bradbury's fictitious society, where all that people are expected of is to expect 'fun', where school kids run down their schoolmates, without so much as an after thought, no one knows what hope means. No one has a sense of meaning. This begs the question, how, if they do not understand what hope means, can they have fun?

It's disturbing that this book Bradbury wrote in 1953, mirrors some attributes we see in our society today. Kids hack down other kids because we, the society at large, have no time to nurture them, to impart upon them the value of life, of hope.

I hope and pray that we will never sink to the depths that society has sunk to in Fahrenheit 451. Yes it 's worse in the book than in real life. But only just. And only just by a hair's breath. There are warning signs that we're headed that way though.

And we need to be aware of what's going on around us. Aware of what those who 'guide' us sanction in our names , labelling their wants as ours, their needs as our needs – in order to do this, they control the information we consume in a way that favours them.

Promotional art from François Truffaut's film adaptation of Fahrenheit 451 (1966)

In the end Ray Bradbury's book is not just about burning books. It's about burning the ideals that unfold through those books. It's about burning the emotions and the hope that it may instill in humanity.

Burning so that others can control. Burning so we may not question. Why not question? Because we do not have the knowledge. Why do we not have knowledge? Because those 'above', governing us for our 'well-being', us want to 'protect' us from 'confusion', and 'rivalry', from hope and individuality. Read, seek, think, learn – the book cries out to us, and for us to 'know what you want and most of all know how to think'.

Fahrenheit 451 may have been written in 1953 but it's more relevant now than it ever was – do yoursel~~ves~~f a favour and read one of the best ~~science fiction~~ stories ever written.

[Disclaimer: This post is mostly a re-edited self plagiarism of a “book review” for 'Fahrenheit 451' by Ray Bradbury – originally written as a college assignment (Advertising Creativity – Lecturer Kit Leee) in 2001 (23rd April)]

Thank you Teech for the inspiration!

I take it back.

2009-07-21T14:44:00.009+05:00

Seriously.

It was going to be Moffat in charge after all. I should never had doubted things.

I should have known better – because, unlike with Davies, who was terrific in bringing the series back and started off things extremely well, Moffat's always been consistently stellar with what he's brought to the series.

So Matt Smith, who I initially felt was VERY WRONG (because of this) for the part... might actually work.

What am I prattling on about you ask?

I speak of Doctor Who. More specifically – the 11th incarnation of the Doctor.

The BBC series began, initially, in 1963 and went on uninterrupted till 1989. After which there was a 1996 television movie – at the time it didn't garner enough interest for a comeback.

Then in 2005 the series was relaunched thanks to Russell T. Davies and Co. and it was then that I was first introduced to “the longest-running science fiction television show in the world”. By then there had been eight doctors.

Teasers and trailers for the 2005 series

This made my first doctor the Ninth Doctor – he was BRILLIANT! I was an instant fan and still consider Christopher Eccleston's take to be my quintessential doctor.

But, alas, after just one series, the Doctor would regenerate. David Tennant took over as the 10th Doctor and, while I was hugely disappointed to see Eccleston leave, I have to admit that Tennant wasn't half bad – just a hair short of 'BRILLIANT!' just basic 'Brilliant' or maybe a touch above basic...

Moving on.

We now have the 11th Doctor (or will in 2010) and while I was initially skeptical, because of Smith's age and his look... I'm back on the fence on this one... The new look (full|800 x 600) does seem to do the trick... and Moffat IS in charge.

So now I'm maybe more of a believer that this will work rather than on the fence...

[Note to reader(s): My apologies for there being no pictures/visuals in this post. At time of hitting "Publish" issues with blogger prevented me from correctly posting any pictures with this entry. Please check back later for a more 'complete' look.]

Money for nothing?

2009-05-04T13:58:00.013+05:00

[Suggested background music 'Walk of Life' (1985) by Dire Straits]

I can identify, with absolute clarity and as if it were yesterday, the moment I discovered my passion for music.

It was the early 1980s. I was watching television in my sitting room. TVM's 'Spotlight' came on. We did not have remote controls at the time so, having decided to go to sleep, I was making my way to the TV to switch it off when 'Walk of Life' came on and I was hooked – I must have been nine or 10 years old at the time. None of the songs that followed were as entertaining but I was officially 'into music'.

The week after I would wait patiently for the program to come on again. Another Dire Straits song, 'Sultans of Swing' (1979), airs half way through the program – add one (me) to the ranks of loyal Dire Straits followers/fans.

These were the 'pre-Internet' days so I couldn't exactly get all the gossip on the band – to this day I have never really fallen into the habit of keeping track of the personal lives of my favourite artists. And this also meant that I couldn't find/order entire catalogues of my favourite artists on line – I hadn't even heard about computers, much less a credit/debit card!

Dire Straits

What I did do was badger grandma for 10 Rufiya so I could have someone take me down to 'Soundtrack' ('Sound Track'!?!?!), the then local record/tape distributor of repute, and buy a 'The Best of Dire Straits' – in climate proof packaging no less!

To grandma's great annoyance, although she never really said as much, I would proceed to play the tape over and over again – my only source of 'my music' when 'Spotlight' wasn't on.

I would, of course, be introduced to other great bands through the program;

'Pride (In the Name of Love)' (1984) would introduce me to U2

'The One I Love' (1987) introduced me to R. E. M

'Every breath you take' (1983) to Sting and The Police

and more...

AND, later on, while actually producing 'Spotlight' for TVM (somewhere 1989 – 2000) I would develop a major addiction to electronic rock and hardcore techno due to the likes of Orbital, The Prodigy and The Chemical Brothers (helped along by the initial introduction to the genre by a friend who is deeply missed...).

My catalogue of favourites continue to grow – add Massive Attack, Fatboy Slim, Bob Dylan, Dave Matthews Band, and more to the mix

Cover art – Massive Attack's Mezzanine (1998)

But... nothing takes me back to that moment of what started it all more than Knopfler on the guitar.

Note to Knopfler: 'somewhere your fingerprints remain concrete' – indeed.

Parlez-Vous Italiano? No.

2009-04-30T15:32:00.009+05:00

If I have one major regret it would be my lack of skills in the language department. I'd be considered an average Dhivehi speaker, at best, and have no foreign language skills.

Understanding Hindi because I, as most Maldivians, have been exposed to Hindi/Indian films from a very young age does not count and neither does having a very basic understanding of Singhala (Sinhalese?!?!) and Bahasa Malaysia.

Okay, I am better than average at English, BUT that's mostly due to the fact that it was almost our first language – I mean except for Dhivehi and Islam we were taught everything in English so I really didn't have an excuse to suck at it (although a lot of our recent graduates strive to prove me wrong). Plus, while I was growing up there weren't really any Dhivehi stories for all demographics – none as diverse, in genre and subject matter, as those in English anyway.

Movie poster for 'Les quatre cents coups'

So here I am, three decades in... finding out to my utter frustration, that I like foreign films and authors better than their local/English equivalent... well actually I've known for quite a while now that I appreciate foreign films... well before I reached the three decade mark but... [moving on]

Films the likes of Malèna (2000) [Italian], Cinema Paradiso (1988) [Italian], Les quatre cents coups (1959) [French], Nueve reinas (2000) [Spanish], 36 Quai des Orfèvres (2004) [French]... are just the tip of the iceberg and would easily put any of their Hollywood counterparts to shame.

Then there are the more recent discoveries; Haruki Murakami and Gabriel García Márquez. Though I've so far read very little, a handful of Murakami and just the one García Márquez, these authors are so far off the typical 'reservation' that it makes no sense that I like them – but I do, immensely!

García Márquez's 'Memories Of My Melancholy Whores'
(2004; English translation 2005)

I read English translations of the books and switch on the subtitles for the films and experience everything 'second hand' (I abhor switching the audio to English – the voice overs almost always lack the feeling and the emotion of the original performers). Yet they're ever so gratifying and I'm left to wonder if it could have been more so – and what was lost in translation...

For those of you who can enjoy such stories in their original form, I envy you... and hope that you're partaking in some of those exquisite pleasures...

And for the rest of us, who are well past their prime to learn that many languages, we'll happily take what we can get... because they are that good.

Domo arigato, Kunio Kato.

2009-04-27T00:09:00.015+05:00

Animators are a curious bunch... I might not be too justified in saying that but... work with me here.

I've actually been lucky enough to know an animator. Just the one – that I would classify as a true animator. Others, like most of you, I've experienced through YouTube and the occasional special feature on DVDs/Blu-rays. But, disclaimer aside...

Character design/sketch

Animators are a curious bunch. Often uncompromising. Even more so, I'm told and can imagine, than most prima donna Hollywood directors – but in a non Michael Bay way. They either don't compromise on the technical quality of their work OR the quality of their storyline... and some won't compromise on either... This makes them either;

a) Technical geniuses,

b) Masterful storytellers

c) Auteurs

Having had the privileged to work with, and observe, a real animator at work I imagine several factors help fit animators into one of these boxes. Many who rely on the skill to make a decent enough living will willingly shuttle between the first two choices depending on their project requirements, time, technology they have to work with, etc. – this is no mean feat. AND they, the real animators (extrapolating here from just the one that I know – but I imagine, cos of the YouTube videos and the special features, others would probably work along the same lines), will nearly always deliver a finished product that is, not withstanding CRAZY, unreasonable project requirements, always top notch.

Often times than not, animators control everything on their projects, performing multiples roles that, in normal circumstances, would be left up to a whole crew – from character design to lighting, to cinematography and the actual animating.

They truly suffer for their art – more so than in any other media related profession I'm sure...

Which, long winded as it is, brings me to my point. The one animator that I know and who I call a dear friend, Yamin Rasheed – the creator/producer of 'The Maakana Show', was called up recently by someone we both know and respect(ed) and accused of being a sell out.

A scene from 'The Maakana Show'

Now, neither I nor Yamin will pretend 'The Maakana Show' to be a great masterpiece of animation. Far from it – it is almost entirely entertainment, with just a little bit of social commentary and satire thrown in. It does not strive to be great. Rather, it strives to be relevant to the time it is based in – our social condition that is the here and now! And I believe, several short coming aside, that the show does indeed achieve this – maybe, right now, not to the best of its potential but give them time... if not in 'The Maakana Show' maybe in the next Cellmin production.

Passionate people such as these affect our lives through their work and to question their work in a petty, baseless, self serving manner is something that we should avoid at ANY cost. And I wouldn't just limit that thought to animators alone – this, I feel, is true of ALL art.

OK – what's the relationship between Yamin and the title of the post AND which box does he fit into you ask?

A scene from 'La maison en petits cubes'

Kunio Kato is the 2009 Oscar winner for Animated Short Feature – his film entitled 'La maison en petits cubes' is phenomenal and I'd say he's definitely in box (c).

Yamin is a Technical genius when it comes to animation. His work on, 'Abu' (a 15 minute short feature we both worked on during our time at TVM, around 1999) speaks to his need to tell entertaining and affecting stories... so right now he's in box (a)... but heading toward box (c)...

In short, the title is my way of saying 'thank you' to ALL the animators that I've come to appreciate, each for their unique talents – from everyone working at Disney/PIXAR to Matt Groening and everyone in between.

Be sure to catch 'La maison en petits cubes' – it's probably on YouTube.

And 'The Maakana Show' is on VTV every Friday, 10:00 at night.

The night is darkest just before the dawn...

2009-04-25T14:23:00.027+05:00

Adaptations are a tricky business. Just ask Alan Moore or Uwe Boll – though, admittedly, not for the same reasons.

Promotional Art for Frank Miller's 'Batman Year One' Trade Paperback

At the best of times your source material has a rabid following who will, once you've announced your intentions, scrutinize your every move – down to the the colour of underpants your hero may, or may not, wear under, or over, their costumes.

And at the worst of times... well... you should click on the Alan Moore link (above) before you go on to the rest of what I've got to say...

Most times our worst fears are realised (see Uwe Boll for the worst case scenario) but sometimes... sometimes the improbable does actually happen...

The planets align and everything in the universe works in harmony and in sync with the efforts of a select few individuals who have the patience and the tenacity to get it just right – in the manner most suited to the medium in which they operate and wield almost magical powers over.

Such are the Batman films by Christopher Nolan (collaborating in no small part with David S. Goyer and Jonathan Nolan).

Promotional Art for 'Batman Begins'

I've already pissed and moaned about 'The Dark Knight' (2008) not getting more Oscar nominations, at the least, for best adapted screenplay.

My short, unvarnished, opinion; it should not only have been nominated but should have won.

The adaptation of Batman ['Batman Begins' (2005) and 'The Dark Knight'], by Nolan and Co. is spot on. They jettison what really would not work in a film adaptation and even when they keep stuff, they adapt it to propel the story forward;

Rā's al Ghūl is no longer an ageless alchemist who is forever resurrected via Lazarus Pits – rather he is a succession of individuals who take over the mantle, with more or less the same objectives as their predecessor, thereby sustaining the myth that is Rā's through the centuries.

The money stored in the warehouse is burnt – in the comics by Batman, but in the film, because this story requires it and rings true to its almost organic development, by the Joker.

A comparison – Comic [Batman: The Long Halloween]

vs. Film [The Dark Knight]

There are several more such instances, and not all of them big – some so seemingly insignificant that one might wonder why the effort was made to put them there. Yet even those little extras contribute and enrich our experience of the film.

Then there are the new bits – still ringing true to the core of the character. The Tumbler and the Bat-pod would irrefutably be the most 'iconic' changes. They're very different to what we see in the comics BUT they're raw, utilitarian beasts with a focus on function; to get the job done efficiently – sacrifices have been made in the design, much like that of the Bat-suit, but even then it's an exercise in the maintaining of efficiency and efficacy.

And how about the symbolism that is alluded to in Batman Begins (and the comics) of being 'more than just a man', of being 'incorruptible'?

Turns out that this Batman is so hardcore he's not only incorruptible by evil – he won't be corrupted, technically one might say, by good either (go see the films if you haven't already – it's seriously more than comic book, bubblegum pop – seriously!).

Artist Jim Lee's rendition of Batman

If this is not classic Batman, the core of the character brought forth, then you sir/madam don't get Batman.

Remember, his unrelenting cause is justice and justice is not always black and white and neither is it, at times, immediate or fair.

Jim Gordon illustrates this best when, in The Dark Knight, he says of Batman;

'… he's the hero Gotham deserves, but not the one it needs right now. So we'll hunt him because he can take it. Because he's not our hero. He's a silent guardian, a watchful protector. A dark knight.'

[Goosebumps!]

That might not work in the real world but it sure as heck works in film – and it works brilliantly in the capable hands of Chris Nolan.

Promotional Art for 'The Dark Knight'

After the Debacle (yes with a CAPITAL, italicised and bold 'D') that was Batman and Robin (1997) [Shudder.] I had all but given up hope. And when Nolan took over I was hoping just for a more than decent 'reboot' – something that would bring back a semblance of... dignity to the farce the Batman films had become. And maybe, just maybe, hoping, against all odds, that it might be a bit more...

Boy did he pick that ball up and run with it. Heck, he kicked it out the ballpark – out the stratosphere even!

In the words of Mr. Broodypants (Batman) in The Dark Knight;

'… sometimes people deserve more. Sometimes people deserve to have their faith rewarded...'

HELL YEA!

Messrs Nolan, Goyer and Nolan – thank you.

Baraka

2009-04-23T19:43:00.023+05:00

May refer to:

[also berakhah] in Judaism, a blessing usually recited
during a ceremony, OR

[also barakah] in Arabic, Islam and Arab-influenced
languages such as Swahili, Urdu, Persian, Turkish, meaning
spiritual wisdom and blessing transmitted from God;
or in a Sufi context, "breath of life."

Baraka, means 'Blessing' a spiritual power believed to be
possessed by certain persons, objects, tombs, in Arabic,
Swahili, Urdu, Persian and Turkish.

A few months ago I became the proud owner of a Baraka (1992) Blu-ray. I first watched it as part of a college assignment focusing, as I recall, on non-verbal films.

It was enthralling, to say the least. And this was a viewing in standard definition on a 21 inch monitor accompanied by a loud, somewhat agitated, group of college students with a healthy dose of ADD – oh not to worry... I count myself along with the ADD crowd.

Five minutes into the film everyone quieted down – most of us were either trying to figure out where the 'no talking' was headed OR it could have been that the almost serene imagery and music started to resonate with their brain waves... or maybe a bit of both.

Cover art – Baraka [Blu-ray]

In the next 91 minutes we, through no conscious will of our own, found ourselves soothed and calmed to the point where some of us experienced something totally alien – a silence that is never seen (heard?!?! unheard?!?! witnessed?!?! experienced!)... experienced in a college much less a tight screening room packed with students!

Beautiful, peaceful, serene images washed over us – even in the moments where the motion lapse technique was used to show 'herds', repetitions and juxtapositions we were not jarred out of our trance like state... not even when we where shown the 'cruelty' that man, and war, unleash upon nature did we flinch – the 'no blood and gore' philosophy helped... every 'point' that the film made... it made peacefully... serenely... beautifully...

And then we were done... and were faced with the horror of writing about a film with no dialogue... YIKES!

Fast forward five years to two months ago – there I was, holding nostalgia at bay... surely this wouldn't stand up to the first experience ... would it?

In a small-ish room with no natural light, I saw nature unfold and unleashed before me in glorious High Definition...

And I kid you not my friends it DID surpass my first viewing.

A scene from the film

Whether it was the new transfer OR the five year gap that erodes the memory of the first viewings (I saw it multiple times in standard definition that semester in college) I cannot tell...

Oh who am I kidding... it's the HD and the larger TV (36 inches now) AAand the lack of a fidgety, ADD-ish college crowd... and the HD... did I say that already?!?! Well it bears repeating...

Baraka looks AMAZING in High Definition - AM. Ay. ZING!

Filmed at 152 locations in 24 countries which includes several natural wonders of the world (sadly no Maldives) this is a MUST for any film fan AND any human with a cranial space.

I can't wait for Ron Fricke and Co. to unveil Samsara, the sequel to Baraka which is planned to be released around 2009/2010.

What the heck is right with Murakami?

2009-04-23T10:06:00.011+05:00

According to my calculations I shouldn't be a fan of Haruki Murakami;

Murakami giving a lecture at MIT in 2005

His characters are WAYYyy off center. His plots are insane. He throws in HUGE doses of fantasy; sometimes mingling them with actual events. And all of this he writes as if it were normal, matter-of-fact, everyday occurrences – as if he does not want to call attention to the plotting and the characters BUT hellooo!!! Everything is downright wacky Mr. Murakami!

For those of you (like me) into off center storytelling, especially in small doses, Murakami's short stories should be up your alley... they're not just weird for the sake of being weird... well not all the time anyway...

Cover art for 'after the quake' - most international editions of

the author's works are also known for their amazing covers

You might want to ease into it though, with a collection like 'after the quake' (1999; English Translation in 2002 by Jay Rubin) – oh and I've found that most his stories are better enjoyed when your reading whims are not too... urgent... you don't want to rush through this stuff... the insanity within is always sublime.

What does John Grisham have against his 'heroes/protagonists'?

2009-04-22T10:50:00.006+05:00

Spoiler Alert – for anyone who has not read 'The Associate'

Just finished reading John Grisham's latest legal thriller, 'The Associate' (2009), and am fully convinced that Grisham has it in for all his central characters.

I mean after dragging his central character through hell that's the 'payoff' he gets?!?!? REALLY?!?!

OK I do realise I'm not giving away anything specific BUT saying that he (Kyle McAvoy – the hero) kinda (mostly) gets the short end of the stick at the end kinda feels like I MIGHT be killing the experience for anyone who's reading this, before they've read the book.

Promotional/Cover art - 'The Associate'

BUT for anyone who's familiar with Grisham's work this should come as no surprise! He writes these 'everyday' heroes who are brilliant, self made and morally sound, puts them in a situation that's going to test every fibre of their being (and spirit) and then short changes them when it comes to the part where they should get rewarded and live happily ever after!

Cases in point?!?!?! Hmmm... let me think...

'The Firm' (1991) – sure Mitch 'gets away' but he's constantly looking over his shoulder isn't he?

'The Chamber' (1994) – his client is put to death but we did all see this coming... so it's a little bit all right... but still this fits in nicely with the point I am trying to make here so...

'The Rainmaker' (1995) – Rudy loses his interest in law... but arguably is better off as a person so... this one's iffy but still...

'The Partner' (1997) – The money?!?!?! EXACTLY!!!!

hmmm... there should be more but my un-photographic memory fails me!

Oh sure... most do get a 'nice' ending BUT they're too 'everyday' for my tastes... for once [OK he's done it once in 'The Runaway Jury' (1996) so maybe more than once... maybe more than 30 percent of the time] I'd like to see them somewhat vindicated.

BUT having gone on a semi-rant there for a bit... 'The Associate' is a bordeline great read – not his best by a long shot but still better than most of the stuff I seem to be coming across these days...

Promotional/Poster art - 'The Firm' (1993)

Hmmm... I might go and read 'The Firm' again – loved it... and hold it responsible for making me a fan of Grisham AND the legal thriller genre in general.

AND, the film is not half bad either – one of the few times where a film has a better ending than the book! Not saying one's better than the other – BOTH good in different ways!

Fatal Error!!!!

2009-04-19T18:31:00.002+05:00

The Summer of Trek?

2009-02-04T08:49:00.008+05:00

After watching the Super Bowl trailer for some of the "2009 summer movies" I'd have to say, based on 30 seconds of flash cuts mind you, that "Star Trek" might be the one to beat.

Trailer for the rebooted/reimagine "Star Trek" - courtesy of Trailer Addict

Why?

Because, I thought it had a decent enough story, even in the 30 seconds, compared to the other trailers AND it's being put together by a team that has a cult following... granted that the cult following is mainly based around their TV work (Just in case you've been living under a rock and haven't heard, I'm talking about team Abrams/Orci/Kurtzman who brought us "Alias", "Fringe" and "Mission: Impossible III" just to name a few)!

"Star Trek" stars Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto, Eric Bana, Winona Ryder, John Cho, Zoe Saldana, Anton Yelchin and, among others, Leonard Nimoy

Most "Star Trek" fans have been itching to see this (I assume) since this was originally scheduled for December 2008 and has been delayed a tad... AND also since it is set to change (for the best/worse) established Trek lore in ways that... well we'll have to wait and see won't we?

Trailer for "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" - courtesy of Trailer Addict

Apparently "Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen" was the highest rated amongst the Super Bowl trailers. I must say, that I wasn't that impressed with the first (the Michael Bay version not the animated) Transformers movie - it was all right, wasn't blown away. And I'm not all that impressed with the trailer for Revenge of the Fallen either.

Interestingly though, both Transformer movies were also written by Orci and Kurtzman!

And is it just me or does the trailer for "G.I Joe: The Rise of Cobra" look a tad like a trailer for a bad video game inspired movie?!!?!?

Trailer for "UP" - courtesy of Trailer Addict

Aaand, although the "Monster vs. Aliens" trailer was rated above "Up" I'd have to say that the latter seems to be a better bet in terms of striking the right humour chord...

BUT who am I kidding... judging a movie by a 30 to 45 second trailer is probably worse than judging a book by its cover... So we'll have to see how good/bad the movies are when they're out.

What's the point of this post you ask... I dunno... I kinda lost my train of thought there...

For those who will be near a decent cinema during the summer - have fun at the movies!

I'll be swimming in the beautiful lagoons of the Maldives banging my head against a coral reef!!

Comments on The 81st Academy Awards Nominations

2009-01-29T16:12:00.012+05:00

Kudos to the Academy for Recognising "Slumdog Millionaire" for the cinematic gem that it is;

Promotional art for Slumdog Millionaire

In particular, the nominations for;

Danny Boyle - Achievement in directing,

Anthony Dod Mantle - Achievement in cinematography,

A.R. Rahman - Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

and

A.R. Rahman (Music) & Gulzar (Lyric) - Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original song)

Kudos ALSO for recognising the cinematic vision of David Fincher and Co. for "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button";

Promotional art for The Curious Case of Benjamin Button

In particular, the nominations for;

David Fincher - Achievement in directing,

Eric Roth and Robin Swicord - Adapted screenplay

and

Brad Pitt - Performance by an actor in a leading role

And for "The Dark Knight" there were categories that, try as they might, the Academy could NOT have gotten away with had they ignored them;

Promotional art for The Dark Knight

In particular, the nominations for;

Wally Pfister - Achievement in cinematography (if only for making IMAX cool again)

and

Heath Ledger - Performance by an actor in a supporting role (if only for making Jack Nicholson's performance merely a memory and defining the true cinematic Joker)

However...

All the nominations combined do NOT make up for that fact that Christopher Nolan SHOULD have been nominated for the cinematic marvel (no irony intended) that is "The Dark Knight"!

Christopher Nolan - overcame the bat nipples but not the Academy!

Nominations for The Dark Knight should have included (at the least);

Christopher Nolan - Achievement in directing

and

Jonathan Nolan, Christopher Nolan and David S. Goyer - Adapted screenplay

Heck I'd even say that a nomination was even due for;

Hans Zimmer and James Newton Howard - Achievement in music written for motion pictures (Original score)

I am truly torn... Fincher and Co., along with Boyle and Co., are masters at what they do...

BUT the Academy should quit whatever the heck they're smoking and ALSO recognise that Nolan is the MAIN reason why The Dark Knight was nominated for all the technical awards...

Too late now...

Note to the members of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences: You tried to look like you tried... BUT you failed... miserably!

We WON'T be won over by a sympathy nomination, for Nolan, in the years to follow for a none comic book related nomination - at least I won't!

Unless it's a really good film... which knowing Nolan it probably will be... DAMN!

God gave us free will...

2009-01-29T15:37:00.005+05:00

So why are DJs trying to pull the strings?!?!?

Image from Getty Images

Shouldn't we each be responsible individually as long as we're not infringing on others?

I mean... We were told about the "free will" provision... and each given a rulebook weren't we?

If we're not each held to account individually then, since they're pulling the strings and keeping us in line, do they take all the responsibility (I don't mind NOT taking all the credit as long as I'm not stuck with the responsibility/aftermath either)? Hmmm... But the way of the DJs suggest - not so!

This is a lose - lose situation for most... if not all!

AND... not really in line with the whole "Humans have free will" line of thought... or is that a crock of bull?

heh heh heh... Sorry if I made your head hurt... woke up this morning with a migraine... so think of this as my version of Karma! ;o)

WHY IS NO ONE (REALLY) SAFEGAURDING THE CONSTITUTION?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!?!

2009-01-20T13:56:00.011+05:00

[Disclaimer: This is a RANT. For saner entries please scroll down, browse 'What was said before' OR move on to some other blogs.]

Who is really looking out for the public interest and protecting
the constitution?!?!?

Nobody seems to be interested in putting out the, proverbial, fire!

The judiciary are (obviously?) over-stepping their bounds in a 'hunger for power'... the executive, apparently, pays no heed to the 176 page "guideline" to governing the Maldivian people (I say this because they seem to treat it as such - especially as it were a crappy set of guidelines)... the legislature seem too busy because they're, mostly, acting out their their weekly soap opera!

Oh and yea... it seems that being the Forth Estate (media), in the Maldives, is a spectator sport!

Apparently in a democracy the people get the government that they deserve - boy we must have s@#$*@#d up BIG TIME in a past life!

That's it... that's all I gotta say on the subject... F$#@!!! OK that was it! SERIOUSLY! Now you can move along to more eloquent blogs and blog entries.

"Peace on earth and goodwill toward man"

2009-01-17T13:40:00.002+05:00

The title is a quote from the movie "Sneakers" (1992) starring Robert Redford, Sidney Poitier, David Strathairn, Dan Aykroyd, Mary McDonnell, River Phoenix and Ben Kingsley (among others)

The selective quote is (mainly) from "Whislter" (David Strathairn).

The situation is this - The FBI (or similar govt. organisation) is negotiating with a team of "security consultants". The FBI is asking each "consultant" what they want before the team of "consultants" will agree to hand over a device that the FBI need desperately.

And thus goes the conversation;

Whistler: I want peace on earth and goodwill toward man.

Bernard Abbott: Oh, this is ridiculous.

Martin Bishop: He's serious.

Whistler: I want peace on earth and goodwill toward men.

Bernard Abbott: We are the United States Government! We don't do that sort of thing.

Martin Bishop: You're just gonna have to try.

Bernard Abbott: All right, I'll see what I can do.

Whistler: Thank you very much. That's all I ask.

P.S. Bernard Abbott is played by James Earl Jones and Martin Bishop by Redford.

I found this piece of dialogue to be HILARIOUS when I first watched this movie... But if every one of us thought like Whistler we'd surely be in a better place - wouldn't we? Idealism... hmmmm...

Oh and by the way - STILL find it hilarious BUT it has more meaning to me now...

Why now? Not sure. BUT I remember, during early January 2009, being in Sri Lanka and seeing some residents of Colombo running around on the streets waving Sri Lankan flags and celebrating amid exploding fire crackers...

Painting from RICHARD CARDONA PAINTING, PRINTS, & DRAWINGS.
Mainly cos I got stuck deciding on an image to go with the post... Lennon kinda seemed appropriate... but do feel free to suggest other/alternate images/art/etc.

They were (rightly?) celebrating the Sri Lankan Army's success in the war against the LTTE... But somewhere in there I couldn't help but think "Why are they celebrating the loss of human lives?". In all honesty, they must have just been celebrating a victory - but that victory caused a hell of a lot of lives, Tamils, Sinhalese, Muslims, Buddhists, Men, Women, Children... human beings...

If we HAVE to choose a side... maybe we should choose humanity... the sanctity of human life - forget race/religion/[insert other denomination(s) here]...

Think this might solve all the conflicts? If the "buck" stopped at loss of human lives? Idealism again...

I should stop that... shouldn't I?

Alejandro González Iñárritu is a genius!

2009-01-14T12:30:00.006+05:00

Alejandro González Iñárritu behind the lens

He's proven himself a master storyteller with the likes of Amores perros (2000), Powder Keg [part of the BMW Films - The Hire] (2001) and 21 Grams (2003).

The man is an artist - an auteur in the truest sense of the word.

Promotional art for Babel

I know I'm a tad late to the party BUT I have to say this. I need to say it;

In Babel (2006) Iñárritu gives us an almost lyrical story born of a masterful script (Guillermo Arriaga) supported by sublime music (Gustavo Santaolalla) and emotive cinematography (Rodrigo Prieto) - to say nothing of the subdued, exceptional, performances by a brilliant cast.

True to his style, there are still the consistent, more-bitter-than-sweet, seemingly-unrelated-at-first interconnecting, storylines... but truer still, is the manner in which he presents this - an exquisite masterpiece.

If you are a fan of any of Iñárritu's previous efforts, or of film in general, and you've still not seen this - you're in for a treat when you do...

Save "Eli Stone"

2008-12-23T11:46:00.002+05:00

Fan art for the "Save 'Eli Stone' effort"!

2008-07-11T20:28:00.004+05:00

One more week to go...

Joker'ized' version of The Dark Knight poster

and the critics... lucky @#$@#$@!%@#$%$# who got to see it before us mortals... are raving...

2008-06-15T01:00:00.005+05:00

CHAMPIONS!

After a near perfect campaign... a perfect semi-final... followed by a BRILLIANT final... we are FINALLY and MOST DESERVEDLY the 2008 SAFF Champions!

The Maldives are the new SAFF Champions!!!!

Photo from maldivesoccer.com

YESSSSSSSSSSSS!

2008-05-10T16:33:00.002+05:00

Taking the plunge!

Finally... after two years going 'should I, shouldn't I' I'm finally ready... errr... for a beta test at least...

Seriously - you need me to spell it out for you?!?!

Yes, I'm transitioning to Linux... Ubuntu to be exact... Time will tell if I can stick it through... Initial feeling is that 'this might actually work'...

2008-05-05T14:09:00.004+05:00

Seems like Iron Man's flying high

More than 200 million dollars in less than a week! PLUS the fanboys are lovin' it!

[Check out these reviews by Joe Tirella, Michael SanGiacomo, Steve Ekstrom at Newsarama for a true Iron Man / Comic book fan perspective].

Iron Man - concept sketch / art from the movie

They must have done something right - must be a cinematic experience worth... experiencing!

Can't wait for the DVD and/or BluRay!!! ... but I guess I have to...

Next up: Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.

2008-05-03T12:23:00.007+05:00

Missing a semi-decent cinema/multiplex right about now

It's that time of the year - summer movie time! The time for event movies... when all the major studios rollout their biggest, LOUDEST, effects filled, explosion fueled blockbusters.

Normally I wouldn't mind. Normally I'd have no trouble waiting for the DVD to come out - especially for those blockbusters.

Promotional art for 'Wanted'

Normally I would not see the summer movie season as a 'season'... granted I'd find a few movies I'd wish I could watch on the big screen but that would not amount to more than a handful...

This summer however feels verrrry different. There are the comic book adaptations - that seem to be done in their original spirit.

Promotional art for 'The Incredible Hulk'

'The Incredible Hulk' - Marvel's revisiting of the Green One after Ang Lee 'messed things up'. I personally like Ang Lee's Hulk. Granted it's not exactly canon BUT I do believe that it remained very true to the spirit of the character... but to each/geek his own I guess... ALTHOUGH I might not have the same opinion if someone messed with Batman... fortunately that is one franchise that has been done right... errr... recently I mean... I sometimes block out the memory of Batman and Robin... more so than Batman Forever...

Promotional art for 'Iron Man'

'Iron Man'... If the trailers/posters/preview clips are any indication... this movie is gonna kick a**! AND headlining the movie are people with some SERIOUS acting chops... although director Jon Favreau's Zathura wasn't exactly brilliant... it was OK... but not... well we'll see... me later than others... but...

Promotional art for 'The Dark Knight'

'The Dark Knight'... is the movie I'm MOST looking forward to... Bale returns with the best of the supporting cast from Batman Begins along with Chirstopher Nolan, one of my favourite directors... AND Batman's infamous nemesis - the Joker... I'm expecting great things... BUT Superman Returns was done by a more than decent director... look how that turned out... in case I wasn't really clear there... I thought Returns SUCKED (technical term)!

Side note on The Dark Knight: The 'viral' marketing campaign (head on to, among others, whysoserious.com)has truly turned viral and it is amazing and fun how they're engaging the fanbase - they've tried to include everyone... I took part in one of the 'tasks' and immediately received a call from 'Jim Gordon'... lil ol me in the Maldives... well it was a recorded message... but you catch my drift! ALSO seems the fans in major global metropolitan areas have already got to see the new trailer... whereas we have to wait till Sunday, May the 5th for a peek at that... BUT there are pirated versions abound on YouTube... sorry not linking to that cos I'd rather see the 'original'.

Promotional art for 'Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull'

And then Indie is back after almost 20 years... man I feel old... though I must admit... Harrison Ford still looks the part... he looks old... but still looks the part... at least in the promos we've seen so far...

Promotional art for 'The X-Files: I want to Believe'

and then Scully and Mulder are reunited once again... or so I hear... in the new X-Files movie... and there's also.. going back to the comics again... The Spirit (although the trailer's not imbued me with a lot of confidence in this one... still)... and Wanted...

Promotional art for 'The Spirit'... errr there IS a version with The Spirit too!

OK, having recounted all the reasons why I'd love to be in the vicinity of cinema/multiplex... there seem still to be only a handful of movies... hmmm... so maybe there aren't that many reasons... BUT... except maybe for The Spirit... the others have the potential to make this a worthwhile season... then again... big studio productions squander such opportunities more than they take advantage... so... I might be better off waiting for the DVDs...

Maybe I'll tide myself over with the Batman: Gotham Knight DVD...

Cover art for 'Batman: Gotham Knight'

hmmmm... I maybe I delude myself pretty well sometimes... Oh well... bring on the DVDs... or BluRays... MAN!!! Now I've gotta decide on the format too... well... I've got time haven't I? CURSES!!!

2008-04-19T22:15:00.000+05:00

Annoyed!

That I can't seem to update my blog. May be if i did that then... well... then again... maybe not...

2008-02-11T13:16:00.000+05:00

KITT's coming back...

First in a 2 hour television movie... and then IF it's (he's?!?!?) popular... it'll be in a brand 'new' series...

Promotional art for the new Knight Rider

Well... not totally. The new series is going to be a continuation of the original starring David Hasselhoff as Michael Knight - in fact 'The Hoff' *snicker* has a cameo.

I must admit, I was a fan back in the late 1980s - HEY! I was a kid OK!?!?!? And a talking car that had Batmobile-ish capabilities was VERY COOL!

But that was then... I must admit thought... I don't have such a good feeling about this new incarnation (the new Bionic Woman anyone?!?!) But hoping against hope...

Pete - your 2 cents?

2008-01-06T14:52:00.000+05:00

Feels like I'm standing still...

Or moving backwards instead of forwards... what was rewarding is now not and what wasn't is...

Why can't I have the cake and eat it too... just a nibble?

2007-11-05T13:34:00.002+05:00

Jumper

UPDATE: This movie BLOWS! It's just... I just... boy did they mess this up!

OK, I gotta admit that I've never been a fan of Darth Christensen - quite the opposite ... BUT (most of) you guys know my affinity for Science Fiction... and DARN... the trailer for his next movie is friggin AMAZING...

Jumper - the film is based on a novel by Steven Gould

It helps that Doug Liman (The Bourne Identity) directs and Jamie Bell, Diane Lane, and the more famous, Samuel L. Jackson also star!

But on the other hand... Liman did direct Mr. and Mrs Smith too... not that it was spectacularly bad or anything... just sort of average... for me at least... especially following Bourne.

UPDATE: This movie BLOWS! It's just... I just... boy did they mess this up!

2007-11-05T13:28:00.000+05:00

Been away for a while...

But I'm back... err... I think...

Why was I "away"? err... there was this thing... DARN IT! I WAS LAZY OK!!!

but I'm back now... sort of... I think...

2007-09-07T19:37:00.000+05:00

WHAT! What?!?!?

I KNOW - it's probably too early to whine about it now but...

It appears that I might have jumped the gun in praising the BBC.

OK, so we do get a full season of Doctor Who next year and in 2010... but three meagerly specials for 2009?!?!? SERIOUSLY?!?!? Is this what you do with your 'flagship' program?

The Doctor's TARDIS

I am UNHAPPY... but then who gives a crap eh?!?! Whenever ANY network has a hit series they think (and they're probably, mostly, right) that they have the audience by the 'short and curlies'... point in case 'Lost' (which I'm not too fond of to begin with) and 'Battlestar Galactica'. And here I was thinking it was a purely American phenomenon.

Oh well... I'll piss and moan and probably stay with Doctor Who... I'll take what I can get... for now!

2007-08-22T20:18:00.001+05:00

It's just the beginning...

Hopefully...

Maldives has it's fair share of film enthusiasts. We mostly keep our interests... our love for the cinema... and the obscure... to ourselves, but a whole bunch of us got together last weekend (18th of August) and thought up a way in which we could 'spread the word' about good (effective?!?!?) cinema...

The blog, is the first step...

2007-08-15T21:12:00.001+05:00

Has anyone got a spare TARDIS laying around?

I need to borrow it to make a trip to November 6th 2007...

Series 3 of Doctor Who coming out... on November 6th 2007

Can't wait...

2007-07-24T23:58:00.001+05:00

The 'Beebs' does it again!

And no I don't mean the controversy that's been surrounding the BBC of late...

I mean Robin Hood - this series, despite being period piece-ish, manages to relate to the world today AND STILL entertain and enthrall. It's all that one enjoys in good television... and more me thinks...

Jonas Armstrong makes an unlikely but GREAT Robin Hood

It's light hearted on the outside... but not all sugar... I can't quite describe it accurately... but this is how television should be... too bad that most series rarely perform as consistently well as these BBC favourites...

I hear good things about Life on Mars - apparently David E. Kelly is making an American version... it's so good the Americans have decided to ruin it... I kid... only a little mind!

Also been hearing good things about Jekyll, the BBC's modern take on the Robert Louis Stevenson classic - 'Strange Case of Dr Jekyll and Mr Hyde'

James Nesbitt as Jekyll and Hyde

And I can personally vouch for Doctor Who being in the GREATEST TV SHOW EVER category...

I'm almost half way through Robin Hood now...

And with the compliments of my lovely wife, next up on my 'to watch' list is...

Torchwood - John Barrowman as Captain Jack Harkness

2007-07-14T09:51:00.000+05:00

I'm not holding my breath...

Yea right!!!!

Rumors are rampant; Warner Bros. is planning on debuting a teaser for The Dark Knight in front of some screenings of 20th Century Fox's The Simpsons Movie on July 27.

Jim Lee's rendition of Batman
Kinda like a 'trailer' since it's not coloured in... ok, ok... stretching it...

My face has turned a tad pink as I type... for someone with my complexion that's no mean feat... and July 27 is a loooong way away... any of you guys know CPR?

2007-06-21T23:03:00.001+05:00

Batman Begins redefined a lot...

at least in terms of the movies... but the BIGGEST change was the Batmobile... or as Christopher Nolan would presumably have us believe... the LACK of one... but BOY did he 'make up' for that with the Tumbler... 'Tank' was putting it lightly... and I must admit... even though that was a HUGE departure from the Batman mythos Batman Begins 'reinterpreted' things MOSTLY for the better... well... Nolan did kill off one of the best Batman villains ever... but I'm not complaining... and I'm as close to a purist as any... when it comes to...

Batman (in his 'new and improved' suit)

And now with the sequel, The Dark Knight (first Batman film to NOT have 'Batman' in the title), Nolan's at it again... and... I'm liking it... again!

The 'Batpod' - the movie version a 'Batbike'

and this thing comes out in 2008... boy am I in for a looooooong wait... especially since I get to watch it ONLY when the fracking DVD comes out!

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggggGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

but I do have mixed feelings about Heath Ledger being The Joker though... errr... not really buying it... yet... I admit the initial 'sneak peek' promo artwork looked good... but... I guess I'll have to wait till the movie comes out in... 2008... S@#T I feel one of those screams coming on!

AAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrggggggggggGGGGGGGHHHHHH!!!!!!!

2007-06-11T21:25:00.000+05:00

Transform and roll out?

Optimus Prime - movie version

I'm thinking this one might not be 'More than meets the eye' story wise... BUT it would still be freaking cool to see a photo-realistic transformation... and if Bay manages to pull THAT off... then there's hope for what Peter Jackson and Steven Spielberg are planning to do with Tintin... now THAT'S gonna be a HUGE challenge!

2007-06-04T16:56:00.001+05:00

Christopher Eccleston's Doctor is "the best ever"...

At least according to EW... Sadly though the Doctor comes in 23rd on EW's 'The top 25 sci-fi movies and TV from the past 25 years'... well behind 'Heroes' and 'Lost'... which... to me... is decidedly unfair... BUT EW is an American product so... that is to be expected...

The ninth Doctor

As far as Christopher Eccleston being the best ever... he was FANTASTIC... I was really sad to see Eccleston's ninth Doctor regenerate into David Tenant's 10th Doctor... BUT Tenant's doing a good job... and the series... at least in my book... is far superior to most of the others listed on EW's top 25...

Conspicuously missing from the list are Star Wars - IV, V and VI (or any of the inferior prequels for that matter) AND ANY of Stargate series!

Battlestar Galactica

Well... they did have the good sense to have Battlestar Galactica near the top... so... nope... Doctor Who deserves to make Top 5... Top 10 at least!

2007-06-02T23:14:00.000+05:00

You are on The Global Frequency

The Global Frequency insignia

*sigh*... I wish...

As far as good story ideas go The Global Frequency is one helluvan idea... and there are those really , really, good ideas that sometimes the writers just... mess up... but there's non of that AT ALL... in Warren Ellis' comic books... zip!

Sketch from the first Global Frequency story

The Global Frequency (see Wikipedia entry ) is like '24'... only on a global scale... and better... better than 24 I mean...

I'd read the collected books (collected in two volumes) by Warren Ellis and I was blown away... I mean the guy had written it as one WOULD write a TV series... and imagine my excitement when in 2004 Warner Bros. commissioned it for a series... I was one happy... well I was ecstatic... BUT... I had jumped too soon... the series never came about (apparently the big shots at Warners thought it sucked - their word, not mine) and they iced it...

First issue cover

BUT... it didn't stop there... it 'leaked' and found it's way on several peer to peer (I think the technical term is p2p) networks... I held out hope for a DVD release... HEY! It was a good idea and i didn't want to screw Mr. Ellis out of the money that he justly deserved!!!!

I'm still waiting... but the waiting has got the better of me... so I finally 'acquired' the 'leaked' copy... and it's GREAT! Not as good as the comic mind you... Warren Ellis left no plot holes, used great dialogue, extremely talented artists and provided a consistently gritty narrative... it was... to put it simply... 'an illustrated book' that felt like a movie... it engaged you on that level... the comics I mean...

Cover for Volume I of the two collected editions

The 'leaked' pilot episode of The Global Frequency isn't perfect (unlike the comics) BUT it coulda been... over time... it shoulda been given a chance... some bits were downright corny... some bad dialogue... but mostly... it was above most of the 'adventure' stuff we see on television these days... on the same level as 24... only not as dark... some good characters from the comics... some additional characters that you would need for regular TV... it was good...

My wife and I watched 'the only episode of The Global Frequency there was ever gonna be' and we were left wanting more... but... that's the way the cookie crumbles...

At least she's got my collections to go through...

And I've got... errr... ummm... can't think of a good series on telly... oh yea... gotta get cable... soon...

Cover for Volume II of the two collected editions

and I also need an actual telly...

2007-06-02T13:22:00.000+05:00

Star Trek…

Or Star Trek XI (I think that’s eleven?!?!?) a prequel/re-imagining of the popular science fiction series is all set to hit theatres in December 2008… GREAT news for my good friend Pete AND my sci-fi obsessed brother Hassan… although… to be fair… I don’t think either of them are as obsessed with the genre, as a whole, than I am… You can credit Star Wars for that… IV, V and VI… NOT the lame prequels…

Poster art for the 2008 release

I’m not that huge a fan of Star Trek… I never did follow any of the series regularly… an odd episode here and there… in fact… my fondest memories of Star Trek was attending the premier of S tar Trek Nemesis (Star Trek X) with Peter in… get this… FULL Starfleet gear… the two of us got a couple of gibes from other audience members there… but it was a generally fun experience… one I would not take back… EVER!!! Only regret is... I wasn't there for Star Wars... with the Lightsabers!

Thanks Pete for the fun times…

And thanks Hassan… for renewing my faith in Sci-Fi with Stargate SG-1 (more on that later… maybe…)

Pete, Hassan – Here’s hoping J.J. Abrams delivers a story worthy of the Star Trek legacy…

Guys... 'Live long and prosper'.

2007-05-21T13:55:00.001+05:00

Drop by the National Art Gallery...

If you’re in Malé’s general vicinity be sure to drop in on the new exhibit ‘Beyond the Tourist’s Eye’… I’m by no means a connoisseur… BUT there were some pieces that caught my eye… and linger on in my mind…

This particular exhibit is open for free public viewing on all weekdays except Fridays… it closes on the 7th of June 2007…

The National Art Gallery is located at:
131 Majeedhee Magu (the same building as the National Library)

There are plans to move the exhibit to Sri Lanka after the 7th (although dates are yet to be announced)… so if you have friends there be sure to let them know…

The image of the painting below links to the gallery’s website – alas it is severely out of date… for the most current information I suggest you get in touch with them directly.

Odessa Girl by Umai Mohamed Badiu; a 10" x 14", Water Colour painting which was part of the gallery's 'Maldives Contemporary 2005' Exhibit.

I must admit that Odessa Girl is one of my favourite Maldivian paintings - however you won't find it in the gallery's current exhibit.

For those of you not around the Malé area, you can take a look at the paintings from the 'Maldives Contemporary 2005' Exhibit online - online images of the current exhibit are not yet available.

2007-05-10T16:37:00.000+05:00

Matt Damon as Bourne?!?!?

Yea... That's what I thought when I first heard about The Bourne Identity... "That skinny lad from Saving Private Ryan and Good Will Hunting?!?!? SERIOUSLY?!?!?". BUT unlike other franchises that depend on a certain super-spy with the initials J.B, Matt Damon was, in my mind, 100% spot on! AND ... The Bourne Supremacy also kicked @$$! Fingers crossed and a lotta high expectations for...

Trailer for The Bourne Ultimatum

2007-04-26T13:40:00.000+05:00

Helloooo.... is anybody out there?!?!?

Artist's impression: The most Earth-like planet discovered outside our Solar System to date.

Earth like planet just 20.5 light years away... Think we're alone?

2007-04-23T21:57:00.000+05:00

Times like these...

Optimus Prime and Megatron stand off - The Transformers standee

I wish there was a proper cinema near me...

2007-03-24T13:31:00.000+05:00

BRILLIANT!!!

The Doctor and Martha Jones

Doctor Who renewed for a FOURTH season!!!! YES!!!

2007-02-14T09:25:00.000+05:00

New Doctor... FANTASTIC!

At least that's what Christopher Eccleston's (the Invisible man on Heroes) ninth Doctor would say... maybe with just a hint or sarcasm... not a lot mind you... just a 'tuch'... err that was me trying to simulate (emulate?!?!?) Christopher Eccleston's ninth Doctor...

The Ninth Doctor with Rose (Billie Piper and Christopher Eccleston)

OK... most of you are thinking 'What's he on about?!?!?'. Well... you know my soft-spot for Sci-Fi... even BAD Sci-Fi... well not THAT bad... but slightly... I like to think that I'd give any story a chance until it gets particularly trying and/or long winded - case in point, I gave 'Lost' a chance for two whole seasons before they lost me... Smallville took longer to wear me out... lasted till season 3...

Anyhoo, Doctor Who (http://www.bbc.co.uk/doctorwho) is nowhere near 'Oh, I give up!'. Quite the contrary... It's very good story telling and I think works exceptionally well within it's medium - Television... It's got good, positive messages - Classic TV stories... they hardly make them like these any more!

So.... what am I harping on about?!?!? Err... nitpicking really... Series One (Season One if you're being all uppity and American about it) the new Doctor Who introduced us to the ninth Doctor... and for someone who's never seen a doctor who episode in his life before then... Christopher Eccleston's version/interpretation was BRILLIANT... but Eccleston (think I can call him Chris?) left Doctor Who at the end of the first season of the new series to be replaced by David Tennant's 10th Doctor who's Great... but when Great follows BRILLIANT... you see where I'm going with this?

The Tenth Doctor with Rose (Billie Piper and David Tennant)

Which brings me why I'm blogging about the new New Doctor... Anyone who's into good stories... and mostly into the fantastical and the science fiction or fantasy genre should definitely give this a shot... start with Series One of the new series... the first two episodes are a tad slow... but hang in there and you'll be rewarded... as I was...

Can't wait for Series Three with the new...

2007-01-23T20:35:00.000+05:00

What... no ‘You can’t handle the TRUTH!’?!?!?!

Oh well... on to the nominations

...and your picks to win are...????

Come now... this one's ripe for the commenting!!!! Aaaand.... GO!

2007-01-02T23:49:00.000+05:00

Our friend Peter Cheong's Grand Uncle passed away recently....

Pete, I'm sure anyone who truly knows you will feel your loss. But this is true of all who have passed that we cherish...

'He who has gone, so we but cherish his memory, abides with us, more potent, nay, more present than the living man.'
- Antoine de Saint Éxupéry -

Those who have touched our souls... remain within our hearts... always...

2006-09-23T18:19:00.000+05:00

!!!Watch this space!!!
(Aindhy's commitment to re-vitalising the blog... Ramazaan's not going to help... but I will prevail... hopefully....)

2006-09-23T18:17:00.001+05:00

!!!This space for rent!!!

(since Aindhy seems to have given up blogging)

2006-07-23T21:44:00.000+05:00

In the words of Sting...

yea... I'm always stealing...

'Everybody's got to leave the darkness sometime'

Happy days... OH happy, happy days :) ...

Oh and Pete (thanks for the boost by the way)... it's just one of those things... Just ask Timber Rabbit!

2006-07-22T16:54:00.000+05:00

Can we be telepathic in our need to be miserable?

Are we? I realise I’ve been in a bit of a rut the past few days… life’s been sort of in limbo… funny… emails blogs and blog comments tell me that a lot of you are too… it’s hard… you guys deserve to be happy… or at least happier… What would happen if we all decided to be happy at the same moment? Like our frustrations... would it carry?

I know it’s not that simple… to dig ourselves out... and most times you don’t even want to try… I can take a bit of depression… that’s when I’m most creative… I think… but… can’t stay in the darkness all the time… can’t take it… especially when I know that I won't be able to reach out to you with something positive... maybe I’ll leave… maybe I should be listening to U2 (at least they’re more upbeat…) instead of The Police… or watching Ivan Reitman movies instead of David Lynch…

Maybe tomorrow…

2006-07-21T00:58:00.000+05:00

If nothing else, I've been blessed with GREAT friends...

For this I am thankful!

2006-07-20T22:47:00.000+05:00

Hey wait... someone's coming over too!!!!

My buddy, Aindhy, is now in the midst of setting me up with a good diving package during my impending trip to the Maldives...but Aindhy isn't really the issue for this posting...sorry buddy!!

So happened couple of nites ago, I was on MSN Messenger chatting to an old friend of mine... this demure indian-muslim girl named Razia...kinda exotic sounding too... *griiinnnn* (she's actually pretty) (and she'd probably kill me if she saw this posting) ...and guess what of all things... she's also going to dive in the Maldives...certification dives, of course, not like an advance participant like me... he he... *don't mean to boast, but a fact is a fact*... She's gonna put up at Giravaru Island Resort... about 15 minutes by boat from Male...

As a matter of fact, I had in previous years taunt Miss Razia to take her first breath beneath the waves... glad though that she's finally taking that plunge and gladder still that coincidentally, we could be meeting up in a month's time about 2000 miles away from home, doing the same thing...

So Aindhy, it would be great if you could arrange dive tours from 30th August to the 1st of September for me (just a couple of days will do)....BUT I have to check with Razia's itinerary to see if there's a slot in which we could dive together....will let you know soon buddy....I would be in your eternal debt and I will supply you with as much Fisherman's Friend as you like... *grin*

2006-07-18T21:59:00.000+05:00

Damers

(Design - or lack there of - by Adam Cooper...
Do you guys need a caption for this picture?!?! Really?!?!)

Mr. Kean (can't believe I said that with a straight face... although it takes a lot of my concentration to type) was my boss in unicef for just two months... too short a time mate!

He's gone to Winchester (UK... like you didn't guess - a name like Winchester... gotta be the UK) and hopes to come back a... Master of Media and Theatre was it?

We (at unicef) miss your keen sense of humour... ok maybe more Kean than keen... (Kean = out there as apposed to keen = Sharp.. heheheh!)... we miss the singing-out-loud in the office, we miss the WHO (who?) joke, we miss the 'Hello Motto' and 'Bip bip bip beep beep bi bi bip!' ringtones... AND we missed ya at the ...RETREAT!

Good luck with the horrid weather and the fish and chips!!!!

2006-07-16T23:59:00.000+05:00

Said a sheet of snow-white paper...

Said a sheet of snow-white paper, "Pure was I created, and pure will I remain forever.
I would rather be burnt and turn to white ashes than suffer darkness to touch me or the unclean to come near me."
The ink-bottle heard what the paper was saying, and it laughed in its dark heart; but it never dared to approach her.
And the multicoloured pencils heard her also, and they too never came near her.
And the snow-white sheet of paper did remain pure and chaste for ever, pure and chaste -- and empty.

That's Khalil Gibran speaking... I've been playing it 'safe' MOST of my life... it's second nature to most of us after a while... I read (as in reed) between Gibran's lines with my prejudices and MY perspectives...

It's weird when other people give words to those inklings in your head... and they've done it even before you existed...

It's frustrating when you realise they've done it better than you could have possibly imagined...

2006-07-15T11:23:00.000+05:00

The new Spiderman poster...

(posted at Superhero Hype!)

looks cool! But since when has Spiderman posters not looked cool?

Was NOT a fan of 2 (the 2nd Spiderman movie)... Felt too much like a retread of Spiderman... Here's hopin that Rami's moved on from that!

For those of you under a fairly large rock - Venom, Sandman and Hobgoblin are the villians.

(click 'NEWS' for... news... on spiderman 3)

There's even talk of... wait for it... Mysterio.... oooooooh! Yea I know... sometimes I don't do sarcasm well...

Oh yea... there's a teaser trailer for 3 at Comingsoon.net! I must say it didn't impress me that much... to be fair, neither did the 1st teaser for Spiderman (the 1st movie) - which I did like... errr that is to say... I did not like the teaser BUT I did like the movie!

2006-07-11T19:30:00.000+05:00

And it ended...

on a sore note for Zizou... on a high note for Italy... on a good note for Germany... and a low note for Portugal!

And that's that! No football talk... errr serious football talk... on this blog for another four years!

2006-07-08T14:04:00.000+05:00

Will they come in 3rd?

Cos if they do... they'll have to beat the host country in the process... no mean feat and almost as good as winning the World Cup...

LOVED the Portugal vs. France*** match... towards the end you got the feeling that the French outclassed the Portuguese... Their experience... not to mention the exquisite form of Zizou... showing through!!! No matter which team you are... whether you are a team genetically engineered to beat superhumans.. you respect the talent that is Zinadine Zidane (although admittedly Henry won the penalty)... Brazil found this out the hard way... their arragonce was their main downfall though... can't exactly give Zidane all the credit.

***Note: Some of you (and by that I guess I only mean Pete) may have noticed that I've been away for a bit... been a tad busy attending 2 workshops and getting food poisoning... not exactly in that order.

2006-06-29T10:34:00.000+05:00

There's a little black spot on the sun today...

One of my favourite songs... King of Pain by the Police... In terms of lyrics... this is Sting at his best (arguably for some... most definitely for me) ... sometimes the irony makes me laugh... sometimes the darkness of this song... it draws me in... sometimes you can't escape the darkness...

King of Pain (lyrics by Sting)

There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday
There's a black hat caught in a high tree top
There's a flag-pole rag and the wind won't stop

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a fossil that's trapped in a high cliff wall
There's a dead salmon frozen in a waterfall
There's a blue whale beached by a springtide's ebb
There's a butterfly trapped in a spider's web

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the king of pain

There's a king on a throne with his eyes torn out
There's a blind man looking for a shadow of doubt
There's a rich man sleeping on a golden bed
There's a skeleton choking on a crust of bread

King of pain

There's a red fox torn by a huntsman's pack
There's a black-winged gull with a broken back
There's a little black spot on the sun today
It's the same old thing as yesterday

I have stood here before inside the pouring rain
With the world turning circles running 'round my brain
I guess I'm always hoping that you'll end this reign
But it's my destiny to be the queen of pain

King of pain
I'll always be king of pain...

Not to worry... I'll move on... sometime... soon...

2006-06-27T13:13:00.000+05:00

Most BORING match in Germany 2006...

AND THE AWARD GOES TO... (without fanare) Switzerland vs. The Ukraine.

Boring... it was like watching, non stop, the second hand on a clock move.. for about 130minutes... give or take eternity - we could not, however, look away - yea... we're sorta weak willed that way!

and Predictable... right down to Shevchenko missing the first penalty kick... (no I am NOT making this up... just as Michael)

(Joalifathi Woald Cup Analyst - Ahmed Michael)

Well... it could have been worse... or could it?

On a (more?) personal note... FIFA, what're ya gonna do with Figo? Is he in? Is he out... are you gonna make him (and Portugal) pay a rediculous amount of money? What's gonna happen to him? What, WHAT, WHAT?!?!?

Disclaimer: The above statement is not meant to discredit FIFA or any of it's decisions... FIFA RULEZ... err as far as football is concerned atleast... I'm just curious as to what's to become of Portugal... and you all know I'm not a patient man... so FIFA: OUT WITH IT PEOPLE!!!

and by the way... while we're on the subject... for those of you who don't know yet:

Check out the 'Fan of the match' award on the FIFA World Cup website... yea I meant FAN not MAN - nice idea FIFA...

(One of many to win the FIFA Fan of the Match - Daina Zagata)

verrrrry nice idea!

2006-06-26T02:01:00.000+05:00

Portugal WIN!!!!

Going up against England in the quater finals... Key players on suspension... the drama continues... I LOVE this... err... the drama... not the key players on suspension - which just plain sucks!!! ok ok... hehe there were times during the Portugal vs. Netherland that I was as nervous as BOTH the coaches.... COMBINED!

hmmm... lucky England! BUT it's against England vs. Portugal - I'm hoping for Protugal to outclass England :D

mmm... but with Figo (maybe... probably... highly likely) gone... and with what happened to Chritiano Ronaldo... and Deco... MAAAaaan! Still...

OK ok... gotta go sleep... gotta get to work this morning... yes work!

YEA! Portugal WIN!!!! Gonna be watching them play England... probably... or who am I kidding... WILL BE on pins and needles!

2006-06-25T00:28:00.000+05:00

AAAaaaarrrrggGH!

I HATE lending books and DVDs – the ones you cherish Always seem never to return! :(

Green Lantern: Rebirth (Written by Geoff Johns and illustrated by Ethan Van Sciver)
Borrowed, overdue and much cherished! Hal Jordan's back... He's BACK I tell you and the story is moving and exciting and may be lost to me FOREVER! I exaggerate AND...

I’d swear – but my parents raised a more cautious fool… I meant polite...

BUT AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaarrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR!

STILL PISSED!

2006-06-23T15:50:00.000+05:00

Yay! Japan scores against Brazil...

Crap! Brazil are gonna win it... AGAIN! OK... I do realise I was hoping against hope... but seriously FIFA should just NOT hold the World Cup and give them the trophy...

'OK Aindhy... get a grip... Portugal still have a chance... so does Spain... but the way the Brazilians played last night... ALL HOPE IS LOST!!!' ... Hehehehe... well not really... but they did do a good job didn't they... some really good goals... even the Japanese goa had class...

On a more surprising note... the Socceroos (err... the Australians) make it to the round of 16... And NO I wasn't hallucinating! Great job... played their guts out and won!

Bring on the round of 16!.. err after tonight's 'fixtures'.

2006-06-22T20:29:00.000+05:00

The new Superman Returns Poster...

is visually (verrrry) stunning...

and there's also a new trailer! MAN! If wishes had wings or flight as it were...

One minor concern... YES I'm nitpicking... there's one bit when Superman's flying near the plane where he looks like a doll... but in all fairness... when you're matched up against a plane... still... sigh!... like I said... I wish...

2006-06-22T20:08:00.000+05:00

The results for the Text message instant poll:
Blu Ray vs. HD DVD is...

Afrah: Blu Ray
Shuna: Blu Ray (reconsidered from original choice of HD DVD)
Pete: HD DVD
Ben: Brazil (so sorry Ben... this means u contribute nothing!)
Aiman: Blu Ray
Aindhy: Blu Ray

80% for Blu Ray - 20% for HD DVD and nothing but a 'Portugal are gonna kick arse' to Ben

There you go - the Blu Rays have it!

OK - my two cents on why Blu Ray has to win.

Simply put - this format war is not just about video (as was the war between VHS and Betamax)... it's also about Data Capacity... and Blu Ray's got more. Which also mean EXTRA stuff on the video releases... like Special Effects features etc... you know how I LOVE the extras (when they mean something).

In brief - I hope that when the dust settles it's Blu Ray that's left standing!

2006-06-21T22:20:00.000+05:00

Wierdest thing happened last night...

I'd done a bit of shoping... nothing too fancy... just aftershave and shave foam. As I proceeded towards the payment counter I realise that I didn't have enough cash on me. No biggie right? Cos I did have my shiny new BML Visa Debit card - turns out they can't accept my card because their machine only accepts BML Cash Cards only.

Now I'm stuck... and my hopes of a painless shave - SHATTERED (heheh... ok not quite). So I begin counting the notes in my wallet and find I am just three Rufiya short!

So I've got to duck out of the shop and get to an ATM right?

Wrong - a guy behind me gladly covers the three bucks. And you could have knocked me over with a feather. Hardly happens these days. I was really shell shocked - I didn't even get his name BUT I did remember to thank him.

So dude, again - Thanks a billion!

I sure hope Brazil makes it to the Germany 2006 Final (He was wearing a Brazil shirt)... Had this happened before the finals began, I would wish that they win it - but unfortunately I've already printed out my 'Portugal - 2006 winners, all the other teams SUCK!' T-shirts ;)

Thanks!

2006-06-20T18:30:00.000+05:00

Superman Returns - 27th June 2006

The poster kicks arse but have you seen the trailers and the spots?!?!
I have. MAN do I wish I lived in a country with a decent cinema - the price one pays for living in paradise

'Life's good and full of mixed blessing' - ;) Cheers.

p.s. I've been neglecting this - thus the two posts

2006-06-20T17:33:00.000+05:00

Shout out for a good book.

Some of you guys have probably read my short scripts Life and After life (Ben - I've got a concept for Before life so the trilogy is complete, atleast in my head!). Those I wrote when in Limkokwing. I've no illusions BUT this give you guys a clue as to my tastes...

The short story collection Children playing before a statue of Hercules (edited and introduced by David Sedaris) has got PLENTY of that kinda flavour - The girl with the blackened eye (Joyce Carol Oates) and Bullet to the brain (Tobias Wolfe) stand out.

I must admit I did skip a couple of the stories - when they slowed down a bit BUT it was only just the two.

For those who enjoy a decent (these are more than decent) stories like me - this is a definite keeper.

NO. I'm not lending my copy!

2006-05-21T20:54:00.000+05:00

And as promised... MORE pictures from the Malaysia trip!
Powered by Afrah (THANKS MAN!)

Guess who's taller than Basil... ok... not me....
Me behind Basil and Elaine

OY! Who took this picture ah?!?! ELAINE!!!!
As you can tell... Azeem and me.

The usual suspects...
Azeem, me, Cliff and Ben.

oh yea... i had fun, FUN, FUN!

When Elaine says 'high 5'...
Ben, Elaine, me.

errr... this pic wasn't staged at all... heh heh heh....
Cliff and Mickey.

Siti... the Malaysian production scene will never be the same again! hehehe... and yet closest to 'the Dream'. Most of us seem to have been diverted somewhat... cept maybe Darren (SHIT we should have tried to get together in rememberance of 'Pumba'... who will surely be missed... err wait... grazed atleast! :D

Oy! I got more you know!!!!

2006-05-20T13:47:00.000+05:00

Ok ok... maybe the best way to start off is with pictures... them being worth a tousand words and all. I took a trip down (up?) to Malaysia recently... inbetween Wataniya and taking up my new position at unicef (I started on May 14). I met up with some old friends (sorry Belinda... Darren) and made some new ones (hello Azeem, Mickey, Corrine and Premela AKA Flexi-gurl)... some pics i still haven't downloaded onto my PC cos i'm just too darn lazy (sorry Ben, Clifford, Afrah)... BUT I vow to do that today... updates to follow shortly...

Pete being artsy with his shots of me - Pete, it wasn't fun you 'stalking' me with a camera in Times Square... but the pics are worth it!

Solah in Gomback - YEP his view from the balcony is great!

KL traffic - 'blur sotong'

Borders bookshop - KL Times Square... suffice it to say my baggage WOULD have been over the limit IF weighed (for those of you with a smirk when i referenced weight - har har har... FUNNY!)

Making new friends - (left to right) Corrine, Pete and me

Updates soon...

2006-05-20T13:05:00.000+05:00

It's been WAY too long that I've been putting off doing this... thinking that I was too busy... while in actual fact I've been too drained to make an effort... that's changing today (I hope)... hehehe... hmmm... errr... ok... writer's block... NOT FUN!