RIFLE RANGE BOY

Many years (a quarter of a century) ago, when I was still in training, there was a patient who used to stay in the wards for weeks on end for asthma. Even though he may be moving around the ward, chit-chatting and carrying tales from patient to patient to create territorial animosity between chronic long-staying patients, when it comes to morning rounds, he would be wrapped in blanket sweating like a pig creating wheezy noisy breathing insisting that he was still unwell to return home. It went on for some time until the senior officer of the ward, aware of chronic asthmatics' ability to feign a wheezing sound of an asthmatic attack, managed to coax him to return to his worldly duties like working for a living! I can swear by the look that he had on face, he was screaming ala Arnold Schwarzenegger avenging to be back -"Hasta la vista baby!" Frank Gardner, a disabled skier In our daily life too, we see many able bodies running their lives as if theirs is the ...

After a self imposed exile in Europe of 10 years, Orson Welles made this 1958 movie with a star studded cast of Charleton Heston, Janet Leigh, himself, Marlene Deitrich, Zsa Zsa Gabor, Dennis Weaver and others. It is a film noir with a very convoluted storyline and is the last of legendary movies of its genre. Here, guitar music of rock and roll had replaced the usual jazz music. This movie was supposed to be a come back movie for Welles. Again here, the studios felt that the movie had to be edited and redone much to Welles disappointment that made him write the now famous 58 page expressive plea. In 1998, the director's plea materialized and was restored to its previous glory. Charleton Heston acts a mustachioed Mexican drug enforcement officer! Welles who was hired as a supporting actor and villainous evidence planting over-sized unhealthy looking cop ended up doing the screenplay and direction for free. This outing however lacks the power dialogue that is synanomous with...

Following a recommendation from a Facebook friend's list of best movies of all time, I gave Mr Brooks a try. It is a 2007 film starring Kevin Costner as Mr Brooks, William Hurt as his id, Demi Moore (the cougar in female skin) as cop out to nail him. I found the movie particularly disturbing initially but later the emotional display and story line was one all can relate to. It definitely, would not make it to my list of best movies of the century! Mr Brooks (Costner), a celebrated businessman from Portland is feted in a congratulatory dinner for being the businessman of the year. After returning from the dinner and tucking his wife to bed, he retires to his 'studio' and drives off to killed off a couple who were in midst of passionate lovemaking. He cleans up the crime scene and leaves behind the victim's blood stained thumbprint! You see, Mr Brooks is a serial killer dubbed the 'Thumbprint Killer'! Accompanying Mr Brooks all around is his id (William Hurt)- ...

Well, that is the tagline for the 1987 production of 'The Untouchables'. In real life, the fight does not have to be a physical transmission of force over another mass, but it can refer to any challenge in life; be it psychological, ambition or over disease! Kevin Costner (Elliot Ness), a clearly under-rated star, stars here as the Federal Agent from US Treasury sent to Chicago during the gangster-filled time of the Prohibition era when the production and transportation of liquor above a certain level was prohibited. He was facing an uphill battle trying to abate the sales of bootleg booze as the mobster in charge, Al Capone, had practically got everyone from the municipality to law enforcers under his thumb. Robert De Niro, the likeable villain, gives a sterling performance as Capone. This guy can do any role- a soldier (Deer Hunter), a mobster (Casino, Godfather II and so many others), a boxer (Raging Bull), a deranged escaped convict (Cape Fear), a cop...

Yet another meal from another relative to mark the departure of K's family to the 'Land of the plenty'. With so many dinners in their honour, it looks like they simply cannot reverse their decision now to migrate lock, stock and barrel to Land of Vegemite Sandwich. K's ancestory saga began at beginning of the 20th century when K's grandparents made their own boat to escape unlivable living conditions in the jewel in the crown of the British Empire. They with a couple of friends set sail on a thug boat to Maldives. The captain, obviously a captain of circumstances who got all his bearings crossed and pretty soon found himself and all the passengers stranded in the wide open ocean at the mercy of the elements of nature, clinging on to whatever bits and pieces of their dear lives. Rescued by a passing steamer,  left with Hobson's choice, they landed in their next of calling, Pearl of the Orient, Penang. Seeing many of their fellow countrymen (and women) in a harmo...

Champagne (1928) Director: Alfred Hitchcock 1928 must have been a very good year for a young Alfred Hitchcock. His maiden film as a director as well as a few others came alive on screen and since then champagnes have been popping. News had it that Hitchcock did not really enjoy post-production cocktail parties and was rarely seen after shooting times. The silent movie 'Champagne' is a 1928 production that made its way to my collection of Hitchcock's movies - that means only 'No. 13'(1922-lost film), Mountain Eagle (1925-lost film), 'Always tell your wife' (1923) and 'Elstree Calling'(1930) are still elusive! 'Champagne' starts with a Wall Street magnate fuming mad (literally, evidenced by puffs of cigar fumes) whilst reading about the antics of his headstrong daughter flying across the Atlantic to meet up with her secret lover. In the next scene, passengers of a cruise ship are excited over the apparent rescuing of a stranded plane i...

Datuk Zainal Alam, senior RTM broadcaster, entertainer, singer, and stand-up comedian. © Star Of late, they have been talks of unspeakable wastage of stream of milk filling the drains of Batu Caves all along the days surrounding Thaipusam. Money that otherwise can be used for the upliftment of the Indian Malaysian community is said to be literally down the drain. Milk, as described by Datuk Zainal Alam, a fellow Penangite, comedian, entertainer extraordinaire, is the first and last thing consumed by humans and would not have been so much stature and reverence in life is not for its pristine white hue. Imagine a purple liquid called 'milk'! I digress... Much has also griped about the humongous garland donned upon 'The First Lady' and her consort, which would have taken half an acre's yield, going to waste. Ever since my language teacher in Form 1 (AA), told the class that we could not say the space expedition is a waste of money in our essay as money just...

Quick Draw McGraw Fate has a warped and cruel sense of humour! In my limited exposure to turn of events and people in my lifetime, I have come to realize that people may have misunderstanding between and amongst each other for the most trivial of reasons - over pride, ego, worldly material, (lack of) show of respect, he said she said etcetera. All it takes is a tragedy, in a form  of accident, death or loss of love, all will be forgotten and all will cry together! Just as paradoxically as love and money may be the root of all evil, they can also draw warring factions to the table and at the same time waiting to do a quick draw as and when the necessity arises! Love will keep us together, or whatever !

I got this movie as I thought that it must be a spectacular one since it won 1 Oscar and was nominated for another 8 including Best Picture in 1945. The world is a stage and we (the audience) are the fools taken for a royal ride. It is quite apparent how turns of events of the time determine jury sentiments. It was the end of World War II. A film on the effect of war on the family left behind by the soldiers and how their partners cope with challenges back home just had to win to give a pat to all those who contributed directly and indirectly to success of the War and helped to put USA to the rank of the superpower of the world. Frankly, there is nothing to shout about in this movie. It just reminded me of those Disney feature length movies where everybody is courteous and apologizes profusely even when he loses his temper for a fraction of a second. I was quite excited to see Joseph Cotton (who gave sterling performances in many movies in the 40s including Hitchcock's) and ...

Friday February 10, 2012 By ANDREA FILMER Photos by ASRI ABDUL GHANI LONG-SERVING soldier William David Dass (pic) was given a fitting farewell at his funeral at the St George’s Church in Penang. He was acknowledged with military honours at the funeral service where his casket was led by bag-pipers from the 8th Royal Regiment based in the Terendak Army Camp, Malacca. Solemn affair: The casket of the late William leaving St George's Church in Penang. The retired Warrant Officer II, who died at the age of 77 on Sunday, was later cremated at Batu Gantong. He had served 29 years with the Malaysian Armed Forces and participated in several high profile military operations. William, who was also named a Universal Peace Federation ambassador of peace, is survived by his wife Sundari Gopal Iyer, five children and seven grandchildren. His eldest son, Kapt Christopher Ravindran, described his father as an active celebrant of life and a man who was a “true believer in the value of com...

There is a reason why traditionally games started and ended with a handshake between two 'warring' factions who are out for each other's jugular during the games but will be having drinks again afterwards. This is known gentlemanly conduct. What happens on the pitch is left on the pitch! Times changed. People came out of conquest of war mode and natives gained independence. Man's unquenchable inner desire to kill and dominate is steered towards games which promise equal footing of action and gore. Suddenly, games especially football (soccer) became too big for its own good. Along came creatures likes publicity and public relations managers who promise the sky and the moon to take the game to dizzying heights who scaled out of thin air. And 'poof' came the vultures in the form telecommunications whiz to bring the players to everybody's living room. And the hyenas of briefcase lawyers who were anything but brief in their circumlocutory lecture about ensuring...

At Kim Jong Il's funeral When I was small (even now), I just could not understand why Amma made it her divine duty to attend the funeral ceremonies of her relatives and distant ones alike. When I asked her why she did so, she would reply that nobody would come for hers if she did not do so. I would retort that when one is dead, he would not know who came for the funeral anyway. So when my dear best friend's father was terminally ill recently, I made it a point to visit him when he was still alive and able to converse and say his peace to all friends and relatives. We all had a good chat reminiscing his younger days as a soldier serving in Congo back in 1962. He took leave soon afterwards. Attending funerals are a strain to the attendees and recipients alike. There is too much emotion involved. I rather be at the scene after all the dust has settled down. There are always people who take offence on this type of attitude! P.S. I have seen too many times long lost re...

Intermezzo, A Love Story (1939)  Normally I do not fancy watching lovey-dovey romantic movies but I just had to watch Intermezzo as in it one of my favourite actress (after Grace Kelly), Ingrid Bergman appeared in her débutante role. Bergman, 23, was already an established actress in her native country, when she was introduced to the American public in this film originally done in Swedish in 1936 and acted be Bergman. The Academy had voted this angelic Nordic goddess with a pearly white pretty smile as the 4th best actress after Katherine Hepburn, Betty Davies and Audrey Hepburn. In this movie, a married renowned violinist Holgar Brandt (Leslie Howard) falls in love with his daughter's talented piano teacher, Anita Hoffman (Bergman). Holgar leaves his wife and 2 kids to elope with Anita as his accompaniment in his tours. After initially turning down a scholarship offer, driven by guilt, she leaves him. Holgar goes into a self imposed exile due to emb...

Somebody rated very highly of this 1968 Charlton Heston starred movie called 'Planet of the Apes'. I remember running home to watch the TV series of its spin-off in RRF on Wednesdays. Of course, it clashed with the Tamil movie segment over TV2 and Sgt. Urko and his team had to be sacrificed on alternate weeks.(Tamil movies were screened on alternate Wednesdays; Hindi on the other; Amma would monopolize the TV then!) This 1968 movie is slow moving by our present standards with more talking and less action and lack of firebrand. It takes swipe at many of human's daily actions and basically tells us to safeguard our planet for the future generations. Apes are the cultured ones here and men primitive - mute, dirty and incapable of thinking. There are zoo animals! It is set in 2000 years in the future when Heston and his crew members crash land on a planet (we later discover that it is indeed planet Earth). They are apprehended by apes. Heston is unable to communicate as his n...

Ra Ra Rasputin Over the past few days Malaysian netizens had gone aghast with the YouTube clip that went viral over cyberspace of a scene of KFC staff having a tiff with his disgruntled customer when his chicken ran out (the supply, that is, not literally). From the customer's perspective : After waiting in hunger in a queue for more than an hour for a piece of the now easily the world's most famous poultry flesh, he was told right on his face that their prized merchandise was finished just when his turn was up. That is it! At least they could be forewarned that their supply was low. When he stated her case, what he got was a rude reply that screamed of need for social etiquette and emphasis in customer service 101. After all, he had his rights, he was a paying customer. Being a multinational company with standard operating procedure manuals, KFC should know how to handle such situations amicably. Shameful! From the workers' point of view: Here I am working day in d...