A feeble attempt to justify a just war!

Zero Dark Thirty (2012)

Yet another American glorifying Muslim bashing terror slashing military procedural film which looks at American problems as world problems. Their gung ho way of handling terror is through more violence and more might and fire-power!

I was quite surprised that this movie received many rave reviews and praises from critiques. Personally, it is just another lob sided depiction of terror without addressing the issue holistically but from a very miopic unintelligent view of a jaundiced American vision. I guess this type of 'patriotism' is gaining momentum of late.

History tells us that Hollywood plays its stellar 'tour of duty' role whenever the going gets tough in America. During WW2, the silver screen played its role as a morale booster when the war was heading nowhere. It cushioned the sad news of the fall of their young soldiers by trumpeting American's just fight for liberty and freedom. After its faithful duty all these while, now, of buffering its economic recovery, what better way can there be then to fan nationalistic sentiments. Evidence of this is evident in the number of patriotism reminiscing movies by big directors - like this one by Kathryn Bigelow, Lincoln by Spielberg, Django by Taratino (but looking at US history in a rather cynical way).

Kathryn Bigelow who, in 2009, received many accolades for her other patriotic flick 'Hurt Locker', did this movie in the same fashion. Fighting in a just war, trying to protect their homeland from invaders who do not their idea of liberty and freedom, Maya, a green horned CIA agent, who was head hunted from high school, goes on personal vendetta on a crusade to hunt down terrorists with the information obtained through her interrogations of suspected terrorists. The interrogation techniques which were in the news for all the wrong reasons like violent torture, water boarding and 'walking the dog' are shown here.

This story is a semi historical narration of the events which precede and subsequently ended with the death of Osama Bin-Laden. Stereotyping of Muslims are its fullest heights here. I wonder why all the leaders who were crying foul over the depiction of their counterparts in 'Vishwaroopam' are mum here. Well, we all know that all the hullabaloo which preceded its launch was business in origin, not religious in origin. What better way to stir emotions for personal reasons than to fall on racial and theological sentiments?

James Gandolfini (Tony Soprano of the series 'Sopranos') plays a memorable role as a CIA chief here. His way of acting is exactly like how he acted in 'Sopranos' as a mob boss- with the arrogance, attitude and the explicit superlative expressions. Guess they are all the same - law enforcers and law breakers, only that one uses the law as a shield whilst the other shield themselves from the law with lawyers!

Maybe because I do not particularly fancy purposeless shooting of people just because they wear a turban! And it is quite difficult to fathom civil servants fighting their superiors because of public interest.

Gory historic details or gore fest?

Razakar: The Silent Genocide Of Hyderabad (Telegu, 2024) Director: Yata Satyanarayana In her last major speech before her disposition, Sheikh Hasina accused those who opposed her rule in Bangladesh of being Razakars. The opposition took offence to this term and soon widespread mob throughout the land. Of course, it is not that that single incident brought down an elected government but a culmination of joblessness and unjust reservations for a select population group. In the Bengali psyche, Razakar is a pejorative term meaning traitor or Judas. It was first used during the 1971 Pakistan Civil War. The paramilitary group who were against the then-East Pakistani leader, Majibur Rehman, were pro-West Pakistan. After establishing independence in Bangladesh, Razakars were disbanded, and many ran off to Pakistan. Around the time of Indian independence, turmoil brewed in the princely state of Hyderabad, which had been a province deputed by the Mughals from 1794. The rule of N...

The products of a romantic star of the yesteryear!

Now you see all the children of Gemini Ganesan (of four wives, at least) posing gleefully for the camera after coming from different corners of the world to see the ailing father on his deathbed. They seem to found peace with the contributor of their half of their 46 chromosomes. Sure, growing up must have been hell seeing their respective mothers shedding tears, indulgence in unhealthy activities with one of them falling prey to the curse of the black dog, hating the sight of each step sibling, their respective heartaches all because of the evil done by one man who could not put his raging testesterones under check! Perhaps,the flashing lights and his dizzying heights that his career took clouded his judgement. After all, he was only human... Gems of Gemini Ganesan L-R: Dr Revathi Swaminathan, Narayani Ganesan, Dr Kamala Selvaraj, Rekha, Vijaya Chamundeswari and Dr Jaya Shreedhar. ( Abs: Radha Usman Syed, Sathish Kumaar Ganesan) Seeing six of Ge...

Chicken's Invite? (Ajak-ajak ayam)

In the Malay lingo, the phrase 'ajak-ajak ayam' refers to an insincere invitation. Of course, many of us invite for courtesy's sake, but then the invitee may think that the invitation is for real! How does anyone know? Inviters and invitees must be smart enough to take the cue that one party may have gatecrashed with ulterior motives, or the other may not want him to join in the first place! Easily twenty years ago, my family was invited to a toddler's birthday party. As my children were toddlers, too, we were requested to come early so that my kids could run around and play in their big compound. And that the host said she would arrange a series of games for them to enjoy. So there we were in the early evening at a house that resembled very little of one immersed in joy and celebration. Instead, we were greeted by a house devoid of activities and no guests. The host was still out shopping her last-minute list, and her helper was knee-deep in her preparations to ...

RIFLE RANGE BOY

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