Memories: Leave 'em as they are!

Twilight Zone The Movie (1983)

One thing I learnt after watching the film is that nostalgic memories should be confined only to the .avi and jpg files. We should not try to recreate the beautiful memories and spoil it. We can only pleasure ourselves by reminiscing the thoughts which seem so heavenly at that moment of time and space.The reasons I decided to watch this flick is twofold, the first being it is a Twilight Zone Movie - the black and white series that we enjoyed so much in RRF days and the second being Vic Morrow (again in RRF, we used to enjoy Combat! where he used to act with Rick Jason) is acting in it. Unfortunately, he died during the shooting of the film.
TZTM comprise 4 segments- One original whilst three remakes of the stories of the original TZ.
#1. Vic Morrow is angry for losing a promotion which was given to Jew instead. He meets up with in a bar and makes derogatory remarks about blacks, Jews, Orientals, Arabs and everybody for taking away his chances, a true blue American. He leaves the bar and lands into the heart of Deutschland in middle of WW2. He is hunted, chased, shot at and yo yos into midst of KKK lynching where he is a black victim and also into Vietnam War where he is the hunted. He returns to the WW2 scene, he is branded as Jew and is shoved into a train which would send him to a concentration camp. Through the cracks of the train, he can see his friends coming out of the bar they were in earlier. His screams and call for help fell into deaf ears.

#2. Is a scene in a retirement home. In comes a cheerful man who suggests that they should relive the childhood days by playing 'Kick the Can' after midnight. During the game, the inmates of the retirement home actually relive their childhood days literally. They become children! After playing and reminiscing all the things that happened in their lives, they realized that living life again also means also going through all the sad moments all over again. They concluded that they should think young, rather than be young.
#3. Is a remake of the classic TZ series 'It's a good life' starring Billy Mumy (of Lost in Space) where a young cute boy controls adults through his mind reading ability. Of course it fell flat here.
#4. Another remake of TZ of a claustrophobic in a flight creating havoc in the plane because he keeps seeing a creature on the wing of the plane trying to destroy the engine. John Lithgow (of '3rd Rock from the Sun') gives a promising rendition of psychologically disturbed passenger.

Still looking!

2010 The Year We Made Contact (1984)

After leaving many unanswered queries in the '2001 Space Odyssey ', this film tries to pick up the pieces.
The spaceship Discovery is due to crash into Planet Jupiter, hence there is urgency to retrieve the hidden data in HAL9000 to know what actually happened in the 2001 ill-fated space mission. Dr Delloyd (Roy Scheider), the disgraced former head of mission, in recruited in Soviet-US joint mission to Jupiter despite their country's differences and the ongoing world calamities as time was of essence.The trip takes ground literally and finally reached their destination. Enroute, they discover that there may be evidence of chlorophyll on Jupiter's moon Europa! After some scary feats, the US engineer who invented HAL manages to bring the computer to live. All the while, their probe into the mysterious monolith drew blank. The monolith later gets sucked into Jupiter and created a nuclear fusion!

Meanwhile, Bowman, the presumed dead astronaut makes contact with people on Earth (wife and mother via TV) and crew (via computer).
Knowing that a explosion is eminent, the crew made a dash home with the help of HAL who was sacrificed in the endeavor. Before the explosion, a message flashes on all monitors -

ALL THESE WORLDS

ARE YOURS EXCEPT

EUROPA

ATTEMPT NO

LANDING THERE

USE THEM TOGETHER

USE THEM IN PEACE.

Europa is shown as a tropical paradise at the end of the movie with 2 suns and a monolith sitting pretty in thick of things waiting for things to happen there. Probably, evolution or another Adam and Eve story!
Unlike its distant cousin, the Kubrik classic, which has attained unachievable cult status, this sequel is a pale comparison to its predecessor. 

A sage told long ago that the parrot and cuckoo bird are caged due to fault of their mouth (voice). The cranes however are not caged, silence achieves all purpose. This may be appropriate in the case of 2001 when the absence of unnecessary commentary made our minds wonder away....
Otherwise, it just becomes another action space movie with no physical action but merely black screen, monitors and pyrotechnic display! 

Hole in Jupiter?

Watching this movie (and 2001) reminded me of a sermon by a renowned man of God of the Shaiviate sect. He decreed that Hindus should have only one representation of God in their altar, i.e. Shivalingam. The original Shivalingam fell from the sky and had protected mankind all this while. (I wonder how much of a Space Odyssey fan was he?) To him the other representations were just hearsay and myths.  On the other hand, a follower of ISKCON professed that there is only God, Krishna, period.
To a mere mortal like me, this is all too overwhelming. If I were to dwell too much into this never-ending 'my God is better than yours' saga, I would see myself doing my chores in the comfort of a psychiatric ward with my cerebrospinal fluids and glial cells immersed in major tranquillizers!

Swan song of a romantic dream maker.

Jab Tak Hai Jaan (Till there is life, Hindi;2012)

In keeping with the tradition which spans a time before RRF, Diwali is not over till after an Indian movie is watched, this year it is SRK's turn. The films on their part, in keeping with their own tradition, keep churning out convoluted non brainers devoid of Indian values in the name of entertainment and stress relieving temporary intoxication of music, dance, pretty people and scenery. Here too, location of shooting is 75% in the UK and the saree and bindi/thikka (pottu) are conspicuously absent too. Are the Indian movie watching public lost interest in the things deemed Indian? This film generated great interest, as during the post production time of the movie, the 80 year old thespian of a director, Yash Chopra, succumbed to dengue fever. In fact, to me, the most touching part of the movie was at the end. Live footage of an elderly  fit full of life jovial man seen mixing around with cast and crew of the production. An unshakable mogul of the Hindi silver screen floored by a tiny virus carrying arthropod just like the bug's great great ancestor floored another, a Macedonian, some more than 2000 years previously.
The small town at India Pakistan border comes to a standstill. The bomb disposal unit of the Indian Army is at its wits end trying to disarm a complicated home made bomb. Coolly  rides in Major Samar Anand (SRK) in cool shades and 3 days' unshaven stubble on a Royal Enfield motorcycle to the awe of his subordinates. They awe at his unblemished record of being able to defuse 97 bombs before. As expected our hero does his work in no time and rides into the sunset reciting some poetic lines.
Next scene, a young journalist, Akira (Anushka Sharma), who is quite at ease at being out of relationships rather in tries to gets the attention of hero by faking a drowning. Hero saves her in the nick of time, giving her his camouflage top and cup of coffee for warmth and rides again.
Back in her room, she discovers his diary in the pocket and reads it without raising an eyelid! Samar's life story unfolds...
10 years previously (2002), Samar is a loafer doing odd jobs in London, clearing driveway off snow, helper in fish market, basking and waiting at tables etc. During his shoveling jobs, he meets a drop dead gorgeous Indian lady, Meera (Katrina Kaif), entering a church. He eavesdrop her confession on wishing not to marry an Indian boy. Meera is a daughter of a self made entrepreneur, a single parent (Anupam Kher), after his wife scooted off with a lover after a clandestine affair.
Samar befriends Meera (who was already engaged to a gora, Roger) and shows her that Indian guys are not as square as she thought they were. Heh... I thought a another man's lady is a no-touch zone, but I guess Indian prestige is at stake here so it is okay.
Along the way, she communicates with her estranged mother (Neetu Kapoor) who justifies her absconding from the family and unfinished maternal duties for her undying love of her true love (Rishi Kapoor) whom she truly adore. In a way, she justifies Meera's next move. Meera did not want to discover the same mistake.
Just when Meera decides to end the engagement, inform her father and marry Samar, Samar smashes onto a moving bus.
Upon seeing Samar sprawled in a near death scenario, Meera makes a childish plea with God. She believed that the fate that had befell on Samar was due to her infidelity and pleaded God for his life for which she would give up marrying him! Sure enough, she lived to her side of her promise. A disappointed Samar left all his life savings to his room mate and leaves for India. ...intermission...
Back in the future, Akira (obvious bastardization of world's favourite director, Akira Kurosawa) is surprised that she actually shed a tear reading the diary. She decides that she is in love! With ulterior motive of trying to woo this broody hero, she infiltrates into the Indian Army compound with the pretext of doing a cover story on the life of the personnel of the bomb disposal unit. After a few failed unashamed literally falling in front of Major Samar for his love, Akira still manages to cut an excellent offering for the Discovery Channel. (In spite of the broken camera, the ever resourceful Samar managed to repair it in the Himalayan wilderness). Shh... Don't ask how the loafer in London became such an expert in bombs and a Major in Indian Army in 10years!

Yash Chopra (1932-2012)
Merchant of romance

Samar is required to present himself in London to authenticate the documentary. Here, whilst trying to save a childish jumping for joy Akira, Samar gets hit by a van. This time, his memory lapse into 2002. He pines for Meera! Akira, with the attending neurosurgeon, concoct a elaborate plan to contact Meera. The old room mate is now a world class restaurateur, thanks to Samar's contribution. Together, they make believe they are married. In real life, Meera never got married! Akira leaves the scene as Samar's memory seem stuck in 2002. Until..
A underground station is evacuated after a bomb is discovered. In a torrent, Major Samar instinctively moves into action and saves the day. (Yeah, right!) Everything falls in place and Samar returns to his military life. Akira's Discovery Channel documentary named 'The Man Who Cannot Die' is well received. Whilst disarming his 108th bomb, Meera joins Samar to say 'I do'
The cheesy dialogue on why he does not don protective gear: We die every day with what do and so to us, with the bomb you only die once! (paraphrasing and lost a lot in translation, as well...)

Man hanged, humanity dies!

Laddu anyone? Something to sweeten your day!

This is the picture that greeted readers of the international news today (Nov 22nd). A group of people distributing sweets to the public and in some places having street dances and lighting firecrackers because the law of the country had the courage to hang the Bombay bomber of 2008, 26th November, railway station massacre, Ajmal Kasab of Pakistan. Sure, his and his accomplices' actions have been the cause of many a teardrop and devastation to befall on the nation. This is not, however, the end of the 'tit for tat' action and reaction but just a trigger that would eventually leave the whole world blind.

Ajmal Kasab

The grieving siblings of the jihadist and the parents who had so much hope on this young man are bound to call for blood.

On a short-term, the hanging could seem to pacify the widow of the constable who was killed in the tour of duty in apprehending Kasab and the family of the grieving victims. On a humanitarian viewpoint, it is pure ludicrousness to enjoy on the account of the death of a fellow human as if another death will make up for the 175 who died on 26/11/2008!

Diwali again? Pakistan Murtabad?

To err is human; to forgive, divine!

There are many websites talking about plethora of subjects leaving us all spoilt for choice. The readers should develop the maturity to critically evaluate its content and to take things with a pinch of salt and not to gulp it whole like what a python would do.
There is this blog on Hinduism which crossed my path as one often does when they float across the cyberspace. I thought it was interesting as it explained the relevance of various Hindu festivals, the significance of certain Hindu practices and such. Through it I came to realise that almost everyday has its auspiciousness.
Some of the explanations were pseudo-scientific (looking from my nimble minded lens) in nature. For instance, one of the reasons why one should frequent the temple is that it would help to transmit positive energies to its devotees. The offered rationalization is that the direction of the construction of temples along N-S magnetic lines and the placement of copper under the deity generates positive vibes. The use of various chemicals with antiseptic qualities (benzoin, holy basil leaves -thulsi, cardamom etc.) seem to accentuate these positive effects.
So we were sharing an unique relationship trying to understand the wisdom imparted by our forefathers (or maybe ancient aliens) towards our well being until...

Dr Savita Halappanavar RIP

Early this week, there was news of a Hindu dentist in Ireland who succumbed to septicemia following premature rupture of her membranes at 17 weeks' gestation. The web-masters of the page were up in arms firing barrage of word missiles at the law of her newly chosen country for denying her choice of termination of pregnancy as the fetus (now baby) was still alive and the law of the country outlawed termination of pregnancy. Only when there was fetal demise, did the medical practitioners embark on expediting delivery which proved, in hindsight, a little bit too late.

The arguments of the web-masters were that the patient, a practising Hindu should be left to choose her choice of treatment rather than follow the law of country! The end does not determine the course of action. In hindsight, everyone can be Einstein. The reason why religion came about in the first place is to maintain law and order and to maintain peace on Earth and to help the weak. When you embrace a society, you also embrace their cultures and laws. It is nonsensical for individuals who claim to profess and spread the good word of higher powers to spread anarchy.

Sure, the intent of any law is for the good in a wider spectrum. We, as fallible  human, sometimes fail in our judgement and the blame is entirely ours. 

Fools rush in where angels fear to tread....

http://www.hindu-blog.com/2012/11/hindu-woman-denied-abortion-in-catholic.html

Going Japanese....

Yojimbo (The Bodyguard, 1961; Japanese)
Director: Akira Kurosawa

This 1961 period drama is set at a time before Meiji kingdom, in the 1860s, at the fall of the Tokugawa Dynasty at a time the Japanese realised that they were left far behind with the entry of Commodore Perry with his steam ship to Tokyo. (They were thought to be puffing dragons)!
Anyway, this film is a period drama about the samurais who were jobless after the fall of their masters, Tokugawa dynasty. They were left to fend themselves with their sword and wit only.
Yojimbo is one such samurai. While wandering aimlessly penniless walking as his feet led him, he lands at a once beaming silk producing village is chaos after two warring factions. One side is supported by the silk merchant while the other by the sake brewer.
The samurai thinks that peace would be restored if both gangs perished. With his wit, he offers himself as bodyguard to either side, outsmart them, make them kill each other with carefully thought plans. His troubles come when a brother from one of the gangs return from town with a gun.
His conniving double crossing ways come to open when one of the family that he saves return to express their gratitude and inadvertently spilled the beans.
Despite being injured, he manages to restore peace and other before leaving the town.

Too much violence for my liking.

The baggage of time

Who's afraid of Virginia Woolf (1966)
If you want to see a movie where 4 people get drunk on bourbon and brandy and go on talking and talking in circles and riddles for 2 hours, this is it. On the other hand, their talk is not gibberish mutterings of  drunks but all the outpourings of 2 frustrated middle class couples of their marriages which started with pomp and splendour but slowly degenerated to one pair who are constantly at each other's nerves and find pleasure in hurting each other real bad where it hurt most. In fact the whole film is a quarreling match on how the main character and his wife abuse each other with words whilst slowly unfolding their life tragedy. All this shouting and hurling earned this film 13 Academy Award nominations and won 5.
George (Richard Burton), a history Associate Professor, staggers along in a drunken gait with his wife Martha (Elizabeth Taylor) to their home at 2am. Martha enters their home to complain about the dumpster of a house they are living in. After a few more drinks, she announces that a young couple that they had met in her father's, (the College President) party earlier would be visiting them soon. They argue on the inappropriateness of their visit at such unearthly hour just as the couple arrives, much to the guests' embarrassment (not the host). The couple comprise Nick (George Segal), a young lecturer in Biology and his meekly wife, Honey (Sandy Dennis).

Histrionics of Oscar Winner

The drunken Martha unashamedly flirts with the young hunk whilst belittling her husband's meagre pay and other inadequacies. George, the verbose intellect goes on an offensive on character bashing of his wife and guests. We later (almost at the end) come to realise that George and Martha are a childless couple who concocted a elaborate story about a non existent son. This childlessness has brought them much frustration and resentment against each other. The marriage based on love and high expectations turned sour when George failed to climb the ladder of promotion in the university much to the disappointment of his father in law, the College President. The constant whining of a frustrated Martha probably turned George into the grumpy old man that he is.
Nick, also had many burdens to clear off his chest as the night progressed and as many more drinks were downed. He got in a marriage with a plain girl just because her father was a heavyweight in the university and that he thought she was pregnant. The pregnancy, however, turned out to be a hysterical pregnancy that disappeared after the wedding. There is more to that than being a case of a disappearing baby. In a drunken delirium, Honey may have blurted out of undergoing a termination due to her morbid fear of having babies.
The arguments proceeds to a dance hall, to the garden, to their bedroom and finally back to the living room where it all started. The guests leave when the whole truth about the non-existence of the blue eyed (sometimes green) son comes out in the open.
This is an excellent film which brought out the best in the acting skills of all 4 main characters of the show. 2 of them (Taylor and Dennis) went on to win the Oscars. Burton, the experienced stage actor who gave such a sterling performance with succinct dialogues and word play failed at Oscars as he finally did 7 times in his lifetime. Talking about dialogue, these days, they do not make movies with such moving script and interesting cheeky play with the English language anymore.