Huge Ego Sorry..!!! - Review

Recently one of my favourite series House MD ended. And wow, what a surprise it has been. I think the character of Dr.Gregory House M.D. Diagnostic medicine, is one of the most innovative characters ever introduced. A genius with keen and powerful intuitive powers of reasoning as if they are his sixth sense, but with a misplaced sense of power makes a compelling opening to the character. You learn that House does not only wants to diagnose his patients, but needs to play God in the lives of people who surround him. This is not as a result of his concern towards anyone or any body, but basically a lack of the same. He needs to feel the person in control as without it he sees himself as a useful cripple. By mocking others and his attitude he convinces himself that he doesn't give a damn about the world's opinion. And it is this feeling that keeps him going each and everyday. Without it he is just a person who always dwells in his own misery to the point of self destruction. It is very inteligently portrayed by Hugh Laurie, who has perfectly brought out the naunces of the character who continues in his reckless path, although aware of its self-destructive end.

And as if made for him, his only friend in world Dr.Wilson. A friend who hates House for all his antics and his cynicism, who keeps telling that House has turned out this way because of his long term enabling but in reality is the only person who understands the intricacies of a personality like that of House. Although he disagrees, he keeps on helping House to the point where Houses' erratic behaviour give him a small escape from his harsh realities. Beyond that wilson is the first person to confront House and will go so far as to physically hurt him to prevent him from causing himself anymore harm.

And this bizarre friendship is played out in a hospital with not only bizzare diseases and patients, where any doctors personality would have given Freud a lifetime of thesis. And common point binding these doctors? All have the potential , capability and a slight inclination to become House.

But among all these the only thing that you will notice, the only thing that will keep you hooked to House is Hugh Laurie, as the namesake.
It is now imppssible to imagine House w/o Laurie and vice versa is also true. Dont know why but the ass of persons character suited Laurie,perfectly... :)
As House says Normal is overrated and nobody showed it better than Laurie as unforgettable House... At,last a small beautiful compilation by a fan on reasons to love House.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vz4uABC4Huc&feature=youtube_gdata_player

The King-Maker!! - Review

Recently I finished a novel, "Chanakya's Chant" by Singhvi. This is second novel by the author. After having read his first novel "The Rozabol Line", I was a little apprehensive about the new book. But after reading favourable reviews on some online site, I decided to go ahead and read it. And was it good..!! The book is basically a fiction about how normally there is always a person in background pulling the strings responsible for the success of a leader. The behind the scene person may even be doing it just to see the other person succeed but is present nonetheless. The plot travels in parallel between the imagined life of Chanakya the behind the scenes man for Chandragupta Maurya in ancient India, and life of fictitious Gangasagar Mishra who plans to mentor a girl to become a politician and Prime Minister of India. Although its apparent that Singhvi derives inspiration from the Chanakya serial aired on Indian national TV, and from numerous other works based politics (Indian version of it), it is absolutely delightful to read his version of telling. But most of all the fact that the book tries to draw similarity in Indian political map and its basic machinery over a vast timeline of 2500 years gap is something appreciable. You end up thinking that in spite of different times in which the stories take place, even if you had interchanged them, the characters actions and result would not have been much different. It states openly wht has always been known as the basic rule in politics, "The end justifies the means"; Narration of book is from view point of the main characters and hence it never dwells into the morality of their actions nor does it even try to show them as of grey in nature. This results in the reader having to make all the moral thinking for themselves and come to a decision and that too if they want too judge the characters. Now definitely a person who said "Never be too honest. It is the straight tree that is always cut first, not the twisted one." would make an interesting character. Now surely a person who believes in facts like " A snake even though not poisonous, should pretend to be otherwise", would make a great political mentor as did Chanakya and his modern pseudo-mirror Gangasagar. Surely a book worth reading for all those interested in either Chanakya or in politics as such.

"300 Ladies" - Review

If you are looking for an 'eye-candy' movie, then i will say go watch Sucker-Punch. First things first, if you know that this is Zack Snyder film, then i will ask you to please forget that, to stop yourself from dissapointment. You will be hard pressed to believe that this is film shares its makers with the 300, Legend of Guardians:Owls of Ga'Hoole, Watchmen. Though the visual feast is same and background score pumps up your adraline, there is no story development/character introduction in this film as in others. Sucker Punch is like watching a friend play a video-game albeit on Big-Screen. But if you are prepared to leave your brain outside the theatre, then boy will you enjoy the film. The superb CGI stunt sequences, the heart-pounding, brain numbing music, and fast paced action will be worth the money. And skimpy dressed 'Ladies', wielding automatic rifles, grenades and Katana's add to the "watchability" of the movie. Also the music sets the correct tempo throughout the movie. Especially the "Sweet Dreams" song at the start makes for a perfect opening song. And whether you like the movie, the action, the music you can't help but keep replaying the music in your head long after you exit the theatre.

Bhool Gaye Joote Kahan Utare The.... - Review

Following is a poem from a recent hindi film, Udaan (2010), which is making lots of waves at the various award ceremonies. and it should as it is a brilliant movie. Many of my friends complained it lacks a story, Bollywood kind of story. But that is the brilliance in the film. From a straight forward, uncomplicated story with no surprise twists and turns, the director has extracted a film that is nothing less than splendid and exceptional in a superb way. A special mention to the music of the film which is an intricate part of it. The lyrics, the music complement the movie, at the same time maintaining a certain individuality to themselves. As a film critic said, "Udaan is film that cannot be and should not be described, rather it should be experienced".

I feel with films like Udaan, Do Dooni Chaar, Peepli Live Bollywood is reaching a new level. The level where powerful films and overly-dramatic are not synonymous to each other. The level where such films are integrated into main commercial stream, and find a wide (may be exclusive) audience for them. And definitely a level where films can deal with social subjects without being preachy or boring (even being humorous in some cases). I think Bollywood has reached a point where the following poems hold good for it too.

"Chhoti-chhoti chhitrayi yaadein Bichhi hui hain lamhon ki lawn par. Nange pair unpar chalte-chalte Itni door chale aaye Ki ab bhool gaye hain – Joote kahan utaare the. Aedi komal thi, jab aaye the. Thodi si naazuk hai abhi bhi. Aur nazuk hi rahegi In khatti-meethi yaadon ki shararat Jab tak inhe gudgudati rahe. Sach, bhool gaye hain Ki joote kahan utaare the. Par lagta hai, Ab unki zaroorat nahin."

LOST And Found - Review

It started with Jack opening his eyes in panic and finding a crashed plane. It ended with Jack watching some of the survivors escaping on an aircraft and "closing" his eyes.

This is how the beginning and the end of an era called LOST was. An era of warriors like Jack, Kate, Locke, Sawyer, Jacob, Hugo, Sayeed, 'The Black Smoke'; of philosophies involving Science, Faith, Coincidences, Fate, greater good, individuality. It was an era that was about diverse characters and personalities, with there manifold motives,spanning from prehistoric times to post-modern, taking place geographically from Australia to US to Korea to The Island. It was six-seasons of power packed performances that kept you on the edge of your seat all times, involving persons from the age group of infants to deceased person's soul. I think it was the best ensemble till date considering the sheer size of it and in spite of it.

But i believe that more than the story of seemingly unrelated survivors of a crash, more than a documentary of their struggle, more than a story and unraveling of the myth of Island, LOST was about the personalities of individual person. It was kind of miniseries of biographies of the characters. And in particular of that of Dr. Jack Shephard. Although in terms of charm, personality and acting i would have to rank characters as Kate Austen (Evangeline), Benjamin (Michael), Jack (Mathew) and Locke (Terry), you cannot get over feeling that Mathew was in reality Jack! The conflict between the scientific part of him that relied on facts and the part that could not discard the reality of Faith and Fate is portrayed brilliantly by him. He downplays the struggle of Jack's inherent altruism and acquired ascetic tendencies (bordering on introvert) due to life's bumps, to perfection. The characters vulnerability 'leaks' through his expressions as the grudging respect for Jack leaks through the survivors. If his skills in LOST are any indication, then Mathew will go on to do more famous roles and characters. But for me he will always be Jack from LOST. He will be the one of those who had lost his peace, his happiness, his life, LOST his faith in life. Because all of us need faith, even those of scientific mind need faith that facts they believe are true. LOST was about characters who had LOST their FAITH in life and then found it in the end among strangers in a strange land.

As they say the last impression determines the lasting memory, my lasting memory of LOST would be a calm eye seeing people escaping to safety and finding peace in it. It will be a part of experience one can never forget.