Another impressive movie by Clint Eastwood. It illustrates the Battle of Iwo Jima during World War II between Americans and japnese, but from the Japanese angle. Flag of our fathers was the american version.
This one is very interesting as it shows all aspects of the Japanese imperialism. General Kuribayashi is called on to lead this "Battle to death". Japanese having lost the edge by losing many naval fleets, lets the americans reach the final island of Iwo Jima or Sulphur islands. Gaining over the island would mean the next target is mainland Japan. The Japanese soldiers perish conceding victory to americans.
However the general's true leadership skills (protect his soldiers)radically different war tactics and the oppositions to the idea within the groups thereafter are well depicted. And so were the orders of the imperial emperor of Japan to die "honorably". Soldiers willing to surrender for food, committing suicide and some wanting to die fighting (Banzai attacks). All well described. Commendable performance by Ken Wantanabe as General Kuribayashi.
Sunday, January 28, 2007
Monday, March 27, 2006
Being Cyrus
This is the first movie by Homi Adajania and it was quite different. It has a Guy Ritchie touch to it. And why not - it was re-edited by Jon Harris who also did "Snatch".
This movie was different from start to end. Its an English movie starring Saif Ali Khan, Nasiruddin shah, Dimple Kapadia and Bommi Irani. And it has a bit of the "dark" comedy in it.
Its centered around a Parsi family which is in shambles. Nasiruddin Shah was once a famous pot sculptor and is now in a whole different frame with the other pot. Dimple Kapadia is his wife with the middle age syndrome and really wanting to get rid of that life. In comes Saif as a person interested in learning pot sculpting. Thereafter its part bizzare and part fun with good twists.
Its well directed and the actors have delivered their usual best. The movie has many gaping moments, philosophical dialogues and extremely funny moments. Its all mixed up well that you may sometimes find yourself laughing at the very inappropriate time in the movie.
This movie was different from start to end. Its an English movie starring Saif Ali Khan, Nasiruddin shah, Dimple Kapadia and Bommi Irani. And it has a bit of the "dark" comedy in it.
Its centered around a Parsi family which is in shambles. Nasiruddin Shah was once a famous pot sculptor and is now in a whole different frame with the other pot. Dimple Kapadia is his wife with the middle age syndrome and really wanting to get rid of that life. In comes Saif as a person interested in learning pot sculpting. Thereafter its part bizzare and part fun with good twists.
Its well directed and the actors have delivered their usual best. The movie has many gaping moments, philosophical dialogues and extremely funny moments. Its all mixed up well that you may sometimes find yourself laughing at the very inappropriate time in the movie.
Sunday, March 26, 2006
Of supermarkets in India
Recent talks of Walmart opening its stores in India is truly concerning. Its a known fact that a Walmart will close down a dozen retailers. So why Walmart in India where retailers have so far had decent lives. ? Possibly its Walmart that needs India.
Walmart's motto - Offer the lowest price in the market.
Execution strategy - Force the suppliers to lower cost or improve quality for the same price.
Would you choose quantity or quality.? In many cases it would be quantity. Dont bother about the brand name and publicity as Walmart takes care of that. In a win-win situation for the suppliers and the superstore, the customers lose quality and the mom and pop entities.
India on the other hand doesnt need Walmart. Their retail business is already on the high. It would be absurd to converge into a monopoly in this sector.
Walmart's motto - Offer the lowest price in the market.
Execution strategy - Force the suppliers to lower cost or improve quality for the same price.
Would you choose quantity or quality.? In many cases it would be quantity. Dont bother about the brand name and publicity as Walmart takes care of that. In a win-win situation for the suppliers and the superstore, the customers lose quality and the mom and pop entities.
India on the other hand doesnt need Walmart. Their retail business is already on the high. It would be absurd to converge into a monopoly in this sector.
Friday, February 17, 2006
A game of Soccer
I am writing this blog with sore muscles for I just returned from my first official soccer game ever (Yes ever). The only bit of soccer i have played before is the one with no rules and the one not played in a soccer field !!
We had a team of people who are much of a sport and decided to enroll in the Men's Soccer League. One of them was in a high enough position to sponsor our outfit. Totally lacked practice, but you cant expect that in this hectic professional life. No strategies except play hard, run hard, keep it simple (whatever that meant). I knew from little practice that i am a terrible shooter, so i opted to stay at defense and midfield. Many guys (bloody europeans, south americans) were good at it.
When it was time, we walked across the field to the player's deck. If anything would be apt introductory music it would have been the Ride of the Valkyries. And at the end of the first half we were even at 2, a bit tired but not too much as we kept rotating the players. I realized i wasnt quick enough, let the ball past me a few times but never ending up in goals thankfully.
Second half was crazy. Probably the opponents got us all figured out. Brits and Italians gave a tough fight only to end up losing. Not to mention our opponents were second generation Indians !!!.
However it was a game well enjoyed. Looking forward for the rest of the games.
We had a team of people who are much of a sport and decided to enroll in the Men's Soccer League. One of them was in a high enough position to sponsor our outfit. Totally lacked practice, but you cant expect that in this hectic professional life. No strategies except play hard, run hard, keep it simple (whatever that meant). I knew from little practice that i am a terrible shooter, so i opted to stay at defense and midfield. Many guys (bloody europeans, south americans) were good at it.
When it was time, we walked across the field to the player's deck. If anything would be apt introductory music it would have been the Ride of the Valkyries. And at the end of the first half we were even at 2, a bit tired but not too much as we kept rotating the players. I realized i wasnt quick enough, let the ball past me a few times but never ending up in goals thankfully.
Second half was crazy. Probably the opponents got us all figured out. Brits and Italians gave a tough fight only to end up losing. Not to mention our opponents were second generation Indians !!!.
However it was a game well enjoyed. Looking forward for the rest of the games.
Sunday, February 05, 2006
Inquilab Zindabad
"hum ek paav rakte hain past mein, ek paav future mein, isi liye hum apne present par moot rahe hai"
A very intense dialogue uttered humourously by Aamir. The movie was great. The movie Rang De Basanti is infact all about that.
The story begins with a narration of the bloody past @ Jalianwala Bagh. Then the events leading to the capture of Bhagat Singh and his associates. The autobiography of the British official describes the courage, patriotism but more importantly their commitment and nerves of steel. "I knew of two kinds of people - people who die silently, and people who die screaming - Until i encountered the third kind".
Inspired by her grandfather's diary, the british lady stumbles upon the young characters from Delhi univeristy for her documentary. While playing their roles that were little known to them, they slowly begin to relate to the present (after it impacts them personally) and together they decide to take on the current problems in their own hands, thus reviving the "Inquilab Zindabad" slogan.
Fuelled by the past, they feel a sense of revolution and kill the corrupted Defense minister for authorizing purchase of cheap/faulty parts for the MIGs. The movie ends tragically when they are shot by the cops inside the radio station where they go live with their intentions. They die in a similar fashion as their past heroes.
Key characters from the past:
Bhagat Singh - Runs away from home to escape marriage and joined the revolution. Was arrested after he and his associates bombed the assembly and killed Saunders - Superintendent of Police. He was hanged and he was only 24.!
Chandrashekar Azad - He is Bhagat Singh's mentor. He founded the Socialist Revolutionary Assoc. and was involved in the assasination of Saunders. He shot himself after futile attempts to escape from the British. He was 25 at that time !
Ashfaqullah Khan - He is one of the masterminds in the Kakori train robbery in which Azad participated. He was then captured and sentenced to death. He was 27.
Ram Prasad Bismil - Planned the Kakori train robbery with Ashfaqullah Khan. He is a poet and is famous for the following words
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai,
Dekhana Hai Zor Kitna Bazuea Katil Mein Hai
Shivram Rajguru He is a close associate of Bhagat Singh and Azad. He was involved in the assasination of Saunders and captured later along with Bhagat Singh.
A very intense dialogue uttered humourously by Aamir. The movie was great. The movie Rang De Basanti is infact all about that.
The story begins with a narration of the bloody past @ Jalianwala Bagh. Then the events leading to the capture of Bhagat Singh and his associates. The autobiography of the British official describes the courage, patriotism but more importantly their commitment and nerves of steel. "I knew of two kinds of people - people who die silently, and people who die screaming - Until i encountered the third kind".
Inspired by her grandfather's diary, the british lady stumbles upon the young characters from Delhi univeristy for her documentary. While playing their roles that were little known to them, they slowly begin to relate to the present (after it impacts them personally) and together they decide to take on the current problems in their own hands, thus reviving the "Inquilab Zindabad" slogan.
Fuelled by the past, they feel a sense of revolution and kill the corrupted Defense minister for authorizing purchase of cheap/faulty parts for the MIGs. The movie ends tragically when they are shot by the cops inside the radio station where they go live with their intentions. They die in a similar fashion as their past heroes.
Key characters from the past:
Bhagat Singh - Runs away from home to escape marriage and joined the revolution. Was arrested after he and his associates bombed the assembly and killed Saunders - Superintendent of Police. He was hanged and he was only 24.!
Chandrashekar Azad - He is Bhagat Singh's mentor. He founded the Socialist Revolutionary Assoc. and was involved in the assasination of Saunders. He shot himself after futile attempts to escape from the British. He was 25 at that time !
Ashfaqullah Khan - He is one of the masterminds in the Kakori train robbery in which Azad participated. He was then captured and sentenced to death. He was 27.
Ram Prasad Bismil - Planned the Kakori train robbery with Ashfaqullah Khan. He is a poet and is famous for the following words
Sarfaroshi Ki Tamanna Ab Hamare Dil Mein Hai,
Dekhana Hai Zor Kitna Bazuea Katil Mein Hai
Shivram Rajguru He is a close associate of Bhagat Singh and Azad. He was involved in the assasination of Saunders and captured later along with Bhagat Singh.
Monday, January 30, 2006
Let there be light
Though totally unrelated to this blog - I recently read the "Last Question" by Isaac Asimov after being pointed out by someone. And soon I was indulged in various thoughts starting from my Prism experiment in the School physics lab to Aurora Borealis.
After several years I was in town for the festival of Karthikai. The festival is particularly famous in Tamilnadu - In fact one of the oldest too.
You can read more about it here. http://mailerindia.com/hindu/veda/index.php?karhikai
Every house in the street is decorated beautifully with traditional lamps. On a calm night with clear skies, the streets look beautifully decorated and the natural light reveals the artistic silhouettes of the pillars and the lamps themselves. Thats one moment I wished whole heartedly for a power shutdown.!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
A Road Trip
Recently, one of the guys from my college days had completed a huge road trip on his "Rajdoot" - Yes on a bike. He had been out for 39 days covering a total of 6900 odd miles in his bike in the northern part of India (in the foot hills of himalayas). All the way from Delhi to Nainital and Kargil, Leh and other high points in Kashmir on a BIKE !!!!. Amazing. Absolutely mind blowing and really worthwhile adventure. Kudos to him.
I envy him. I am jealous. I am not an experienced bike rider, but his experiences and great photos really pushes my urge. In the US I have been on some long road trips, but none on par with that one and that too in India.
I really like the idea of getting totally lost in wilderness for a month or so. No need to contact anyone and no duties calling. I should probably start planning such a trip right now and make my life more worthwhile.
I envy him. I am jealous. I am not an experienced bike rider, but his experiences and great photos really pushes my urge. In the US I have been on some long road trips, but none on par with that one and that too in India.
I really like the idea of getting totally lost in wilderness for a month or so. No need to contact anyone and no duties calling. I should probably start planning such a trip right now and make my life more worthwhile.
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