The Amazing Spiderman-A convincing reboot

Film Name: The Amazing Spider Man

Directed by: Mark Webb

Cast: Andrew Garfield, Emma stone, Rhys Ifans

        Marvel’s The Amazing Spider Man, a reboot of spider-man legacy directed by Mark Webb. Andrew Garfield Played the role of Peter parker/Spider-Man. Emma Stone played the love interest of Peter Parker, Gwen Stacy. Rhys Ifans played the role of Dr.Curt Connors/The Lizard. Martin Sheen, Sally Field and Irfan Khan portrayed as Uncle Ben, Aunt May and Dr.Rajit Ratha respectively.

Peter Parker, a high school student finds his father’s old suitcase and discovers that, it includes the greatest breakthrough in the field of Cross Species Genetics. That Suitcase also contains a photograph of Dr.Curt Connors which leads him to his genetics laboratory at Oscorp Corporation. He accidentally enters a room which has rows of genetically modified spiders and gets bitten by it turning him into the spider-man. After the turn of events, he provides his father’s formulae to Dr. Curt Connors, which could lead to the creation of a drug that can make the humans devoid of weakness. Dr. Curt Connors experiments it on his own body which is devoid of right hand. This experiment changes him into a giant lizard. Can Spider-Man Aka Peter Parker stop connors aka The Lizard? Tells the remaining story of Marvel’s The Amazing Spider Man.

            Mark Webb webbed the characters quite beautifully, especially the Spider-Man’s action mixed with Andrew Garfield’s funny dialogues. The Romance scene between Peter Parker and Gwen Stacy was handled pretty well, to say, a scene where Peter asks Gwen out was an instant classic and romantic as well. When she says yes, the immediate scene where Peter skates in an abandoned factory with the musical background was quite a treat. Webb carried his “500 days of summer” all the way to the spidey’s web and pictured it with funny dialogues. When the reboot was announced, I shrunk my eyebrow when I heard that Andrew Garfield will be taking the spidey role. To my astonishment, he blent with the character quite beautifully and it’s nice to see him with a same lanky physique unlike Tobey Mcguire’s dramatic six pack. Also that, Peter Parker was portrayed as a normal high school student unlike an innocent as portrayed in the previous trilogy.

Every super hero movie has a strong back ground that could lead the hero to serve the people. The Amazing spider-man stands tall when compared to the previous trilogy and the story is quite convincing and the mixing of scenes are sublime. My Favourite one is, Mark Webb cuts the scene from the scene where Connors’s hand has been erupting with scales to Peter Parker’s plate with a scaly fish. To add it further, Webb perfectly executed the action sequences and handled the romance scenes pretty nicely.

Since the time space between the last spider-man film and The Amazing Spider-Man is little, we get the feeling that we are watching a sequel even though it has been announced as a fresh reboot. Also, it follows the shadow of previous trilogy yet the changes like, sudden surge of Peter Parker as spider man and the way he acquires fame while pursuing his vengeance is picture perfect and theatrical. Webb scores big for the way he has pictured the emotional scenes which adds to his wallet as one more gold coin.

A convincing reboot falls down only because of one reason, too early to introduce a reboot instead of making the fans to long a bit longer.

Verdict: Mark Webb’s Spidey is better and worth watching when compared to Sam’s Spidey.

Promise Fulfilled!

Movie Name: Eastern Promises

Directed by: David Cronenberg

Casts: Naomi Watts, Viggo Martensen, Armin Muller-Tahl

Eastern Promises, a thriller directed by David Cronenberg famed for movies like “The Fly and A History of Violence”. Lead roles are Naomi watts and Viggo Martensen. Movie centred on a Russian mafia in London. Naomi Watts played the role of Anna, an English midwife and Viggo Matensen played the role of Nikolai, a member of the Mafia Gang. Vincent Cassel and Armin Muller-Tahl played the role of son and father respectively, who are the chiefs of the Mafia Family, “Vory V Zakone”. This movie is about a midwife, who finds out the people behind the rapping of a 14 year old kid, who dies in a hospital after delivering the baby where she is working as a midwife.

Tatiana, a fourteen year old Russian kid dies in a hospital at London after delivering a girl baby. Her diary falls in the hands of a Russian descendant midwife, Anna (Naomi Watts), which has clues written in Russian and a visiting card that leads to a Mafia head owned Restaurant. Anna visits the restaurant and meets the head of the Mafia, who promises to translate it for him. Later, Semyon (armin), the mafia chief, finds that the scripts written in the diary bears his son’s name Kirill (Vincent Cassel). In the mean time, Anna’s uncle translates the script written in the diary and comes to know that the kid was rapped. He conveys this translated story to Anna. The turn of events shows that, it’s Semyon(Armin Muller-Tahl)  and his son Kirill who have rapped the kid. After that, they forced her to work as a prostitute in their brothel. Whether Anna succeeds on her pursuit in bringing the accused to the light of judgement? Tells the rest of the story.

This movie has lot of scenes that is restricted to only few. Blood gore in throat slitting and violent scenes makes you to cover your eyes with your hands. The director tried to be more realistic which is appreciable yet it could have been avoided.

There are few scenes which stand out in the movie. They are too good and too perfect.

1. First look of the baby at the birth table, she is covered with blood and she breaths while the doctor is cutting her umbilical cord (I’m not sure it’s graphical).

2. The fight at a swimming pool, where Nikolai (Viggo Martensen) fights as Kirill. It was a nude fight includes violent scene but it is picture perfect realistic.

3. It’s not a scene; it’s the character of Viggo Martensen, who is unpredictable.

   Dialogues and screenplay are awfully slow; I’m not able come to a conclusion on either department. It is due to the reason that, I’m not sure whether it is dialogues that stop the movie’s pace or the screenplay that block’s the dialogues pace? Either way, it doesn’t matter when you have a picture perfect narration in hands.

   Naomi Watts agreed well with the boots of the midwife and played the role quite elegantly. Her care towards Tatiana’s baby and the way she expressed it, truly overwhelming. Viggo Martensen, what more would I say about his acting? Wonderfully drawn character and the way Viggo portrayed it was quite artistic. His conversation with Anna and his emotionless face were truly unfathomable. Kirill (Vincent Cassell) ranted all over the movie, he looked like a jerk than a son of a mafia chief, and such was his acting and sobered throughout the movie. Semyon(Armin Muller-Tahl), quite perfectly played the role and I wasn’t able to put him in the shoes of a rapist.

  Over all, a good movie with good dialogues, with slow screen plays, with better narration. Tatiana’s narration about her life at Russia, truly she won my heart. Tatiana’s Russian accent is still ringing in my ears “My name is Tatiana. My father died in the mines in my village, so he was already buried when he died. We were all buried there. Buried under the soil of Russia. That is why I left, to find a better life. “That sums up the story of a kid from an ill-ridden society.

Verdict: New entrant in my wallet of best talkies!

An Artistic Veil Painted Beautifully!

Movie name: The painted Veil

Directed by: John Curran

Casts: Edward Norton, Naomi Watts

                 The Painted Veil, directed by John Curran and to my surprise, it is produced by Edward Norton and Naomi Watts. A beautiful movie which makes you blend with it and travels like a sad poem which makes u feel a little ,laugh a little and mourn a little. The story dates back to 1925 to the cholera affected China.

               The Painted Veil is all about how the social life of Walter Fane Played by Edward Norton and his unfaithful wife Kitty Fane played by Naomi Watts bring about a change in their private life. Walter Fane is a doctor, falls in love with Kitty Fane. In order to get away from her family, Kitty fane agrees to marry him. Life turns pathetic and not so interesting after the marriage for the female part. One fine evening, she visits a theatre along with Walter to witness the theatrical act under the invitation from Walter’s friend. She meets Charles Townsend and falls in love with him, who is Walter’s friend’s husband. She cheats on Walter and Walter comes to know about it. Walter couldn’t forgive her, but he could live with her under one condition which is, she has to accompany him to the Cholera affected Chinese village (since Walter volunteers to go to Chinese village to help the people suffering from Cholera and find a cure for the same) and she too agrees with him. The turn of events at the Chinese village shows that Walter is a good human being and Kitty loves him. But, Walter still is unable to forgive her. Whether Walter forgave Kitty and did they live together? Tells the remaining story.

      There are four notable characters in this movie. Walter Fane, Kitty Fane, Mr.Waddington(Toby Jones) and Colonel Yu. The reaction when he comes to know that his wife is cheating on him, the humanity in him while helping the Village people even though they disrespect him, Edward Norton glows like a morning sun which doesn’t have a flaw in it. While cheating her husband, her sense of remorse after that, her changeover from the ludicrous city girl to a good human being after seeing the goodness in her husband, Naomi watts could do no wrong. Toby Jones and Colonel Yu perfectly rendered their rolls and John Curran’s direction is picture perfect. The movie quite beautifully shows us, what is humanity? Even though the nuns are helping the Sufferers, Edward Norton’s conversation with Naomi Watts quite clearly isolates the problems in our society right from the past, “They're not just here to run an orphanage, your nuns.”

            “They're turning those children into little Catholics.”

            “None of us are in China without a reason.”

             It’s really a hard fact and spreading your religion to the sufferer in the name of God is really a bitter truth and I vote against it. Edward Norton, being an activist, I presume he might have inducted that dialogue.

               Dialogues and Music plays the main role in this movie. Dialogues are spot on and make you think twice which makes you rewind the scene once again. Music almost took my soul away while watching the movie, especially the opening track. A perfect Veil painted nicely and if you really want to understand what is Humanity then watch this movie. I would rather be a fan of Edward Norton and Naomi Watts not because of their lead roles but as the producers of this kind hearted movie. Artistic and light hearted!

Bye bye Rose bird!

Once there lived a Blue Bird and a Rose bird. They lived in harmony as their life filled with sun shines and rainbows. They loved each other and the limitless love casted jealous upon the fellow birds living under the same tree. They never minded about that. They lived their life to the core. Never a day passed without a warmth look at the sun rise together and sun set together.

Blue Bird rubbed its beak on the feathery neck of the Rose bird and said “I love you!”

Rose bird rubbed its beak on the feathery head of the Blue Bird and said,” I too!”

There was no pain. There was no misery. They lived as a one little family with plenty of love and infinite affection. Even gods were pleased seeing them and showered happiness upon them. One fine day, Blue Bird returned to its nest and shocked seeing the Rose bird lying down. Her eyes were half closed. Crippled with fear and limitless love, it pressed the beak on its feathery body and tried to wake the Rose bird. The lady love of the Blue Bird opened her eyes and saw his love standing there with pain and tears in his eyes.

Rose bird said, “Don’t cry dear! I’m fine and you will go mad if I tell the reason for my unconsciousness.  Dear! Little Green bird is on board.”

Blue Bird replied,” is it? When and who is he/she?”

Rose bird,”idiot! I’m pregnant”

Blue Bird chuckled and said, “Is it so? Who is responsible?”

Rose bird started beating its better half and it too went mad hearing the news. It was a beautiful sun set. The reddish Sun God began to settle down. They sat arm in arm and admired the sun set. They exchanged a beautiful kiss which looked even more beautiful while seeing it along with the settling Sun God. It was a play filled night.  They laughed and laughed throughout the night as the play went on.

Time passed and they lost track of their time as they were busy making love. They enjoyed every moment of their life. Moments added up and became memories. Memories lied deep beneath their heart as a beautiful portrait. One fine day, the Rose bird delivered a cute Green bird. Happy tears rolled down the Blue Bird’s eyes. It had never left the nest and sat near his lady love and the new born. It cared them and did everything he could to save the food for the winter. Every day, both played and were happy seeing the budding young one.

One day the little one stood and tried to walk. It tried again and again. Finally it stood and woke up her mom. The letters assembled and finally formed a word. It called out,”maaa!”

Ecstatic Rose bird covered the little bud with its feathery wings and rubbed its neck like an evening breeze. She exclaimed, “Say it again!”

The young one didn’t seem to understand what its mother was telling but it kept repeating the same word as its mother flapped its wings in excitement. Even the neighbor could hear their little family talks as it got louder and heavier. Once the Blue Bird was home, the enthusiastic and overwhelmed mother narrated the story. It’s a story that every mother would take vanity in them while telling their better half. The family talks were going on till late night and both were busy admiring the baby who was deep in sleep in their warmth nest.

Sun illuminated the little family’s nest. Time went on. The morning looked different. They waited for their baby to wake up. They waited and waited. Finally, the Blue Bird tried to wake up its son. But, the little baby didn’t respond. It pressed hard and tried to wake him up. But, the Green bird lied there motionless; eyes were closed and looked as if it was deep in thought.  Fear crippled them and their body started to shiver. Tears rolled down their eyes. They tried, tried and kept on trying. They moved him but the Green bird lied down there destroying the hopes of his kind parents. Darkness had fallen upon their nest. They were unable to accept that their son was gone. Their hopes rested upon their son were shattered. The little Green bird slept for eternity and heavens had taken him back.

Days passed in the darkness without the routines. Sun raised and set without the warmth admiration. They needed each other’s love. They alienated themselves and built a secret barrier around them. They stopped sharing, lost themselves, lived apart from each other and kept secrets from each other. Sweet memories began to fade; Sun never rose to illuminate the nest; Obscurity filled their nest. As time went on, hatred began to cast its shadow upon them. They began to abuse each other. They never realized that they needed each other’s love. They blamed each other. On one unfortunate day, the Rose bird left the nest and it never came back.

Exhausted eyes of the Blue Bird looked out of the nest every day. Its eyes ached for his love. But, it was betrayed. It hated the morning sun for the first time in his life, lived inside the nest and never left it. It felt the loneliness and was unable to come out of it. Guiltiness surrounded him and haunted him. It muttered the same question again and again “Why did you let her go! Why did you let her go.why …whyyyy”

Its eyes lost the sleep and it had become lean. It was unable to walk yet managed to walk and powered its beak to inscribe something on the branch they were living all these days.  Unable to withstand the guiltiness, the lone bird took its life at last. Months rolled. It was spring. The Female half had reached the nest. It searched for its nest. It flapped its wings and flew high to reach her nest. But to her betrayal, she found the branch where they were living empty and it searched for its nest. The neighboring birds informed that her better half was dead. She was unable to bear the lose and blamed herself. It cried and cried. She was informed that her better half had taken its own life. Its tears fell on the branch and the letters came clear to its eyes. It said, “Bye bye Rose bird.”

“You never know the worth of your loved ones until unless they are gone. Don’t let that happen. Don’t lose them because true love is precious. Once you lose it, its hard to get it back”

Sixth Sense

My dreams have lost its hope; my thoughts are being destabilized; I’m being infuriated after seeing the devastating effect of the sixth sense. We are bestowed with a legitimate sense that could lead this earth in harmony; instead, we are leading it in discord. We are bestowed with this sense to follow the path of good and faith; instead, we are following the path of evil and mistrust. We already have waged war on each other. What we see now is the aftermath of the war. Never a day passed without seeing the bloodshed. Never a day passed without the vengeance. One is sending his warship in the name of a fake operation. One wants to prove himself as a super power. Two are fighting over the border dispute. One is killing myriads of people in the name of war. A group is being murdered in the name of violence. Plenty are being massacred in the name of dictatorship. A curse disguised itself in the name of sixth sense. There was a day, a half nude man shouted over his overwhelming discovery. He struck two flints together and went mad after seeing the flame. One used it to cook and sharpened his tool in-order to make a living. One used it to flame a house and sharpened his weapon in-order to initiate a war. Greedy man started his fight there and the limitless sixth sense accompanied him wherever he had gone, whomsoever he had killed, whatever he had invented and whichever destructions he had initiated. This unique sense conceived and delivered the inventions and discoveries. Limitless thought process lead to inventions. Inventions are nothing but a tool of destructions even though the purpose of invention is to lead the mankind in a better way with better ideals. Man threw the purpose away as a garbage and armed him with evil deeds. Now, I see us as a dead meat with six senses. May be God experimented it. He was wrong and he was too late to realize it. Man somehow let go of his hand from the iron fist of God. But, he was not all wrong. There are some with good deeds wandering this land justifying the need of the sixth sense. I’m trying to be one of them. I hope that I would succeed one fine day. Because, its hope right! It lasts till the last drop of our blood. Peace.

Last 7 Hours

June 8, 2005 Time: around 1:45 P.M. I was at my hostel’s lunch hall chattering and making fun of my friends after the second semester’s final exam. I was as happy as a kid and as mad as a madman. My friend shouted,” tharik, a call for you! Urgent son!” My friend gave his cell phone. It’s my friend from Chennai on the other side.

I said,” hello!”

My friend replied with a firm voice and there was a sense of remorse in his voice. He said,”when are you starting?”

“Tomorrow with my friends. You knew that before. It’s my last day of the semester. I would prefer to come with them in train. Is there any problem?”

There was a long pause on the other side and he sighed,” start A.S.A.P”

“Why?”

“Don’t ask me reasons son! Try to understand. Start immediately”

“Come on! We booked the tickets already. “

“So what? Start now. I can’t tell you reasons now. I’ll tell you everything after reaching here”

With a firm voice I replied,” tell me the reason”.

The reply was abrupt and stern. He said,” Your dad is no more”. He hung up the phone.

Momentary madness struck me. Tears filled my eyes and my legs trembled. My friend took hold of me. Sudden chillness rushed through my body as I was unable to believe what I have heard. I ran like a mad towards the telephone booth even though I had my friend’s phone in my hand. I don’t know why I did that. I don’t know why I ran like a lunatic. I reached the telephone booth and called my uncle.  I mourned, “What happened to dad?”

He replied,” no problem. He is serious. Nothing to worry. When are you coming?”

Contradicting replies yet it lured me to believe that he was alive.

I replied,” tonight”

He rejoined,” ok. See you tonight”

He hung up the phone.

My friend asked,” what happened?”

“My dad is serious and I’m going home”

My friend replied with a deep regret,” don’t worry, he will be fine. Don’t lose your hope. Call me once you reach there.”

I nodded and reached my room faster; I packed my things rapidly and four of my friends accompanied me till the railway station.

Two words were ringing in my ears. They are “he is serious”. It echoed in my ears and I pondered over the last moments at the lunch hall till I reach the station. My friends bid adieu to me and I waved my hand after getting into the compartment. I wasn’t me that day. I lost my self in a fearsome nightmare that haunted me like a spectre. I sat and covered my eyes with my hand. I don’t know whom to believe or what to believe. I became passive.

“Sir, it’s too late. We already have began our course for the tenth standard students. I’m sorry sir; it’s hard for your son to pursue with only six months remaining” said the principal with a delicate voice.

“I know my son better than everyone. I know that I’m going to attach him here with only six months remaining. But, he is not what you think. He is better than that. Take my word. He joins here at the last moment. From today, count the days; he will come out of tenth standard with flying colours. He will bring pride to your school as well as to me. It’s not a word. It’s more than that”, my dad’s voice was firm and confident as I was sitting beside him, quietly admiring his words.

“Sir, could you please move a bit?” a stranger said. I looked upon him with my red eyes and moved a bit to give space for him to sit. My belief was getting stronger and stronger. I prayed that nothing should happen to him. I muttered that he should be fine. I mourned and peeked out of the window.

The lamenting breeze swept over my face. I lost myself again and I never wanted that.

“I have transferred 2000 rupees last month. You are reckless in spending money. What did you do with that 2000?” My dad inscribed on his notebook to communicate with people as the cancer took its toll of his voice and he was fed through his nose. He was not the same dad whom I have seen tucking his shirt and walked lion hearted. He was ill, severely ill.

I stammered after reading his inscriptions. I replied, “hummm...”

My sister came to my rescue. She steered, “Dad! He knows what he is doing. He is young .trust him that he will not deviate. Just give him please!” She hugged my dad and her hug was passionate.

I woke up and realized that I reached Katpadi which is just a 2 hour travel from Chennai. I didn’t talk to any of my fellow travellers and I didn’t want to. Peace swallowed me. I thought about my days with my dad. I thought about the day when my dad ordered me not to come near him and told me not to touch him. Because he thought that it might spread. I felt lonely and my home had lost the sun shines and rainbows. I thought about my last visit to my home. My brother and I have given the blood for my dad’s operation. I slept after reaching my home and felt the feathery touch of my father’s fingers running through my hairs. I didn’t want to open my eyes. I didn’t really want to. I just wanted to feel it. His tears fell on my cheek.

            “Son, we reached avadi. Where are you gonna get down? I’m sorry I didn’t want to wake you up. Just wanted you to know”, said the stranger next to me.

I replied, “Thanks. I shall get down at Chennai central”

He rejoined,” Okay.”

He continued with his routine and I kept looking outside the window.

Finally, I reached central station and got out of the station. I got an Auto and told him my destination. I sat near the entrance and was deep in thought. I thought about my telephone call to my home. Since no one was available at home, my dad attended the call. He couldn’t speak as the cancer completely closed his mouth. He tried to talk to me. He tried and tried. I realized that it’s my dad on the other side. I echoed, “ dad? Dad? Are you there?” He couldn’t speak and I heard only the mourning sound. I cried and hung up the phone. I covered my eyes with my hands and cried after hanging up.

I realized that I was nearing my home when I felt a sudden jolt. I directed the auto man to my home. I got out of the auto at the turn of my street. My friends saw and took charge of my bag. I asked them,” what happened? ”

They guided me to my home. When crossed the turn I saw people sitting outside my home. Tears started to roll down my cheeks. I don’t remember what happened after that. It was only bits and pieces. I was completed shattered. I was looking at my dad’s body inside the freezer box. I was looking at him the entire night. I couldn’t believe myself that he was gone. I prayed, “Dear God, if you are looking down at me, please! Bring him back.”

Nila!

It was a hot summer and the mercury had reached the point where meteorological department would love to announce it as the highest temperature of the day. People were running for air and water. Everyone felt the heat except the little Nila. She glimmered under the hot sun light. She didn’t seem to be exhausted instead she moved from one car to another car asking the drivers” brother! Buy one cleaning cloth for your car.” She even pleaded them. No sign of kindness and no one were willing to buy it from the little Nila. But, she didn’t lose heart. She went on to the next driver and to the next. Some even have closed the window glass after seeing her. Some said “go away! I don’t need it!” Some didn’t mind her asking and were busy with their own work.

“Damn! I hate summer! Just look at me Naresh, i’m sweating and if I squeeze my shirt, I guess you could fill your water can” said the frustrated Vasanth to his driver. The driver laughed and looked at the signal. It was still red.

The road was a total mess. Horns were blowing, people were shouting at one another, some yelled at the traffic signal and some switched off the engines and were staring at the red light. Some even had raised their vehicle’s throttle and annoyed the people around them. Mess dear god! It was a total mess. Cars and two wheelers were parked and looked like scattered spare parts from the top view. Rules are meant to be broken and this traffic congestion was not an exception. In that traffic congestion, Nila was moving fast and she was determined to cover all the vehicles within that signal span. She hurried from one car to the other pleading to every being inside the car.

Vasanth peeked out of the window to get some air but it was a failed experiment. He had only felt the hot air that flashed from the vehicle standing in front of his car as the driver raised the throttle. Frustrated Vasanth squealed and sat inside. His rolling eyes started to move from one place to the other and stopped after seeing a little kid hurrying from one car to the other in-order to sell the pack of cleaning clothes she had. His kind eyes wanted to help her.

He shouted,” hey kiddo! ”

Nila turned immediately and started running towards him. Luck never favours the poor. The signal had turned green. The crossing vehicles denied her any access to the Vehicle where Vasanth was sitting.

Unwilling Vasanth said to the driver, “Naresh! She is not gonna make it. Everyone is blowing their horns. Let us go!”

But, his face was unturned and was looking at the pity kid. He muttered,” Damn signal! To hell with you!”

His disturbed mind didn’t allow him to work cleanly. His mind was revolving around the last incident before the signal. He wanted to help her by buying the cleaning cloth but fate had other ideas. Vasanth was a clean worker and swift as well. Today he looked different and wanted to get back home. He finished the work in a hurry and sat inside the car. Naresh raced through the traffic and halted before the signal. Vasanth heard someone tapping the car and turned to see the little kid standing before him. She pleaded,” brother! Can you buy now?”

Vasanth said, “With pleasure my lady!”

She gave a cloth and Vasanth gave 10 rupees in return and he gave another 10 and asked her for another cloth. Nila was ecstatic and thanked him. While leaving, Vasanth called,” hey kiddo! What’s your name?”

“Nila”

“As pretty as you! Come here”

Nila walked and stood closer to the door. Vasanth gave another 50 rupees for her and asked her to take it.

“No brother! I don’t need it. Already you made my day. Thanks.”

“Okay. Give me five cleaning clothes! I need it. Can you my lady?”

She gave five clothes. Overjoyed Nila accepted the money and thanked him. She leaned forward to thank the driver as well. He smiled back at her. Vasanth extended his conversation with her.

“What’s your dad Kiddo!”

“He is no more Brother. He is with God!”

“I’m sorry really. It must be very hard for you. Don’t you go to school?”

“Nope. I have to look after my mom as she had lost one of her legs in an accident.”

“Holy God! I’m sorry kiddo! God bless you! Take care of yourself and your mom. May God shower his love on yours!”

“Thank you brother!”

She turned and started walking. Signal turned Green and everyone accelerated their vehicles. Startled and confused over the sudden surge of noise Vasanth looked out of the window. He saw the little girl lying down after being hit by a two wheeler. The person who hit her shouted at her,” you beggar! Can’t you see i’m coming? Don’t you have eyes or is that your arrogance?”

A two wheeler stopped near Nila and a person who drove it helped the little girl to stand on her feet. She got bruises on her hand and knee. She limped towards the road side. She didn’t speak a word as tears filled up her eyes. She wiped it and limped towards a parked car and asked the driver," brother! buy one cloth. It's just 10 rupees."

The driver replied, " No!"

The man who helped the kid scolded the man who hit her. Helpless Vasanth was watching as his vehicle was moving away. Suddenly his eyes caught the sight of a new cleaning cloth inside the tank cover of the man who had helped Nila and a smooth smile spread over his face. He looked at the limping Nila till she had disappeared from his sight. The clock ticked 6 past 15; he looked at the sky and saw the round moon smiling at him. He smiled and said to himself “Good people are still wandering this earth! May God bless them!”

I told you, I'm never going back!

Movie name: heat

Directed by: Michael Mann

Cast: Robert de niro, Al pacino, Van kilmer, Jon Voight, Tom sizemore

Everyone would love to watch two legends sharing the big screen. I’m no exception. It was a treat watching Robert de niro and Al pacino playing cat-mouse game and a well versed narration which did tie me to my seat for 2 hours and 50 minutes. Michael Mann handled both the characters carefully and narrated every possible incidents happening in a cop’s and a thief’s life. Robert de niro played the role of Neil Mcgauley, a perfect thief whose plans could do no wrong and Al pacino played the role of Lt. Vincent Hanna, an honest policeman could feel a thief’s every move.

This movie is all about police-thief story. Four thieves accidentally leave a clue during a robbery. That clue is nothing but a word “slick”, which is an unusual one and because of that they feel the heat from the chasing policemen headed by Lt.Vincent. Even though the base story is about catching the thieves, the way Michael Mann narrated it was truly over whelming. It not only showed the policemen chasing the thieves but also narrated the social life of the thief and the policeman. Quite contrasting family life of lead roles was narrated sensibly. For example, Al pacino’s family life was pathetic while Robert de niro social life was a lonely one but he says “I’m not lonely, I live alone”.

Along with Robert de niro, val kilmer, tom sizemore and danny trejo played the role of fellow thieves. Michael Mann, I was truly impressed with your narration that has expressed different way of life lead by these thieves. After watching this movie, I couldn’t recollect the best scene from the movie. The reason is every scene was rendered beautifully. Anyone watches the movie can’t hide their expression after the face off scene between Robert and Al pacino. I’m no exception. The dialogues and the performance were awesome. I was waiting for about one hour for that face off scene and felt sad that happened only once. I had to wait for the climax in order to visualize the legends on one frame. There is a scene where Robert de niro fools the cops and the ranting Al pacino reacted to it splendidly.  Robert de niro was quite and his actions speak much rather than his words but Al pacino chose the different route. His rants were expressed with comical sense. It was quite superb to see him that way. I just loved it. Val Kilmer’s acting was exquisite. There are several scenes which showed his brilliant acting and no wonder he did out run Keanu reeves for that character Chris.

  

Right from the beginning I was narrating only about two characters. Wasn’t I? The reason is I got carried away by them. They just over shadowed everyone acted in the movie. Val Kilmer and others fitted in their roles quite beautifully except Diane venora because of her robotic gestures. She played the role of Al pacino’s wife (third wife which shows how pathetic his private life is). I just blent with the movie which made me to go blind about the cinematography and music. Over all, it’s a better movie, with better screen play, with better dialogues and with better performance from all the casts. Thumps up to Michael Mann! The final dialogue is still ringing in my ears said by Robert de niro “I told you, I’m never going back”. Just Brilliant!

My Modern Man

         I and my friend were in a bit of argument and he put forth a question asked by a host of a TV program. The question was “What is meant by being modern or to be simple what is Modernization?”

It was a nice conversation and we shared nice time between us. After that chat, I wanted to watch the program desperately and I did it. Thanks to YouTube.

A girl answered “Girls were wearing chudithar once, now the time has changed and they are wearing denims, T-shirts etc” in the show and adding to my boredom, a boy replied and his reply revolved around the dressing codes. The host gave a stunning reply “tell me what exactly modernization is?” in a stern voice.

I had to bang my head on the wall after hearing their replies. Why do people link their so called dress codes with modernization? Is it so easy to define modernization? Dear God, do we really have sixth sense?

Modernisation doesn’t lie in the dress we are wearing or the cosmetics we are using or drinking and dancing in the bar. Above said things are nothing but cultural disasters and please! Don’t say that we are modern boys or girls just because you live in a city. Modernization is nothing but the evolutionary change in our intellectual thought process. While everyone was worshipping Idols, one king yelled and said “Sun shines and showers us the energy and why are you worshipping Idols when our real idol shines in-front of us and our earth is revolving around it”.  I would say that Intellectual thinker Akhenaten is “My Modern Man of that age”. While everyone said “women are born slaves and they are born to serve this men dominated society” and one Bharathiyar raised his voice against that slavery. That intellectual poet is “My Modern Man of that age”. People were nerds and slaved by power holders once. One man taught his people and thought different from his fellow country-men. Finally, he was killed and he too accepted it with grace. That Socrates is “My Modern Man of that age”. While priests were dancing in the midst of our unassailable trust on God, one old man said "in the name of god, religion, and sastras you have duped us. We were the ruling people. Stop this life of cheating us from this year. Give room for rationalism and humanism". That Periyar is “My Modern Man of that age”. When there were no laws, a king wrote the laws of that land. That Hammurabi is “My Modern Man of that age”. A group of people said “that is a beautiful sun set!” A passerby said “nerds! Sun never rises or sets, it’s our earth that rotates”. That passerby is “My Modern Man”. Any human being who initiates a thought process which could initiate a revolutionary change in our society, that intellectual thinker is “My Modern Man”. We may say “industrialization is modernization”. But, I would love to say “Thoughts that lead to the industrialization are nothing but the pillars of modernization, if there are no thoughts, there are no inventions. If there are no inventions, there is no modernization. If Einstein hadn’t thought about a change, there wouldn’t be a photoelectric effect or hailed theory of relativity. Imagine a brain dead Newton, we would have been in a belief that “we are floating”. I hate to imagine a blind Galileo. There were people who revolutionized this society with their thought process. All it needs is a trigger, just a little trigger like a synchronized clock pulse.