Wednesday, 16 August 2017

Jab Harry Met Sejal, Gurgaon, Toilet Ek Prem Katha, Atomic Blonde, The Emoji Movie

Watched five movies as mentioned in the subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jab Harry Met Sejal
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
I will say this movie is funny and a feel good kind of movie.
These kind of movies are romantic comedy and no tragedy is there in the movie.
It can be watched once without any problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Gurgaon
This movie was watched at Cinepolis Cinema, Binnypet Mall.
Movie can be watched once without any problem.
It shows how too much hatred is bad for health. Because if you hate someone don't think that feeling the other cannot have for you.
The other may strike back with bigger hatred and result would be catastrophic.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Toilet Ek Prem Katha
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
Movie can be watched once without any problem. Second time it will prove to be a headache.
It deals with a man attempt to build a toilet for his wife in his house while social practices prevent otherwise.
KRK has said correctly in his Youtueb video:
  • Hindi and Rajasthani language is mixed up.
  • The village has cell phone, smart phone, telephone towers, auto, bike ets but does not have toilet. Highly unlikely.
  • Also while the toilet problem is universal, the director has shown it to be a "Brahmin problem"
------------------------------------------------------------------
Atomic Blonde
This movie was watched at Rex Cinemas.
  • This is a free for all violence show.
  • Initially and right up to the end it is not clear who is working for whom and who wants to get each other killed.
  • But in the end it is shown the heroine finds refuge in CIA i.e. the great United States of America.
  • But not clear if she was working for them since beginning or not. She is sown to be British.
  • Also East Germany and West Germany is all messed up. Where they cross West Berlin and where they cross East Berlin is not clear.
  • And in this movie it becomes clear that Charlize Theron has taken "revenge on men" for being exploited by the film industry.
  • Before this she had done the movie Mad Max which turned the Mad Max theme on its head.
  • I will say Charlize Theron is like Sunny leone who has turned the history upside down.
  • I mean they started their lives by doing certain roles over which they had no control.
  • But now they are in a position of control much like Shah Rukh khan or Aamir Khan and hence they dictate where they want to work and what roles they want to do.
------------------------------------------------------------------
The Emoji Movie
This movie was watched at Cinepolis Cinema, Binnypet Mall.
  • This is a classic movie.
  • This movie is like the Bible.
  • I mean man went from prehistoric man to agricultural man. 
  • From hunting and food gathering to food producer.
  • Then he discovered religion.
  • After hundreds of year something like Bible came up.
  • But this movie has happened pretty fast.
  • Like 20 or 30 years ago there was no Emoji.
  • There was no smartphone.
  • And now there is smartphone and there is Emoji.
  • And this movie shows how Emojis exist in a world inside the smartphone where there are a lot of Apps and stuff in each their own compartment.
  • Sometimes when we were children we felt that our entire universe could be in glass box of something superior like God.
  • But does God have an image. We do not know. As children we may imagine it would be like Barney maybe
  • Here also it is imagined and hats off to that that Emojis live in their own world and each individual smartphone is a different world.
  • And when the phone is formatted the world is destroyed and that is what is prevented in the end in the movie.
------------------------------------------------------------------

Friday, 4 August 2017

Characteristics of a Police State

Characteristics of a Police State
  • People I will say that the most important characteristics of a police state is that they will watch where you are going.
  • After watching where you are going they will watch what you are doing, eating, where you are staying and then they will try to influence you.
  • They will try to prevent you from doing something or they will make you do ssomething which you do not want and hence it would be like a "forced thing"
  • You are left with no choice but to do that thing which they want.
  • Police state does not come about on its own.
  • People will try to follow you and will watch you.
  • Then they will try to influence you.
  • If you are not influenced they will force you.
I can look into my past and try to find about it.
  • From June 2002 till May 2003 I had gone to Chennai to prepare for CA Coaching.
  • When it did not work out I left CA course after may examinations and went for MBA.
  • Now what happened, I used to stay withing 2-3kms radius.
  • Areas where I stayed was Ice House, Triplicane, Royapettah, near Anna Road, near MAC stadium.
  • Now what will happen that these lodge owners or hostel owners are duty bound to report the people staying to nearby Police Station.
  • Now if you stay for a night or two it would hardly make a difference like if you were proceeding to Bangalore or Madurai or Ooty after overnight stay.
  • But if you stay for longer duration and change places like if you don't like a place you move to another.
  • I myself must have stayed at at least 10-12 places in that area.
  • If you do like that then your ID will prop up at the police station very often and then you will be a marked person.
  • Whether you want it or not that is the reality.
  • It is like that song of Dave Matthews band "Where are you going"
  • That is not a good expression. It means that you are being tracked.
  • You feel you are escaping. You feel you are going somewhere new. But no the "hungry eyes" will follow you.
  • And that is the characteristic of the police state.
  • If you move and they track your movement it is a police state.
  • In a situation like that you may feel safety in your home however small it may be.
  • If your home does not give the safety and still you are being watched, you may require to go to a place where there are more people like you.
  • Megacities of our country are the place where in 10 or 20 million people you are like a spec of dust and it hardly makes a difference what you do.
  • And if you have a 'home' to call your own there is very less likely that someone will track you like when you stay in hotels or hostels.
Now what is happening under BJP, they told that there will be less of Government and more of Governance.
  • But fact is that by linking everything to Aadhar they are the ultimate defination of a police state.
  • It is more of Government and less of Governance as they are ultimately engaged in Going after hapless citizens. 
  • They are after what you are doing and how much you are earning and they dictate what you can do and cannot do.
  • They have gone beyond the police state and something more dystopian.
  • They are dictating what we can eat and whom we pray and how we shit and where we shit.
  • They want to price railway tickets beyond a common man reach so he cannot travel. 
  • He will be limited to few areas while they the leaders roam around in jets and helicopters.
  • Further they want "One nation, One election" to further solidify their rule.
  • So no one can challenge them.
  • They will rule unchallenged and hapless citizens will suffer.
  • It is truly a nightmare the way things are going in India.

Indu Sarkar, Valerian, Mubarakaan

Watched three movies as mentioned in the subject line.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Indu Sarkar
This movie was at GT World Mall at Magadi Road.
  • I liked the movie. 
  • All the actors have done good role in the movie.
  • In the movie the story is turned topsy turvy.
  • The BJP will accuse Indira Gandhi to be pro Muslim and call her as Indira Khan but now that BJP is in power they have no qualms in showing the true face of Indira Gandhi and BJP will try to prove that only they can protect the Muslims.
  • This is a propaganda movie made at the behest of the BJP.
  • The director will tell what has happened in Emergency and will try to say that only the Hindus can protect the Muslims.
  • It is like it is a propaganda movie to make appeal for a Congress mukt Bharat and they try to show that Naxalites, Opposition, Rss, Liberals, Free Speech advocates and Communists were all equally prosecuted under Emergency.
  • Now that Emergency like situation is in country they escape liablity.
  • What happened 40 years ago is important to them.
  • What is happening right under their rule is of little importance to them
  • That is the hypocracy of the democracy which is BJP rule.
  • In the movie the husband of Indu Sarkar commits suicide towards the end.
  • Now tell me what is the use of Indu Sarkar if she was unable to prevent the suicide of her husband. It is meaningless to say the least.
  • The fact that she could save two orphans is of little importance if she could not save her husband.
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Valerian: A City of 1000 Planets
This movie was seen at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
  • This movie is a must watch according to me.
  • DON'T MISS THE BEGINNING.
  • Because in the beginning they show how an entire planet is wiped out.
  • The inhabitants of the planet appear to be like Masai tribe of Kenya but white.
  • The soul of the kings daughter finds refuge in the body of the hero.
  • The Cara Delevigne character is too good and the hero gets to be with her and locked with her in a tiny spacecraft and towards the end as well.
  • That is the stuff of fantasy.
  • Next is how the 100 planet City is shown which is like one International Space Station flaoting freely in space and only other alien species have joined in.
  • And the alternate universe which can be seen using glasses in a barren planet is also shown.
  • Overall I will say lot of though has gone into the movie.
  • And basically what has happened in the earth is shown.
  • Like white man went around and colonised most of the land and many races were wiped out like American Indians or some tribes and cultures around the world.
  • The fact is that space travel is a myth and we have got only one planet and we will try to escape but all the efforts will result in disaster.
  • Human race is destined to survive and perish in this round ball which we call earth.
  • hence we need to preserve earth for future generations and need to realise that war is futile.
----------------------------------------------------------------- 
Mubarakaan
This movie was seen at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
  • One of the real comedy movies.
  • I laughed a little bit in the movie.
  • But too much comedy can lead to tragedy and that happens early in the movie due to miscommunication and misunderstanding.
  • But all is well that ends well.
  • And all hero heroines find their respective partners in the end.
  • But marriage of Neha Sharma with Athiya Shetty's brother is not shown. Maybe that would not happen.
  • Striking feature of the movie is one Anil Kapoor character and acting.
  • Next is the dual role of Arjun Kapoor and it appears so real that in the end credits when they show how the movie is being shot you relaise that there is only one Arjun kapoor and it would have been tough to create two characters from one.
  • Extra effort would have realised but the special effects is great.
  • Modern technology makes it possible and we can hadly knoe that special effects is in opeartion.
  • Contrast it to earlier movies where we could easily make out that special effects are in operation.

Tuesday, 1 August 2017

Lipstick Under my Burkha, Dunkirk, Munna Michael

Watched three movies as mentioned in the subject line.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Lipstick Under my Burkha
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
Movie is okay to be watched once.
If you watch it again and again you may fall in love with the characters.
Main thing in the movie is how the stories of four women converge in Bhopal.
Towards the end when everything seems to be going right for them, things happen otherwise.
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Dunkirk
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
  • This movie shows the futility of war.
  • It shows how the British could not defend France on their own and had to withdraw to the shores of England and how using big boats it could never have been possible.
  • Later D-Day happened with American help and that is subject of Saving Private Ryan and movies like that.
  • But the fact is without American help and Germany's invasion of Russia and subsequent defeat due to Winter in Russia, British would not have been able to win back the shores of Europe.
  • Also though Britain is an island and Europe is supposedly "continental" but still the island proved to be a bigger "home" for the people than the shores of continental Europe. 
  • When we are sandwiched like in a location like northern beaches of France when the enemy is closing in and there is no food and water and the climate is cold and unforgiving, we are left with little options.
  • It is a definite must watch movie for generations to come.
 -----------------------------------------------------------------
Munna Michael
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
I liked the movie.
  • Tiger Shroff is a star.
  • Very few stars have the physique like him.
  • He is also a gentleman star.
  • Also the role of Rambo will suit him.
  • In the original Rambo movie Sylverster Stallone takes on the authorities who dare to question his military background and all. He plays a 'rebel'.
  • Tiger Shroff also has played 'rebel' in the self titled movie "Baaghi".
  • This Rambo movie will suit him thats what I feel.
  • Also the movie aptly captures the Bombay-Delhi divide.
  • Also the combo with Nawazuddin Siddique is too good.
  • Definitely the movie can do wuith a sequel. 
  • But the world will run out of places where these two can fit together. In other words there is no limit.
-----------------------------------------------------------------

Sunday, 23 July 2017

10 Cloverfield Lane, Mirch Masala, Jagga Jasoos, Mom, War for the Planet of the Apes, Spiderman Homecoming

Watched six movies as mentioned in the subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------------
10 Cloverfield Lane
This movie was on Amazon Prime video.
It was surprising to watch this movie.
It really felt as if there was no gas and alien scare and the last 10 minutes of the movie proved otherwise.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mirch Masala
This movie was watched on Tata Sky Video on Demand Channel. I will say this movie is worth the time.
This is 1987 movie and too good. Om Puri, Smita Patil, Naseeruddin Shah among others have played very good role.
If you have not watched the movie you should watch it.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Jagga Jasoos
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline Mall.
Movie is very good and I totally liked it. Songs are good, story is good, musically inclined movie right from the stables of Disney pictures.
Thoroughly enjoyable.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Mom
This movie was watched at GT World Mall, SPI Cinemas The World.
I liked the movie because of the intensity of the actors. Sridevi has done very good performance.
Also her daughter and husband also good roles. Definite must watch this movie.
------------------------------------------------------------------
War for the Planet of the Apes
This movie is enjoyable to say the least. Watched it at Lakshmi theatre, Tavarakere.
The best part of the movie is that we humans are so delicate as Woody Harleson proved where he hated the virus affected people and when he himself is affected by the virus he has no option but to kill himself as being affected by the virus would not make them "human" in traditional sense of the world.
And the avalanche in the end proves that nature is the most powerful and the most dominant humans are also no match to nature and its fury. But that is natural for nature. It is not unnatural for nature to act the way it does.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Spiderman Homecoming
This movie is more "commercial movie" than Planet of the Apes. It is enjoyable.
Watched it at Carnival Cinemas, Rockline mall.
The way the character of Spiderman glides through the world of men is shown.
Ironman is the more dominant superhero along with the Avengers and Spiderman manages to squeeze his way though.
Compare it to earlier Spiderman where there were no other superheroes and Spiderman story was entirely his own.
This movie can be watched once without any problem
------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 8 July 2017

Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deevana Tha, Raaz 3, Baby Driver, Revolver Rani, Filmistan

Watched five movies as mentioned in the subject line.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Ek Haseena Thi Ek Deevana Tha
This movie was watched at Innovative Multiplex.
This movie has got several gaps in the plot and is best to be missed . It is like the hero is a soul and in the end he is granted a body magically by God after request from the dying side hero.
But movie is shot abroad in Europe some remote area and that makes it worthwhile.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Raaz 3
This movie was watched on Amazon prime Video. And definitely this movie is worth watching.
I liked the movie.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Baby Driver
This movie was watched at GT World mall at Magadi Road.
This movie is way better than I expected. And is loaded with 60s and 70's songs as the hero had a condition where he had an ear problem and needed to listen to songs continuously. Definite must watch. And all the actors have done very good role.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Revolver Rani
This movie was watched on Airtel Digital Tv after recording on pen drive.
This is a must watch.
I know earlier I have seen the movie in "fast forward" and written about it but now I watched it complete and found it is not a bad movie as such and can be watched without any problem.
In fact I am tempted to say that this might end up as a cult classic. As each and every scene has got a meaning and linkage to the movie.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------
Filmistan
This movie was watched on Airtel Digital Tv after recording on pen drive.
This 2012 movie is also having potential to become cult classic.
It is about a film industry man ending up in Pakistan after he was shooting documentary in Rajasthan border area.
Though this film wanted to be a comedy but unfortunately doesn't become so but it has its own comedy moments. Towards the end it is not clear if the hero makes it back to India or not.
It is definite must watch.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------

Saturday, 1 July 2017

Raaz Reboot, Transformers The Last Knight, Once upon a Time in Mumbai Dobara, Tubelight, Salaam Bombay

Watched five movies as mentioned in the subject line.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Raaz Reboot
This movie was watched on Airtel DTH Miniplex HD Channel after recording on pen drive.
Movie is okay to be watched once.
I have not seen earlier Raaz movies and am planning to watch those after this. Raaz 2 I had seen on computer but it was a hall print I guess.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Transformers The Last Knight
This movie was watched at Carnival Cinemas Rockline Mall. I have taken a Moviepass at www.moviecardindia.com and it allows me to watch one movie per day from Monday to Thursday only.
This movie is technically very good and special effects are real good and a lot of effort has gone to make the battle scenes.
But I still feel it is waste of effort. So much effort for what. But it is okay to be watched once without any problem.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Once upon a Time in Mumbai Dobara
This movie was seen on Airtel DTH Miniplex HD Channel after recording on pen drive.
Movie is okay for a one time watch.
Akshay Kumar has played the villian and why i felt that present PM Modi is lot like Akshay Kumar in the movie. I mean he could have taken inspiration from the role.
Though the movie flopped, i feel technically it is a good quality movie and they have kept Akshay kumar alive in the end in the hope of bringing a sequel maybe.
------------------------------------------------------------------
Tubelight
This movie was seen at new Mall GT World Mall The Cinema GT World Mall.
Movie is great for a one time watch. Key takeaways from the movie.
  • Sohail Khan and other actors have done a great role.
  • Salman Khan has tried very hard to do a different kind of role. Is he successful? I guess only the fans can say that.
  • The scenes of battle have been captured well.
  • If we forget Salman Khan the big actor and watch the movie for what it is we might just like the movie.

------------------------------------------------------------------
Salaam Bombay (1988 movie)
This movie was seen on Tata Sky Video on Demand Chennel.
The thing is if we keep a minimum 8 GB pen drive attached to Tata Sky box overnight stuff gets downloaded and we can watch it later.
This movie in HD with subtitles got downloaded and I watched it and liked it. Key takeaways from the movie.
  • The movie captures the essence of Bombay or Mumbai.
  • Though Bombay has been renamed, the spirit of Mumbai is the same.
  • It was bound for Bombay to be renamed because now Bombay has expanded way beyond what it once was.
  • I feel Bombay name should have been retained for the "inner city" which is South Mumbai where this movie is based (around Mumbai Central area).
  • In the movie we see Irrfan Khan the actor in a very initial role. We feel not much change has happened to him over decades.
  • Nana Patekar has proved he is the actor for what he is. I mean he gained fame in parinda and Krantiveer and over decades he played a variety of roles. Here he portrays a pimp and drug dealer and very good role.
  • Raghuvir Yadav has also done a good role. He is the same guy who went on to do the role of Mungerilal Ke Haseen Sapne
  • There is one actress who looks like Saroise Ronan. Link
  • The vehicles seen are only Fiats mostly as it was pre liberalisation in 1991 and very few vehicles were on the roads. Now the number of vehicles and the quanity of models available has exploded.
  • The love of cricket is still there in the city it is shown in the movie just like today. In one scene there was going on of India England match and Mike Gatting was batting we got to hear the commentary.
  • The local trains have improved these days but mostly the outer structure is the same. And even today there are several old models of trains still in operation.
  • But the long distance trains have undergone lot of change in present day. Earlier they used to dark red coaches with grainy paint on them like anti rust coating. Now Express trains are blue colour coaches and other variety of trains are different. And electric engines have become the norm. Earlier there used to be diesel what is shown in the movie and even earlier there was steam engine.
  • The Ganesh Puja celebrations shown in the movie are timeless and even these days the celebration is the same nonetheless.
  • The shantytowns or slums are captured perfectly. Even today if a film is made it will not be very different.
  • The circus shown in the beginning shows elephants bears and dogs in captivity. It captures a bygone era as these days only small birds can be used and other animals is banned.
  • The movie is definite must watch as it captures the spirit of Bombay or Mumbai.
  • I feel the planets were aligned just right for such a kind of movie to be made.
  • I feel many filmmakers would be studying this movie and they will be trying to emulate Mira Nair in making the perfect movie the perfect classic. Unfortunately the formula is not readily available.
------------------------------------------------------------------