Another Book Read - The Great Gatsby

The Great Gatsby by F. Scott Fitzgerald

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'll admit the only reason I picked up this book to read was after watching the ostentatious movie adaptation by Baz Luhrmann. The story set in a continent in an era which isn't very familiar to me did put me off initially. However I'm glad I decided to read this classic after all.

The first person narrative is without a doubt the highlight of this book with Nick Carraway's observation forming the entirety of the story telling. The book is as much as about Carraway as it is about Gatsby.

Through Nick we traverse the diverse landscape of America from the mundane and boring Mid-West to the Ultra Jazzy and exciting East. His daily routine describes how Americans lived during the age of excess - long commutes from lavish country homes to the boisterous metropolis of New York working in high paying Wall Street jobs. His extended family, viz his cousin's lifestyle provides a glimpse of how old money lived and how new money - Gatsby, was looked down upon by them.

The book isn't just about the humans but also about their environment. It's a great insight into the heart of a country that was just coming out of a world war and reaping the rewards of victory. The contrast of the Long Island landscape against that of Manhattan as well as the purgatory-like region in between is brilliant.

This book was written at a time when language and prose meant something. When the use of fancy words was not a fad but the norm. Reading this book is a delight for those who enjoy such rich prose albeit it can get a tad confusing and a re-read is called for. It's no wonder this classic is a staple for most middle and high school reading courses.

If you enjoy good writing, simple stories but rich complex interpretations of text, this is your book. At 180 pages it's an absolute quick read.








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Book Review - Last Train To Istanbul

Last Train to Istanbul by Ayşe Kulin

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Picked up this book last year with the intention of exploring stories from the Middle East and European regions. The title sold me since I have been somewhat fascinated by the country of Turkey. And the backdrop of the second world war was an added bonus.

The story primarily revolves around two sisters, Sabiha and Selva and their families during the German occupation of France in the second world war. Sabiha is the wife of a Turkish diplomat living in the Turkish capital city of Ankara while Selva is living with her Jewish husband in Paris.

Separated due to a past and by conflicting national boundaries the eponymous train seems to be the only chance of the sisters and the families of reuniting and reconciling their differences. The train also provides hopes for many Jews trapped in German occupied France to return to neutral nation of Turkey and beyond to the promised land.

Apart from the poignant tale of the two sisters and their families, the book also touches a lot on the geo-political situation of the region during WW II. Turkey's diplomatic situation with the allies and the Axis powers is well explained and that too on a un-boring fashion. We are introduced to a few other secondary characters that aren't all that important( or required in some instances) but I presume these were fashioned out of the true accounts of Jewish people who undertook this arduous and treacherous journey from France to Turkey via German and German occupied nations.

The writing is very fluid and simple with each chapter flowing effortlessly. I found myself gobbling up numerous chapters in single sittings (A major achievement for me!!) Perhaps it's the fact that the book is translated to English from Turkish and maybe some of the more "purple prose" passages got trimmed down.

At around 360 pages this is a short read and good one too. The only complaint I would state is the length being a tad too short for the scope of the story that is being told. Especially with the myriad characters that get introduced throughout the book. But the last chapter somewhat makes up for that with a rather touching revelation.




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Book Review - Shantaram

Shantaram by Gregory David Roberts

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


Almost everyone I know has read this book. And their reviews have been unanimously positive. Suffice to say that was enough to get me to read this pseudo-autobiographical account of an escaped Australian convict who called India (and specifically Bombay) his home.

Our protagonist (for lack of a better word), Lin, is on the run from the local authorities back home in the land down under and is just arriving at the Bombay International Airport in the early 80s as the story begins. From there begins his humorous, at times bizarre, uncanny and ultimately spiritual journey through Bombay, India and beyond.

Lin's journey, as penned in the book, spans five parts with forty-two chapters across the slums of Bombay, a village in Maharashtra, shady hotels in Africa, the mountains of Afghanistan and finally comes full circle to an enlightened end at the slums. The experiences he narrates are often interlaced with philosophical teachings as well personal observational conclusions which at times do sound kinda as though he's some sort of Guru. But if you remove the prejudicial thought from your mind, the experiences do provide some truly pearls of wisdom.

The author bases the anecdotes and stories based on personal experiences and his knowledge of the land is undeniably first hand. One of the elements of the book that really made me re-read certain chapters was the brilliantly detailed description of the geography of my home town of Bombay (Mumbai if you want to sound politically correct!)

Another aspect of the book that made it entertaining (and also run over 900 pages) was the author's attempt to vividly describe every single character, minor or major, on every page. Barring a few descriptions that were completely uncalled for, this approach does provide a great visual interpretation of the characters you are reading.

At 933 pages, this is no simple read and took me a good amount of time to complete (but then I'm a slow reader!). But the long reading journey will reward you with the experience of an absolutely unprecedented journey into the life of Linbaba aka Shantaram. And who knows, his journey may inspire you to embark on one of your own!




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Book Review - The Wolf Of Wall Street

The Wolf of Wall Street by Jordan Belfort

My rating: 2 of 5 stars


Disappointed.

The book starts off like a Hollywood screenplay and does hold some promise in the first few pages. Alas this isn't a book about Wall Street! What ensues is a repetition of a series of anecdotes about drugs, hookers and illegal money making schemes of a rather dysfunctional individual.

This is an autobiographical account of trader from the late 80s early 90s yuppie generation who believed the world was his playground and anything that made him more money and brought him pleasure was his for the taking. It's a rather comical account of his life with some truly bizarre incidents that sound that they were totally written for a movie.

There are a few chapters that deal with really gritty financial dealings and probably only those well acquainted with that world would truly appreciate them. Yep, I did enjoy those portions of the book!

The author obviously is recounting his glory days which he later admits weren't his noblest. Nonetheless the absolutely insane shenanigans and over the top experiences of the protagonist are kinda too much to handle.

The last few chapters provide a tad relief from the drug infused lifestyle of the protagonist, but not enough to rid you off the sour taste of the remaining book.

I chose to read this book after catching the trailer of the Martin Scorsese movie adaptation starring Leonardo DiCaprio. So obviously I pictured the talented actor as I was reading this book. However there are a number of chapters in the book where I find it hard to visualise Leo enacting them on screen, but then again he's a great actor, so who knows!

Overall, I'm kinda disappointed with the book and wouldn't recommend it unless you're in the mood to learn how different drugs (prescription or otherwise) can be combined in a perfect balance while you are being given a blow job by a set of high priced hookers aboard a private jet headed to Zurich. On second thought, maybe you'd like reading about that kind of stuff!



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Iron Man Three: A Review

There's no denying that Favreau's Iron Man was single-handedly responsible for not only resurrecting the Marvel franchise (after Spider Man 3 and Fantastic Four 2, it was kinda bleak) but also responsible for the success of Marvel's cinematic Phase One  endeavour.

Iron Man Three is set post The Avengers and incorporates a few sub plots and background stories from the ensemble super hero flick. Primary among them being the anxiety that Tony experiences quite frequently all through the movie. We are introduced to a menacing Bin Ladenesque terrorist leader, The Mandarin, played masterfully (on many levels!) by Ben Kingsley. Guy Pearce plays a scientist colleague from Stark's past who seems to have a hidden agenda.

Comic book readers will already know that the first two movies were partially based on the Extremis storyline. The threequel exploits a huge portion of the same storyline including characters and the virus itself. Although with a few cinematic adaptations and modifications.

It's worth noting that IM3 isn't directed by Favreau, but instead by Shane Black. Now that may not be a huge cause for concern for most viewers. However the movie does echo his style and does become a tad different in terms of style and execution as compared to the preceding two flicks. This may be a good or bad thing based on our affection for them.

There are some truly cool moments in the movie such as the Iron Man suit being donned by none other than the oh-so sexy Gwyneth Paltrow and the kick-ass army of Iron Men being summoned by Stark. But I'll be honest. Overall I wasn't blown away by the movie. The main storyline almost delves into a Fringe/ X-Files kind of procedural investigative drama when Tony sets out to uncover the true perpetrators of the so-called terrorist attacks. And for some reason a few of the anxiety attacks that our protagonist experiences were a tad underplayed and comical IMHO. I understand this isn't Shakespeare, but maybe they could have done something about it.

Another complain I had was with the entire Mandarin storyline, or rather the lack of it. Mandarin is the arch-nemesis in the original comics and fan-boys were probably expecting a substantial plot with the Mandarin being involved, especially since there was an allusion to his existence right in the first movie. So yea, if you're planning to witness some major Iron Man - Mandarin showdown, you'll be sorely disappointed.

The story does put a logical conclusion to the cinematic rendition of Iron Man, which may also mean that we may not see him appear in Avengers 2 (set to be released in 2015). Although the conclusion could have been a tad more full circle if elements from the first movie were used to wrap things up.

Despite it's flaws, I still enjoyed the movie simply because of RDJ. He's the Jack Sparrow of the Iron Man movies. The plot and story may be under performing, but they're bearable simply because the talented RDJ is in the movie portraying the protagonist. It is almost impossible to imagine anyone else donning the Iron Suit for future instalments of this highly successful super hero franchise.

Is this the best Iron Man movie in the franchise? No. Should you watch the movie? Absolutely! Especially if you loved the first two movies and are a comic-book/ super-hero fanatic such as myself.

Oz The Great And Powerful - Reviewed

L. Frank Baum's The Wizard Of Oz is perhaps the most popular work of fiction to have been adapted for the silver screen and stage alike across the decades. From the iconic movie adaptation starring Judy Garland as the naive Dorothy to the off beat version with an all african american star cast, Hollywood has been inspired time and again by the author's beloved children's book.

And the fictional universe of Oz has served as the breeding ground for other writers/ own take on the memorable characters. Chief among them being the Wicked: The Life And Times Of The Wicked Witch which also sprang a hit broadway musical. So it was about time someone made a movie with the titular character, the Wizard, as the protagonist; Oz The Great And Powerful is that movie.

Opening in Kansas, we get a glimpse of the life of one, Oscar Diggs, a travelling circus magician who is interested in a life beyond the confines of simplicity and humility. A con-artist and a ladies man, Oscar "Oz" dreams of greatness and is willing to step over anyone to achieve that dream. However fate decides to choose otherwise and our con-man's aspirations are literally "twisted" when a stray tornado spits him out of Kansas city and into the wondrous land of Oz.

A seemingly fairy-tale land, Oz is filled all sorts of colourful flora and fauna which enthral Oscar till he meets a beautiful stranger who believes Oscar is the prophesied "Wizard" who shall rid the land of the wicked witch and bring peace and prosperity to their land. What begins from that point on is our beloved "Oz's"  journey from selfish grifter to a selfless hero. Along the way, Oz faces some perils and befriends a variety of colourful characters, some of whom foreshadow events and people from the original story.

Directed by Sam Raimi, this story serves, in many ways, as a prequel to the 1939 movie The Wizard Of Oz. Like the earlier movie, Raimi's film opens in black and white and goes into full colour once our protagonist enters the land of Oz. The look and feel of Oz are also pretty similar. And the resemblance between the Wicked Witch of West in both movies is also quite consistent. These similarities, as stated by Raimi, are intentional and serve as an homage to the classic movie.

First timers, who watch the movie with no knowledge about the Oz universe, let alone the Wizard, will probably scoff at the ludicrous characters and locations. However the script does manage to stand on its own and should not bore the noobs. For those who have read or watched the original story will be delighted with the numerous allusions and homages sprinkled throughout the movie.

Visually the movie relies on CGI extensively and as a result does a great job. The musical forest sequence is quite cool and well orchestrated. But don't fret if you are reminded of Avatar at some point since the two movies share the same art director. Raimi's trademark in-your-face scary visuals are present in portions and are a throw back to his Evil-Dead days. Speaking of Evil-Dead, Raimi's trusted cohort, Bruce Campbell also stars in this movie. (Extra points if you can spot him at first try!). The rendition of Emerald City and Glinda's Castle are truly masterful.

This story is set approximately 20 years prior to the original Wizard Of Oz, so there's scope for a set of additional prequel stories being planned with the same cast, which is a good thing since all the cast members (even the voice cast!) are excellent. Mila Kunis and James Franco are truly talented actors and are a fine fit to the story.

I'd definitely recommend the movie to fans of Baum's Oz universe. And if you're one of those noobs, you'll still come out of the movie hall smiling. So go watch Oz: The Great And Powerful!

Book Review - Death On A High Floor

Death On a High Floor by Charles Rosenberg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Legal thrillers are my most cherished literary genre. You could blame John Grisham for that since my first real tryst with reading novels (yes I started quite late!) was with his brilliantly awesome books, the earlier, better ones. Not only did his stories whet my appetite for reading more books but also help define the legal thriller genre for me.

When I read the reviews for this particular title, the fact that it was penned by a former attorney and legal consultant to many legal TV dramas instantaneously sealed the deal for me!

The basic plot centers around, well, a death that takes place on the high floors of a reputable Los Angeles based law firm. The death is soon categorized as a murder and the story follows (or rather is narrated by) the senior partner at the law firm who becomes the prime suspect for the said murder.

Although our senior protagonist is a person of interest, there are numerous possible suspects and the narrator's personal investigations and thoughts tend to point the needle on the guilty compass, rather convincingly, to a few of them. Among them are other senior members of the law firm, present and retired as well as the victim's former lover! Throw in a counterfeit (potentially) ancient coin in the middle and the story also has something for fellow Numismatics


The first person narrative was quite refreshing and felt very comfortable (since I've kinda gotten used to that format reading GRRM's A Song Of Ice And Fire Series). That, the author has been a consultant to prime time legal TV dramas is quite evident in the dialogues between the characters in the story. And this is a good thing since it keeps the story quite engaging even when legal jargon is being jutted out in huge blocks.

The plot, environment and characters are, or at least have been penned, in a way that makes them very lucid and realistic further enabling you to truly get absorbed into the story. The author cleverly peppers subtle breadcrumbs for a sleuth-in-training to begin piecing the puzzle together and derive at a conclusion on his own. Fret not, for if you're without a background in investigatory studies because the plot is demystified and you do learn who is the true culprit.

The one tiny complaint that I would have the story would be the slightly late disclosure of the true murderer and the fashion in which the revelation is done. Apart from being slightly improbable it also forces the motive and opportunity of the said murder to be disclosed as an epilogue rather than as part of the actual story. Like I said it's a very tiny complaint because it doesn't really rob you of the satisfaction of the getting closure on the mystery.

I'd recommend this title to folks, who like me, enjoy devouring entertaining albeit slightly movie-style legal dramas. Give it a read!




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Bull Street: A Book Review (via goodreads)

Bull Street by David Lender

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My interest in the financial sector, thanks to my Investment Banker father and Corporate Banker elder brother, was one of the prime reasons for my decision to begin reading this financial thriller. Comparisons to my other favorite author, John Grisham further piqued my interest in this author.

Bull Street is probably best described in one line as Grisham's "The Firm" with a financial backdrop. The story, set in the global financial capital New York, starts a little before the infamous 2008 financial crisis and proceeds to get intertwined with the said crisis.

At the center of the story is an idealistic IB rookie, Richard Blum who aspires to greatness at his newly joined firm. His peers think highly of him, his attractive female colleague is crushing on him and he's living his dream. But things quickly spiral away out of control when an unintended discovery of an insider trading ring by Richard threaten not only ruin his career, but even his own life.

Bull Street has all the elements for a fast paced thriller. Foreign locales, adrenaline pounding action, decent character development and a solid central plot. The only qualm I did have was the under utilization of the financial crisis in the central plot. Although that did not dampen the pace established by the author.

If you like a decent thriller and have a passion (hidden or otherwise) for the financial sector, Bull Street is a definite read.



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Gangs Of Wasseypur: Movie Review

I've always felt that Anurag Kashyap is one the very few GOOD hindi movie directors of our generation. Granted, his movies aren't exactly mainstream commercial Bollywood flicks with big stars and exotic locations. But that is the beauty of his flicks. Kashyap doesn't cheat audiences with such superficial elements but instead dishes out entertaining phillums with plots boasting tons of substance and characters that are as complex as you and me. Gangs Of Wasseypur is another feather in the hat of this talented filmmaker, echoing all his usual traits and many more.

At the core GOW is a revenge saga. Manoj Bajpai's character (Sardar Khan) has only one ambition in his life, to ruin the man responsible for his father's death Ramadhir Singh, enacted by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Both execute their characters with brilliance but I'd say that Dhulia does manage to outshine Bajpai (only barely) with his portrayal of an intelligent and resourceful capitalist turned politician. Performances by the entire cast is truly superb as they get the diction, body language and look of their characters with great dexterity. Another actor that deserves special mention is Richa Chadda, who plays Bajpai's wife (one of two) and she is an absolute firecracker! Being a city girl, she's managed to get into the skin of the character with such ease, it is truly awesome!

The basic premise sprawls with many additional characters who are either caught in the cross-fire between these two or are aiding the feud. Despite the high count of characters in the movie, each one is given a substantial screen-time (which is more than justified by almost all of them). The prolonged screen-time was possibly the reason the entire movie stretches over five hours and is being released in two parts. 

The revenge saga spans across three generations (at least the first part does) and as such the narrative delves into the lives of players in each generation for a considerable amount of time, with obvious emphasis being present for Manoj Bajpai's character. With the looting of British goods trains during the pre-independence era to the nationalisation of coal mines in the country to open gang-wars of (near) present day Wasseypur, there is a lot of ground covered in this movie! You'll be best served by paying attention to the narrator as he ties the various timelines and characters together in a single string to make sense of what unfolds on screen, cause if you don't you WILL regret it! 

There are a few (mind you VERY few), plot points that seemed a little thin to me, but not completely implausible, so it didn't affect the overall movement of the story. Despite being tagged as a revenge saga, GOW has a very intelligent and thoughtfully complex story seamlessly weaving multiple subplots into the primary tapestry. The aspects of the on-going family feuds, the political and local atmospheres prevalent in the region, the mafioso killings all complement the central plot quite beautifully.

The music and songs of the movie are very much in sync with the tone of the story, the region and the characters and avoids overtly filmy naach-gaana rituals. And the lyrics of some of the songs are indeed quite interesting such as Teri Keh Ke Loonga and Womaniya. They are unique tunes which warrant a listen at least once. In fact I've also bought the soundtrack from an online music store.

If you are like me and enjoy watching movies with a good story and multi-dimensional characters, GOW is definitely worth your hard earned money. With brilliant performances, a substantial plot and great screenplay, GOW is a definite must watch. I'm already counting down to the concluding part in the series.

A solid **** stars!

Prometheus: Movie Review OR "Of Greek Gods And Ridley Scott"

When Ridley Scott announced his return to the genre that was pretty much defined by him, SciFi fans world over were beyond delighted. After all, this is the man who gave us two of the most magnificent Science-Fiction masterpieces in the history of cinema, Alien and Blade Runner. And this excitement was further elevated exponentially with the prospect of the new project being a prequel of sorts to one (Alien) of those masterpieces. 

Named after the Greek god who stole fire from the other Gods and gave it to man to make him an equal, Prometheus the movie deals with mankind's quest to search for an answer to the question "Who created us and why?". Prometheus marks Scott's return to Science Fiction after almost three decades. But you couldn't tell that after watching the movie, for the celebrated director STILL knows how to make an engaging SciFi flick.

The thing about Scott's vision in his sci-fi movies is the level of authenticity he manages to showcase. His futuristic universe seems very believable and you start thinking "Gosh this could really happen!". In fact many elements used in Alien and Blade Runner, which were pure science fiction at the time are very much part of the real world today.

The build up to the release has been phenomenal. The promos for the flick started pouring in as early as December last year. Apart from the standard theatrical trailers, the marketing campaign featured many viral videos,a faux TED talk and even a fully functioning Weyland Industries website.However, one of the faults I found with the viral campaigning was that there was way too much information pertaining to the plot given away in the full length trailers. Or maybe I figured it out cause I'm just THAT smart!

In many ways Prometheus serves as a reboot/prequel to the original SciFi horror classic, Alien (NOT Aliens! That's a completely different flick albeit a worthy sequel directed by James Cameron). However you do not necessarily need to have watched the previous movie to understand what's going on (although you'll be glad that you did!) 

In terms of connections and eater eggs with relation to Scott's first foray into the SciFi genre, Alien, the avid fan will have a ball of time spotting them. Right from the title sequence to the Space Jockey, Scott has ensured that the plot of Prometheus is very much set in the same universe as Alien. But he is firm in his assertion that the movie does not directly tie-in into the 1979 classic. And this is quite evident after you've watched the movie and the climax sequences. This is a good thing, since it leaves room for potentially a new set of sequels further exploring the new perspective offered by this storyline. 

The suspense and thrill aspect of the movie are in the same league as the original Alien and one scene in particular is a stunning testament to the true brilliance of Scott as a director and Rapace as an actor. Nightmares are made of stuff like this! Although do not expect the same thrill-a-minute scenes like the other flicks. The shocks are in place at the correct junctures in the movie and are again kept relevant to the plot and seemingly underplayed in the trailers seen thus far.

The story raises many religious and deep philosophical quesitons while offering minimal answers. This, in my view, is a conscious effort by the film maker enabling the audience to formulate their own responses to the queries posed. Although the ones that are presented in the movie are gems in their own right. The conversation between Logan Marshall Green and Micheal Fassbender's characters, after their rather disappointing discovery, was one such revelation. When asked why did human's create androids such as himself, David (Fassbender) receives a rather callous and nonchalant response  from Holloway (Marshall-Green) - "We made you because we could!"

For someone who has always been intrigued at the possibility of an extra-terrestrial hand in the creation of life on earth, the basic premise of this movie appealed to me greatly. Although I was a little disappointed that the true intent or absolute origin of life was not theorized or even hypothesized to the fullest extent. But then like I mentioned, the director has left many questions open for audience interpretation. 

Prometheus offers die-hard fans of the Alien franchise a brand new perspective and a more thought-provoking origin story which stands alone on its own plot and back-story. And which has the possibility of spawning its own set of independent sequels which would make for great viewing. If you like good science-fiction and admire debating and understanding open endings and interpretations, then Prometheus will surely be a feast for your senses.

Here's the latest trailer for you to get all pepped up for the flick.

The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'll be honest. The primary reason for me reading this book was because I'm eagerly awaiting the Peter Jackson feature film adaptation releasing this December. That and of course I was curious about the prequel setting to one of my most adored stories of all time, The Lord of the Rings. Granted that I have only seen the movie and not read the books, but I still find the fantasy world woven by J.R.R Tolkien absolutely magnificent and spell-binding.

So how would I rate this epic tale of how it all started? Firstly, you must realize that comparing The Hobbit with The Lord Of The Rings is nothing short of stupid. The Hobbit was written and conceived before the LOTR series. As such the narrative isn't as expansive or layered as the latter. The Hobbit is a simple story that doesn't require multiple perspectives or parallel timelines to be explained. It is the story of the simple Hobbit Bilbo Baggins' journey with a dozen dwarves (and the wizard Gandalf) on a quest to find and retrieve a collosal amount of treasure stolen and guarded by the infamous dragon, Smaug. The book essentially chronicles this journey from start till end and details the various people, creatures and adventures the group (and Bilbo in particular) encounter.

It's a pretty simple read and flows without any major hiccups or deviations. What stands out is the language used by Tolkien, which adds a flair of mild humor even in situations that deal with life and death. The words paint a very vivid picture of the landscapes the fellowship traverses and bring the story to life in a manner that stands out. Although I did find the battle sequences slightly underplayed. But then, that could be quite intentional considering that the book is aimed at young readers in particular.

I will say this, the section which deals with Gollum will strike a tad extra appealing if you have read (or in my case seen) the Lord Of The Rings, since readers will grin and smirk at the scenes that pan out at that point. But like I mentioned before, don't keep LOTR as the benchmark for content and narrative when reading this book. You'll be disappointed.

As an independent read, this is truly a great book. Simple read with minimal complications in terms of story plot and narrative. Plenty of adventures and perils to keep your interest piqued at various points throughout the story. And a rather feel good ending. A definite must read for anyone who enjoys the genre.



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The Hunger Games - Hungry For No More

Hollywood has always been kind to best-sellers. Not out of generosity, but because they usually are bankable investments. And when you are dealing with a trilogy (or quadrilogy or septalogy), the big studios can smell the moolah a mile away! So it was inevitable that the latest best-selling phenomenon, The Hunger Games Trilogy, by acclaimed author Suzanne Collins, would be picked up for a feature film adaptation. And this amateur blogger decided to check out the first in the proposed trilogy (or a quadrology if they decide to go the Twilight and Harry Potter way) franchise.

Set in a dystopian future, the story is about teenager Katniss Everdeen (Jennifer Lawrence) and how she volunteers to take her younger sister's place in the Hunger Games. The eponymous game are a long standing tradition established after a failed uprising by 13 colonies against their own government. Every year each colony must send two "tributes" (one male, one female, both children) to the main Capitol to compete in a two week long fight/survive/deceive/kill unto death match. The surviving tribute is crowned victor and is subject to adulation and a host of other benefits that extend to his/her families back in the outlying colonies. Apart from serving  as a form of (sadistic) prolonged punishment and a reminder of the forgiving nature of the government (to the crowned victor), the games are in fact a spectacular extravaganza for the residents of the overtly Utopian Capitol. Being telecast in a fashion similar to any global red-carpet event, the Hunger Games is an annual event that is telecast all over the Capitol, and the participating colonies, providing a form of visceral entertainment to audiences everywhere. 

The basic plot is as simple as this - Survivor meets Twilight. That's the best way to summarize the premise of this movie (and book). Although not a novel concept (think The Running Man starring Schwarzenegger, also based on a book), the backstory behind the whole death match is pretty quirky (and a little off-beat IMHO), but since this is supposed to be a SciFi, it's all good. The death match in question is brutal, as participants use weapons ranging from swords, arrows and spears to make-shift bombs, bricks and even poison berries and killer wasps! The Twilight similarities kick in a little about midway into the movie as it is revealed that the participating male from Katniss's colony has harbored a life long crush on the fair damsel. Ummm.. Jacob anyone? This three way love story was no surprise to me as the book, and series, are geared towards the young adult population. And let's face it, that demographic just LOVES a juicy love triangle!


The movie can be divided into three distinct portions; The first being the usual introduction to main characters and basic plot and back stories. Here is where we learn about the backgrounds of Katniss and her family, her exceptional hunting abilities and puppy love with a fellow colony teenager. We are also given a brief background about the Hunger Games and the entire selection process. You have to be very attentive to grasp the intricacies of the process as it tends to be confusing. The second portion deals with the grooming and training of the selected contestants once they reach the Captiol. We get to see the other contestants and begin to gauge and get a feel of who's gonna be a badass and who's gonna be an ally to our beloved Katniss. The final (and rightfully the largest) section is the actual competition itself. And this is where I have my biggest complaint with the movie. In a setting which involves young adults and kids battling each other to death for rations, weapons and survival equipment, in a jungle arena, there is very little sense of danger or tension. Perhaps it's the way the camera keeps jutting around like a six year old on a sugar rush, or the lack of a cohesive background score or well choreographed action sequences. Whatever maybe the cause, the end result is quite dry and lifeless and thus did not engage me one bit.


Performances are definitely not what define this movie, well not from the protagonist and lead cast at least. Jennifer Lawrence is good but not spectacular. Even Stanly Tucci was not his thespian self as the master of ceremonies. But the one actor that brings that extra sparkle to every scene he graces is Woody Herrleson. As the inebriated mentor to Katniss and her male counterpart from their colony, Woody is brilliant. His comic timing and carefree attitude resonate under all that messed up hair (which is most definitely a piece since the dude has very little head crop). I'd probably watch the remaining movies in the franchise, simply for him.


Let me be honest. I haven't read the Suzanne Collins book, on which the movie is based. But being an avid reader I have SOME idea of how different a story can be when it is read through the pages penned by the author and when it is watched through a screenplay on the big screen. I seriously doubt the book would have been a best seller if it had the same lack of character development and vague story-telling. For a movie that revolves around a fight unto death match between the protagonist and 23 other kids, there is very little intensity and tension during the action scenes. Even the climactic battle between the last two rival survivors lacks any punch. Sorry, but if you do not bring a little edge of the seat action and thrill to a story which obviously deals in that genre, the movie is a waste!


Unless you are die-hard fan of the books and absolutely HAVE to watch the movie adaptation, I'd advise you to steer clear of this flick at the talkies and catch it at home when it premieres  a few months from now, or go for a matinee in a few weeks from now.


Overall rating, an average **1/2 

A Storm Is Brewing In Westeros

A Storm of Swords by George R.R. Martin
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

There are probably very few folks out there who haven't heard of the Game Of Throne series. With the hit HBO TV series of the same name, the epic seven book saga (only completed till book five thus far) is a modern pop phenomenon being compared to the likes of Lord Of The Rings and The Chronicles Of Narnia. Penned by writer George R. R. Martin, the saga which shall span seven books (of which five have been published) is better known in the literary community as "A Song Of Ice And Fire".

It may seem a little strange that I chose the third book of this epic (unfinished) saga as the first to review. But truth be told, the review is a more of a summation of all the books I've read thus far in this series, with obvious importance being given to the title in question, A Storm Of Swords.

Set in the fantasy world of Westeros, the saga chronicles the intertwining quests of multiple characters (introduced very beautifully in the first and second books) The main players are noblemen from different houses (akin to feudal lords) whose lives intersect during the course of the saga. Some stories are set before the first chapter of the first book opens as GRRM establishes back stories and histories of the various characters and kingdoms. The quest for each character is more or less established when the first book comes to an end (with a rather epic climatic chapter!).

An ongoing war is ravaging the mainland of Westeros as multiple nobelman are vying for the enigmatic and awe-inspiring "Iron Throne". But a more sinister enemy is beginning to stir from the far north and threatens the very existence of men from all the kingdoms. Book three starts with events that overlap those of book two and detail events from that book from a different perspective. We are introduced to a few new characters and say our final good byes to some old ones (although they have a tendency of getting resurrected!)
There are parts that seem a tad out of place, but begin to make sense as you read ahead. And by my count this one has the most number of deaths of prominent characters than the previous two books combined! So there is plenty of shock and awe as you keep reading.

The book is the longest (over a 1000 pages!) in the series and in some countries has been released as two separate parts. Unless you've read the first two books, you'll probably be lost when you start with this one, especially since there are SO many critical plot points that tie in with the events in the previous two books. But then again, this is supposed to be part of a saga, so that's quite expected.

Although set in a world where dragons and sorcerers do exist, the focus remains more on the plot and characters, with minimal mention or emphasis on the "magical" elements. And I feel, therein lies the beauty of this series. Another aspect that makes this such a great read is that GRRM makes it a point to NOT paint his characters in black or white. Rather, each player in this "game" appears as both friend and foe depending on the perspective of another character (just like in real life!)

Simply put, A Song Of Ice And Fire is literary fantasy for adult readers. The series has me hooked. I have already read the first three books back to back and plan to continue till the latest one (Book four and five). But be warned, the series has two more installments to go before we see the EPIC conclusion of this Song Of Fire And Ice, and GRRM is notorious for pushing his release dates further and further into the future (Book five was published after a gap of six years!). So brace yourselves for a LONG wait to witness the climax to this absolutely brilliant and thrilling series.

View all my reviews

Kahaani - A Story Worth Watching

When I learnt that Sujoy Ghosh was the director of this flick, I admit I was a little skeptical whether the movie would be worth the trip to the movie hall. After all, his last two directorial ventures were, shall we say, complete failures. But one person changed my mind; Vidya Balan. She is undoubtedly this generation's most talented female actor to grace the big screen. The fact that she was this "story's" protagonist was reason enough for me to catch the phillum as soon as possible in the theaters.

Kahaani is the story (pun intended) of Vidya (or Bidya if you're a stauch Bengali) Bagchi, who has flown from London to Kolkota in search for her missing husband who it seems doesn't exist! The premise takes off into a further complicated nexus as her quest soon gets entangled in a much larger web of government conspiracy, national security, mistaken identity and treason. Vidya's search leads her into many precarious and life threatening situations while dealing with all sorts of characters in the city of joy during it's most vibrant and chaotic period of the year, the Durga Puja.

Ghosh seems to have learned from his previous follies and perfected his craft as the narration of the movie is absolutely brilliant. There is no element shown to the viewer that does not play a part in the overall development of the plot (Not even the simple one liners spoken at certain junctures!) The pace of the story and the suspense keep you hooked on from start to finish. And the climax is one that will surely get you to go "What the F**k!". After a long long (long) time has a director managed to pull off a good thriller movie in Bollywood. And the absence of the usual naach-gaana during the movie, makes this so much better to watch!

The movie does a great job of depicting the city as a silent character and cast member of the story as several scenes and camera shots encompass the life and size of the bustling metropolis. The backdrop of the Durga Puja celebrations suits the thematic nature of the central plot very well and is explained beautifully at the end vide a cool voice over by the Great Amitabh Bachchan himself.

The presence of actors, as compared to "stars" in the movie alleviated the acting quotient of the cast by a couple of levels and the performances from EVERY single cast member are top notch. There is no doubt in my mind that Balan has safely secured her first nomination for this year at all the major awards. But credit is also due to the other actors who should, in my view, also be considered for recognition as stellar supporting cast members. Parambrata Chatterjee as the upright local police officer helping Vidya and Nawazuddin Siddiqui as the arrogant honest and a rather prick of an Intelligence agent are TOTALLY praiseworthy.

Kahaani is indeed a great and absolutely well thought and brilliantly executed movie which deserves your hard earned money and invaluable time at the movie halls. Seldom do you come across a hindi movie that challenges your intellect and delivers an entertaining story in return. The fact that this review was written at 5:30 in the morning the day after I watched the movie should speak volumes of how wildly amazing the flick is! Without batting an eyelid, this one is a sure shot ***** stars!

Yet Another Rom Com reviewed - Tere Naal Love Ho Gaya

In 2003, Riteish Deshmukh and Genelia D'Souza made their debut in Bollywood with the same movie playing a lovey dovey couple (I presume!) Soon rumor-mills were churning news of their off screen relationship and sure enough it turned out to be true. Fast forward to 2012 now when they are about to tie the knot, they have another phillum starring them as the lead pair (after having shared screen space with numerous others). The result? A pretty decent rom-com which is bound to appeal to masses, if not the classes.

Riteish plays Viren (aka Chotu, during the second half of the flick)  a simple lad who enjoys his simple life and plans on opening his own travel agency business with the money he has saved over a course of six years driving an autorickshaw for his rather sardar owner, played by Tinu Anand (a rather hammed up sardar). Genelia is Minnie, the Canadian born free spirited bubbly daughter of Tinu Anand's character , who is going through the arduous and mundane task of selecting a groom for herself, obviously due to the pressure from her histrionic pappa. She has a desire to embark on some more adventurous rides before she settles down with a partner of her choice.

Events take place and it turns out that our protagonist's savings (which he very "cleverly" hid under the seat of the rickshaw he drove) have been lost thanks to Bhatti's move to sell off his auto-rickshaws and buy cars to open his own travel agency (borrowing from Viren's dream which he very innocently blurts out to the groggy eyed Bhatti). An inebriated Viren crashes at Bhatti's residence and starts threatening Bhatti just as Minnie is getting engaged to a rather stereotyped Delhi boy. Our spunky lass hits on the brilliant idea of taking advantage of the rather clumsy and drunk simpleton by pretending to be kidnaped by him. What ensues is a fun-on-the-run kinda mild comedy (mild because I didn't find my self holding my belly while giggling at the lame one liners) during the first half of the movie. And of course the free spirited lass and the timid simpleton begin to fall in love with each other during these antics.

However the second half takes on a completely fresh take on the plot when it is revealed that our rickshaw driving simpleton is in fact the son of a Jat named Chaudhary (brilliantly portrayed by Om Puri) who is the patriarch of an infamous household that perpetrates ransom kidnapping in broad daylight. Turns out Viren did not want to live off his father's ill-gotten money and decided to run away six years ago to make an honest living. Chaudhary however still hopes to pass on the torch to his only son and has him tracked and brought back in hopes of knocking some sense into him. Along the way he also decides to demand ransom money for Minnie (after all money is the main aim here!) from her pappa, but promises that she will be treated as one of the family during her stay at his mansion. The story, now follows the various colorful characters at this "Agva House" and how our bubbly free-spirited Minnie leaves an endearing impression on all of them.


As expected, a hinderacne (a rather lame one at that!) in the love story of the two budding romantics, threatens to tear them apart forever and add a little tension to the plot. How our protagonists overcome this and what happens to their romance is what the climax is all about (Duh!)


As far as performances go, from the lead pair, Genelia stole the show on multiple occasions whereas Ritesh seemed a little lost at times, but managed to match his real life beau's mettle. All the characters at the "Agva House" are funny in their own right (watch out for the South Indian brethren of our protagonist). But kudos to the veteran Om Puri, who gets you ROTFL with his unique style and knack for  getting into the skin of the character. I would watch the movie once again JUST for him! But all said and done, don't expect ground breaking performances, after all the movie is not really aimed at impressing the critics, is it.


The music of the phillum is also quite good, although I doubt people will recollect them a few months down the line. None the less, the songs are quite catchy and foot tapping. Although the overuse of Atif Aslam seems unnecessary. Oh and did I metion that Riteish isn't much of a dancer :P Very stiff and apes Sharukh's open arms move way too often!


Let me be honest. I was not at all inclined at catching this flick for a multitude of reasons. Firsty, it stars Deshmukh, who IMHO is not a very great actor to begin with. Sure he pulls off the chocolate boy image quite well, but doesn't really have a style or panache that serves as a differentiator from those of other such calorific coca indulgences. Secondly, the premise of the fun-on-the-run seemed a little too old (however I was pleasantly proved wrong on this front). Having said that, the flick is not a bad investment of your time, even at the movie hall. From what I could gauge in the movie hall, the antics and one liners were a hit with most of the audience members. 


So like I said, the movie overall is a decent entertainer and worth your hard earned money, but only if you are into the genre of Rom-Coms that don't use too much of logic and are simply meant to tickle your funny bone and give you a feel-good sentiment at the end. My rating - *** stars (Btw that's three stars out of five!)

Movie Review - Ek Main Aur Ekk Tu

So I went to see this movie the other day. Turns out I really didn't need to! Why? Well you see, the story of this particular movie had been stitched up using a number of colorful other rom-coms from Bollywood and Hollywood. And since I had seen those "original" works of art, I didn't really catch a "New" movie. Okay, so it wasn't as bad I am making it out to be. EMAET is a decent flick. Or, to borrow a quote from the movie, it was "perfectly average". 

The movie's basic premise of a drunken marriage seems to be inspired by the Kutcher -Diaz starrer, What Happens In Vegas. But that's where the similarity ends. The rest of the flick takes a desi turn and reminds you of another Kareena starrer, Jab We Met, with Imran playing the role of the uptight career oriented fella. But the movie manages to surprise you with yet another turn towards the end. This time, the inspiration seems to come from 500 days of Summer (BTW this one is one of my all time favorites.) Although not a complete rip-off of either of the three afore-mentioned movies, I could not help but be reminded of each of these flicks while watching EMAET.

Kareena seems to have become synonymous with the happy go lucky carefree "bindaas" girl next door. Her character pretty much felt like Geet - Part II (from Jab We Met you dodo!) Only this time, her family isn't as histrionic as the Punjabi ones from JWM. 

I must admit that I quite liked Imran Khan in the flick. No don't worry, my sexual orientation isn't wavering. What I meant was that Khan does a great job of livening up the movie with his facial expressions. But somehow the two don't really seem that much of a couple (which probably echoes in the film's ending). Among Imran's parents, Boman is his usual brilliant self, but somehow Ratna Patak Shah felt a little too artificial. On the other hand I found Kareena's entire family a complete laugh riot! Especially her father ("Just tickle his Balls." Simply EPIC!) Watch out for her granny, she's a sly one ;)

The songs, I must admit are pretty good. Right from the first tune to the last one, I quite enjoyed the music of the movie. The visuals of the songs set in Las Vegas capture the essence of the city pretty nicely. Even the oddly titled "Auntyji" turned out to be a quite a peppy number.

It's probably too early to say if this one will be one of the best rom-coms of the year (Although I am quite sure some trade pundits are already claiming t is) IMHO, the movie has a greater appeal to urban audiences for the many references to terms that are probably a little alien to the mango people. But I'm sure even with all the urbane feel, the movie will still click with the small town teens.

Overall this one's a perfectly average **1/2 stars.

Suckered!

The latest offering from director Zack Snyder, in many ways lives up to its title. Unfortunately, I suspect it isn't the way he wanted it. Sucker Punch is a disappointment!

Snyder is known for his stylized action sequences and stunning visuals. Both 300 and Watchmen relied heavily on the CGI drenched imagery which immersed audiences into a neo-fantasy worlds of mythology and comic pop culture, respectively. Sucker Punch, his first original script, is replete with the same signature Snyder visuals and action. The slow-down, pace-up of intense gun battles and sword fights, a trademark Snyder approach is a delight to watch on screen.

The visuals and action are simply fantasy sequences that are being played by the female protagonist in her questionable mind. And to make it more confusing, in the fantasy world, she has second level of fantasy. Inception anyone?

The fantasy world, specifically the second level with all the action and foot tapping background score, truly is amazing. Ranging from gatling gun wielding giant samurai warriors, colossal mythical fire breathing dragons to killer Nazi zombies and futuristic androids, the dream world scenes are truly praise worthy and absolute eye popping!

Despite the stylized action, stunning visuals and thumping soundtrack, Sucker Punch bores you to no end. Why? Simply because of the story. Or more accurately, the lack of it. The main plot is almost childish and seems to have been concocted at the very last minute in an attempt to make the various fantasy sequences part of a coherent storyline. Sadly it just seems wasted and the amateurish performances by the lead femmes does little to help.

The real world is shown on screen for about just 20 minutes, which works well, since there isn't really much to show in there. The fantasy sequences are almost comic book like. In fact I get a feeling, Snyder was heavily influenced by Japanese manga, filled with metaphysical and metaphorical references. Somehow, the transition from paper to celluloid didn't work very well for this one.

Sure there is plenty eye candy for the male audience, both in the form of bootylicious babes and gut wrenching action. Alas, it falls flat simply due to the lack of the backbone of the movie, the script.

Guess Snyder should stick with what he does best and leave the story-writing to the professionals!

2010 - A Bollywood Odyssey

This post is certainly one for the history books. Why, you ask? Well, for one, its the first one for the new decade, but more importntly, it is a guest post. Yes, my blog DOES have readers (avid ones!) and one of the many followers has graciously contributed his time and talent in penning a post for my humble blog. The author of this post is my friend and former manager, Umesh Kelkar. Umesh lives in Denver, Colorado with his wife and son.


Keeping in tone with the previous post, this post lists the top 10 Bollywood movies of 2010. In fact it was at Umesh's insistence, that the previous post was penned by yours truly. Since I did not have the opportunity to watch many Bollywood flicks, Umesh, the film aficionado that he is, was kind enough to give his two cents on the subject.


So here it is, the guest post (with minimal editing by yours truly) -

Though I rate the quality of films that came out in 2010 as simply average, I do see an increasing trend in experimentation with format and presentation of the movies released.


Here is my pick of the top 10 movies for 2010 in order in which they were released -


1]Ishiqiya
This flick made its mark for use of rustic locations and rough language. It is essentially the story of two crooks (Naseerudin Shah and Arshad Warsi) and how they are ultimately lured into a trap by a woman (Vidya Balan). The fillum, by a new director at the helm under the guidance of Vishal Bharadwaj, made for some good viewing. Vidya Balan continued her form from Paa and the other players in small roles were also good . Naseer needs a special movie to make him act, so this was it. Good music.


2]My Name is Khan
I had grown bored of the watching US bashing movies and movies showcasing US tyranny on Muslims. So MNIK was a fresh take on the Issue and kudos to Karan for doing it. So instead of the Hate route taken by moviee like Kurbaan and New York, MNIK showed us how to win over US with love. As Usual, an excellent act by SRK. Good music by Shankar Eshsaan and Loy


3]Love Sex aur Dokha
Now this is what I call something different. Dipankar comes out with another winner back to back after last year's Oye Lucky Lucky Oye. Great presentation, shot totally with a hand-held video camera. It tells 3 stories on each component of the title - Love, Sex and Dokha and the stories are connected beautifully at the end.


4]Badmash Company
This was certainly an intelligent movie . Taking the pre 1992 era (The notorious Trade barriers) as a backdrop a story is woved out and told. Attempt is made to include the Usual masala that a Hindi movie needs. But overall a good movie.


5]Once upon a time in Mumbai
Good old Milind Luthria comes on the fore front after many years and he delivers a winner. The story is the same, Haji Mastan and Dawood but it is given a different treatment. Good music by Preetam. The retro era is well captured. Ajay does a smashing Don act and Emraan supports well. This movie is going to take the award for the best Dialogue. Consider this gem "Maine apne jeene ka tarika badla hai, Tevar nahi".


6]Peepli Live
This one has been sent to Oscars and I think it deserves it. It is a Satircal take on commercialisation of our media. Excellent performances by many new and seasoned actors. This movie is in fact the most profitable movie for 2010 since the production budget was very low.


7]Dabangg
Now this is what is called a blockbuster. 200 croes and counting. Phew! Salmaan is back in form. Some one said that in India there are only two true superstars. Definition of a super star is "no matter what is happening outside in their personal life, no matter how poor the script is a superstar carries the movie on his own and makes it a hit." right now there are only two such superstar. One is Rajnikanth and the second is Salmaan. If you don't believe then go and
watch Dabangg and watch how salmaan single handely and some times even rudely carries out the Dabaang act.


8]Robot
This made my list on the sheer strenght of its special effects. Its a Shankar movie and I like his movies. This movie can stand in front of any Hollywood Special effects movies. Good one Shankar


9]Do doni Char
Another gem from another new director. Its a story of middle class family trying to a buy a car. excellent performances by everyone lead by Rishi Kapoor . Rishi might bag a nomination for this.


10]Band Baaja Baarat
Yash Raj should be given a phd on love and relatiosnhip . Following their Shaadi act in the Teleserial Rishta.com, YR comes up with a sweet romatic tale of two college pass-outs and their trials and tribulations in setting up a wedding planner business. Good Music.


The genre completely missing from my list is comedy. This genre has degraded in Bollywood in last few years as our comedy movies have turned into silly tom and jerry cartoons where tom and jerry are replaced by Akshay Kumar and Ajay Devgan. So be it the Housefull, Golmaal 3 or the below the belt Tees Maar Khan, they make you laugh in bits and pieces, but so do Tom and Jerry cartoons!


Some films which did not make the list but still I found them to be ok are -


Rajneeti
Udaan 
Rann
City of Gold
Guzarish
Anajana Anjani


I could not catch the below but heard they were good


Phas Gaye Re Obama
Khelenge Hum Ji Jaan Se



So there you have it. The top Bollywood picks from 2010 as seen by Umesh Kelkar.


Thanks for the post Umesh!

My Flick Picks from 2010

The year has almost come to an end and what a year it has been for movie going audiences! I certainly had a ball watching the wide array of movies that the big (and small) studios threw in our direction. But not every one of them measured up to my expectations. Some were great in bits and pieces, others were sore disappointments, while some shined like gems.

So here's the low-down on the movies that "I" feel were outstanding in the respective divisions -

Best Action Flick - The A Team

The re-imagined cult action series from the 80’s makes its debut on the big screen with a bang. With Liam Neeson and Bradley Cooper, the new A-Team does a whole lotta justice to their small screen avatars. The sheer madness and insanity involved in the action sequences make this my favorite action flick of the year. And yes, "I love it when a plan comes together."

Best Visual Effects Flick - Tron Legacy


The long awaited sequel to the cult classic “TRON”, may not have the same appeal as its predecessor, but the flick scores pretty high in the visual effects and imagery department.
The updated Game Grid and its inhabitants make for some uber cool looking neo-mancers. The highlight as in the first film, is of course the light-cycle races and the Disc Battles. The flick also has some truly orgasmic background score by the techno duo Daft Punk.

Best Drama Flick - The Social Network


I have to admit, I was skeptical about the success of this one. Making a biographical flick of someone who is merely 24 didn’t really sound that interesting. Especially if that person happens to be a Geek. But David Fancier did a fantastic job narrating the story behind the youngest billionaire in the world. The background score by Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross elevates the brilliance of the movie exponentially.

Best Animated Flick - How To Train Your Dragon


Although I caught this gem on the small screen, the visuals of the animation were still awesome. Not to mention the characters and the overall Story were an absolute treat! The other contenders (Toy Story 3, Despicable Me and Shrek Forever After) for this category were also great, but this one stands apart for its great one-liners and numerous heartfelt moments.

Best Comedy Flick - Date Night


Featuring two of the best TV comedians, this flick may have failed to generate box office buzz, but was my favorite comedy flick of the year, beating even Due Date and Get Him To The Greek.
Both Tina Fey and Steve Carrel have had substantial background in comedy and have successful TV shows of their own. So to watch them together was to hard to pass up. The comic chemistry between Carrel and Fey is simply amazing. I would pay to watch them in another movie any time!

Best flick of the year - Inception

Original and briliant intellectual plot – Bhwaaarrm! Fantastic direction and cinematography - Bhwaaarrm! Top-notch  performances by the stellar cast - Bhwaaarrm! Stupendously Haunting background score Bhwaaarrm! Bhwaaarrm! Bhwaaarrm!

Without a doubt, this has to be the best movie of the year. The intricate plot, the plot within a plot, the back stories, the concept, it all just made this flick an absolute treat to watch. Nolan draws on his experience of working on big-budget flicks (The Prestige, Batman Begins, The Dark Knight) and weaves it ever-so skillfully with his master story telling ability (Memento, Insomnia) and brings to audiences a movie that is destined to be one of the best movies of this decade (maybe even this century).


Special Mentions
Although not covered in the categories above, there were a few other movies that do deserve a mention of their own.

Iron Man 2  
The sequel to John Favreau's rendition of Marvel's Superhero gives RDJ plenty of room to ooze his charm and wit. Not to mention a sultry Scarlett Johansson and the evil maniacal Mickey Rourke.

Due Date
Another RDJ starrer, this one was essentially a Road Trip gone wrong thanks to the shenanigans of Zach Galifianakis. Although not as hilarious as some comedies, it did tickle the funny bone now and then.

Alice In Wonderland
Tim Burton's interpretation of Lewis Carroll's classic has his signature style all over the flick, which is a GOOD thing. Add to that Johnny Depp as the mad-hatter and you have a quirky and twisted movie that makes for interesting viewing

Despicable Me
Another Steve Carrel starrer, this animated flick is rib-tickling as hell. And with a plot that would work only in the animated world, the laughs just keep on coming.

The Karate Kid
Another reboot, this one a far-cry from the original, brings my beloved Chinese action hero, Jackie Chan to the role of the mentor with the new kid on the block, Jaden Smith as the protagonist. With some awesome Kung-Fu sequences and great comic timing between the two leads, this one is definitely  worth a watch.


So there you have it, the Best of the Best from 2010 as I saw it. Feel free to leave your comment and your personal recommendations for the categories.