It has become quiet a habit now – watch movies between internals. There were days, when I used to mark the dates on the calendar and count the number of days remaining. Atleast, I had fear then. Now…

About the movie…

I had watched Ramesh’s previous 2 movies as director. As an actor, I had liked the versatility in him. Since I was not “impressed” with his first 2 movies (I enjoyed, though), I had no expectations. The only thing I knew was this was a suspense thriller kinda movie. In the first 15 minutes you’ll get introduced to the theme of the story – an accident, or is it?

Our hero, Ramesh is an RJ. His wife, Rekha is a school teacher. She is killed in the ‘car – train collision’. Ramesh suspects this to be a murder. She had involvements in social activities, which he thinks has led to the murder. He, along with his friends, hunt for clues. That’s all I will say. What’s the point in me telling you the story of a suspense movie!

There are a couple of songs, I felt absurd. Songs in movies – I feel – remind us that everything happening can’t be true. This movie specially, although they were OK, I didn’t enjoy. The cast, which included Rekha, Pooja Gandhi, Mohan, and Thilak, had no depth in their character. The RJs, played a “blink and you miss” part in the movie. Nothing special with the direction. The story was OK for a suspense movie. Of course, there were domains where you could say, “Hey, that’s bogus”. Especially the last quarter of the movie, you get to say this quiet a few times.

Despite these, the movie is quiet an entertainer. You’ll be at your seats for the 2 hours of the movie. The movie belongs entirely to Ramesh. He is very natural, as always. Thanks to him again, he has not given anyone a bigger role as none of them are able to don bigger characters. On the whole, the movie is worth the money you spend. You won’t be coming back feeling “I want my money back”. I’m giving this a modest 3 stars out of 5.

One thing I want to clarify. Although I haven't watched the old "Accident", from what I have heard, this has nothing to do the old one.

My Rating: * * * for 5

The week that was...

From Sunday to Sunday, perhaps it was the most eventful week ever. What more could I ask? It all stated on 30^th march. Dad had been telling about the “Chitte Park” in Bannerghatta. Chitte? There are lots of them in our college, I was thinking of telling him. I had to be alive to write this blog, so I didn’t dare.

Mom’s cousin, Manu too was enthusiastic about this picnic thing. And on 30^th, we filled our vehicle’s tank full of fuel and started off… It had been a while since I had visited, so, it was refreshing. With my little cousin, Navya, it was still refreshing. I have visited Bannerghatta 5 times now. It has become a tradition now that whenever I go there, it rains. Oh man, this time, it lashed out hard. We had shelter, and had rest for about an hour.

Tuesday came… That was the day we went to our college with...er… our uniforms. There was a mini photo session, with all the mobiles clicking everywhere in class. The class was on fire – literally. We were like, baked in an Owen. But, most of them looked descent. After all, we are professional engineers in the making…

As the week progressed, the class strength kept coming down – like a negative exponential slope. By Saturday, we were roughly only 25 in class. It happened so, that I had bunked the previous day, but present on Saturday. One subject’s internal blue book was yet to be corrected. The lecturer came on Saturday and announced that those present that day would be getting the full marks. Wow… this was too good to be happening, I thought. But the lucky fairy was in our court. There had been a change in lecturer and the new one had too little time left to do all these correction stuff. Poor girls, they never seem to bunk classes, they were absent that day! So, here is my word of advice – especially to the girls - attend classes regularly, like me (I will be beaten for that, I can sense that!)

Was that it? Wait. Again, Sunday came, it was another picnic. This time around, it was huge. Nearly 40 from my mom’s family came together. We had to get a mini bus booked for us. It was a trip to “Karighatta” - a place near Srirangapattana. With all my cousins together, place didn’t matter. We had the last seats of the bus for us. You know how it could be. Believe me, it was much noisier. We all dived into the river in the afternoon, although we were not supposed to. Then on, the elders visited the “Nimishamba” temple. What we did? We caught all those who had money to get us something to eat or drink.

Well, after all this, it was Ugadi on Monday! What better week could I ask for?

Here are a couple of links... Do check them out.

http://picasaweb.google.com/bharaths9688/BannerghattaPicnic?authkey=Wp-hkshRGO8

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/bharaths9688/1stDayInUniform?authkey=zY2v0W91fi0

http://picasaweb.google.com/ksuhasu/BigFamilyTrip

http://picasaweb.google.co.in/bharaths9688/SrirangapattanaTrip?authkey=afdcv3dzx-c

And now, the week that will be…

I’m waking up myself after this great week to face my internals. This semester, I’ve been fooling around. Don’t know how I will manage this internals, because there is a truck-load to study. Now, for all those of you reading my blog, I request you to pray for me. That’s probably the only way I could pass this test.

Uniform... what do you remember?

When was the last time you wore a uniform? In 10^th or 12^th, right? I am asked to wear now. How odd. I’m old for school and to be an MBA student. Its summer at its peak now, imagine walking 2kms wearing a full shirt, tie and a blazer (Yes, I do walk to college). Above all this, I have to sit from 9 to 4 listening to some stuff you know that you won’t understand. This is the biggest punishment I’ve ever received.

Last time I was in uniform was in my school – Navodaya. Those were the days, when I used to wash my clothes myself. So, wearing uniforms was a relief – you had fewer clothes to wash. For most part of the day, we would be in our uniforms. Those pants… they were treasure troves. What not did they contain! Tumblers always occupied one part. There were Aishwarya’s photos cut from the library newspapers. Papers, geometry boxes… you ask for it, you get it. We had study hours too. The only way I could get through it was from ‘timepass kadlekai’. How did I bring them? Pockets! Of course, there were tennis balls; we used to sneak past our PE teacher. Cricket was banned, but still we played. There were guys you used to study all the time. They carried text books. Kannada and Hindi text books were so small… they fitted in. You would say “yuk” when I tell you that we washed these once in a week. But, such was our condition. My school was in the heart of Western Ghats. You wound not call that rain. It would take the whole week to dry with the incessant downpour.

This is what I retrieve when I see the new uniform hanging in my wardrobe. I don’t know how I would be now. Anyway, I need not wash my clothes myself anymore. It would be done with a press of a button. So, don’t worry.

A watchable hindi action movie at last....

What do you need to have an action movie, which could entertain? I’ve always hated to watch Hindi action flicks. The only exception was Dhoom. The sequel was baaad… Usually; they tend to be far-fetched from reality. I had similar thoughts about “Race.” From the trailers, I was quiet certain, this would be no different.

The cast was great, Saif, Anil Kapoor, Akshaye Khanna, Katrina, Bipasha and Sameera. Saif and Akshaye are brothers with great property to share between them. Katrina is Saif’s PA. Bipasha is his girlfriend. Or so it seems… That’s where this movie becomes quiet watchable. Every time you think this will happen, it won’t. First half is quiet good, but you don’t get to see Anil and Sameera. It’s all Akshaye’s show. But, in the second half, it’s Anil. He’s quiet funny, with Sameera – who plays a dumb assistant to him.

There is no story, but I guess the writer was payed for the twists he has written. Pritam has done a good job for the music. Most of the filming is done in South Africa. Locations are great. Titled “Race”, there outta be a race right? There is one, and its quiet good.

The acting part, Akshaye, Anil are good. Saif’s dialogues are catchy. The heroines don’t know acting, so they are not to be blamed I think. Katrina looks awesome, as usual. Sameera really needs to re-consider her career…

The conclusion: Its quiet good. Not great. Watch it once, for the twists and turns.

My Rating: * * 3/4 for 5

I am (3/8)th of an engineer now…!

Finally, 3rd semester results are out, and know what, I PASSED. I got 76.8%

Many would say that's not enough, but I'm really really happy to pass (and the FCD was a bonus)

Movies...Reviews...

Finished my 1^st of the 3 internals this week. My classmates are very studious – they bunk classes days before the internals and study. What would I do bunking classes? Study and I never go hand in hand. I had nothing to do but watch a couple of movies. Here are their reviews.

First of all, I am no critic. I see the positives of the film and appreciate them. So, most of the time, I end up getting bad remarks for my reviews. So my warning – read somewhere again (how foolish to write that, right!)

Enchanted

Probably, it hasn’t released in India yet. Downloaded it and watched.

I really like “fairy-tale” movies. So, obviously, I liked this one too…
It’s a story of a maid who is supposed to marry a prince. She is pushed into our world from her fairy land by the wicked prince’s step mother. She gets help from a divorce lawyer who is divorced (call it professionalism or what-ever). The prince comes searching for her. Soon the queen’s lover and then the queen herself follow. As all fairy tales, this too has a “happily ever after” ending. And know what, there were songs (!)

Its one of those movies which you can sit through and enjoy. It’s a feel good movie and I would give it 4 stars on 5.

My rating: * * * * for 5

Sweeney Todd

It was recently released. But who would give 200 bucks for just a movie! I downloaded this too...

Let me tell you, I am a great fan of Johnny Depp. He’s probably the most talented of the actors now. Coming to the movie, I had read many reviews and had known this would be a “bloody” movie (don’t get me wrong there, I meant a movie with lot of blood)

The genre of this movie was revenge. The movie is set in London in the 1800s. Depp was a barber and lived a happy life. He had a beautiful wife and a child. The wicked judge deports Depp on false charges to Australia to marry Depp’s wife. Depp returns to have his revenge. He gets the help of his old owner and sets up a new salon. He turns that to a graveyard for his enemies.

It’s a 'dark' movie. Watch it if you are a Depp fan. He is awesome – as usual. The other characters are also good. But there is a lot of blood, watch it at your own risk.

My rating: * * * ½ for 5

Namaste London

Watched it on Sony yesterday. I guess most of you have seen it. Once again, I am a fan of Akshay. And movies with actresses like Katrina; do you really need a story? But, this had a ‘different’ story – but not great.

Katrina is a spoilt brat living in London. Her dad is an Indian and like most NRI’s, he too, loves to have his daughter married off to an Indian. Katrina has plans for her; she dates a rich English guy. Her dad marries her to Akshay. She isn’t ready to accept him as her husband. Akshay stays in London and tries to win her, and the story goes on…

The main reason for this movie to be among the top grosser for the last year was because of its casting. Everyone was perfect for their roles. For those who haven't seen it, give it a shot.

My rating: * * * for 5