Softy, I Scream!

I think I am becoming soft in my old age. I've liked all the three movies I've seen on screen recently - Rajamanikyam, King Kong and now Rang De Basanti.

Flamebait #1

Neil Gaiman is overrated.

Brokeback Mountain

I haven't watched it yet, but I confess I'm already prejudiced against this movie. Is Brokeback Mountain a good film because it's a mainstream movie dealing with homosexuality? Or is it a good film, period? Are critics raving about it because it's politically correct to do so? Or because the movie is genuinely good? After the black sweep at the Oscars a couple of years back, will it be a gay sweep this time round? Capote and the cowboys could be the theme, for all you know.

Hmm.

Of Quarterly Fixes and a Birthday Wish

It was time for my quarterly fix, I just couldn't hold back any longer. and I set off to The Market yesterday. Their pirate flags were flying at half-mast, still in mourning after 's departure.


For my Kubrick collection: Barry Lyndon, 2001: A Space Odyssey and Lolita. I already have Full Metal Jacket, Spartacus, The Shining, A Clockwork Orange and Dr Strangelove. I refuse to buy Eyes Wide Shut and though I think The Killing is a very good movie, I didn't feel like buying it. Haven't seen Paths of Glory and the earlier stuff.

For my de Niro collection: The Deer Hunter, Taxi Driver, Good Fellas, Raging Bull & Hide and Seek (yeah, I know. It was part of a pack)

Disney Dept: Bambi, Pinocchio, Snow White & The Seven Dwarves, The Jungle Book 1 & 2

The Al Pacino collection: Serpico, Carlito's Way, Insomnia & The Insider.

Others:
Spirited Away
Blow
Finding Neverland
Some Like It Hot
Jamon Jamon
Knife in the Water
Me and You and Everyone We Know
Batman Begins
Apocalypse Now
The Wild Bunch
Duel
Aguirre, The Wrath of God
Mystic River
Heavenly Creatures (Director's Cut)
Love Actually
Midnight Cowboy
Secretary (muahahaha. Have been waiting to get this for quite a while now)

I'm sure I forgot a few. Anyway, I'm on a high now.


And before I forget, happy birthday, AR Rahman!

Hey!

Don't waste time reading this. Head over to the nearest cinema hall and watch King Kong, if you haven't already. This is what movies are all about, this is why I love watching them. Film-making at its best.

King Kong

A movie that defines what movie-making is all about, what movie-viewing should be. Makes you want to go up to the next guy who says "They don't make 'em like that anymore" and sock him in the face.

Peter Jackson, Lord of the Kings, I salute you. 

Disappointed in the New Year

The Manticore's Secret, Samit Basu's sequel to The Simoqin Prophecies, sucks. Meandering plot, too many characters and too many Pratchett plot devices. The first book had a large dose of Pratchett too, but at least the plot was well-knit and the humour shone right through.

Not a good start to 2006.