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7 sins by those CEO’s – part 1 January 25, 2009

Posted by myth in reviews, series.
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Coming from someone who watches as much TV as I do, this is a pretty comprehensive list. The series listed below had to go off air prematurely. The reasons for the chopping might be from low viewership to high costs of production ,these can be countered with -TRP’s aren’t a fair measure to bad promotion campaign. This post is not inclined to debate the business decisions taken but just to the potential that can never be realized. There might be other popular shows I have been told were great but aren’t included in this list for a reason that they didn’t quite appeal to my prejudiced taste. Few of these shows are provided with links to pilots or videos , all of them are provided an imdb link and my review. Enjoy the series of the week (For those of you who just wanted to read good line, skip to the end)

  1. FIREFLY

Introduction:

I am partial to director Joss Whedon due to his witty drama -Buffy the vampire slayer, full of metaphors to teenage life. Now FIREFLY was aired on FOX channel for only half the season. When It was released on DVD, it recorded highest sales – loyal fan base. Though Joss’s type of smart humor isn’t liked by everyone, for the few of us its a delight. Same goes for his style of story telling where he develops characters along with other elements of the setting.

Synopsis:

Firefly is set in a futuristic world where a central Government of sorts rules all the planets. Its practically a western set in future. The captain of Firefly Malcom “Mal” Reynolds was once a soldier who is now a renegade. His crew consists of his sub from army(Zoe), her pilot husband (Wash), muscle Jayne (played delightfully rustic by Adam Baldwin :D ) , the naive kid mechanic kaylee. He also picks up a passengers who become integral part of the story – a Preacher,Book (Mal to Book: you are allowed on my ship, God ain’t) , a companion (Inara) and a sibling pair (Simon, River) running from the Government ( who are a doctor and his troubled-uber genius kid sister)

Why this should have been on air:

The stories were funny, smart, adventurous and colorful. The comedy didn’t just raise from the situation but also because of what the characters are – one is too polite to utter swears even when his room is ransacked while the other just wants to sleep with 100 guns. There was also the political theme of free-will and empires which would have formed an excellent backdrop for many seasons. The comic timing is one of the best on TV, i tell ya.

But the best pitch on why this show should have been given more timne comes in form of SERENITY.

If you have watched the movie you can understand what this series could have achieved, the movie in itself was brilliant for me. (The reaver’s concept)

Links

The episodes

The Movie

Quotes Wikiquote

Book: If you take sexual advantage of her, you’re going to burn in a very special level of Hell. A level they reserve for child molesters and people who talk at the theater.

Mal: This is the last time. Last time with cows. Hey, there was an idea regarding beagles? They have smallish droppings?
Zoe: I believe so, sir. Also, your disreputable men are here.
Mal: Better go take their money.
[River and Kaylee are running recklessly through the cargo bay.]
Mal: [to Inara] Ah, the pitter-patter of tiny feet in huge combat boots… [to River and Kaylee] SHUT UP!

*Continue to watch this blog for part-2 where I introduce you to a surreal dramedy about unusual knight in shining armour and his quirky & “alive” lady love *

replay January 17, 2009

Posted by myth in Creation, Poetry, Uncategorized.
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I used to have the knack not ryhming once, just to remind this post hence

And came the thunder
A cry of a beastOf
time long forgotten
Put to the altar of the priests

The heavens are burning
A bonfire For the Gods
In Curses, sins and fools

The mighty gust ,
windWaltzes ,
the ashesRaising,
the eyesChokingCrying in breath
And death

A pile ,dust.
Heap the metal,
the debris of the lost
soul,spirit, truth
Burning high

The grim reaper walks
The dark black coat bright in bonfire
The heavens sent him?
He sways and strays ,
Fills the lungs,
The eyes,the hands

Thousand war drums
My heart beating
Clenched in a fist
The word of the God
In the other
the soul of me

A poignant love story January 15, 2009

Posted by myth in movies, reviews.
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I have to admit beforehand that this particular movie put me in quite a dilemma. While attempting the review, I realised I am not sure what to talk about. Should I start with the obvious and applaud the incredible acting talent of Leonardo Di Caprio and Kate Winslet. Should I say how glad I was to see Sam Mendes come back to suburban life and offer such a wonderful movie, yet again (The first being American Beauty). May be I should dwell upon the impressive supporting cast and the fact that all of those characters acquire a depth through the movie.

It was quite a debate. Making it simple, let’s start by talking about the movie.

REVOLUTIONARY ROAD is an incredible movie that successfully depresses you and You don’t even complain. First there were the people. Frank and April. Then there is the world they will have to live in. Revolutionary road tells the doomed love story of these individuals. Frank and April start of as people madly in love with each other and their dreams. Eventually, we notice that Frank turns out to be the guy would rather be un heroic and conform than try, even if it means failing. April turns out to be desperately wanting to have a dream fulfilled, his dream. The story moves on hurtfully as each of them long for the other to become a person they can love and respect. That is the irony; both of them lack the courage to be strong for the other. It is very distressing to see their love disintegrate into lies, shame, disgust and hate.

This movie would have been ordinary if not for the excellent screenplay to begin with. It so carefully exposes the trails of the leads roles to make things right and their inevitable failures at each turn. It show cases how grueling it can be to want more with your life, when you cannot be happy for what you have. The signature moment of the movie comes mid way, when each of them express opposite views of courage – is it courage to conform and give up a dream OR is it courage to trade the secure life for a try at the dream?

I personally believe Kate Winslet gives an amazing performance as April, who tries to be that woman but can never be. Leonardo is captivating as the conformist, coward at times, pitiful at others. That is a theme of the movie, we seem to love and hate them equally. This movie has so many splendid shots that it actually pains me to realize how movies off late have lacked it!! Many a lengthy sequences compose of straight forward dialogues between the leads, that’s truly captivating in its inherent lack of pretence. Then there are those additional perks for us in form of the “insane” John, who seems to say the truth that shreds their comfortable lies; in form of the little group of male friends that reflect the comfortable society Frank chose; in form of the gossip talked about the Wheelers.

Needless to say, It is a must watch but this is not a movie for everyone. Its tells an tragic story and unlike the book, you can’t take a break in between.

Trivia:

Kate Winslet is married to the director Sam Mendes.

Kate won a golden globe for the film this year.

Sam Mendes is also the director of another film that showcases the ugly side of the great American dream – Kevin Spacey starrer American Beauty

OST

The whole album is available online on www.deezer.com. Its under Revolutionary road and the quality is great. Will update download links soon

About the Scenes: (And inevitably a ghastly -SPOILER ALERT)

  • The final window shot of Kate from behind is truly haunting, leaves an imprint
  • I read a review that raised an excellent persepctive, the whole movie we never see much of the Road just to show how cluastrophobic and self contained the setting is
  • The sequence in the middle of the movie, where they finally reveal everything and Franks’ true smooth talking nature rises is truly brilliant. The shot where Frank suggests for “help” and Kate’s expression are truly amazing. It seem to encapsulate the theme of both characters precisely. That moment signifies the futility of their lives and the audience bleak hope for a happy ending
  • The first confrontation scene on Route -12 is the first peek into the chaos of the Miller’s lives. The ending confrontation brings it full circle. The way April tries to escape is moved a step forward towards the ending to show how far things have proceeded for her. From initially refusing to discuss to finally imploring Frank to let her have the her space ,even if its in the woods -show how far things have proceeded for April since the beginning of the movie.
  • Frank has the habit of trying to rationalize his lack of initiative, all through the movie we see him convince himself that it was never his fault and out of his hands. Its also easy to notice how Frank would rather take the easy route than confront truth. This is portrayed brilliantly with the conversations about April’s pregnancy, the beach scene where he lets the job offer be known. Just as April’s disintegration is brought about, Frank’s is shown with the final shot in the hospital where he tries to say its April’s fault.Brilliant development
  • Though i liked the shot of Frank running through the Revolutionary Road , I did wish the movie didn’t end there. That would be a easy way to end, but since the movie never absolves the characters even for a bit, such an consoling end would not be with the theme of cruel reality that the film carried.Thanks to Mended for adding the final shots to show how ordinary Wheelers have become, no revolution their my friend

I would have to conclude noting how even the name is a cruel joke,like the rest – “Revolutionary” road

The display mannequins January 13, 2009

Posted by myth in Creation, Scrambled eggs, Short stories, ramblings.
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“It was always like watching the world from the outside. You are standing at the doorway; the crystal clear glass in front of you can be instantly forgotten if it weren’t for the breath that fell upon it. The view on the other side engages you for it is an alien world, you can recognize the people’s reactions: happy, lazy, sulking, sleepy, hungry, hazed, joy, breathless. You can see the vivid display of these interactions from the other side of the glass. You observe the routine and nothing misses you eye expect for the reason. You could, for the life of you, never understand them. Never understand why they are reacting: happy, lazy, sulking, sleepy, hungry, hazed, joy, breathless. It was always like that. Watching the world from the outside.”

“Oh, you say you never felt that way. Don’t be offended by my upcoming comment but there was a time when I detested that answer. I was naive and considered that lack of recognition to be a sign of unfortunate and poor faculties. I now know better. With the same intensity of belief you gave my earlier comment (for I did see a flash of anger when I said unfortunate), you must believe me when I say I am happy for you”

“Its not for the sake of civility that I am saying that I have changed my view, that wouldn’t be the truth. It was not a momentary realisation under a sunny bridge during a summer evening. No, it was more the work of deliberate pursuit one attempts to understand oneself. It was the eventual outcome of a living a life intertwined with eventful experiences and lengthy deliberations.”

“I do agree that i have digressed, you need to pardon me for old habits die hard. One needs to control the desire to constantly evaluate. I started out to say how it felt to be living like that, to be watching through the looking glass and not understanding the reasons. It was initially hard to draw the correct expectations, I would always draw faulty assumptions and they never came true.”

“Depress. You are right indeed, but that was an intermediary phase. I was initially confused at my lack of wisdom to expect the events; I even resigned to the fact that I was just not going to be that good at it. But nothing in life is rarely permanent; I eventually begin to expect myself to succeed.”

“You smile; you do see the paradox I placed myself in. If my expectations were never realised, how can my expectation of being correct ever come to realisation? I was though wise enough to recognize the paradox. It was then I noticed, I was standing on the outside. I was never going to draw the correct conclusions for the game I can’t know the rules of. I can always watch, and observe but I would never understand”

“I am not offended by your reaction, I can see you logic in calling me a laggard. I never attempted to walk through the door you say. Well that part is true but not because I was lazy or revelled in myself pity.”

“I know you didn’t say the exact words, but I wouldn’t find it odd if you did. Let me give you my reason and then you too can see there were other courses of action. I was not lazy but I was indeed a proud person. I was sure I was standing on the right side of the glass, I was sure I was not misguided. I just accepted that the other side was of a different set, the world was playing a different game, an inferior game. I could, hence, never understand why they didn’t see the inferiority and take up a better, interesting course.”

“Now you do see my pride. Well that too was in the past, the ever evolving past. Speaking of which, our time for now, seems to have come to an end. Well you do know I could stay no longer than I am going to stay. You must not rush it, if i ever learnt anything it is this – never rush things unless you are ready to accept the consequences without question. Well, I can resume but I have to confess I am not popular for my ability to tell a single tale or discuss a single topic. Yes, like earlier, I tend to digress. Like now, when I am politely going to take you leave, for the moment, I am still talking. Ah, yes, you see the reason we have this chat is precisely because of that. I still watch the world from the outside”