Popcorn and Coke!

*Sigh*
A nice relaxing weekend - that got me going to the cinemas two days in a row to see the two most popular flicks on this Festive season.

First I saw "King Kong". The LOTR Director, Peter Jackson, really did it this time. Having only heard of King Kong movies but never read or seen any of the previous movies, I was quite excited when I heard positive reviews for it. Some reviewers even went all the way - saying that King Kong will eventually out do Titanic!
*ahem - I don't know about that...!*

With the highly acclaimed success of LOTR Trilogy behind him, Peter Jackson had gigantic expectaions to live up to. And I believe that he has definately done much good to his name and his reputation with King Kong. The animation, the sets, the costumes, the scenaries - the whole works was just too good. Clearly seemed like the work of someone who had paid much time and effort and paid attention to the smallest of details.

The 'beauty and the beast' theme underpinning the love/understanding between Ann, beautifully played by Naomi Watts, and Kong - really tugged at my heart.

I know...I know... I admit at being a sucker for romantic movies and a big cry-baby when it comes to emotional scenes. I mean... I can find myself crying for any thing from the scene where children are taken away from parents due to various circumstances all the way to loneliness and helplessness of lovers apart etc etc.
And I did have a tear in my eye - when I saw this movie.

I laughed at the silly antics of Naomi, I squirmed at the abundance of creatures and insects on Skull Island, I awwwwed at the peaceful scenes between the Kong and Naomi, I cried when Kong was captured and treated barbarously, I was fuming when Kong was being shot at by humans when the creature had been forced by humans to come to the city in the first place!

I said to myself, "How cruel can man be!"

All in all.... the story got me involved in more ways than one and I thoroughly enjoyed the whole experience! :D

"Two Thumbs up!" for Peter Jackson

********************************

Then the next day I carried my bucket of popcorn and a large tumbler of coke and went and saw the Chronicles of Narnia - The Lion, the witch and the wardrobe.

I must admit that like many.... I was absorbed in by the animation and the special effects and the mystery that "What/Who is Narnia?"

Seeing a huge crowd of parents and children aged around 6 to 14 - 'He' said, "Should we go and swap the tickets? This is a little kids movie, lets get out of here!" But then.... we were there and so were the popcorns and we continued munching, waiting for the doors to open.

Having never really read this children's classic - I was in for a surprise. Oh! Well may be not...

Disney definately spent loads of money on the movie and worked hard to make their latest creation stand tall amongst the Harry Potter and LOTR kind of special effects abundant movies. And I reckon they did a fairly good job.

The acting by the kids in the cast Peter, Susan, Edmond and Lucy was specially commendable. Lucy, the youngest girl had beautiful expressions throughout the movie. The other three did an equally good job - but then being elder n all... one would have exprected more from them.

The talking animals were kinda funny but well done too. Aslan, the Lion King did especially well. Every hair in the fur looked real and very convincing indeed.

But like all kids stories - no matter how desperate and sorry the circumstances may be - everything always gets fixed and happy endings always come around the corner. And so was the case with Narnia.

Seeing the trailers so many times also sort of gave the story away - because some characters and scenes whose clips were shown in the trailers - and while watching the movie I knew what was about to happen or not happen.

I walked out of the theatre saying - I knew that was going to happen! :)

But it was good entertainment I guess. You can see it once.......

********************

The title Chronicles of Narnia reminded me of another movie that I saw quite a while ago - but I liked alot. That movie was the Chronicles of Riddick - the sequel of the sci-fi thriller Pitch Black with Vin Diesel.

If you are a sci-fi buff who understands and appreciates the vision of sci-fi movies/stories then if you get a chance then do watch Riddick if you havent already!


Thats all for this year folks!!!
:D

Have a fantastic NYE and see you all bright and fresh in 2006!!

Be Happy - Be Safe!

Sending my warmest wishes to all my blog-mates and readers this Festive Weekend.

May the good Lord keep you happy and safe in his kind care and may you enjoy every moment with your loved ones and family (if not in person then in your thoughts!)

MERRY CHRISTMAS AND A HAPPY NEW YEAR

Dear Naanaji,

A devoted son,
A freedom fighter,
A supportive brother,
A wonderful husband,
A great father,
A strong businessman,
A sweet uncle,
An inspiring father-in-law,
A strict but (secretly soft-hearted and loving) grand father,
and much much more.




Dear Naanaji,

I have always known you to be 'the best'. As a kid I always looked up to you - literally and metaphorically becuase you always said and did what was right. Your hearty laugh and your boisterous snores always got me smiling! :)

Naani never liked when you disturbed her in 'her' kitchen - playing with pots and pans pretending to always know more than her when it came to cooking. The almost a foot and a half difference in height between you and her was made up for with all the love that you both had for each other...in the 60+ years of married life.

Mummy always loved her 'Babu' and I was for such a long time scared of you - till one day when playing you saw me roll myself into a tiny ball - so small that you could not believe! And you asked all the cousins if they could do the same. But when they could not - you smiled and declared that I was the most flexible little kid you had ever seen!
Years after that - on every summer vacation when I saw you I'd remember that evening and try to turn into the little ball again. :)

Oh Naanaji, I will miss you so much! Miss your presence, our funny conversations, the fun times during the summer vacations when all of us kids slept in your large room and we would giggle in the middle of the night when we'd hear your loud snores.

Naanji, I love you! I will look for you among the stars every night. We will look after Naani the very best way we know how. Please stay with her and us for ever.........

Your grand daughter,
Nupur



After struggling with cancer for many months, Naanji made his way to the heavens - days short of his eldest grandson's first death anniversary.

We always knew him to be a very strong-hearted man, but that blow was probably too strong for even someone as brave and strong a man like him!

God Bless.

Social...butter....fly!

Of all the things that we do in life.... 'socialising' is something that takes considerable effort for some while it comes naturally to others. Makes me think sometimes... is it in the chromosomes? Or ...?? Why is one person very out going and sociable while the next is not?

Like....
Do you remember that girl in class who would just never shut up? She was always invited to every kids birthday party and every social outing at school.
Do you remember that guy in college who was everywhere? In canteen, in the labs, in the local pub, in the discos.
Do you remember that work mate who is present at every social outing from work? He organises most of the events and still finishes the report on time!
Or how about that girl friend of yours who has a crazy career and a very demanding husband, but still she organises the tea-party at her place first saturday of every month?!

Wonder how they do it? Why they do it? Are you ever jealous and wish it was you?
***************************************

I am aiming to be 55kg by the time I step on board the plane that's bound to India. And looking at this at the moment.... well.... I'm just a measly 5 kgs off the mark!

Don't you smirk!

Even though same girls at work have already been commenting that I have trimmed down from the chubby cheek girl - to a bony faced chick. But I dont know...... every time I look at myself in the mirror I still see FAT! :(

Good bye Butter (and your fatty mates!)
***********************************

43 Days and counting!

I wish I had wings.... really....
because I just cant wait to fly home!

And I know what 'some' particular mates out there are thinking - :P

*sigh*
Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock!

Who said time flies?! *grrrrrrr!!*

The odds are......

....what are the odds of watching 3 relatively new movies in a week and not enjoying a single one of them?

All you antagonists will say - "Looking at the kind if crap that churning out of the mill.... *sigh*"

But tell me really.... where does one go on a weekend -
--> One who does not drink
--> One who does not have $$ to go on long drives
--> One who does not have $$ to eat out as often.
--> One who does not have $$.....

Wait a sec.

That one - is me and do I mean to imply that I go to see movies because I dont have enough moolahs for anything else?
NO - Thats not what I mean......

I mean.. its unfair to be cornered this way - to want to go see a movie becuase you want to forget about your worldly troubles and just go off to another place - but instead you get....!@#$!#$!#@$!!!!!!

I guess its too late to say that I'm in a ranty mood this arvo!! *Grrrrrrrrr!*

Anyways - to save my fingers and your eyes -
Read -->

Please don't bother watching
Maine Gandhi to nahi mara
The Brothers Grimm
Kyunki.....

<-- Thank You!

....unless you are really really desperate and have nothing better to do!

*I wonder what I'm going to do with the DVDs of the two Hindi ones among these........ *sigh in double asterix!* !!*

Some one please give me names of a couple of "DECENTLY GOOD" movies that are forthcoming - becuase really... this state of affairs is causing me much grief! :(

Try to say good bye.....

"Sarah, I just completed my test! I think I'll get a High Distinction!!"
"Insha Allah!"

********

"I have an interview for my work experience year - lets see....."
"Insha Allah... you'll ace!"

********

"I got it! :)"
"Mubaarak ho!"

********

"I'm absolutely starving....."
"Come home, I'll make you some veg. biryani!"

*******

Thats my Sarah!
My best girl friend in Australia. I met almost 2 years after I came here. By that time, I had convinced myself that I was doomed to a company of boys becuase there were hardly any Desi girls doing IT. I was the only girl in the class..... and that was a boon and a curse at the same time.

Very troubled times those....
Then Sarah came from India and she's the sister of one of the guy's I knew at uni. We clicked instantly! And even though we weren't in the same uni or doing the same course... there was so much else that we did together!

*sigh* before this turns into one of those very very senti posts......
Sarah left for India yesterday. And I want to wish her well. I think her decision is very wise indeed.

There comes a point in life when you just want to "Stop" and take a breath. Because there is no point in going on and on just for the heck of it. And I see so many helpless unhappy people around me - who do just that. Every day that passes, they find themselves sinking deeper and deeper into the quicksands of life...... never able to escape..... never able to live the life that they want to live..... until its too late and there's just no looking back. The mortgage, the bills, the family, the job, the responsibilities just take over. They run your life and you cant do - no nuthing about it!

Even though she's studied in a field that's highly saught after. Then she even did her MBA. But it just wasn't what she expected. Thats why one day she made up her mind that life is just not the way she wants it to be and she's making her own way.

First I couldn't understand. Why would she leave a perfectly decent life.... an okay job and go out into the unknown! Why?!

We used to talk for hours over the phone or late into the night if either of us were bunking at the others place. So many times I'd give her advise about her problems and she'd give me for mine. And one thing I particularly remember saying to her often, "Sarah, you're right in the middle of it all. And its possible that you aren't seeing things the way I - as an outsider to your issue - see it! Sometimes you just have to move back.... as if walk up to a high hill and then look down at the whole situation from that high vantage point from where you can see it all and not miss anything."

Now, I understand that she's doing just that.

Because finding out exactly what you want is something that many of us never find. And its probably easier to cross things out of your list one at a time instead of just going on and on and on without knowing where you're headed......

*sigh*
I said it soooo many times in the last days together.....
"Sarah, jahaan rehna khush rehna......" (Sarah, be happy where ever you are....)
And she smiled.

I'll see her again.....soon.
And I wish that after her break... she may still decide to come back down under. *I know I'm selfish!*
That she may find her true love.... and he may keep her really happy.... and that they may find great career opportunities in Oz *yes, because I'm here naa...!*.
That she may see all, listen all and then tell herself that her life is actually in Australia... with her friends! *yes I'm saying it again and again and I'll keep saying it - so that if my one wish for the day is about to come true - let it be this one!!*

But if you find your life elsewhere..... I'll support you and send you my best wishes and hope for the very best for you always! I am and will always remain your friend and I will understand..........

Sarah - I love you and I'll miss you..... till we meet again!