Kannathil Muthamittal (A Peck on the Cheek) [2002]

Mani Ratnam sure loves making movies on the backdrop of troubled times and places – Roja & Dil Se (religious extremism in Kashmir and the North-East, respectively), Bombay (Bombay riots), Yuva (a modern day Naxal-type student movement reminiscent of 1970’s Calcutta). Kannathil Muthamittal, interestingly my first Tamil movie viewing with subtitles instead of with Hindi-dubbing, has LTTE as its backdrop. Though this blog is strictly for cinema, I must state that it was quite obvious from the movie on which side the director’s sympathy lies, and I found that a tad disturbing not just because they turn children into gun-toting warriors and women into suicide bombers, but also because they were responsible for the assassination of an Indian prime minister. But political views aside, I couldn’t help but develop quite a liking for this otherwise gem of a movie. A small girl and her adopted parents’ quest to find the girl’s real mother takes them into the heart of the violent struggle between the Sri Lankan government and the LTTE. The movie is very well enacted. Madhavan is spot on as the angry-young-man but loving father; the strikingly beautiful Simran, too, is quite good as an emotionally torn mother. But the real star of the movie, undoubtedly, is the little girl who is hell-bent to find her mother – her surprisingly mature performance belies her age and has played an integral role in making this intense movie a strong commentary on the futility of violence and bloodshed, and the need to harbour love.





Director: Mani Ratnam
Genre: Drama/Family Drama/Political Drama
Language: Tamil
Country: India

Slumdog Millionaire Child Actor, £1 Loo and Facebook

NEWS 1: Mohammed Ismail slapped and kicked his ten-year-old son Azharuddin in front of shocked neighbours and passers - for wanting a rest

The youngster, who played the hero of Slumdog Millionaire as a child, received a beating from Ismail Usnay, 45, apparently for disobedience. Exhausted by a chaotic welcome and a long flight from Los Angeles, he was given the day off school yesterday. But when he refused to step outside his home in the Dharavi slum in Bandra to speak to journalists, his father lashed out.

‘His father went mad,’ said a witness.

‘He wanted to show his son off to journalists and local people, but Azharuddin said he wanted to be left alone because he was tired.’

Hours later Ismail apologized for the attack. He said: “I was very sorry I did what I did. “I was confused and stressed by my son’s homecoming and I did not know myself for a minute. I love my boy and I am very happy to have him home.”

I wonder what will happen to Azharuddin after this – back to his slumdog life? Perhaps, that was exactly what his father thought. After all these madness that Slumdog Millionaire has created (by the way, a very very good movie indeed), what will happen to them then?

________

NEWS 2: £1 for on air loo

Its passengers already have to pay for a sandwich, a cup of tea and even to check in luggage. But the latest element of the Ryanair ‘no frills’ culture could catch some potential passengers short. They may have to pay £1 to spend a penny.

While many travelers might consider using the on-board lavatory as an occasional necessity rather than an extra, it seems the Irish budget airline’s chief executive views it as a convenient way of raising revenue.

It may sound like a ridiculous desperate way to increase the company revenue, but I bet lots of people are considering adopting this method. They just don’t speak it out loud like Ryanair. Who knows what they have charged us along with the ticket fares?

P/S: There once rumors that kedai mamak (Indian Muslim restaurants) will charged their customers for using their toilet. I wonder whether they are really charging the customers.

________

NEWS 3: Facebook users with hundreds of online 'friends' only have a handful of TRUE pals

They boast of having hundreds of friends who regularly send them messages, photos, pokes and kisses. But, in reality, members of the Facebook generation only have a handful of true friends, research shows.

The study - carried out by Facebook - found that while the average user will belong to a network of over 100 friends, they will be in regular contact with just a handful.

Like, duh. I don’t even remember the last time I actually made a decent conversation with my so called Facebook friends. I only had a bunch of my real friends and families there. I have this kind of policy: I only add people that I knew, but will not reject others who wanted to add me as their friend. In the end, I received at least 5 new add request a day. May be they think I am cool, or not.

Sources: Mail Online | TIME.com | The Sun |

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Bluecrystaldude

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Awaken, North Wind! - Doubt (2009)

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

Mit dem als Intro fungierenden Titeltrack „Doubt“ lassen die fünf Menschen aus Pennsylvania bei mir schon mal große Hoffnung aufkommen. Elektronische Rhythmen mit sphärischen Gitarren. Doch es wird ganz anders…

Es wird nämlich nun mit moderner Rockmusik aufgefahren, die meinem Wissen nach oft als Post-Hardcore betitelt wird. Es ist nur alles ein bisschen sachter, was zum einen auf den ständigen Klaviereinsatz zum anderen auf die fehlenden Screams und Shouts zurückzuführen ist. Man wird ein klein wenig an Chiodos erinnert nur ohne nervenaufreibende Stimme und übermäßigen Theatralismus. Das erste Mal wird bei „Melody“ halt gemacht. Eine zuckersüße Akustik Ballade die nicht, wie bei so vielen anderen Bands dieser Richtung, in Kitsch abdriftet. Danach wird das nun schon bekannte Konzept weitergeführt: Ohrwurmmelodien mit ergreifendem Gesang und Klavieruntermalung. Das ganze ist jedoch so klasse gemacht dass man sich gar nicht vorstellen kann warum Awaken, North Wind! nicht ganz oben mitmischen! Sobald das Gewitter bei „Vultures“ einsetzt zeigt sich die Band ruhiger als zuvor. Balladenhafter und nachdenklicher führen sie einen weiter, aber es wartet immer schon der Ausbruch am Ende, der alle Energien entlädt um sie ruhig und langsam beim nächsten Stück wieder aufzuladen. Der letzte Song „Afraid“ ist wahrscheinlich das zukunftsweisende Stück von Awaken, North Wind!. In den elfeinhalb Minuten wird alles zusammengelegt was zuvor geboten wurde und noch mehr. Geigen, Pauken, Kirchenglocken und zum ersten Mal nun auch Schreigesang. Episch!

Awaken, North Wind! sollte viel mehr Aufmerksamkeit zuteil werden. Für mich wirklich unverständlich warum sie bis dato so „unentdeckt“ sind. Nicht einmal 100 Hörer bei Last.fm, mehr muss ich nicht mehr sagen, außer:
Holt euch Awaken, North Wind! , ein echter Geheimtipp!

___________________________________________________________

"We are the music makers, and we are the dreamers of dreams."

While Doubt, the title-track, serves as an intro, 5 people from Pennsylvania let the hope inside me swell instantly. Electronic rhythms, paired with atmospherical guitars. But it will change...

This happens through the appearence of modern rock-music, which is, to my knowledge, often entitled as Post-Hardcore. However, everything feels a little smoother, which is ascribed to the permanent use of piano, on the one hand, and the lack of screams and shouts on the other. One might come to think of Chiodos, minus the nerve-wracking voice and excessive theatricalism.

"Melody" offers the first stop. A sickly-sweet acoustic ballad, which won't, unlike other band's songs in this genre, come off as cheesy. Afterwards, the known concept is carried on: catchy tunes, with captivating vocals and piano-background. This is takes place in such a beautiful way, that one can not comprehend, why Awaken, North Wind! is not a factor front and center. The moment the thunderstorm enters in "Vultures", the band apprears more quiet than before. More ballad-like and meditatively they push you along, but the explosion at the end is still waiting, unloading all the energy, just to be re-charged in the next song. The last song "Afraid" is possible the band's most foreward-looking one. In eleven and a half minutes everything, that was featured in the past, is put together - with even alot more. Violins, kettledrums, church-bells and - for the first time - screaming. Epic!

Awaken, North Wind! deserve a lot more attention. It is truely incomprehensible, why they're so "undiscovered" to date. With less than 100 listeners on Last.fm, I do not have to say more, but:
Get Awaken, North Wind!, a true insider tipp!

Genre: Post-Hardcore, Indie, Progressive
256 kbit/s
(48:52)

Preview:



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Lonely Dogs and Wetas

Late last century, I lived in beautiful Queenstown and discovered some of the local talent there... particularly Ivan Clarke, an exceptionally talented artist.

Ivan was best known for his landscapes; amazing, deep, luminous, three dimensional canvases that you felt you could step into. They were highly sought after by the visiting tourists. I watched him working in his studio, then set up out by his home, and asked him how on earth he knew when to stop... layering on more of the deep oils each day to create the textures, and he said "he just knew".

Two years ago, we were back visiting Queenstown and I was thrilled to find Ivan's new gallery.

 As well as the oils, he had moved into a new direction, capturing stories of his dog, a dachshund called Arthur..living in a fictional world. The first picture was triggered from the look on his dogs face when they left him behind. It captured my imagination, and since then, I have taken to showing the students this picture, and some of his animal related ones, when we study local and international transport of cats and dogs.... 

A few years ago, Ivan Clarke - a successful Queenstown landscape painter, went on holiday. As he departed, he looked back at his dog, looking wistfully after him. "That dog is lonely," he said.
Upon his return, he sketched, and then painted a picture like none he had ever done before. Instead of a gorgeous realistic landscape, brimming with light, Ivan painted a lively, whimsical image of a dog, standing fully clothed, looking longingly after a departing ferry, and lit by an over-bright moon. He called it "Bon Voyage.” Ivan also began telling his children the story of "Lonely Dog".

Perhaps the thing that took this onto success was that Weka Workshops Richard Taylor also got involved to create the statues. If the name seems familiar, think Academy Awards, Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Chronicles of Narnia, as Richard and Weta were the talent behind the creations of the sets and costumes. This is the tip of the iceberg as far as their work goes, but brought them international acclaim and awards.

Yesterday the news broke of the mermaids tail....., also developed by Weta.

So what reminded me of all this today?
Lonely Dog is going to be a movie star. 

Warner Bros has snapped up the film rights for an unusual picture book, Alveridgea and the Legend of the Lonely Dog, developed by Queenstown artist Ivan Clarke.

 

It couldn't happen to a nicer dog.... congratulations Ivan and Arthur.

Lonely Dogs and Wetas

Late last century, I lived in beautiful Queenstown and discovered some of the local talent there... particularly Ivan Clarke, an exceptionally talented artist.

Ivan was best known for his landscapes; amazing, deep, luminous, three dimensional canvases that you felt you could step into. They were highly sought after by the visiting tourists. I watched him working in his studio, then set up out by his home, and asked him how on earth he knew when to stop... layering on more of the deep oils each day to create the textures, and he said "he just knew".

Two years ago, we were back visiting Queenstown and I was thrilled to find Ivan's new gallery.

 As well as the oils, he had moved into a new direction, capturing stories of his dog, a dachshund called Arthur..living in a fictional world. The first picture was triggered from the look on his dogs face when they left him behind. It captured my imagination, and since then, I have taken to showing the students this picture, and some of his animal related ones, when we study local and international transport of cats and dogs.... 

A few years ago, Ivan Clarke - a successful Queenstown landscape painter, went on holiday. As he departed, he looked back at his dog, looking wistfully after him. "That dog is lonely," he said.
Upon his return, he sketched, and then painted a picture like none he had ever done before. Instead of a gorgeous realistic landscape, brimming with light, Ivan painted a lively, whimsical image of a dog, standing fully clothed, looking longingly after a departing ferry, and lit by an over-bright moon. He called it "Bon Voyage.” Ivan also began telling his children the story of "Lonely Dog".

Perhaps the thing that took this onto success was that Weka Workshops Richard Taylor also got involved to create the statues. If the name seems familiar, think Academy Awards, Lord of the Rings, King Kong, Chronicles of Narnia, as Richard and Weta were the talent behind the creations of the sets and costumes. This is the tip of the iceberg as far as their work goes, but brought them international acclaim and awards.

Yesterday the news broke of the mermaids tail....., also developed by Weta.

So what reminded me of all this today?
Lonely Dog is going to be a movie star. 

Warner Bros has snapped up the film rights for an unusual picture book, Alveridgea and the Legend of the Lonely Dog, developed by Queenstown artist Ivan Clarke.

 

It couldn't happen to a nicer dog.... congratulations Ivan and Arthur.

Today's smile

I get sent lots of great emails, most of which I can't share on here... but luckily, some of them are animal related and fit for family viewing!

Some of my favourites from today are

These pictures are from an Orange Festival in the Netherlands :) There were a lot showing decorated houses, but I liked the animals...

Away tomorrow.... gonna be rain and wind according to the weather forecasts, but hoping it will clear for the wedding!

The End

Today's smile

I get sent lots of great emails, most of which I can't share on here... but luckily, some of them are animal related and fit for family viewing!

Some of my favourites from today are

These pictures are from an Orange Festival in the Netherlands :) There were a lot showing decorated houses, but I liked the animals...

Away tomorrow.... gonna be rain and wind according to the weather forecasts, but hoping it will clear for the wedding!

The End

Anoroc - Antigone (2007)

Wer sich mit dieser Musikrichtung besser auskennt wird sich nicht schwer tun Anoroc zu schubladisieren. Da ich in diese Richtung leider nur wenig kenne, ist es schwer für mich sie einzuordnen. In erster Linie fallen mir aber beim Hören gewisse Züge von Dispatch, Incubus oder auch Pearl Jam auf. Das sind auch 3 Bands, die ich sehr zu schätzen weiß und die mit Gewissheit auch Einfluss auf den Sound von Anoroc hatten, haben und in Zukunft auch haben werden.

Bereits vor einigen Jahren, als ich Anoroc zum ersten Mal bei einem Band Contest in Innsbruck live erleben durfte, haben sich diese durch ihre Aufrichtigkeit der Musik gegenüber immens aus der Masse hervorgehoben - ein Gefühl, das auch diese CD zu vermitteln versucht. Die professionelle Aufnahme, die sich auf dem Debüt findet, überzeugt bereits beim ersten Einlegen der CD in den Player. Die Texte sind gut überlegt und noch besser gesungen, sehr gute Arrangements und funkige Gitarren. Genau die richtige Abwechslung zum fordernden Sound, der sonst auf diesem Blog vorgestellt wird.

___________________________________________________________

Someone who is well versed with this genre won’t have difficulties to classify Anoroc. But it’s really hard for me to relate to this music because I know only a few bands like this. First and foremost my attention is attracted by certain lineaments from bands like Dispatch, Incubus and also Pearl Jam. Three bands I really appreciate and had (and will continue to have) a bearing on the sound of Anoroc for sure.

A few years ago I saw Anoroc the first time at a band-contest in Innsbruck. They were highlighting themselves out of the crowd with their honesty of making music. A feeling that also their debut CD knows to interfere. The professional production of Antigone makes sure to excite from the very first moment. The lyrics are deliberate and very well performed, excellent arrangements and funky guitars. The perfect alternative to the quite demanding your introduced to here elsewise.

Genre: Funk Rock, Rock
320 kbit/s (CBR)
(42:10)

Preview:


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say it ain't so

Conflicting reports.

MTV UK (and Perez Hilton, btw...) reports that beloved Ryan Jahhhman will marry Kate Nash in Portland, OR this weekend.

Hmmmm, Portland, you say? Isn't that where twin brother Gary Jarman lives with his gf?

Becuase they pay attn to details like these, NME claims it's Gary who'll take himself out of the pool of single fish we rock and roll girls dream of swimming in.

In the end, which Jahman bites the dust? Only time will tell.

Bangladesh family..

The mother of a friend of mine died yesterday. A tragic loss; another casualty. A fresh reminder of the fleeting nature of life. One thing that lingered in my mind all day was from a message she sent...

Please remember to tell your family and friends you love them everyday because you never know when someone dear to you will be taken.

Yes - we know it, but I just wanted to remind you of it. It really hit home to me last night when I got a message from Bangladesh........

I grew up listening to The Beatles... and was very familiar with the happenings in Bangladesh in the 70's, courtesy of George Harrison.



Knowing about a country, and taking a slightly keener interest in it when your children live there, are two different things.

Last night we heard there was a city wide curfew in Dhaka. We only heard about it because James and Jess immediately wrote to us to say they were ok, but as the city curfew had started at 3pm, they had been trapped and unable to get home. The buses were full.... so they took refuge at a friends house. As the news had only broken on the BBC by then, and it was late at night, we were blissfully unaware of any issue until they were already safe. I thought of the message from my friend... I didn't sleep too well, even knowing they were safe.

This morning, as there was nothing in the New Zealand news about it, which is not actually surprising, I did a wee google search for "Bangladesh unrest". It took me a while to filter out all the graphic images of fights and soldiers and fires from the past four years... and I had to redo it as "Bangladesh unrest 2009" to find yesterdays news.

Mutinous Border Guards in Bangladesh

Bangladesh rebels mutiny, agree to surrender

Bangladeshi guards revolt over pay in the capital

Bangladesh Unrest

It appears to have been a minor skirmish, but a rickshaw driver died and 15 were injured. I think it is the idea of having to follow a curfew at 3pm, for the whole city, to let the army get through the streets that I find hard to follow.... trying to imagine imposing it here in Christchurch!

Still, every country has unrest, fights, shootings.... I am not singling out Bangladesh. It was just that I was aware that stupid stuff like this can happen to anyone at any time... as Phoebe's mum said recently, "Hit by Bus" scenarios.

So, just wanted to take the opportunity to say "I love you" to my children, my wonderful parents, my lovely partner (who hears it all the time but won't object to a repeat :), to Phoebe's family and the many other friends who matter in my life.

I hope you will all do the same.

Bangladesh family..

The mother of a friend of mine died yesterday. A tragic loss; another casualty. A fresh reminder of the fleeting nature of life. One thing that lingered in my mind all day was from a message she sent...

Please remember to tell your family and friends you love them everyday because you never know when someone dear to you will be taken.

Yes - we know it, but I just wanted to remind you of it. It really hit home to me last night when I got a message from Bangladesh........

I grew up listening to The Beatles... and was very familiar with the happenings in Bangladesh in the 70's, courtesy of George Harrison.



Knowing about a country, and taking a slightly keener interest in it when your children live there, are two different things.

Last night we heard there was a city wide curfew in Dhaka. We only heard about it because James and Jess immediately wrote to us to say they were ok, but as the city curfew had started at 3pm, they had been trapped and unable to get home. The buses were full.... so they took refuge at a friends house. As the news had only broken on the BBC by then, and it was late at night, we were blissfully unaware of any issue until they were already safe. I thought of the message from my friend... I didn't sleep too well, even knowing they were safe.

This morning, as there was nothing in the New Zealand news about it, which is not actually surprising, I did a wee google search for "Bangladesh unrest". It took me a while to filter out all the graphic images of fights and soldiers and fires from the past four years... and I had to redo it as "Bangladesh unrest 2009" to find yesterdays news.

Mutinous Border Guards in Bangladesh

Bangladesh rebels mutiny, agree to surrender

Bangladeshi guards revolt over pay in the capital

Bangladesh Unrest

It appears to have been a minor skirmish, but a rickshaw driver died and 15 were injured. I think it is the idea of having to follow a curfew at 3pm, for the whole city, to let the army get through the streets that I find hard to follow.... trying to imagine imposing it here in Christchurch!

Still, every country has unrest, fights, shootings.... I am not singling out Bangladesh. It was just that I was aware that stupid stuff like this can happen to anyone at any time... as Phoebe's mum said recently, "Hit by Bus" scenarios.

So, just wanted to take the opportunity to say "I love you" to my children, my wonderful parents, my lovely partner (who hears it all the time but won't object to a repeat :), to Phoebe's family and the many other friends who matter in my life.

I hope you will all do the same.

RocknRolla [2008]

Marriage to Madonna might have been exciting for his libido (lets face it, who wouldn’t want to bed Madonna?), but it was undoubtedly a bad time for Guy Ritchie’s career. After an incredible debut with Lock, Stock and Two Smoking Barrels, the world was his oyster. With RocknRolla he has returned to his comfort zone of Brit gangster action/black comedy, and I must add, with a bang. The plot concerns a shady land deal in London that has left every criminal in town, from the big sharks to the small-timers, scrambling to grab his share. Revealing any more of the labyrinthine plot wouldn't just be futile, but would also be criminal as it is filled with delicious twists and double (make that multiple) crosses all the way. Though at times it appears to be a toned down version of Lock, Stock…, it is nonetheless an extremely entertaining work thanks to its breezy hyperkinetic narrative, awesome background score, wacky characters, and bizarrely funny sense of humour. Simply put, the movie, Ritchie's best since the mind-bending Snath, is as entertaining and Tarantino-ian a ride as it gets.





Director: Guy Ritchie
Genre: Action/Comedy/Crime Caper/Gangster
Language: English
Country: UK