So must Australia be feeling after they were outplayed by England in the second Ashes test match at Lord's today.
Well the Australian media is going bonkers on the umpiring decisions. I wonder why though? It seems odd that the same media did not finding umpiring blunders equally appalling during the Aus-Ind Sydney test match about a couple of years back.
Don't worry this in not a diatribe on the Aussie way of doing things. I think enough has been seen and said on the lack of sportmanship by the 'mates' on and off field.
What's really to be seen from here onwards is how Ricky Ponting and his team and offcource the aussie media back themselves in a situation they have not been for some time now, say since 1987. Well is a bangladesh tour down under in the offing ?
Monday, July 20, 2009
Monday, January 12, 2009
Seven
Last week we had the worst 10 bollywood movies. Here's now what I consider the 'Super Seven' of 2008
1) A Wednesday - There is no doubt that this taut thriller had everyone on the edge. A great story complemented by some superb acting by Naseer, Jimmy Shergil and Amir Bashir. The end was a slight disappointment, but nevertheless director Neeraj Pandey deserves all the applause for a daring and different movie. Watch it if you still haven't.
2) Aamir - Two debutants (the director and the lead actor) had the guts to come up with absolute peach of a movie. Great story, great acting and on location shooting. Only people with solid conviction in their talent can do this. Also a learning for upcoming movie makers - always look out for a good sensible story.
3) Rock On- There is nothing new about the story, yet there is something that draws you to the characters. You do end up identifying with the aspiration, struggle and inter personal relations of the lead characters. Also one of the most superbly shot movies in recent times. Gives you feel of real rock shows and the electrifying atmosphere they create. The music and the whacky lyrics only lifts it further.
4) Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye - You have got to hand it over to Abhay Deol for being so different in each movie. I have seen nearly all his stuff so far and his USP has been the variety he has essayed in each outing. Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye is no different. Its a engaging and endearing fare throughout.
5) Jaane Tu, Jaane Na - All I can say is that it was a very honest movie. Honest because there were no pretentions from the director and cast that they were making a great movie. They were just making a movie which they felt was right. Again the success was that the characters were just right, no one was larger than life.
6) Mithya - A very interesting story of a struggling actor caught in the clutches of the underworld. Nice twists and a very tragic end. Watch it for some great acting by Ranvir Sheorey and Naseer.
7) Jodha Akbar - I am usually not too interested in costume dramas , but this one is definitely beyond being called one. The grandeur and the research that has gone in making the film is definitely commendable. Also there is some really pleasant music by A.R. Rehman.
1) A Wednesday - There is no doubt that this taut thriller had everyone on the edge. A great story complemented by some superb acting by Naseer, Jimmy Shergil and Amir Bashir. The end was a slight disappointment, but nevertheless director Neeraj Pandey deserves all the applause for a daring and different movie. Watch it if you still haven't.
2) Aamir - Two debutants (the director and the lead actor) had the guts to come up with absolute peach of a movie. Great story, great acting and on location shooting. Only people with solid conviction in their talent can do this. Also a learning for upcoming movie makers - always look out for a good sensible story.
3) Rock On- There is nothing new about the story, yet there is something that draws you to the characters. You do end up identifying with the aspiration, struggle and inter personal relations of the lead characters. Also one of the most superbly shot movies in recent times. Gives you feel of real rock shows and the electrifying atmosphere they create. The music and the whacky lyrics only lifts it further.
4) Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye - You have got to hand it over to Abhay Deol for being so different in each movie. I have seen nearly all his stuff so far and his USP has been the variety he has essayed in each outing. Oye Lucky, Lucky Oye is no different. Its a engaging and endearing fare throughout.
5) Jaane Tu, Jaane Na - All I can say is that it was a very honest movie. Honest because there were no pretentions from the director and cast that they were making a great movie. They were just making a movie which they felt was right. Again the success was that the characters were just right, no one was larger than life.
6) Mithya - A very interesting story of a struggling actor caught in the clutches of the underworld. Nice twists and a very tragic end. Watch it for some great acting by Ranvir Sheorey and Naseer.
7) Jodha Akbar - I am usually not too interested in costume dramas , but this one is definitely beyond being called one. The grandeur and the research that has gone in making the film is definitely commendable. Also there is some really pleasant music by A.R. Rehman.
Sunday, January 4, 2009
Ten
No, this has nothing to do with Bo Derek. We will leave that for later.
This is actually just another top ten post on the best and worst bollywood movies of 2008. I had promised myself that I will not indulge in such frivolous posts on my blog, but being the hindi movie buff that I am, I could not resist myself from drafting this piece.
So lets begin with worst 10 films of 2008
1) Ghajini - Lawrence Olivier upon seeing Dustin Hoffman's "method" acting technique of not sleeping and making a mess of himself to get into character while shooting Marathon Man (1976) just said "Dear boy, it's called acting". Please apply the same to our dear Aamir Khan and see if it makes sense to him. Simply put Ghajini is a piece of ....... I have seen dozen of Sunny Deol movies(considered outdated today) which had more genuine action and stunts than this one. Also please don't tell me this one was not "Memento" inspired.
2) Singh Is King - If this movie would have been released in Akshay Kumar's darker days it would have added to his lists of all time disasters. Find a single great moment in this movie and I will take it out from this list. Again, the Sunny Deol starrer 'Jo Bole So Nihaal' had funnier moments than this brainless, witless and listless movie.
3) Drona - No surprises here. While the first 2 movies were bad, but commercial successes, Drona was an utter disgrace. Can one really imagine Abhishek Bachchan as a Superhero? I mean he barely passes the muster as a hero. This movie looked liked a sequel to 'Shiva ka Insaaf'.
4) Sarkar Raaj - What was this? A political thriller/ satire ? Its easy to take the masses for a ride with Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya in cast. Just add the Ramu style of tight close ups, jarring backgrounds, menacing looks and some story. Sarkar Raaj is ready. Watch out for the sequel " Sarkar - Rise and Fall. Vilasraoji knows better.
5) Welcome to Sajjanpur - Shyam Babu please take a break. This is probably Shyam Benegal's weakest offering in last 35 years. We expect better things from the maker of "Discovery of India" . Also he does not need to ride on Anees Bazmees's success while naming his ventures.
6) Hello - Hindi movie makers have yet to learn the art of making a movie from a book. What reads well, does not necessarily screen well. Also a reality check for Chetan Bhagat. IIM's produce failures too.
7) Love Story 2050- This one i am sure figures on everyones worst film list. Even on Priyanka Chopra's personal list. You can't even pan this movie. It is that bad.
8) Tashan - Its really bad when people force their celluloid dreams on poor cinegoers like us. Ram Gopal Verma did that in 2007 with his disasterpiece - Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag. Someone called Vijay Krishna Acharya repeated it with Tashan. The only saving grace -some foot tapping music.
9) Halla Bol - 12 years ago, Raj Kumar Santasohi gave his last box office hit . After that its been a desperate dry run. Halla bol extends that even further. Get a DVD and see how Raj Kumar Santoshi is loosing the plot. Or has he already lost it ?
10) A lot of movies vyied for this spot - The contenders were Woodstock Villa ( grin and bear the deadpan Sikander Kher), Mission Istanbul ( a piece of Bull...), Chamku (ever heard of this one), Sorry Bhai (i just don't like it), Dostana (if you scroll down you will know what I think about this).
The next post will have the best of 2008. Till then so long
This is actually just another top ten post on the best and worst bollywood movies of 2008. I had promised myself that I will not indulge in such frivolous posts on my blog, but being the hindi movie buff that I am, I could not resist myself from drafting this piece.
So lets begin with worst 10 films of 2008
1) Ghajini - Lawrence Olivier upon seeing Dustin Hoffman's "method" acting technique of not sleeping and making a mess of himself to get into character while shooting Marathon Man (1976) just said "Dear boy, it's called acting". Please apply the same to our dear Aamir Khan and see if it makes sense to him. Simply put Ghajini is a piece of ....... I have seen dozen of Sunny Deol movies(considered outdated today) which had more genuine action and stunts than this one. Also please don't tell me this one was not "Memento" inspired.
2) Singh Is King - If this movie would have been released in Akshay Kumar's darker days it would have added to his lists of all time disasters. Find a single great moment in this movie and I will take it out from this list. Again, the Sunny Deol starrer 'Jo Bole So Nihaal' had funnier moments than this brainless, witless and listless movie.
3) Drona - No surprises here. While the first 2 movies were bad, but commercial successes, Drona was an utter disgrace. Can one really imagine Abhishek Bachchan as a Superhero? I mean he barely passes the muster as a hero. This movie looked liked a sequel to 'Shiva ka Insaaf'.
4) Sarkar Raaj - What was this? A political thriller/ satire ? Its easy to take the masses for a ride with Amitabh, Abhishek and Aishwarya in cast. Just add the Ramu style of tight close ups, jarring backgrounds, menacing looks and some story. Sarkar Raaj is ready. Watch out for the sequel " Sarkar - Rise and Fall. Vilasraoji knows better.
5) Welcome to Sajjanpur - Shyam Babu please take a break. This is probably Shyam Benegal's weakest offering in last 35 years. We expect better things from the maker of "Discovery of India" . Also he does not need to ride on Anees Bazmees's success while naming his ventures.
6) Hello - Hindi movie makers have yet to learn the art of making a movie from a book. What reads well, does not necessarily screen well. Also a reality check for Chetan Bhagat. IIM's produce failures too.
7) Love Story 2050- This one i am sure figures on everyones worst film list. Even on Priyanka Chopra's personal list. You can't even pan this movie. It is that bad.
8) Tashan - Its really bad when people force their celluloid dreams on poor cinegoers like us. Ram Gopal Verma did that in 2007 with his disasterpiece - Ram Gopal Verma Ki Aag. Someone called Vijay Krishna Acharya repeated it with Tashan. The only saving grace -some foot tapping music.
9) Halla Bol - 12 years ago, Raj Kumar Santasohi gave his last box office hit . After that its been a desperate dry run. Halla bol extends that even further. Get a DVD and see how Raj Kumar Santoshi is loosing the plot. Or has he already lost it ?
10) A lot of movies vyied for this spot - The contenders were Woodstock Villa ( grin and bear the deadpan Sikander Kher), Mission Istanbul ( a piece of Bull...), Chamku (ever heard of this one), Sorry Bhai (i just don't like it), Dostana (if you scroll down you will know what I think about this).
The next post will have the best of 2008. Till then so long
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