"Life is like a box of chocolates - you never know what you're going to get!" - Momma Gump.
Are you a movie buff like me? Here are some movie reviews of my "go-to" films to suit any mood; my opinion on some great reads; and some of my fondest music videos as well. I hope you enjoy reading this blog as much as I like writing it.
The 3 basics that distinguishes human life from the other forms of life - is the ability to appreciate food (Eat), spirituality (Pray) and Love. This is a story of Elizabeth Gilbert (Julia Roberts), an accomplished woman who seems to have it all - a seemingly happy marriage, a beautiful home and a career as a successful writer. Then why is she plagued with unhappiness? After much deliberation and frustratingly unsuccessful attempts at prayer, she asks for a divorce hoping to escape the invisible snares that seem to enslave her. In the hopes of living a life she feels she is meant to live she gets into a relationship, on the rebound, but when that tanks she decides to leave behind all that she owns in search of answers.
Her love for food (Eat) takes her to Rome and four months and an expanding waistline later, a happier Liz leaves for India in her search for spirituality (Pray). Her charming self, so simpatico, helps her make lifelong friends, who urge her on her way. However, will her sojourn in Bali, her final destination, help her cross off the missing link on the list of self discovery - (Love)?
It was early one Saturday morning and it was temperate with only a hint of breeze when we took off on our motorcycle. The highway was dotted on both sides with nurseries. We took a stroll through a few of them not looking for anything particular. However, I succumbed to temptation and couldn't resist this adorable hibiscus plant in the prettiest shade of yellow while my husband picked a gorgeous double colored peach beauty. I couldn't wait to get home and begin planting. My little butter-cup (as I named him) was perfectly fine for a week or two, till calamity struck. Butter-cup was invaded by little bugs that sapped the life out of it. The pesticide (believe me I had to buy it, even though I didn't want to) I bought promised to get rid of the little pests. At first, it didn't seem to work. In fact Butter- Cup was soon bald of leaves, and I thought it was the end - no thanks to hubby convincing me that it was (and I miss emojis, right now)! But I simply wouldn't give up. Butter-cup received all my attention - lots of water, sun, music and a healthy diet of kind words (I know what you're thinking right now, 'I'm nuts'). But soon all my hard work paid off and there were new leaves and I could finally heave a huge sigh of relief when I spotted buds. So all was not lost after all!
Devendra (Dilip Kumar) is on his way to the railway station to pick up his wife and child. But enroute there is a heavy thunderstorm and the road he is on is blocked in a landslide, compelling him to seek shelter in a neighboring mansion. Here Devendra instantly feels a connection and he has a vague sense of having been there before. And he slowly begins to remember a previous life...
Anand is an employee for Raja Ugra Narayan (Pran) and he has been hired to manage a vast estate. Beautiful rolling hills, cloaked in mists and mystery enchants Anand and he is haunted by a melodic voice. Madhumati (Vyjayanthimala), the beautiful owner - a local tribal girl, and Anand fall in love. However, when Anand and Madhumati's father have to be away for a few days, disaster strikes. On their return, Madhu has vanished without a trace. What is the mystery shrouding her disappearance? Will a love like the one that Anand and Madhu shared die a slow death or will it live to eternity. .
A beautiful Bimal Roy film that can hold its own to this day. Music by Salil Choudhury is absolutely mesmerizing. it's a story of undying and eternal love.
On of the beautiful haunting numbers
Word for the day :- Wodge - a large piece or amount of something
When I began writing this piece, the Oscars were around the corner. I wanted to watch a few Oscar nominated films, and my picks "Joy" and "The Revenant" were no disappointments.
Ever since the Titanic, when I was crazy in love with Jack Dawson (Leonardo DiCaprio), I have waited for his Oscar win. Will 'The Revenant' cinch the deal for Leo?
Hugh Glass (Leonardo DiCaprio), the father of a half-native son, Hawk (Forrest Goodluck) and a frontiersman in the early 1800's is part of a crew of fur trappers. And like in any group there are friends and foes. John Fitzgerald (Tom Hardy), a sadistic and greedy crew member, isn't too fussed with Glass. Out scouting alone one day, Glass is brutally mauled by a bear and a devoted crew refuses to abandon a fatally injured Glass. They decide to take him along on a makeshift stretcher but the unfavorable conditions gets the crew to realize that Hugh is only slowing them down. They reach a unanimous decision to pay John Fitzgerald and Jim Bridger (Will Poulter), a volunteer, to look after Glass to his last breath and thereupon in the event of his death to give him a respectable burial. John is determined to collect the sum promised to him on all account but has two obstacles to overcome - Jim and Hawk. In the harsh and bitter cold, Glass is left to die in a shallow grave. But the memories of his dead wife is his saving grace and gives him the strength to face brutal blizzards, outwit the Arikara, fight hunger and infection and seek the ultimate redemption.
The amazing cinematography will make you live, breathe and experience every moment of the film.
'The Revenant' was nominated for and won numerous awards like the BAFTA, the Golden Globe and the Academy as well.
But the one sentence all acclaimed actors want to hear is ~ and the Oscar for 'Best Actor' goes to .... Need I say more. 👏
Word for the day :- revenant - a person who has returned, especially supposedly from the dead
A Quentin Tarantino fan are you? Rest assured - you won't be disappointed. You wouldn't find me at the movies too often and if I am, then you would not catch me anywhere near a Tarantino Film. This was to cut the better half some slack who is always accompanying me to watch some "inane, sappy" nonsense.
There I was, munching on some popcorn and hunkered down in my seat preparing myself for the blood and gore to come. Sigh ...
It is years after the Civil war and there is a blizzard bearing down on rural Wyoming and Major Marquis Warren (Samuel Jackson) is looking to hitch hike to Red Rock. Accompanying him are three dead wanted criminals, with huge bounties. Warren hails down a stagecoach that is occupied by John Ruth (Kurt Russel) who has handcuffed himself to his bounty, Daisy Domergue (Jennifer Jason Leigh). Daisy who is alive and kicking, has a substantial bounty on her head and that makes John not too trusting of anyone. However, he agrees to give the Major a ride with a promise that they would lookout for each other.
The blizzard soon catches up to them and it's brutal, forcing them to wait it out at Minnie's Haberdashery. And there await the other members of the 'Hateful Eight'.
The movie is divided into six chapters (Tarantino Style) and keeps up the suspense. The effects were great and I was shivering, my husband insisting it was the air turned on low and not the biting cold blizzard. Word for the day :- axiomatic - self-evident or unquestionable
I was probably 7 or so when I first heard of Valentine's Day. I was instantly intrigued and I wanted to know everything. From what I gathered, and correct me if I'm wrong, it's a day you celebrate your love for someone dear. I was excited! So I went home, grabbed some paper and my color pencils and got down to it. Now who got lucky that day? My mum, of course. I don't really remember what went on it but I do remember her being surprised and pleasantly so.
Numerous Valentine Days later this year I want to say Thank you and I love you - to all my friends from ages past to this day. We may not meet too often but your presence in my life is truly treasured. You've been a part of all my ups and downs; you've helped heal many wounds and shared in my joys, wiped many tears; you've been my strength, my pillars and my confidantes.
I hope you've all found your Valentine's, like I have mine, and may your lives be enriched and filled with the love of your family and friends;
Lots of happiness and many good times, yet to come. What more could I wish for!
My perfect Valentine's Day number - The Carpenters crooning "The Top of the World"
When we first moved into our new house in the early 80's, it was something akin to 'Little House on the Prairie'. It was not the house itself but the surrounding flat-lands. With no telephone and few neighbors, we were literally cut-off from the rest of the world. There weren't too many children to spend time with and I grew with up with books being a constant companion. My parents, who were avid readers themselves, would surprise me with a book every birthday, Christmas and Easter. And I was on 'pins-and-needles' till i could dive in to my new read. I had some 'read-along' ones that I absolutely adored and my trusted Sony Walkman soon transported me to a land of giants, witches, ogres, leprechauns, dwarfs, princesses and fairies of the fantasy world.
My newly crowned King of thrillers
The magic has not faded. I am a voracious reader and, if possible, I am even more in love with books today than I was then. I look forward to a trip to the bookstore and for the umpteen time I wish I could buy them all and give them a home.
When I was asked why I loved reading - I had an answer to that. Books don't judge, I said, and they are always waiting to be held, the words leaping out to wrap around me, just like a warm blanket on a cold day. A temporary escape from reality. Can anything beat the smell of a book - the feel of brand new pages waiting to be opened and the mysteries within its folds explored or even one from the library or a second hand bookstore for that matter, waiting for a new home ..... I don't think so!
