Where do I begin?! This movie was not as riveting as it promised to be, even with the multiple top star cast. I really can not say whether it did justice to the actual happenings of the shootout back in 1991 but the screen play was pretty weak and the audience was quickly moved from one event to the other. I’m sure this was done to quicken the pace of the story but a few links were lost in the bargain. The performances were not as stellar as expected. The best performance was by Abhishek Bachchan, who in spite of having only a 2 minute cameo in the film, did a decent rendition of a cop. But there was no real connection of his guest appearance to the actual story. Suppose it was a strategy by the producers to rope in more audiences just to rake in the moolah. AB as usual was fantastic except that the audience can not really figure out what role he is playing when his scenes begin. Was he the commissioner, a judge or a lawyer? Sanjay Dutt and Sunil Shetty always give good performances so there was no disappointment there. Vivek Oberoi had a chance to redeem himself here and he didn’t do anything different from his acting in Company, which by far has been his best work. The rest of the cast (if you can even call them that) was a HUGE mistake, with Tusshar Kapoor and Dia Mirza leading the pack. Tusshar Kapoor is a complete rubber duck and blew it, BIG time, in what could have been a saving grace in his sister’s production. His being a gangster produced laughs in the movie hall. Dia Mirza as usual, sucked! She has the role of a news reporter played out all wrong. What was she thinking? Doesn’t she watch the news? I mean, there’s a multitude of news channels and no dearth of homework she could do just watching journalists on TV these days. She fails miserably to generate any appreciation for her performance. In fact, she is sickeningly annoying and pathetic when she attempts to throw coy glances at the cops.
The question raised from the movie is of serious debate. Were the methods used by the task force to snuff out antisocial elements justified as it compromised the lives of many innocent people living in the building? And should future confrontations be of similar nature? For one, I believe that terrorists such as these need to be treated in the same way that they treat their victims. They need to be tortured severely and then exterminated in the cruelest of ways. They recognize no rule or law of the land, haven’t a shred of sympathy in their random mass murders and are in control of other people’s lives as they please. They are trigger happy and victimize bystanders at the drop of a hat. In the process of capturing these elements, several lives are lost. One could argue that to save a million you sacrifice a hundred. But the turning point to that argument is, what if your loved one or someone you knew got caught in the cross fire? Would one still be saintly enough to accept that loss as… to gain something, you have to lose something? We still need to eliminate these kinds of criminals by giving them a dose of their own medicine but need to come up with something that will possibly reduce the amount of damage done to society.
Read the popular book by Gregory David Roberts last week. It’s nearly 1000 pages long, but it’s worth the ride. Shantaram, which is based on the author’s real life story, not only has literary quality but also has that page-turner quality. Any book reader will agree that it is not easy to combine those two elements.
Gregory was an ordinary writer whose life turned upside down when he couldn’t cope with his divorce and the loss of his daughter’s custody. He became a junkie, got caught up in the Australian drug mafia somehow, landed in prison, broke out of the high security prison, came to Bombay as a fugitive in the early 80s, got sucked up (reluctantly) into the Bombay mafia, landed in prison again, served his sentence, started a legitimate business, wrote Shantaram, tasted success, and is now awaiting the movie version of his book where none other than Johnny Depp is playing his character.
If that isn’t colorful, I don’t know what is. Being a writer by nature, i’m sure Gregory has exaggerated some of the incidents and characters in the book, but what the hell - it’s a great read!
He brings alive the Bombay of the “bhais” much better than any Bollywood movie. He takes you to the narrow bylanes, the legal and illegal slums and if you’re still standing, to the opium dens. He gives you an insight into how fake passports are made, how gold is smuggled in and out of the country and how many pushups you need to do to get that gangster body! If that isn’t your scene, he falls in love with a green-eyed beauty and even does cameos in Bollywood movies, all the while searching for an anchor and a meaning to his life. A bit of Fools Die and a bit of Robinson Crusoe, I would say.
It is said that Gregory started on this book while still in prison and that the prison guards tore his first 3 drafts. However, he persisited in his writing. They say that when life has thrown its worst at you and you have survived it, there isn’t much else that can break you. Time and again, Gregory proves that this is so true in his case.
Shantaram - read the book to find out how he got that name…
Are you a thrill seeker, culture curious, nature enthusiast, party animal, sports freak, honeymooner, shopaholic, glam thirsty or in search of mind, spirit and body relaxation? Whatever the profile of the traveller there’s bound to be a wish-list of places to visit. Here are my picks and some travel must-dos for every possible type of traveller.
1. FOR THE THRILL SEEKING ADVENTURE LOVER - Wildlife Safari in East Africa – a trip of a lifetime! Though I’ve been there done that I want to do it again. Highly recommend it to those who love the wilderness and have a curiosity for the animal kingdom. If you have kids old enough to appreciate such a trip then you have all the more reason to go on safari. Tanzania & Kenya offer the best of game especially in migration season, June-July. A definite must-do!
Scaling heights in Scotland – The best views of lakes and mountains. You can never have enough of the landscapes of Scotland. Climbing one of the small peaks in the freezing cold (in mid-June mind you) in the Highlands, Inverness has been one of the most awesome mind-blowing experiences ever!
Crumber travel destination tip - Bungee Jumping in Rotorua, NZ - Fear of heights and wanna get over it? Nip that fear in the bud and head down south (literally)! Bungee jump off the most spectacular bungee sites!
2. FOR THE NATURE ENTHUSIAST - Frolic with dolphins in the wild in Maui, Hawaii – unless you’re the more fearless types and crave the adrenaline rush then opt for shark diving. Again, a family with kids, the interaction with this animal is simply amazing! With the dolphins I mean. 
Crumber travel destination tip - Snorkeling in Koh Kood, Thailand - For a fabulous and colourful underwater experience you can’t miss this one. It’s dirt cheap too. Can’t go wrong with this 1 for sure.
3. FOR THE PARTY ANIMAL – Freak out in the Caribbean – Ok, our Cricket World Cup debacle is over. Let’s brush off unpleasant memories and rediscover paradise and party away in sand and sunshine. Bum around on the beaches and swim in sparkling aquamarine blue waters. Aruba & Curacao – my all time favourite party destinations - 2 thumbs up!
4. FOR THE CULTURE CURIOUS - Go Greek Islands – Santorini & Mykonos located in the Cyclades Islands in the Aegean Sea. Breath-taking sceneries from charming villages perched on top of impressive cliffs. If you are a natural history and culture freak, these islands have a lot to offer on the Greek civilization along with the spectacular views of the dormant volcano.
5. FOR THE SPORTS FREAK - An avid Formula 1 fan? Do the F1 trail and follow your favourite racing team around the globe. My suggestion would be the Brazilian Grand Prix. Team your sports trip with touring one of the most beautiful countries in South America.
6. FOR THE HONEYMOONERS – French Polynesia - Tahiti & Bora Bora – Exotic, exotic, exotic!!! Heaven on earth! You don’t need anything else but each other!
7. FOR THE SHOPAHOLICS – Obviously the fashion capital of the world – Paris and it wouldn’t hurt to include London, NYC, Milan if it doesn’t cause any harm to the wallet. More economical shopping destinations – Bangkok or Kuala Lumpur.
8. FOR THE GLAM THIRSTY - Feel the GQ of your city ain’t quite up there? Head to Monte Carlo in Monaco or Cannes in the French Riviera for your dose of glam and get a view of some of the world’s hottest celebrities.
9. FOR THE MIND, SPIRIT & BODY RELAXATION SEEKING – For the unforgettable spa experience, Krabi, Thailand wins hands-down! Nothing beats the traditional Thai and aromatherapy massages.
10. FOR THE FOODIES - A separate post on that comin’ up shortly!!
Spiderman 3 is def the biggest and most polished of the Spiderman trilogy so far. Some good fights and great sequences. Although too much of a good thing (FX) can be pretty boring. Some funny moments courteousy of J.J.Jameson and crew.
However even with a runtime of 2 hours and 20 mins it doesn’t seem sorted out and a lot of writing could have been pared down to explore the more interesting characters and some could have been omitted all together.
It seems that they tried to do all together too much by cramming in a love story, exploring the dark side of Spider man along with his pride and vanity, conclude his relationship with Harry Osborne and then gave him two villains to fight with as well along with the introduction of Gwen Stacy and his street smart, slick competitor Eddie Brock
Loose ends are def tied up and its nice to see how Harry Osborne is given plenty of play throughout the series, it def isn’t a spidey centric movie thats for sure. Like i said they tried to cram too much in with Peter Parker and Mary Jane having problems, Spider man + the Symbiote bringing PP & Spideys dark side to the front and then not one, not two but three adversaries (Harry Osborne, The Sandman & Venom)
They could have easily left Sandman out because he didn’t bring too much into the script. Spideys dark side could have easily been explored without his plot device with Sandman very easily.
The biggest drawback is Venom. I mean easily the coolest, most interesting adversary Spider Man ever had. Eddie Brock also seems out of the same mould as Parker but loses his way (played very well by Topher Grace) Instead of giving them more confrontations and fights they just have a measly sequence in the end in which most of the time is spent on rescuing Mary Jane.
Seriously, i could have scripted this better.
Its worth a watch for sure but it is a huge disappointment (though not in league of say the Matrix Sequels)
Since there has been some talk of California on blah recently, I think it wouldn’t be inappropriate to dwell on some uniquely Californian experiences…
If you happen to be visiting the sunshine state, check out the Napa Valley Wine train. If you don’t want to drive around visiting various wineries, the Wine train offers a vintage railroad experience combined with food and wine.
The train travels along highway 29 (the main winery road) and serves a basic variety of wines from the region. The food is good quality - and the experience is unique.
On certain weekends, the Napa Valley Wine Train offers a children’s car where children can enjoy dinner and movies.
If you do like to drive around visiting various wineries, don’t miss ‘Godfather’ director, Francis Ford Coppola’s winery at the Rubicon Estate in Napa. http://www.ffcwinery.com
You’ll find FFC’s signature wines, movie memorabilia and a vintage chateau - make for an unforgettable trip.
Combining movies and wine comes easily to FFC, so they are currenlty running a very interesting short film contest:
“Rosso & Bianco are wines for everyday life. Francis Ford Coppola Presents is looking for you to create and submit short movies that represent that idea.”
Contest is open only to US residents but you can check out the very interesting short films that have been posted on http://www.rossobianco.com/
My favorite is the one titled “Afterlife”.
What is your favorite California Experience?
I’ve just come back from what i feel was the best ever managed and organised show in the past couple years! The Goa Fest 2007 was the most beautifully constructed structure. Held at the Cavelossim Beach in South Goa over two days (20th and 21st of april) , the expanse of the beach was turned into one big hangar. One saw everyone from the advertising and media world. Film makers , copywriters, ad gurus, creative heads so on and so forth. Rain dances to sunset parties , poi dancers to limbo dancers,kingfisher to blackdog, brazillian dancers to perfomances by the Priscilla Queens …we had it all. One got to see some awesome creative work over 2 days. The award ceremonies thrilled the participants
There was a buzz in the air at all times, lots of energy , millions of ideas , truck loads of humor, the killig heat ( the rain dances made up for it though), good food,hip shaking music… the beach was converted into one big advertising fair. 2000 people and more .. the place was buzzing with activity. If you were not here .. then i’d say you missed it.. but then there’s always next year  .
I saw Provoked the day before and Raincoat on TV yesterday.
It was interesting to compare Aishwarya in these two “arty” movies.
I was really impressed with Raincoat. Provoked, however, was a little disappointing.
Of course the seating at the theater, your state of mind and other factors do affect the way you perceive a movie (it’s a very powerful or a totally mindless movie that can cut through all those layers and suck you in!).
Raincoat scores high because of a tight script and Aishwarya’s acting - she makes you believe she really is Neeru and even her voice seems different. It’s her best performance ever. The story is engaging from the very first frame - it’s inspired by O Henry’s short story, The Gift of the Magi. (Some reviewers have said its boring, there’s too much conversation etc. Those guys should just go watch Dhoom.)
Provoked was not as intense as I’d expected. Ash was the perfect tragic heroine; she gives a sensitive and restrained performance, but she still doesn’t seem as natural as she did in Raincoat. The movie does touch upon the important topic of domestic violence, but looking at it as a movie it could have been better. The film’s back and forth narrative could have taken away some of the intensity. Still, you should watch it - it has some special moments: the way she finds peace in prison, the comraderie of the cell-mate and the triumph of the underdog…
Saw it last night. It was interesting, genuinely funny in some parts. It is done more like a play than a movie in any case. The only character that is properly fleshed out is of course Vinay Pathak as the aspiring singer Bharat Bhushan, he is pretty fantastic in this.
I am sure the plot comes from some non-Indian film but it fits in ok. Its a very urban film which will vibe well with the metro audience. Dont think too many people in smaller towns would find this of great interest.
The strength of the film is its witty dialogs and a completely offbeat but interesting plot/situation. Its drawback of course is that the character of Rajat Kapoor isn’t defined in its entirety his relationship with his wife played by Sarika is not fleshed out at all. Ranvir Sheorey is entertaining but a caricature (good thing his portion is limited) Milind Soman as a jilted lover but good friend is decent.
Overall its a pretty credible effort however.
UTV+Adlabs are bringing some truly great films to Metro-Adlabs begining with one of my personal favs Cidade de Deus (City of God) A gritty but well made film shot in the shanties of Rio. A story of two kids growing up, one grabs a camera, the other a gun.Its mostly based on true stories and was nominated for 4 Academy Awards and produced at 1/3 of a Karan Johar film. Points out everything missing with our own escapist cinema. This film needs to be watched. It plays every day till the 20th i think. Watch out for the top notch cinematography…
The other ones i am looking forward to is the Three Colours Trilogy by Kriestof Kieslowski (the trilogy is hailed as a masterpiece of modern cinema) the films are loosely based on the three colours of the French flag and its ideals (liberty,equality,fraternity) i say loosely because they are based on the themes because of French funding.
However the films are amazingly original and effective. Its basically a masterclass in screenplay and direction.
Stock up on the basics, just incase you are left behind…Here are a list of make-up essentials you’ll be needing all year round! Here is a list of the new products in the block which are definitely worth a try!
1. Foundation: One of the most essential parts of make-up is foundation, which is usually applied to get more coverage than any other base. If you need an overall “even” look opt for foundation. Choose a foundation closest to your skin color, and since the summer is already here, I reckon you go for something light. Tinted moisturizer is also a good option, just incase you don’t find it you can mix your foundation with your usual moisturizer.
Check out: Lakme Daily Wear Soufflé or Maybelline Wonder Finish.
For an elegant sheen try Revlon Face Illuminator Lotion
2. Concealer: Yes…it’s completely alright if you have some dark spots on your face that you want to hide, like those scars left by break-outs or dark circles that haunt you as you can’t get enough sleep. Concealer’s usually blend well in such areas and just incase you do not have a concealer you can use the dried off part of foundation that is left in its cap.
Check out: Maybelline Cover Stick and Lakme Magic Face Concealer
3. Kohl or Kajal: No one in this planet will disagree on this one. A girl might forget to wash her face but she can never forget to wear “Kajal”. Simple yet elegant, kohl makes your eyes speak volumes! Always keep it handy and opt for a waterproof and smudge-proof one for the summers!
Check out: Lakme Kajal and Kohl Sparklers to add that extra sparkle!
4. Mascara: Flirty lashes are forever in season. Black mascara’s have always been an important part of every girl’s make-up regime let it be thickening, lengthening, or waterproof. Just incase you want to break the rules and go wild…try blue mascara…it’s all of a sudden come back again! Go retro chic.
Check out: Loreal Volume Shocking Mascara Maybelline Volume Express Range.
5. Nail Color: Keep it fresh! Vivacious greens, flirty pinks, steamy reds or just fun oranges, go crazy with your nails…nothing is as hot as perfectly well polished nails!
Check out: Colorama in Pink Sparkle and Wonder Violet or Street Wear Nail Color in Sand Stone.
6. Cleanser: A good cleanser is needed to remove all that dirt, oil and grime from your face in order to save your skin from untimely break-outs.
Check out: Clean and Clear Face Wash for Oily Skin
Garnier Pure Face Wash gel for Combination to Oily Skin
Ponds White Beauty Skin Brightening Facial Foam for Normal Skin
Nomarks Face Wash for all skin types
7. Sunscreen: Now who wants to get tanned? No one does…so a good sunscreen is something you need all year round because the sun in India can get very bad sometimes!
Check out: Lotus SPF 40 Matte Look Daily Sunblock
Everyuth Derma Care Daily Sun Block SPF 30
8. Matte Lipstick: Very essential for lipstick wearers everywhere. Gloss might give away soon but matte lipsticks are better option for daily wear and for longer hours.
Check out: Maybelline Moisture Extreme in Desert Bloom and Sugar Plum Ice.
9. Lip Balm: Yes…lips get damaged in summers too! You need to protect them with the right product so that they remain smooth and don’t get tanned. Applying lip balm before putting lipstick helps in longer wear of lipstick.
Check Out: Vaseline Petroleum Jelly or Blistex Lip Tone SPF 15.
10. Facial Wipes: Facial Wipes are life saviors when it comes to traveling and getting rid of all that make-up from your face. They leave your skin clean, cool and refreshed.
Check Out: Baby Wipes (Inexpensive substitute to costly facial wipes)
Dove Fresh Blue Facial Wipes
11. Eyeliner: Black liner nowadays is worn in winged style…something that you saw Angelina Jolie wear in Alexander! Very Cleopatra…but still very haute! You can also experiment with bold colors like metallic blues and bright greens.
Check out: Lakme Liquid Intense Shine Eye liner in ink blue, sky and bronze.
Maybelline Expert Eyes Pencil liner in Charcoal.
Revlon Colorstay Pencil in Black.
12. Eye Shadow: Dramatize your look by giving your eyes a splash of color! Crème eye shadows stay for longer hours and do not smudge. For a more outdoorsy look you can just sweep some basic glitter over your lids, to go glam!
Check out: Loreal Color Appeal TrioPro Eye Shadow Kit
VOV Pearl Powder in White
13. Lip Gloss: Clear lip gloss is the way to go this spring. It gives a clear shiny yet glossy look which makes your lips look fuller and more juicilicious!
Check out: Lakme Starshine Lip Gloss or Lakme Lip Gloss in Chocolate and Strawberry
ColorBar Perfect Gloss
14. Blush-on: Go girlie with that slight pinkish blush. Natural is always the best option when it comes to blush-on. Pinch the apples of your check right after your bath…the redder or pinker they get is the most suitable color for your blush-on. Brush product over the apples of your cheeks (the plump part that comes out when you give your broadest smile!) with a big brush for best results!
Check out: Maybelline Expert Wear Blush or Loreal Blush Delice
15. Moisturizer: One of the classics, without which any skin care regime, is worthless…Moisturizing is necessary in order to regain skin’s lost moisture after baths.
Check out: Nivea Soft Moisturizing Cream for all skin types
Loreal Pure Zone for Oily skin
Garnier Body Tonic for Normal to Dry skin
I hope this helped! You’ll usually find all the products listed in most of the drugstores or malls around you!
Happy Make-up Shopping you guys! 
Like always…Enjoy!
BlackBubblegum 
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