Thursday, March 31, 2005
Toy Story 1 and 2
Good movie. Tom Hanks was amazing giving the voice-over for 'Woody'. The movie lectures about 'old-world-value-system and the regular morals of life'. I have seen a couple-of-similar animated movies. I liked 'Monsters Inc', 'Finding Nemo', 'Shrek 1' but didnt like 'Shrek 2'. Somehow I get the impression that animated movies are mostly about morals, maybe directed towards the universal audience and the USP of animated movies is that 'anyone can watch animated movies i.e adults and children'. I think the 'moral' part in animated movies is too cliched and too predictable! Guess, even children will get bored with this!
Raam
Another fairly decent movie. The plot was carried deftly all-through the movie. Not many unwanted deviations from the actual-plot, quite unlike other tamil movies. Vazhavanthan's role was outstanding ;-)
'Should tamil movies go-away with songs-fight-sentiment masala-stuff and follow-the-sensible cinema approach and be loyal to the actual plot of the movie?' is something I have always wondered about. I think masala-stuff suits the general audience best than any other movie-genre. Surprisingly, both hollywood and tamil-movies adopted the musicals in moving-cinemas during the early stages of movie-making. But Hollywood moved away from moving-cinema but Tamil-cinema industry got stuck with the musical-kind. Now, that musical aka masala cinema (includes fights-sentiments alongwith music) has come to a stay, there is little chance for the birth of plot-based movies without needless sentiments-fight-song-dance. What tamil cinema need is some individual or individuals to start the plot-based cinema. But is there a possibility of this happening? 'NO' is the answer - thanks to cinema being recognised as an organized-industry rather than as an art-form. I think Hollywood suffers with a similar stigma - where innovation is harvested even before the crop matures thanks to commercial-approach.
Q: How to kill art ?
A: Recognize art as an industry!
Surprisingly, amateurs and hobbyists are the ones who bring in more ideas and not the arm-chair professionals. Guess, if movie-making is treated similar to regular art-form, things can really move for the better.
'Should tamil movies go-away with songs-fight-sentiment masala-stuff and follow-the-sensible cinema approach and be loyal to the actual plot of the movie?' is something I have always wondered about. I think masala-stuff suits the general audience best than any other movie-genre. Surprisingly, both hollywood and tamil-movies adopted the musicals in moving-cinemas during the early stages of movie-making. But Hollywood moved away from moving-cinema but Tamil-cinema industry got stuck with the musical-kind. Now, that musical aka masala cinema (includes fights-sentiments alongwith music) has come to a stay, there is little chance for the birth of plot-based movies without needless sentiments-fight-song-dance. What tamil cinema need is some individual or individuals to start the plot-based cinema. But is there a possibility of this happening? 'NO' is the answer - thanks to cinema being recognised as an organized-industry rather than as an art-form. I think Hollywood suffers with a similar stigma - where innovation is harvested even before the crop matures thanks to commercial-approach.
Q: How to kill art ?
A: Recognize art as an industry!
Surprisingly, amateurs and hobbyists are the ones who bring in more ideas and not the arm-chair professionals. Guess, if movie-making is treated similar to regular art-form, things can really move for the better.
The Italian Job
Fairly decent movie. Complete action-thriller kind. I have heard of the original 'the italian job' movie but never seen it. This new one has good star-cast including Mark Wahlberg, Donald Sutherland, Charlize Theron and Edward Norton. Mark Wahlberg's acting reminds me of Matt Damon's style of acting and Edward Norton's acting reminds of Giovanni Ribisi's acting-style.
Sunday, March 27, 2005
Meet the Fockers
Meet the Fockers:
Disappointing movie! Not a good sequel to 'Meet the Parents'.
Most of the jokes were shoddy and were rather predictable ones. Great talents like Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro looked like misfits in this movie.
Guess most sequels have this problem of not living upto the original movie.
'Hyderabad Blues 2' is one movie in the same league, the original 'Hyderabad Blues' was outstanding but the sequel had bad A-jokes and the story lacked substance kind of similar to 'Meet the Fockers'.
Disappointing movie! Not a good sequel to 'Meet the Parents'.
Most of the jokes were shoddy and were rather predictable ones. Great talents like Dustin Hoffman and Robert DeNiro looked like misfits in this movie.
Guess most sequels have this problem of not living upto the original movie.
'Hyderabad Blues 2' is one movie in the same league, the original 'Hyderabad Blues' was outstanding but the sequel had bad A-jokes and the story lacked substance kind of similar to 'Meet the Fockers'.
Finding Neverland
finding neverland:
Good movie. All the stars in this movie were amazing - Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and all the kids including Peter. All through the movie I kept associating 'Peter Pan with Michael Jackson'. wondered why MJ always associated himself with Peter Pan than anybody else! Maybe for MJ - Peter Pan represents the quintessential way to escape from daily-adulthood chores.
I think Brit-based movies somehow have more soul than any of the Hollywood movies. Brit-movies require good-acting skills while most of Hollywood-movies encourage its actors to overact. Another good thing about Brit-movies is that they dont have huge funds at their disposal unlike hollywood - so they tend to rely on 'story, acting abilities of stars etc.,' rather than special effects.
Best segments in this movie include:
i. Johnny Depp talking to George(eldest son of Kate Winslet) and telling him that he is growing faster and lost his boyhood for adulthood.
ii. Johnny Depp's pranks as a red-indian and pirate.
iii. Last scene of the movie where Johnny Depp asks Peter to imagine that his mother is everywhere and asks Peter to continue to believe the same.
iv. The first staging of Peter Pan where orphan children are allowed to sit next to the general public seats.
The idea is quite simple, 'Dont get bogged down with what you dont have in real-world. You create an imaginary world around you and start believing that you are having everything'. Its a rather tame way of resigning instead of competing against all odds. But the idea is pretty clear, you compete against all odds to establish a point - which some might agree and some might disagree. So, the things you do is all meant for pacifying others i.e in short ' more of a defense mechanism '. But here(in Peter Pan), we can resign from competing and live your own life without any hassles. But sometimes this logic wont work, because man is more of a social-animal and he requires people around him. When you have people around you, you are pushed to sacrifice and do things that you normally wont do. Thus, being practical is the key. Guess, I really am not able to summarise this thread :-(
Good movie. All the stars in this movie were amazing - Johnny Depp, Kate Winslet and all the kids including Peter. All through the movie I kept associating 'Peter Pan with Michael Jackson'. wondered why MJ always associated himself with Peter Pan than anybody else! Maybe for MJ - Peter Pan represents the quintessential way to escape from daily-adulthood chores.
I think Brit-based movies somehow have more soul than any of the Hollywood movies. Brit-movies require good-acting skills while most of Hollywood-movies encourage its actors to overact. Another good thing about Brit-movies is that they dont have huge funds at their disposal unlike hollywood - so they tend to rely on 'story, acting abilities of stars etc.,' rather than special effects.
Best segments in this movie include:
i. Johnny Depp talking to George(eldest son of Kate Winslet) and telling him that he is growing faster and lost his boyhood for adulthood.
ii. Johnny Depp's pranks as a red-indian and pirate.
iii. Last scene of the movie where Johnny Depp asks Peter to imagine that his mother is everywhere and asks Peter to continue to believe the same.
iv. The first staging of Peter Pan where orphan children are allowed to sit next to the general public seats.
The idea is quite simple, 'Dont get bogged down with what you dont have in real-world. You create an imaginary world around you and start believing that you are having everything'. Its a rather tame way of resigning instead of competing against all odds. But the idea is pretty clear, you compete against all odds to establish a point - which some might agree and some might disagree. So, the things you do is all meant for pacifying others i.e in short ' more of a defense mechanism '. But here(in Peter Pan), we can resign from competing and live your own life without any hassles. But sometimes this logic wont work, because man is more of a social-animal and he requires people around him. When you have people around you, you are pushed to sacrifice and do things that you normally wont do. Thus, being practical is the key. Guess, I really am not able to summarise this thread :-(
Thursday, March 24, 2005
Brewster's Millions
Funny movie. Earlier I had seen the movie 'arunachalam' which was based on Brewster's millions story-line. I think unlike other Rajni movies 'arunachalam' didnt really smooth take-off but nevertheless was a hit just like most of other Rajni films. So having known what the story is all about - i kind of enjoyed this movie predicted what the next scene is going to be ...with absolutely no surprises. Quite strange but I guess none of us like surprises not just in real life but in movies also. Maybe that's why pulp movies sell whether it is in US or Uk or India or AU. Long live pulp movies!
But at times the worst part is that the viewers get the horrible feeling of being taken-for-a-ride when the quality of the movie is bad. I think that is when we host ideas for change and that's when change as a concept is welcomed. Maybe that is also why we long for change(aka sensible cinema) and once we see change(aka sensible cinema) .. we move back to pulp after we get bored with sensible cinema ...and this never-ending cycle goes on and on.
One just has to appreciate the abundance of variety in everything around us. Since what appears to be extra-ordinary to me at one point of time could be just ordinary to me after some point of time! Just looking at the change of opinion, at times I feel that it is rather stupid to even call some theory/person/thing as bad since I can anticipate that there is another person who might be quantifying the same as good. Now, this hijacks us to an interesting question - 'is there anything called right and wrong?'...
I think there is no right or no wrong. We created a theory called 'value or constitution or commandments etc.,' but is there any person who is going to validate our value system or constitution or commandments? The answer is NO.
So, suit yourself is the best option on all the things you are doing. Do what you want aka 'Be yourself' in the MTV language is more apt at this moment!
Now, what does 'be yourself' really mean? 'Being oneself' rarely works - because we are not trained to be ourselves. We are more of a process-engine i.e all are expected to behave only in a certain fashion. You just go on and on like the energizer battery doing the same again-and-again without any break. Now, back on track is there a way to get out this monotony and to try to be ourselves? Guess there is a way but it requires loads of courage to act in that way. Not sure any of us want surprises, so we never really try this.
But at times the worst part is that the viewers get the horrible feeling of being taken-for-a-ride when the quality of the movie is bad. I think that is when we host ideas for change and that's when change as a concept is welcomed. Maybe that is also why we long for change(aka sensible cinema) and once we see change(aka sensible cinema) .. we move back to pulp after we get bored with sensible cinema ...and this never-ending cycle goes on and on.
One just has to appreciate the abundance of variety in everything around us. Since what appears to be extra-ordinary to me at one point of time could be just ordinary to me after some point of time! Just looking at the change of opinion, at times I feel that it is rather stupid to even call some theory/person/thing as bad since I can anticipate that there is another person who might be quantifying the same as good. Now, this hijacks us to an interesting question - 'is there anything called right and wrong?'...
I think there is no right or no wrong. We created a theory called 'value or constitution or commandments etc.,' but is there any person who is going to validate our value system or constitution or commandments? The answer is NO.
So, suit yourself is the best option on all the things you are doing. Do what you want aka 'Be yourself' in the MTV language is more apt at this moment!
Now, what does 'be yourself' really mean? 'Being oneself' rarely works - because we are not trained to be ourselves. We are more of a process-engine i.e all are expected to behave only in a certain fashion. You just go on and on like the energizer battery doing the same again-and-again without any break. Now, back on track is there a way to get out this monotony and to try to be ourselves? Guess there is a way but it requires loads of courage to act in that way. Not sure any of us want surprises, so we never really try this.
Veer Zaara
I did not enjoy this movie. Bad segments in this movie include the lengthy dialogues, too many crying-sequences, landscapes were all too glossy and even the culture part was over-glorified. Just cannot accept the last part i.e culture-glorification. Why would someone be proud of a culture? Why would someone enjoy that he comes from this geographical-region? Why would someone be proud of nation or religion ? Guess, someone who is having low self-esteem would rely on such farce stuff.
Guess, Samuel Johnson once said 'patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels'
Me rewriting the same as 'Culture is the last refuge of scoundrels'.
Guess, Samuel Johnson once said 'patriotism is the last refuge of scoundrels'
Me rewriting the same as 'Culture is the last refuge of scoundrels'.
Sunday, March 20, 2005
Movies by weekend
Lost in Translation:
Really enjoyed watching this movie. This movie had a remarkable love-story. The best part of the entire-movie was when Bill Murray leaves Scarlett Johanson for his hometown-kids-wife etc. Bill Murray's acting ability reminds me of Kevin Spacey. I think the climax was an apt one, Scarlett appears to be ready for the new relationship with Bill i.e ready to dump her current husband but Bill displays maturity in not-proposing to marry her. I think anyone of those usual love-story-movies would have scripted 'Bill marrying Scarlett and live happily forever story' and Sophia Coppalo deserves appreciation for this amazing climax.
Great movie!
Million Dollar Baby:
Good movie. Clint Eastwood as an actor steals the show from the first-scene. And his last-act of pull-the-plug is a rather debatable one. I think 'euthanasia' is something very difficult to comprehend and people tend to react emotionally to this topic. As long as one is speaking out his mind emotionally, the opinion is bound to be wrong. 'Euthansia' sounds logical in case of people suffering due to terminal illness but at the same time it defies human spirit. Humans have the ability to fight against all odds. And I think any human has this inborn-ability to fight against anything which is trying to exterminate him. Going by the natural ability to fight against any virus(thanks to immune system), how come humans at times succumb to few diseases/sickness is something which is very difficult to comprehend. But the point to be noted is that 'humans fight for their survival never-mind the end-result without much regard to the end-result i.e victory or defeat'.
In cases where it is impossible for humans to fight-back - then there arent any option left to the human but to die, but die fighting hard. 'Die fighting hard' is a rather cruel way to die knowing very well about the impending-death. It is prudent for 'medical community' to discuss about this 'euthanasia' rather than a civil-government. If the 'medical community' thinks impending death is inevitable and the suffering could be avoided with 'euthanasia' - then 'so be it'.
Black:
I found the movie to be an 'okay-one'. It certainly not a good movie as critics claim in every magazine or newspaper. I think this movie was hyped-up!
KwK - Rahul Bose and Konkana Sen Sharma:
This show wasnt really interesting, with both the guests refused to divulge into bold issues and refused to comment about 'contemporary bollywood'. The guests of course hinted on the 'disregard for bollywood' but they refused to be come-out boldly about it! Karan's questions were good, but I think his guests are happy to diplomatic and not get muddled into any controversy. This development is bad for the show!
Really enjoyed watching this movie. This movie had a remarkable love-story. The best part of the entire-movie was when Bill Murray leaves Scarlett Johanson for his hometown-kids-wife etc. Bill Murray's acting ability reminds me of Kevin Spacey. I think the climax was an apt one, Scarlett appears to be ready for the new relationship with Bill i.e ready to dump her current husband but Bill displays maturity in not-proposing to marry her. I think anyone of those usual love-story-movies would have scripted 'Bill marrying Scarlett and live happily forever story' and Sophia Coppalo deserves appreciation for this amazing climax.
Great movie!
Million Dollar Baby:
Good movie. Clint Eastwood as an actor steals the show from the first-scene. And his last-act of pull-the-plug is a rather debatable one. I think 'euthanasia' is something very difficult to comprehend and people tend to react emotionally to this topic. As long as one is speaking out his mind emotionally, the opinion is bound to be wrong. 'Euthansia' sounds logical in case of people suffering due to terminal illness but at the same time it defies human spirit. Humans have the ability to fight against all odds. And I think any human has this inborn-ability to fight against anything which is trying to exterminate him. Going by the natural ability to fight against any virus(thanks to immune system), how come humans at times succumb to few diseases/sickness is something which is very difficult to comprehend. But the point to be noted is that 'humans fight for their survival never-mind the end-result without much regard to the end-result i.e victory or defeat'.
In cases where it is impossible for humans to fight-back - then there arent any option left to the human but to die, but die fighting hard. 'Die fighting hard' is a rather cruel way to die knowing very well about the impending-death. It is prudent for 'medical community' to discuss about this 'euthanasia' rather than a civil-government. If the 'medical community' thinks impending death is inevitable and the suffering could be avoided with 'euthanasia' - then 'so be it'.
Black:
I found the movie to be an 'okay-one'. It certainly not a good movie as critics claim in every magazine or newspaper. I think this movie was hyped-up!
KwK - Rahul Bose and Konkana Sen Sharma:
This show wasnt really interesting, with both the guests refused to divulge into bold issues and refused to comment about 'contemporary bollywood'. The guests of course hinted on the 'disregard for bollywood' but they refused to be come-out boldly about it! Karan's questions were good, but I think his guests are happy to diplomatic and not get muddled into any controversy. This development is bad for the show!
Thursday, March 17, 2005
Khamoj
Lyrics of Fuzon's Khamoj song:
'Sawan beto jaye pe harwa
Munn mera ghabraye
Aiso gaye pardes piya tum
Chain humain nahin aaye
Mora saiyann mose bole na
Main lakh jatan ker hari
Laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Tou jo nahin to aise piya him
Jaise sona aangna
Nain tehari raah main hare
Nenun ko tarsao na
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Main laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Pyar tumhain kitna karte hain
Tum ye samajh nahin pao ge
Jub hum na hoon ge to pe harwa
Bolo kya tub aao ge
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Main laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na'
my translation:
when rain comes, there comes the wind
and my mind is scared
if you hadnt left me dear
i wouldnt have got this memory
my love talk to me
my innumberable attempts to contact u
innumerable attempts to contact u
my love talk to me
if you arent there how can i be
...
(i give up my translation... apologies to fuzon for the bad interpretation if any)
Good cozy song, has a melancholic strain attached to it. 'Fuzon' has done a remarkable job with this song. Wonder how Hariharan would have sung the same number instead of the 'Fuzon' lead-singer. Hariharan is lot more persuasive in his songs. I had good opinion on 'The strings' to start with, but after listening to them a bit more often, I lost interest in their songs(Ashok - I am joining your club!). Hope this Fuzon song doesnt fall into that category.
All Pink Floyd or Dire Straits or Led Zep songs never bore me, even if I am listening to them day-in day-out. These bands really have the fuel to 'go the distance'. Even the most remarkable A R Rahman song falls into the 'burn-out' category.
Guess, only songs which have soul and style can sustain for long time. Songs by 'led zep', 'pink floyd', 'dire straits', classical music(western or carnatic or hindustani) always will last long. Reason for classical music to be featured in this 'perennial-favourite' is that they have an enigma associated with them. It is not easily comprehensible and there lies the beauty of the song. So, most of us wont mind to listen to songs of such kind of again-and-again and still not be satisfied with our interpretion of that song. Every time you listen to the song, you will get a different understanding of that song.
Really enjoyed listening to Madurai TN Seshagopalan's rendition of 'kurinji .. nattai kurinji' raga/song. Infact I even enjoyed the song which ran in the 'kill bill 2' final credits, that song was in some Latino language(I guess Spanish) was composed by Robert Rodriguez.
Robert Rodriguez seems to be god of pulp movies and the best part is that like our 't rajendar' he is also immensely talented in either direction/music direction etc.,
I remember listening to 'khamoj by Fuzon' as a music video and also as part of the soundtrack of 'hyderabad blues 2'. 'Hyderabad blues 2' is not a good movie and the movie relied too much on 'rather bad jokes'. 'Jyoti Dogra' was pretty all through this movie but not in crying scenes, not sure whether she matched the acting talent of the previous 'Hyderabad blues' star 'Rajshri Nair'. Cant really comprehend how Nagesh Kookunur made such a bad film. I remember seeing his other movies including 'Hyderabad Blues(1)', 'Rockford', 'Bollywood calling'. I missed out watching 'teen deewarein'. Best among the above list was 'Bollywood calling' according to me. This movie had loads of stars. To me the best and the surprise pick of that lot was 'Perizaad zorabian' - guess, this was her first movie. She was confidence-personified all through this movie.
'Sawan beto jaye pe harwa
Munn mera ghabraye
Aiso gaye pardes piya tum
Chain humain nahin aaye
Mora saiyann mose bole na
Main lakh jatan ker hari
Laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Tou jo nahin to aise piya him
Jaise sona aangna
Nain tehari raah main hare
Nenun ko tarsao na
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Main laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Pyar tumhain kitna karte hain
Tum ye samajh nahin pao ge
Jub hum na hoon ge to pe harwa
Bolo kya tub aao ge
Mora saiyaan mose bole na
Main laakh jatan ker hari
Mora saiyaan mose bole na'
my translation:
when rain comes, there comes the wind
and my mind is scared
if you hadnt left me dear
i wouldnt have got this memory
my love talk to me
my innumberable attempts to contact u
innumerable attempts to contact u
my love talk to me
if you arent there how can i be
...
(i give up my translation... apologies to fuzon for the bad interpretation if any)
Good cozy song, has a melancholic strain attached to it. 'Fuzon' has done a remarkable job with this song. Wonder how Hariharan would have sung the same number instead of the 'Fuzon' lead-singer. Hariharan is lot more persuasive in his songs. I had good opinion on 'The strings' to start with, but after listening to them a bit more often, I lost interest in their songs(Ashok - I am joining your club!). Hope this Fuzon song doesnt fall into that category.
All Pink Floyd or Dire Straits or Led Zep songs never bore me, even if I am listening to them day-in day-out. These bands really have the fuel to 'go the distance'. Even the most remarkable A R Rahman song falls into the 'burn-out' category.
Guess, only songs which have soul and style can sustain for long time. Songs by 'led zep', 'pink floyd', 'dire straits', classical music(western or carnatic or hindustani) always will last long. Reason for classical music to be featured in this 'perennial-favourite' is that they have an enigma associated with them. It is not easily comprehensible and there lies the beauty of the song. So, most of us wont mind to listen to songs of such kind of again-and-again and still not be satisfied with our interpretion of that song. Every time you listen to the song, you will get a different understanding of that song.
Really enjoyed listening to Madurai TN Seshagopalan's rendition of 'kurinji .. nattai kurinji' raga/song. Infact I even enjoyed the song which ran in the 'kill bill 2' final credits, that song was in some Latino language(I guess Spanish) was composed by Robert Rodriguez.
Robert Rodriguez seems to be god of pulp movies and the best part is that like our 't rajendar' he is also immensely talented in either direction/music direction etc.,
I remember listening to 'khamoj by Fuzon' as a music video and also as part of the soundtrack of 'hyderabad blues 2'. 'Hyderabad blues 2' is not a good movie and the movie relied too much on 'rather bad jokes'. 'Jyoti Dogra' was pretty all through this movie but not in crying scenes, not sure whether she matched the acting talent of the previous 'Hyderabad blues' star 'Rajshri Nair'. Cant really comprehend how Nagesh Kookunur made such a bad film. I remember seeing his other movies including 'Hyderabad Blues(1)', 'Rockford', 'Bollywood calling'. I missed out watching 'teen deewarein'. Best among the above list was 'Bollywood calling' according to me. This movie had loads of stars. To me the best and the surprise pick of that lot was 'Perizaad zorabian' - guess, this was her first movie. She was confidence-personified all through this movie.
Constantine
Lots of Matrix hangover all through this film!
Lots of complicated christian mythology stuff inserted all-through the movie!
My knowledge of 'christian mythology' is just below average, so struggled to understand this movie.
If 'Matrix 2 and 3' really irritated you, then skip this movie!
This movie is said to be set in 'Los Angeles', guess the movie 'city of angels' was also set in 'Los ANGELes'.
Lots of complicated christian mythology stuff inserted all-through the movie!
My knowledge of 'christian mythology' is just below average, so struggled to understand this movie.
If 'Matrix 2 and 3' really irritated you, then skip this movie!
This movie is said to be set in 'Los Angeles', guess the movie 'city of angels' was also set in 'Los ANGELes'.
Tuesday, March 15, 2005
Kill Bill 2
trivia:
Samuel L Jackson plays the piano in the church
No idea about the role of Kurt russel, Charles Bronson and Burt Reynolds in this movie
Robert Rodriguez(of 'desperado', 'once upon a time in mexico') is the music dir.
Good movie. I had earlier read the script of this movie before seeing this movie. So, guess my mind-sketch of the scenes didnt really get its due place in the movie. I have always found that once you read the story (as a review or a book or a script on a movie), you always have a sky-high expectation of the actual movie when you are about to see it. And it is always the same - that the movie wont really stand-up to your expectations.
Best part of this movie is 'elle's eyeball plucked and crushed ;) , guess no one else could show this on screen other than Tarantino'.
Bad part of this movie involves the sequences from China. The chapter involving China in the actual script was just too good and what you see in the movie is not really upto one's expectations!
Samuel L Jackson plays the piano in the church
No idea about the role of Kurt russel, Charles Bronson and Burt Reynolds in this movie
Robert Rodriguez(of 'desperado', 'once upon a time in mexico') is the music dir.
Good movie. I had earlier read the script of this movie before seeing this movie. So, guess my mind-sketch of the scenes didnt really get its due place in the movie. I have always found that once you read the story (as a review or a book or a script on a movie), you always have a sky-high expectation of the actual movie when you are about to see it. And it is always the same - that the movie wont really stand-up to your expectations.
Best part of this movie is 'elle's eyeball plucked and crushed ;) , guess no one else could show this on screen other than Tarantino'.
Bad part of this movie involves the sequences from China. The chapter involving China in the actual script was just too good and what you see in the movie is not really upto one's expectations!
Monday, March 14, 2005
Weekend by Movies
American pie : the wedding
Good American-teen comedy movie. this movie was as good as 'the road trip', 'euro trip' and the previous american pie releases.
Sean William Scott is tailor made for 'happy-go-lucky' roles. This movie reminded me of another yester-year American-teen comedy movie titled 'the bachelor's party' which featured Tom Hanks. The pranks of Sean and Tom Hanks(in 'the bachelor's party' are strangely similar.
Cellular:
Enjoyable fast-paced action-thriller movie, similar to most of the 'Jerry Bruckheimer' kind. Kim Basinger plays a lead role in this movie.
Shaun of the Dead:
Enjoyable Brit-horror-comedy movie.
British english accent is not so easy to follow, after watching a few hollywood-flicks. So guess one has to concentrate on the dialogues a bit more. Infact felt the same with Minnie Driver's accent in the movie 'Good will hunting'. Brit teleserials like 'Coupling' but surprisingly never had this problem when Boycott or with Mark Nicholas doing the commentary during cricket matches.
Koffee with karan - Preity and Abishek:
This talk-show was not really the best of the KwK. But nevertheless it had a few funny segments.
The legend of the drunken master:
One of those usual Jackie Chan movies in the backdrop of colonial rule.
The hero:
Thought it was a good movie. Splash of colors all around.
The pattern in which 'the defeat of the 3 assasins' are told was good.
The 'splash of colors' reminded me of the movie 'The Cell' which was directed by Tarsem and it featured Jeniffer Lopez. The 'story-telling' part reminded me of an old tamil movie 'antha naal' which had Shivaji Ganesan in the lead-role.
The Manchurian Candidate:
Ordinary movie. Jonanthan Demme has directed this movie.
Guess, the movie is a 'pro-Democrats' movie and would have been handy publicity tool for Democrats against the Republicans. This movie could be funny if you could draw a parallel to the 'vice presidential candidate' in this movie to the current US president 'george w bush'.
Without a paddle:
Good movie of American teen-comedy movie genre.
Burt Reynolds(in a guest role) comes in this movie as some kind of yeti.
A parallel thought, another famous actor who once appeared in a guest role as a 'yeti' was Kabir Bedi in the movie 'Anita and me'.
Good American-teen comedy movie. this movie was as good as 'the road trip', 'euro trip' and the previous american pie releases.
Sean William Scott is tailor made for 'happy-go-lucky' roles. This movie reminded me of another yester-year American-teen comedy movie titled 'the bachelor's party' which featured Tom Hanks. The pranks of Sean and Tom Hanks(in 'the bachelor's party' are strangely similar.
Cellular:
Enjoyable fast-paced action-thriller movie, similar to most of the 'Jerry Bruckheimer' kind. Kim Basinger plays a lead role in this movie.
Shaun of the Dead:
Enjoyable Brit-horror-comedy movie.
British english accent is not so easy to follow, after watching a few hollywood-flicks. So guess one has to concentrate on the dialogues a bit more. Infact felt the same with Minnie Driver's accent in the movie 'Good will hunting'. Brit teleserials like 'Coupling' but surprisingly never had this problem when Boycott or with Mark Nicholas doing the commentary during cricket matches.
Koffee with karan - Preity and Abishek:
This talk-show was not really the best of the KwK. But nevertheless it had a few funny segments.
The legend of the drunken master:
One of those usual Jackie Chan movies in the backdrop of colonial rule.
The hero:
Thought it was a good movie. Splash of colors all around.
The pattern in which 'the defeat of the 3 assasins' are told was good.
The 'splash of colors' reminded me of the movie 'The Cell' which was directed by Tarsem and it featured Jeniffer Lopez. The 'story-telling' part reminded me of an old tamil movie 'antha naal' which had Shivaji Ganesan in the lead-role.
The Manchurian Candidate:
Ordinary movie. Jonanthan Demme has directed this movie.
Guess, the movie is a 'pro-Democrats' movie and would have been handy publicity tool for Democrats against the Republicans. This movie could be funny if you could draw a parallel to the 'vice presidential candidate' in this movie to the current US president 'george w bush'.
Without a paddle:
Good movie of American teen-comedy movie genre.
Burt Reynolds(in a guest role) comes in this movie as some kind of yeti.
A parallel thought, another famous actor who once appeared in a guest role as a 'yeti' was Kabir Bedi in the movie 'Anita and me'.
Wednesday, March 09, 2005
Sehwag and 'as if there is no tomorrow'
Kind of made for each other i.e 'Sehwag and First-Innings'. He has a really high first innings average, which I think is next only to Don.
My friend was telling me that today 'Sehwag is 95/3'- what he meant was he had three lives today. Quite surprisingly, lives hardly matter to Sehwag. He just goes on scoring in a feverish pace 'as if there is no tomorrow'.
This phrase 'as if there is no tomorrow' kind of started a huge clash between Azharuddin(when he was dating Sangeetha Bijlani) and Sunil Gavaskar. Sunny on the commentary box during one-of those usual Sharjah cricket matches on seeing Azharuddin getting himself run-out in a suicidal fashion said 'Azhar is running as if there is no tomorrow'. Azhar had all media against him during that time when media was complaining that he was only behind Sangeetha and not cricket. Azhar got irritated when he came to know that it was of all the people 'Sunny' who made that comment. So Azhar came out bang-bang over Sunny and said making such comments is not expected from a former-player like Sunny. End of the day, both got agreed for a cease-fire.
Hopefully, lets see another Sehwag big-hundred during day 3 of mohali test.
My friend was telling me that today 'Sehwag is 95/3'- what he meant was he had three lives today. Quite surprisingly, lives hardly matter to Sehwag. He just goes on scoring in a feverish pace 'as if there is no tomorrow'.
This phrase 'as if there is no tomorrow' kind of started a huge clash between Azharuddin(when he was dating Sangeetha Bijlani) and Sunil Gavaskar. Sunny on the commentary box during one-of those usual Sharjah cricket matches on seeing Azharuddin getting himself run-out in a suicidal fashion said 'Azhar is running as if there is no tomorrow'. Azhar had all media against him during that time when media was complaining that he was only behind Sangeetha and not cricket. Azhar got irritated when he came to know that it was of all the people 'Sunny' who made that comment. So Azhar came out bang-bang over Sunny and said making such comments is not expected from a former-player like Sunny. End of the day, both got agreed for a cease-fire.
Hopefully, lets see another Sehwag big-hundred during day 3 of mohali test.
Monday, March 07, 2005
The Aviator
Glad I saw this movie yesterday.
Guess, this movie was much better than his earlier one 'Gangs of New York'. Surprising how this biopic missed out in Oscars in Best Picture and Director categories. And Leonardo DiCaprio was quite outstanding in his role.
The movie had lots of trivia. Surprising how one man pushed aviation to what it is now. 'Obsessive compulsive disorder' exhibited by DiCaprio is hard to understand.
In India, the aviation industry got the biggest push from 'JRD TATA'. Guess, a movie about JRD should be made. JRD was be one real disappointed man since Indian bureaucracy is far worse than any USA. And inspite of all this bureaucracy, JRD still managed to do miracles for Indian Aviation industry.
Hoping to see 'Million Dollar Baby' and find out what makes it better than 'The Aviator'. I remember Leonardo in an interview saying that, "It is a joke that Martin Scorcese not getting an Oscar for 'best director'". I believe DiCaprio is right!
Guess, this movie was much better than his earlier one 'Gangs of New York'. Surprising how this biopic missed out in Oscars in Best Picture and Director categories. And Leonardo DiCaprio was quite outstanding in his role.
The movie had lots of trivia. Surprising how one man pushed aviation to what it is now. 'Obsessive compulsive disorder' exhibited by DiCaprio is hard to understand.
In India, the aviation industry got the biggest push from 'JRD TATA'. Guess, a movie about JRD should be made. JRD was be one real disappointed man since Indian bureaucracy is far worse than any USA. And inspite of all this bureaucracy, JRD still managed to do miracles for Indian Aviation industry.
Hoping to see 'Million Dollar Baby' and find out what makes it better than 'The Aviator'. I remember Leonardo in an interview saying that, "It is a joke that Martin Scorcese not getting an Oscar for 'best director'". I believe DiCaprio is right!
Forrest Gump
Best sequences in this movie include:
i. Forrest reaches Jenny's apartment and is happy to see her and her son and says,
forrest:'so you are a mom'
jenny: 'yes, his name is forrest and i named after his father'
forrest couldnt understand that jenny is referring to him
jenny: 'you are his father'
forrest bewildered and finally sits alongwith his son to watch a children's programme.
ii. forrest asking jenny 'will you marry me' and jenny kind of rejects it politely. and now forrest tells jenny that 'yes, maybe i am not smart ...' and goes outside his alabama house and looks hurt
iii. forrest asking jenny to go to 'Alabama' instead of boarding the bus to Berkeley with the student union leader who earlier slapped jenny.
iv. forrest telling to the old lady in the bench, 'so i went to the white house again. to see the president of united states of america ..'
and more...
This movie is a class-act. The first time I saw this movie, I didnt understand much. Then, my knowledge of American History or Music was really bad. and the worst part is I could not even guess that Forrest was a special-child - I guess, then I just didnt concentrate much while watching this movie. When I said 'I didnt like this movie' - my friend Kartik bounced on me! He just could not accept how one could not like 'forrest gump'. Later when I got the 2nd , 3rd ... nth chance to watch this movie... I really started enjoying this movie. This movie really will scare someone out of the theatre for someone who cant appreciate american history/music.
I think Robert Zemicks has made a simple plot a very complex one. He really excelled in the art of interwining Forrest and Jenny with American history/music.
A strange coincidence I noticed in this Robert Zemicks-Tom Hanks movie i.e Forrest Gump and Castaway was the 'scrap-book'. When Forrest visits Jenny's apartment, Jenny shows Forrest the scrap-book with Forrest's run-clippings and similarly when Tom Hanks visits Helen Hunt, Helen shows a scrapbook with the aircrash-news clippings.
i. Forrest reaches Jenny's apartment and is happy to see her and her son and says,
forrest:'so you are a mom'
jenny: 'yes, his name is forrest and i named after his father'
forrest couldnt understand that jenny is referring to him
jenny: 'you are his father'
forrest bewildered and finally sits alongwith his son to watch a children's programme.
ii. forrest asking jenny 'will you marry me' and jenny kind of rejects it politely. and now forrest tells jenny that 'yes, maybe i am not smart ...' and goes outside his alabama house and looks hurt
iii. forrest asking jenny to go to 'Alabama' instead of boarding the bus to Berkeley with the student union leader who earlier slapped jenny.
iv. forrest telling to the old lady in the bench, 'so i went to the white house again. to see the president of united states of america ..'
and more...
This movie is a class-act. The first time I saw this movie, I didnt understand much. Then, my knowledge of American History or Music was really bad. and the worst part is I could not even guess that Forrest was a special-child - I guess, then I just didnt concentrate much while watching this movie. When I said 'I didnt like this movie' - my friend Kartik bounced on me! He just could not accept how one could not like 'forrest gump'. Later when I got the 2nd , 3rd ... nth chance to watch this movie... I really started enjoying this movie. This movie really will scare someone out of the theatre for someone who cant appreciate american history/music.
I think Robert Zemicks has made a simple plot a very complex one. He really excelled in the art of interwining Forrest and Jenny with American history/music.
A strange coincidence I noticed in this Robert Zemicks-Tom Hanks movie i.e Forrest Gump and Castaway was the 'scrap-book'. When Forrest visits Jenny's apartment, Jenny shows Forrest the scrap-book with Forrest's run-clippings and similarly when Tom Hanks visits Helen Hunt, Helen shows a scrapbook with the aircrash-news clippings.
Friday, March 04, 2005
The Sound of Music
This movie is a class-act.
I was under the impression that :
i. this movie is about filthy-rich folks
ii. this movie is hyped-up by an entire generation, who liked the songs in this movie
iii. this movie tells you about the good-things in life without any regard to the not-so-good-things.
iv. this movie is about rich people who get worried with rather trivial things like 'new dress getting dirty' and stuff.
v. this movie is about rich folks who dont know what poverty is.
vi. this movie is about highly-irritating cute little children and their wierd innocence
vii. i dont like these musicals, didnt like 'chicago' for one
and I always thought why would someone watch such a movie.....(all this before I watched this movie)
After I watched this, I found this movie to be a rather-clean movie. I found it very hard to dissect this movie, because this movie is more of packaged-movie feel-good movie than anything else.
Wondered why I am against this feel-good-movies. Somethings like this(feel-good-movies), immediately hits us - 'oh forget it, it cant be true. The are fooling you'
But still inspite of all the negative-feelings that are in the air, one still looks up to these feel-good-movies to get one out-of-the-blues. There really is some magic about these feel-good-movies.
When a recent Govind Nihlani movie starring Amitabh, Fardeen, Kareena got released, it showed the whole society in bad-taste. I didnt see the movie, but read a few reviews about the same. Some journalist questioned Om Puri (another key cast in this movie) as to 'why would someone take a film like this?'(i.e to show the rotten part of our society). Om Puri responded saying that, ' films like these are a necessity'. And according to him it is more important for films like these to be released when feel-good-factor is in the air. According to Om Puri, it is only when there is a 'feel-good-factor is in the air' can people appreciate the 'feel-bad-movies'. I feel Om Puri got it spot on.
I was under the impression that :
i. this movie is about filthy-rich folks
ii. this movie is hyped-up by an entire generation, who liked the songs in this movie
iii. this movie tells you about the good-things in life without any regard to the not-so-good-things.
iv. this movie is about rich people who get worried with rather trivial things like 'new dress getting dirty' and stuff.
v. this movie is about rich folks who dont know what poverty is.
vi. this movie is about highly-irritating cute little children and their wierd innocence
vii. i dont like these musicals, didnt like 'chicago' for one
and I always thought why would someone watch such a movie.....(all this before I watched this movie)
After I watched this, I found this movie to be a rather-clean movie. I found it very hard to dissect this movie, because this movie is more of packaged-movie feel-good movie than anything else.
Wondered why I am against this feel-good-movies. Somethings like this(feel-good-movies), immediately hits us - 'oh forget it, it cant be true. The are fooling you'
But still inspite of all the negative-feelings that are in the air, one still looks up to these feel-good-movies to get one out-of-the-blues. There really is some magic about these feel-good-movies.
When a recent Govind Nihlani movie starring Amitabh, Fardeen, Kareena got released, it showed the whole society in bad-taste. I didnt see the movie, but read a few reviews about the same. Some journalist questioned Om Puri (another key cast in this movie) as to 'why would someone take a film like this?'(i.e to show the rotten part of our society). Om Puri responded saying that, ' films like these are a necessity'. And according to him it is more important for films like these to be released when feel-good-factor is in the air. According to Om Puri, it is only when there is a 'feel-good-factor is in the air' can people appreciate the 'feel-bad-movies'. I feel Om Puri got it spot on.
Thursday, March 03, 2005
Kareena Rani and Karan
Rather a bad topic to blog about.
But last week I saw 'Koffee with Karan' and the guests were Kareena and Rani.
Kareena was intimidated all through the show by Karan and the way she handled those intimidations was kind of funny. And both Rani and Karan kept mentioning "Shahid kapoor's" name all through the interview and Kareena kept blushing all through the show. Quite pathetic to see her this way.
One little trivia about Kareena, 'kareena' in Russian means 'darling'. But got to say, there is nothing really darling about Kareena Kapoor neither is she too daring nowadays.
But last week I saw 'Koffee with Karan' and the guests were Kareena and Rani.
Kareena was intimidated all through the show by Karan and the way she handled those intimidations was kind of funny. And both Rani and Karan kept mentioning "Shahid kapoor's" name all through the interview and Kareena kept blushing all through the show. Quite pathetic to see her this way.
One little trivia about Kareena, 'kareena' in Russian means 'darling'. But got to say, there is nothing really darling about Kareena Kapoor neither is she too daring nowadays.
Tuesday, March 01, 2005
Cricket by Numbers
Today, early morning when I was watching Aus vs NZ 4th ODI in Wellington. When Gillespie bowled his first ball of the match, Fleming flicked it for a four down the legs. Immediately, Ian Smith in commentators box said that the reason behind that could be attributed to the dreaded '87' for Aussies. Incidentally, Gillespie was playing his 87th ODI. Wondered what is so 'crazy' about this 87, so googled a bit and got the below number-information. Guess, this is a must-read for cricket-enthusiasts.
Answers to some hyped-up cricket-numbers(in australian context) is revealed by the this blog. For eg, why is 87 unlucky for aussies, what's the significance of 9994 etc.,
1. 99.94
Don Bradman strode to the wicket at the Oval in 1948 for his last Test innings needing four runs to leave him with a career average of 100. That he fell so tantalisingly short – bowled second ball for a duck – was instantly the stuff of legend, but it failed to stop his average becoming a totemic figure in Australian sport.
Charles Moses, general manager of the ABC for three decades, enshrined the figure in the Australian psyche with his suggestion to include it in the national broadcaster's postal address, which became P.O. Box 9994 in every state capital.
2. 334
Bradman's highest Test score, recognisable to the most casual Australian cricket follower, was compiled at Headingley during his phenomenal Ashes tour in 1930. A few weeks short of his 22nd birthday, Bradman came to the wicket in the second over of the match. By the end of the opening day, he was on 309. His dismissal the next morning heralded a record that would be unthreatened for almost seven decades.
In 1998, at Peshawar in Pakistan, Mark Taylor declared the Australian innings when he was on 334 because he was unwilling to outshine the Don.
3. 501
Brian Lara compiled his unbeaten 501 during a purple patch that only Bradman has matched. Just weeks after posting the then highest Test score, with 375 against England at Antigua, Lara flayed the Durham attack while playing for Warwickshire at Edgbaston. His innings surpassed the 499 that Hanif Mohammad had made for Karachi in 1958 before being run out – attempting a two from the penultimate delivery before stumps. (A mix-up by the scoreboard operators meant that Mohammed thought he was on 496, instead of 498: "I decided to take a couple of twos if a boundary wasn't possible. Had the correct score been shown, I would have planned differently ... I was very upset.")
4. 87
The superstition about Australia' unlucky number supposedly began with Keith Miller, who – aged 10 – went to the MCG to watch Bradman bat for NSW against Victoria during the 1929-30 season. The young Miller's hopes that Bradman would score a ton were dashed when Harry "Bull" Alexander bowled him; in Miller's memory, the Don was on 87, an unlucky 13 runs short of a century.
When Miller began playing district cricket with South Melbourne, he was fielding alongside Ian Johnson in the slips when he commented that many batsmen seemed to be dismissed on 87. In years to come, while playing for Victoria and Australia, Miller and Johnson would nudge each other when a batsman or the team reached that figure.
Richie Benaud later picked up on it and the myth grew. The fact that, all those years ago, the Don had been bowled by the Bull for 89 seemed to make no impact. England's unlucky number, 111, was inspired by Admiral Lord Nelson, an English military hero who, when he died in 1805, was said to have had one eye, one arm and one leg. Umpire David Shepherd acknowledges scores of 111 with a low hop on one leg.
5. 45
Cricket's reputation as the ultimate game for figures received a glorious fillip in 1977 when Australia won the Centenary Test against England at the MCG by 45 runs, the precise margin by which the Australians had won the first Test a century earlier.
For fans prone to poring over exercise books, the 1977 celebratory Test was a colossus, yielding some of the most cherished figures in the game. Besides the winning margin, Derek Randall made 174 on debut and David Hookes struck five consecutive fours off Tony Greig.
6. 16
The West Indies' record of 11 consecutive Test victories, compiled under Clive Lloyd before coming to end in 1984, was eclipsed by the Australians under Steve Waugh. From October 1999 in Harare to March 2001 in Kolkata, the Australians pushed the record out to 16 before V.V.S. Laxman inspired India to victory with an innings of 281, a figure that itself has become totemic.
7. 43
On the flipside of batting excellence, Courtney Walsh's 43 Test ducks is a record that should take some beating. Immediately below him is Shane Warne, on 30, and Glenn McGrath, whose swashbuckling half-century against the Kiwis last weekend was an entertaining distraction from the fact that he has scored a doughnut on 29 occasions.
8. 229
Until January 2003, the lowest individual score never made in Test cricket was 228. That changed when South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs made 228 during a Test against Pakistan in Cape Town. Now, the lowest score never achieved in Test cricket is 229.
9. 356
Michael Slater was so happy with receiving Australia's Test cap No.356 that he got a tattoo of the number, as well as a personalised number plate (MS356) for his new red Ferrari. His pride later turned to horror when he learned that Brendon Julian, who made his debut in the same Test at Old Trafford in 1993, should have been ahead of him on account of alphabetical precedence (as opposed to batting order).
Australian authorities let Slater keep his cap – and tattoo – but ruled that, in future, if more than one player were to make their debuts in the same Test, alphabetical precedence would determine the order of caps.
10. 36
According to James Grant in The Longest Game, Melbourne University batsman Ian Dunne was annoyed at losing his wicket to a rash stroke on 36 during a district cricket match in the 1970s. His response was to hurl his bat against the dressing-room wall and declare: "That was a scum shot."
Before long, not only had Dunne earned the nickname Scum, but mathematicians in the team had begun referring to scores of 36 as "scum". At 18, a batsman was on half-scum. On 72, his score was twoscum, and so on.
The practice circulated throughout Melbourne district ranks, with fractions and multiples of 36 earning much comment. During the 1977-78 Ashes series, which featured two former Melbourne University players in Jim Higgs and Ian Botham, the "Scum phenomenon" achieved new heights when Australia was six for 36 in the first innings before recovering to make 116, thanks to Rodney Hogg's top score of 36. Of course, there were 36 extras. During the next Test, Hogg made 18 and Bob Willis took one for 36. Scum fractions and multiples kept popping up until late in the series, by when 48 was beginning to make its presence felt.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Cricket/The-Ten/2004/11/27/1101495455123.html?from=moreStories&oneclick=true
Answers to some hyped-up cricket-numbers(in australian context) is revealed by the this blog. For eg, why is 87 unlucky for aussies, what's the significance of 9994 etc.,
1. 99.94
Don Bradman strode to the wicket at the Oval in 1948 for his last Test innings needing four runs to leave him with a career average of 100. That he fell so tantalisingly short – bowled second ball for a duck – was instantly the stuff of legend, but it failed to stop his average becoming a totemic figure in Australian sport.
Charles Moses, general manager of the ABC for three decades, enshrined the figure in the Australian psyche with his suggestion to include it in the national broadcaster's postal address, which became P.O. Box 9994 in every state capital.
2. 334
Bradman's highest Test score, recognisable to the most casual Australian cricket follower, was compiled at Headingley during his phenomenal Ashes tour in 1930. A few weeks short of his 22nd birthday, Bradman came to the wicket in the second over of the match. By the end of the opening day, he was on 309. His dismissal the next morning heralded a record that would be unthreatened for almost seven decades.
In 1998, at Peshawar in Pakistan, Mark Taylor declared the Australian innings when he was on 334 because he was unwilling to outshine the Don.
3. 501
Brian Lara compiled his unbeaten 501 during a purple patch that only Bradman has matched. Just weeks after posting the then highest Test score, with 375 against England at Antigua, Lara flayed the Durham attack while playing for Warwickshire at Edgbaston. His innings surpassed the 499 that Hanif Mohammad had made for Karachi in 1958 before being run out – attempting a two from the penultimate delivery before stumps. (A mix-up by the scoreboard operators meant that Mohammed thought he was on 496, instead of 498: "I decided to take a couple of twos if a boundary wasn't possible. Had the correct score been shown, I would have planned differently ... I was very upset.")
4. 87
The superstition about Australia' unlucky number supposedly began with Keith Miller, who – aged 10 – went to the MCG to watch Bradman bat for NSW against Victoria during the 1929-30 season. The young Miller's hopes that Bradman would score a ton were dashed when Harry "Bull" Alexander bowled him; in Miller's memory, the Don was on 87, an unlucky 13 runs short of a century.
When Miller began playing district cricket with South Melbourne, he was fielding alongside Ian Johnson in the slips when he commented that many batsmen seemed to be dismissed on 87. In years to come, while playing for Victoria and Australia, Miller and Johnson would nudge each other when a batsman or the team reached that figure.
Richie Benaud later picked up on it and the myth grew. The fact that, all those years ago, the Don had been bowled by the Bull for 89 seemed to make no impact. England's unlucky number, 111, was inspired by Admiral Lord Nelson, an English military hero who, when he died in 1805, was said to have had one eye, one arm and one leg. Umpire David Shepherd acknowledges scores of 111 with a low hop on one leg.
5. 45
Cricket's reputation as the ultimate game for figures received a glorious fillip in 1977 when Australia won the Centenary Test against England at the MCG by 45 runs, the precise margin by which the Australians had won the first Test a century earlier.
For fans prone to poring over exercise books, the 1977 celebratory Test was a colossus, yielding some of the most cherished figures in the game. Besides the winning margin, Derek Randall made 174 on debut and David Hookes struck five consecutive fours off Tony Greig.
6. 16
The West Indies' record of 11 consecutive Test victories, compiled under Clive Lloyd before coming to end in 1984, was eclipsed by the Australians under Steve Waugh. From October 1999 in Harare to March 2001 in Kolkata, the Australians pushed the record out to 16 before V.V.S. Laxman inspired India to victory with an innings of 281, a figure that itself has become totemic.
7. 43
On the flipside of batting excellence, Courtney Walsh's 43 Test ducks is a record that should take some beating. Immediately below him is Shane Warne, on 30, and Glenn McGrath, whose swashbuckling half-century against the Kiwis last weekend was an entertaining distraction from the fact that he has scored a doughnut on 29 occasions.
8. 229
Until January 2003, the lowest individual score never made in Test cricket was 228. That changed when South African opening batsman Herschelle Gibbs made 228 during a Test against Pakistan in Cape Town. Now, the lowest score never achieved in Test cricket is 229.
9. 356
Michael Slater was so happy with receiving Australia's Test cap No.356 that he got a tattoo of the number, as well as a personalised number plate (MS356) for his new red Ferrari. His pride later turned to horror when he learned that Brendon Julian, who made his debut in the same Test at Old Trafford in 1993, should have been ahead of him on account of alphabetical precedence (as opposed to batting order).
Australian authorities let Slater keep his cap – and tattoo – but ruled that, in future, if more than one player were to make their debuts in the same Test, alphabetical precedence would determine the order of caps.
10. 36
According to James Grant in The Longest Game, Melbourne University batsman Ian Dunne was annoyed at losing his wicket to a rash stroke on 36 during a district cricket match in the 1970s. His response was to hurl his bat against the dressing-room wall and declare: "That was a scum shot."
Before long, not only had Dunne earned the nickname Scum, but mathematicians in the team had begun referring to scores of 36 as "scum". At 18, a batsman was on half-scum. On 72, his score was twoscum, and so on.
The practice circulated throughout Melbourne district ranks, with fractions and multiples of 36 earning much comment. During the 1977-78 Ashes series, which featured two former Melbourne University players in Jim Higgs and Ian Botham, the "Scum phenomenon" achieved new heights when Australia was six for 36 in the first innings before recovering to make 116, thanks to Rodney Hogg's top score of 36. Of course, there were 36 extras. During the next Test, Hogg made 18 and Bob Willis took one for 36. Scum fractions and multiples kept popping up until late in the series, by when 48 was beginning to make its presence felt.
Source: http://www.theage.com.au/news/Cricket/The-Ten/2004/11/27/1101495455123.html?from=moreStories&oneclick=true
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