Written by Mark Haddon, the book is designed as the diary entries of an autistic boy, living with a single parent. He starts writing the entries after a curious incident happens in the neighbourhood - where his neighbour's dog is killed and he is held as suspect because the neighbour saw him peering over the dead body of her pet.
Even though he is brought away by his father, he harps on trying to find out who the killer. The diary goes on to show things that happened in his life and how he reacts to certain things and what he views and thinks of things.
Read the book to find out who the killer of the dog and how come his father is single. It was very interesting viewpoint of how autism affects individuals and what happens in their minds. The author works with autistic individuals and has brought out a good flavour of what actually would have happened in the life of an autistic individual. Definitely a good read. Thanks to ST for recommending it to me...
Sunday, September 2, 2007
Gangs of New York
I wanted to watch this movie amidst much hype since Leonardo DiCaprio and Cameron Diaz were much appreciated for their role in this movie, but it was nothing but violent bloodshed all along.
new York was apparently split between the immigrants and the natives. The natives were mostly immigrants who had arrived earlier than the immigrants, who were mainly composed of Britishers, who left their homeland, because of the bad economy. With an explicit fight, a priest representing the immigrants fought with the Butcher, representing the natives and the Butcher won. Butcher becomes the reigning power in the area. Nothing happens without him. The priest's son is taken to an orphanage.
Priest's son, Leo, returns after many years and with some hard work becomes the right hand for the Butcher. He keeps looking for the right opportunity to strike him down. He finds love in Cameron. But his friend, who was in love with Cameron feels betrayed and exposes Leo's truth to the Butcher. Butcher nearly kills him, but leaves him almost breathing. Cameron takes care of him where his father used to live before. After recovery and loss of lives on both sides, Leo finally kills Butcher during a military fire haze.
The story was just killing over killing. Unbelievable to know that people just killed each other for fun. Of course, this is still happening, but the disregard for human life is so disgusting that after a while, this movie was so annoying to watch in itself. In one of the scenes, a candidate on the immigrant's side almost welcomes the Butcher to talk with him over tea, only to be killed by him. WHY? Why would any sane man, let down him guard and turn his back to a man who is known to kill his victims, especially if he is displeased with you in the election. I thought that was the stupidest candidate ever. In short, an interesting and attractive title, an attractive cast, but too much violence to behold. Worth a pass.
new York was apparently split between the immigrants and the natives. The natives were mostly immigrants who had arrived earlier than the immigrants, who were mainly composed of Britishers, who left their homeland, because of the bad economy. With an explicit fight, a priest representing the immigrants fought with the Butcher, representing the natives and the Butcher won. Butcher becomes the reigning power in the area. Nothing happens without him. The priest's son is taken to an orphanage.
Priest's son, Leo, returns after many years and with some hard work becomes the right hand for the Butcher. He keeps looking for the right opportunity to strike him down. He finds love in Cameron. But his friend, who was in love with Cameron feels betrayed and exposes Leo's truth to the Butcher. Butcher nearly kills him, but leaves him almost breathing. Cameron takes care of him where his father used to live before. After recovery and loss of lives on both sides, Leo finally kills Butcher during a military fire haze.
The story was just killing over killing. Unbelievable to know that people just killed each other for fun. Of course, this is still happening, but the disregard for human life is so disgusting that after a while, this movie was so annoying to watch in itself. In one of the scenes, a candidate on the immigrant's side almost welcomes the Butcher to talk with him over tea, only to be killed by him. WHY? Why would any sane man, let down him guard and turn his back to a man who is known to kill his victims, especially if he is displeased with you in the election. I thought that was the stupidest candidate ever. In short, an interesting and attractive title, an attractive cast, but too much violence to behold. Worth a pass.
Sivapathigaaram
With Vishal, a new face for heroine and Raghuvaran as the main set of characters, the movie is about the faulty system of Indian voting.
Raghuvaran returns to his village with his daughter, with the intention of publishing village tunes and songs, that are passed along the generations by word of mouth. Vishal comes to the village as his research assistant. However, they seem to be having something secretive to talk about from time to time.
Election time is nearing, but all the candidates seem to be murdered one after another, until there are no more candidates left and the ones alive are withdrawing the nominations. An Arjun-look-a-like cop is involved in the investigation of the murders and tracks down the professor and the student.
Flashback shows Vishal to be an A student in college and Raghuvaran, his professor. Instead of the usual theoretical studies, Raghu brings a practical aspect to his project. As the election was nearing, the students are encouraged to publish pre-election likes. As the publication outlined, the election is diverted. The ex-ruling party is enraged and as a revenge carries out a mass murder at Vishal's school. Vishal is vengeful, but Raghu calms him down to take a stronger revenge.
The movie was a typical Vishal movie with big punch dialogues for a hero who looks like a college lad, supposed to be studying, instead of bashing up big guys. Interesting message about having criteria for politicians, who are interested to govern the nation, but could have packaged better. The heroine had almost nothing to do. Raghuvaran is definitely looking punier and older and seems like he is going to snap a bone if he moves too much. An OK story, but I could have taken a raincheck.
Raghuvaran returns to his village with his daughter, with the intention of publishing village tunes and songs, that are passed along the generations by word of mouth. Vishal comes to the village as his research assistant. However, they seem to be having something secretive to talk about from time to time.
Election time is nearing, but all the candidates seem to be murdered one after another, until there are no more candidates left and the ones alive are withdrawing the nominations. An Arjun-look-a-like cop is involved in the investigation of the murders and tracks down the professor and the student.
Flashback shows Vishal to be an A student in college and Raghuvaran, his professor. Instead of the usual theoretical studies, Raghu brings a practical aspect to his project. As the election was nearing, the students are encouraged to publish pre-election likes. As the publication outlined, the election is diverted. The ex-ruling party is enraged and as a revenge carries out a mass murder at Vishal's school. Vishal is vengeful, but Raghu calms him down to take a stronger revenge.
The movie was a typical Vishal movie with big punch dialogues for a hero who looks like a college lad, supposed to be studying, instead of bashing up big guys. Interesting message about having criteria for politicians, who are interested to govern the nation, but could have packaged better. The heroine had almost nothing to do. Raghuvaran is definitely looking punier and older and seems like he is going to snap a bone if he moves too much. An OK story, but I could have taken a raincheck.
Happy Feet
Here's the story of Mumble, the penguin that can't sing. When still an egg, Mumble's father, Memphis, drops him for a short while and because of that Mumble can't sing. As he grows, his parents worry that Mumble will never find his soulmate, as soulmates are chosen on the basis of their Heartsong. Growing up, he has only his parents and his friend, Gloria, to turn to. After a series of mishaps one day, he is brought to a new colony where three Amigos befriend him.
When Mumble returns, it is mating season, and he succeeds in attracting Gloria and starts tap dancing with the rest of the penguins following him. However, the group's elders frown upon it and see the lack of fish to be a punishment for dancing and banish Mumble.
Mumble is determined to get to the root of the problem. He follows a huge fishing vessel and is finally sent to a zoo, where her tries to communicate, after a long period of inactivity, by tap dancing. He catches their attention and he is let to go back to his colony. When he reaches his colony, all of the other penguins start dancing together and the humans transmit this surprise and everyone come together to discuss what this could mean. Finally the humans decide never to fish in the area and the penguins are left free to their food.
A very cute story - of course with Jackman as one of the voices singing, little doubt could be present on whether the characters would be attractive! Although the story was flowing well, I just couldn't see the connection between penguin tap dance and leave my colony food theory. But other than that, an interesting story in comparison to many of the boring ones that get released out there.
When Mumble returns, it is mating season, and he succeeds in attracting Gloria and starts tap dancing with the rest of the penguins following him. However, the group's elders frown upon it and see the lack of fish to be a punishment for dancing and banish Mumble.
Mumble is determined to get to the root of the problem. He follows a huge fishing vessel and is finally sent to a zoo, where her tries to communicate, after a long period of inactivity, by tap dancing. He catches their attention and he is let to go back to his colony. When he reaches his colony, all of the other penguins start dancing together and the humans transmit this surprise and everyone come together to discuss what this could mean. Finally the humans decide never to fish in the area and the penguins are left free to their food.
A very cute story - of course with Jackman as one of the voices singing, little doubt could be present on whether the characters would be attractive! Although the story was flowing well, I just couldn't see the connection between penguin tap dance and leave my colony food theory. But other than that, an interesting story in comparison to many of the boring ones that get released out there.
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