Woo, I’m only getting a ‘Partly Cloudy‘ at best in the next 10 days. And here’s me thinking it’s summer already. I predict that after this summer downpour is over, it’s going to heat up like hell on earth. Oh well, this is what you get for fucking with mother nature.
Last night something occurred to me, and it
changed my perspective on religion. And no if you think the change was for the
better; you are wrong. It made me want to be free of my religion, or ANY
religion for that matter.
I’ve always been a Muslim for all my life.
Granted, I never actually practice it, but when people asked I’ve always said
"I’m a Muslim." And I always try to defend it if people talk about it
in a negative light in front of me. As wretched and far-off from my religion as
I am, I still have that sense of pride and belonging to it.
However, after a random Muslim dude just waved a
kitchen knife in front of me last night - it just killed almost every ounce of
respect I have for my religion. I feel so ashamed. I had to defend myself from
my religion, and I think I only scraped through unscratched because I told him
I was a Muslim as well. Where is the logic in that?
He told me about Theo van Gogh. And how van Gogh was shot 4 times, because he made a documentary about his fucking religion. And he told me how the man who killed van Gogh is
a fucking hero. And that he, like the man who shot van Gogh, is also a
fighter, a fucking soldier. A hero, a soldier, a fighter for his fucking
religion. MY fucking religion.
He also asked me whether or not I know what his religion
is. And he asked me about mine. I told him I know what his religion is, I know
the name of his God, and I told him that it is the same as mine. He was not
convinced. He asked me to say the Shahadah, and I did. He was still not that
convinced. I told him I went to Mecca once.
Thank God (OR LACK THEREOF) he believed me, and the conversation turned
somewhat a bit friendlier.
But all this happened with him having a kitchen
knife tucked on his pants’ waist. At one point he flashed it to me, but I was
on my I-am-not-looking-for-trouble, I-just-want-to-get-home mode and
just looked down while walking so I didn’t see it.
A few minutes later, I think he noticed I didn’t
see it, so he decided to waved it around. The knife was never pointed at me,
and it was never really near me, but seriously: How comfortable would
you be if a random, drunk stranger is talking to you about how he thinks a murderer is a
hero while holding a knife, at 1 am???? As far as I am concerned, had I been much more camp and not a Muslim, he could’ve slit my throat. Who knows?
And with that, I am now ready to fully abandon
the teachings of Islam. Don’t get me wrong here, I still do believe there is a
God. But that is all there is to it.
I just do not think I want to follow ANY religion
teaching that hatches crazy lunatics. And I do not think I want to follow ANY
religion based on violence, punishment and threat.
I KNOW, I am being completely ignorant, and I
also know how it is the people who practice are to blame, not the religion. But
you don’t reap if you don’t sow, if you know what I mean. I mean, there
has to be a source, a glimmer, or a just a hint of twisted teaching for all
this to be happening.
I seriously think that life would be much easier;
the world would be a much peaceful place if no (organized) religions exist.
Heck, I think the world would be a much better place if we are all hippies, and
just gather around a fire and sing songs.
So from now on, if anyone asks me this: "What’s
your religion?", I will answer with this: "That depends, are
you wielding a knife?"
I know it’s only halfway through the year, but I am almost certain
that this particular song will be on my top 3 songs of 2007, if not the
actual chart-topper. One of the reason for this is that upon the first
few times I heard this song, it gave me serious chills. And the song also contains my favorite line of the moment:
"All of my friends who think that I’m blessed - they don’t know my head is a mess"
Seriously, give her a listen. I’ve been enjoying her songs since her
last album, but this new song from the new album just blows me away.
And apparently it’s not just me, this track was featured quite heavily
in Grey’s Anatomy as well.
But enough talking, all quiet now:
Please give a warm round of applause to Miss Brandi Carlile!
I’m pretty sure I have said this before, but just to be sure, here’s a public service announcement for you:
Daily Friendster Horoscope Is The Bomb.
Be warned: when it becomes suspiciously specific in its explanation, there is a big chance that all that is not bullshit. Furthermore, due to its God-like accuracy, it needs to be worshiped.
Case in point: On Sunday, June 10, (today), the friendly Friendster astrologers from the heavens above sent me this:
"All those ambiguous conversations you’ve been having with someone will end today. It’s time for you to say ’so long’ to those ambiguous and
flirtatious conversations you’ve been having with that certain someone.
They’ve been quite enjoyable, but they have also been a bit of a waste
of time, haven’t they? For better or for worse, today you two are going
to get to the heart of the matter and clarify what you can (or cannot)
be to each other. Resist the urge to say only what you think this
person wants to hear. Be true to yourself and to what you want."
Needless to say, it was true accross the board. In fact, it is so precise that it is utterly scary.
Anyhow, speaking of the outcome of it; even if I saw it coming, it still hurts.
I stumbled upon this website (http://thesurrealist.co.uk/slogan/) while on assignment to create some slogans for the company I’m working in right now.
Go check that website, and put any word you want in the box, and the Advertising Slogan Generator will make you one! Convenient, no? Well, not really, since the slogans are real slogans that were once / are still used. But it’s entertaining as hell.
Some of them slogans are so ridiculous, some have so much sexual undertones, and some ajust don’t explain anything about the product that I seriously wonder how the ad execs could have OK-ed it to be used as actual slogans.
I used my own name of course (narcissistic much?), and here’s a few of my fave results:
I Saw Jez and I Thought of You.
(Awww. How corny, lol)Strong And Beautiful, Just Like Jez.
(I cannot disagree with them on this, naturally)Strong Enough For a Man, Made For a Jez.
(This one sounds familiar, anyone knows?)Men Can’t Help Acting On Jez.
(I wish this was true)Give That Man a Jez.
(Same here. Hear hear!)The Real Smell of Jez
(Seriously now, how is this slogan supposed to help the sales of an actual product?)I Can’t Believe I Ate the Whole Jez.
(Nope, I can’t believe it either! Anyway, speaking of being eaten, mmm. Hahaha!)
Anyhoo, I find this shit mildly entertaining. Woo.
Pirates of the Carribean: At World’s End - A Review
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Oh my I don’t know how to begin with this movie. I really don’t, so I won’t. Believe me. I was in awe. Sure the movie is not perfect:
- it’s looong (people with short attention span beware!)
- the story might be too complicated for some (but hey, it’s an action fantasy, and you are confused? Are you 10?? Try concentration sometimes)
- it has it’s own serving of serious cheese on it (a nod to Spider-Man 3)
But hot damn, it’s still very very enjoyable, and highly satisfying. Also, the special effect team needs their Oscars - NOW! Let me tell you this though: It takes top-notch craftsmanship to make a movie that clocks in on
almost 3 hours with little to none boring scenes. Not even borderline
boredom.
If you can only afford to watch one summer blockbuster (aww poor you! HAHA), go see this one. That is why I am giving this movie a 9/10. Just go see it, OK?
One last note:
I hope I don’t spoil anything, but I am not so sure with the possibility of a fourth movie. The ending was great, and they leave it open for Jack to journey further, which is fine. BUT, as much as I want to see this franchise again, I really don’t see how they can create a storyline bigger than this one (HUGE). I mean, why make another movie if you can just end it with a big, loud, bright, fantastic bang?
The Namesake - A Review
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I read The Namesake about 2 years ago, and it was damn good. I don’t know about you, but stories about family have always have a place in my heart, so I was apprehensive when I heard that the book is getting a movie treatment. I mean, it’s always hard to translate a good book into film reels, and I do not want to be completely disappointed.
Sure as hell the movie is not as good as the book, but thank God, I wasn’t disappointed. Now on to the review! WARNING: SPOILERS.
The Namesake tells the story of an Indian immigrant family living in America. Ashima was a lovely young girl who like singing traditional Indian songs when Ashoke came with his parents to propose her. Arranged marriage was normal (and probably still is) back then. Ashoke had been living for some time in the US, and if Ashima accept him, she would move to America with him.
And she did. Before long, they had a child, a boy. When asked for a name by the hospital official, they could not give one because they were still waiting for their elders to send them a ‘good name’. But the baby and Ashima had to get out of the hospital, so they had to think of a ‘pet name’ which would be changed later. So Ashoke named the baby Gogol, taken from the last name of his favorite author. Of course, there is another, and much more significant reason why he named his son after the Russian writer.
Everything went well, and the name did not cause any trouble whatsoever. Gogol, who had become accustomed to the name, rejected the option to change his name into Nikhil, his good name. But then again, he was not even 5 when he said that.
Of course he grew up, and then there was high school. Gogol started to get teased for his name, and began to regret not changing his name years ago.
That is pretty much where the book and the movie got their title from. But there are more stories than just that:
There are Gogol’s relationships - with Maxine, an American girl, and with Moushumi, also from Bengali descent. Ashima’s struggle to live in this strange new world called America. Ashoke’s past and what made Gogol the writer so important to him. Ashoke & Ashima’s sacrifice to give their children better chances in life. Gogol & his sister, Sonia’s discovery and acceptance of their cultural backgrounds. The impending family deaths. And of course, the name itself.
The movie has a very warm feel to it, I think Mira Nair did a great job in capturing the essence of the book. I also appreciate the fact that there were quite a lot of dialogs that are taken directly from the book, unchanged. The performance of the actors was also great. I did not expect Kal Penn (who’s history of movies mostly include comedies) to be able to portray Gogol well, but he did a good job. And of course the stand out star is Tabu, who plays Ashima. Her acting was so subtle, but so powerful. I also has to point out that the music is superb. It mixes Indian traditional music with modern elements, not surprising considering that Nitin Sawhney was responsible for it.
Of course it’s not all praise. The negative: I feel as if there are parts of the movie that felt rushed, including the ending. However, on the other hand I feel the movie is a bit long. So I don’t know, in a way I feel things are left out, but I feel as if it was a bit overdrawn at times. I am conflicted, but that is all I can think of on the negative side.
Anyway, this movie made my eyes misty for no less than 2 different points (probably more, not sure). Maybe it’s just me and my general weakness for family stories, but seriously, any movie that can bring me close to tears is well worth watching.
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Verdict:
If the last note before the end credits did not make you want to do more for your parents, than I don’t know what will. Please please please DO NOT pass this movie JUST because it has Indian background. An 8/10.
How HAWTTTT is this??
No, seriously. I can’t believe it!
I am so aroused by it - even though it does not have nudity, or even any slight obvious sexual activity whatsoever!
Mmmm.
I think I’m turning to be a bearcub-aficionado. I already have some growth on my face, but oh I am so growing a full beard now.
Notes on a Scandal - A Review
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I find Notes on a Scandal to be a somewhat disturbing movie. It’s stellar,
but it is also disturbing.
Not in the gore-and-blood-fest kind of
disturbing. Not in the sexual-pervert kind of disturbing. Not in the sex-with-an-underage
kind of disturbing (which is part of what this movie is about). But in the you-are-my-bestfriend,
and-I’ll-do-anything-to-keep-it-that-way.
WARNING: SPOILERS
ABOUND!
In
short, Notes on a Scandal tells the story of unlikely relationships:
The first relationship is the friendship of Barbara, an old and extremely
lonely history teacher and Sheba, a new
arts teacher. Barbara is stern, introverted, not well liked, and does not have
any friends except her cat and her many journals. While Sheba is young,
beautiful, candid, nice, and married with children - almost an exact opposite
of Barbara.The second relationship is where the
‘scandal‘ in the title comes from. It is between Sheba and her
15 year old student, Stephen. Even though Sheba is married and happy, she seems
to be bored by her husband - at least in the romance/sexual department. This is
because what Sheba and Stephen do, in Stephen’s
very own 15 year old words: is fucking.
Unfortunately, Barbara, who feels very happy now
that she has a friend, found out about this affair. She has the choice of telling it
to the principal thus making Sheba fired and
eventually jailed, or keep her mouth shut.
She
choose to do the latter, but because that would benefit her. Barbara believes
that Sheba
will forever be indebted to her forever, and will always be her friend forever.
She confronts Sheba
about this and tells her she will not tell a soul if Sheba
breaks off the affair immediately. Sheba promised to do so, but soon
enough she is having sex again with Stephen. Barbara eventually finds out
again, but more promises are made and things get better.
That is until Barbara feels betrayed. Having no friends all her life, Barbara
is terrifyingly clingy towards Sheba. This is
where things get real creepy. She would go to Sheba
’s house almost on every possible occasion
and would touch Sheba
as much as she can. Barbara would do anything for Sheba
and thinks Sheba would do to and feels Sheba
is her ultimate soulmate.
So when Sheba is unable to accompany her when Barbara’s cat died, Barbara is utterly
devastated and vowed to take revenge: she passed the scandal to someone else.
Eventually
everyone knows, Sheba is
fired, runs away from her family and is on trial. However she does not know
that Barbara is the one who caused this, she thought that Stephen told someone
because she finally broke up with him to retaliate.
So how does it all end? Will Sheba finally
be jailed? Will Sheba find out who ratted her out? Where will Sheba & Barbara’s friendship go?
Well
let me tell you this: there are some intense scenes with a lot of shouting,
screaming and tears towards the end.
Notes
on a Scandal is a must see. Yes it is a narrative drama, but it is definitely
not boring. It is so fast paced and well structured, you will want to know what
will happen to the characters.
The acting is superb by both leading actress, I
can see why Judi Dench got yet another Oscar nomination because of this. Her
potrayal of Barbara’s severe loneliness is so believable, it’s uncomfortable to
watch at times. That, ladies and gentlemen, is what great acting and directing
can do to you. It’s also scary to see what loneliness can make people do.
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Verdict:
A very good, fast-paced, disturbing drama with top-notch acting. I give it 8/10.
