The Dark Knight changed a lot of things. It made Batman much more acceptable to the adult audience. It made history by being based-on-a-comic-book and almost toppling Godfather as the number one movie of all time. The brilliance of Christopher Nolan (who I admire since his year 2000’s Memento) proved that the so-called movie critics and the general audience do have things in common after all. The Dark Knight, also, on a much smaller note, made me re-evaluate my movie voting scale of 1 to 10. The bar was definitely raised

Ever since, I have become overly critical of cinema. My previous 9-ers now dropped to late 7s. The average “awesome” movie now scored between a 7 and an 8. And the 10s just dropped from the radar. I think I finally realized the importance of an excellent story and even better character development, not ignoring the direction.

Speaking of character development, Korean cinema and Japanese literate have enthralled me since a long time. I personally admire the sense of serenity they manage to convey so majestically. Each scene is like a painted piece of art; each character having its shades of gray, living in a perpetual world of sadness. Personally, I feel American cinema is way too biased on action. Even in love stories everybody always seem to run around a lot.  I doubt anybody would have seen any Korean characters run. They walk - slowly.

Now my quest to find that elusive perfect 10 led to have high expectations of this Korean movie I’ve been long meaning to see but somehow kept neglecting since a while now. The first of the Vengeance Trilogy by director Chan-wook Park called Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance (Boksuneun naui geot). The director may sound familiar to those who consider Oldboy a masterpiece. (Those who think otherwise, I would request, to  go watch it.) Coming back to the reason behind this rant, Sympathy for Mr. Vengeance is, basically, about a kidnapping gone wrong. It is the director’s masterful tackling of reasons behind it and the its aftermath that make this cinematic piece a real pleasure to watch. The characters are simply beautiful, albeit a bit too violent. Vengeance is everywhere; but keeping up the traditions of Korean cinema, even the most intense moments appear as serene as ever. The real blows are hardly shown although the flowing blood is never ignored, giving the viewer his own interpretation of the bloodbath, which sits well with me since I am a graduated from the school of Implicit is always good (someone please send Eli Roth there). The story leaves no stone unturned in being a true never-boring-for-a-single-moment thriller, and the director makes sure to package it all extermely well. Happy happy joy joy - finally another 10.

P.S.: My only regret after watching this movie is that I’m running out of the ever-so-elusive south-east Asian cinema recommendations. Somebody be kind enough to gift me some, please.

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Terrorists struck India, yet again; this time the financial capital, in a well-coordinated attack. Multiple places in Mumbai were attacked, mostly tourist destinations - Cafe Leopold, Taj Hotel, Oberio Hotel, the CST station. Hundreds are killed, many more injured. Blood of innocents flows on the streets, once again.

The shit seen in action movies is becoming all too real too often these days. Terrorists calmly arrive at a port in a boat full of weapons of all sorts, and then go on a rampage in a major metropolitan city. They blow up hotels, shoot innocent people, take hostages and what not. Supposedly they didn’t even have any demands this time around. They just want to cause chaos, to get publicity. Embracing martyrdom for a deluded cause - the killings of innocents.

The response towards them is scarier. Politicians just “condemns” them. Security agencies mention had an inkling of this happening. But thats it!! Lives are lost and eventually, things just go back to normal. Not that anyone knows what normal is anymore. And then in a few days’ time, some kids with guns come running into your house and shoot you down.

Seriously, what is India coming to. After the recent bomb blasts in Delhi, one has to pass though metal detectors and heavy security to get into Central Park at Connaught Place - TO GET INTO A PARK! Sure it is required but at the same time it enlightens this sense of shit-can-happen anytime, anywhere. Its rather unfortunate that Mumbai is the epicenter of all this chaos, once again. As if the city didn’t already have its share of floods and anti-Nationalist politicians havocing it every now and then. God save us all.

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Today I lost the thing I hold most dear in this world. I lost it for about a minute or so. Time stood still. I felt incomplete.

I ran, literally, searching in the darkness; in the crowd of savages surrounding me. For a moment I caught sight of it somewhere but then it was gone, again. It seemed almost as if it didn’t want to be found, punishing me for not being more careful with it.

I finally saw it again at the corner of the world and tread violent rivers to reach it. Finally it was mine once more. Finally mine to hold ever so dearly against my heart and never let go of again. For I want not to feel that emptiness inside of me, never again.

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Thanks for washing my underwear. But you tore them.
I’m sorry.
That’s okay. I made a smaller pair out of them - for you.
Thanks, dad.
Does that mean you’re not wearing any underpants?
I don’t mind. It’s cooler.

 
[Legend Of The Red Dragon]

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I just finished watching Season 2 of the most shocking TV Series ever - Dexter. It delves into the mind of a vigilante serial killer with a strict code of honour, with the ever so important first rule being ‘Don’t get caught’.

Last year, at a time when I worshiped Lost and Lost alone, a friend of mine introduced me to this series and I was instantly hooked. I had seen nothing like it before. The initial episodes were a little stomach churning and made me wonder how they ever showed such things on the idiot box, but the story was top-notch; not to mention the amazingly devil-incarnated actor playing the nefarious protagonist.

I was very reluctant to start with the 2nd season after such a wonderfully explosive season 1 of the show. With my mile high expectations, it would only let me down but I guess I was wrong. The writers have successfully managed to pull off another 10 hours of pure drama. Ofcourse, it feels pretty weird rooting for a serial killer to make his next kill, but its a refreshing change to have such shows, no matter how unconventional they are. I, for one, await what new twists and turns lay ahead in Season 3.

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After Saturday plans of visiting the night capital of Cyprus - Ayia Napa - went disastrously down the drain, Sunday morning was well spent visiting the mountains of Troodos. Since, everything is usually a hour’s drive away in the country of Cyprus, this was no exception, being about 60 kms from Limassol.

Troodos is usually known as a skiing spot during winters but never-the-less a scenic drive up the mountains was worth the visit in this off-season.

Rajat, my fellow blogger residing in Cyprus, was gracious enough to serve as a guide on this excursion. Thank God for that, else we would have missed the most fun part of the trip - the 1 km trek up to the Kalidona waterfalls. Indeed, a waterfall is a wonderful sight to behold.

The trek down was followed by lunch at the nearby town of Platres which hosts multiple inns just for filling the stomachs of the hungry travelers passing by. Overall, it was a wonderful trip filled with scenic beauty.

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12th October 2008 A drive to the mountain-side town of Troodos, a trek to the Kaledona Waterfall and lunch at Platres

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Right in front of my office seat here in Cyprus, is a huge window from which one can clearly see the street below. And right in front is a traffic intersection. Being a small T-junction in the town area, there is no red-light and the drivers are meant to look-and-go.

Now the concept of look-and-go is so non-existent in India that from the very day I took this seat, half of my time is spent looking out the window at the intersection expecting cars to run into each other. (That and ogling at the pretty women walking on the streets!)

Anyway, on the 13th day I can claim to have tasted the sweet taste of success. There was finally an accident!! YIPPEE!!! PARTY TIME!!!!

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8th October 2008 Cars colliding! Mayhem everywhere!!

Thanks to all who showed faith in me. I am glad to have lived up to your expectations.

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One interesting thing I noticed about Cypriot (or is it Greek) cuisine is that even though the meal composition can be compared with Indian meals, the order of the starters and the main course is exchanged.

Take notice of the starter menu in Cyprus called ‘Meze’ which consists of infinitely many dips with peta bread which is like the indian roti and gravy main course. This is followed by some kebabs (chicken/lamb/fish/octopus) main course which is like the tandoori starters in India. Quite similar in all aspects, except for the fact that, unfortunately, the wine culture is still absent in India.

Anyway, the outcome of this little discovery is that one can easily feel at home in Cyprus. Its just about telling the waiters to bring the main course before the starters.

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I’ve been interested in Greek mythology for a while now so my trip to Cyprus made me very excited about visiting some places included in these tales.

Cyprus, fortunately, was the birth place of Aphrodite, the Goddess of Love. Supposedly born fully grown, she had emerged from the waters of Cyprus at a place called Petra Tou Romiou (The Rock of Aphrodite). So this was the place I was interested in visiting.

Being just 30 minutes away from where I was staying (Limassol), it was a stop over on the drive to the harbour town of Paphos. But alas, as is with all things that raise one’s expectations, this turned out to be quite a disappointment for me. I was atleast hoping for a statue or a museum dedicated to Aphrodite at the place of her birth, but what I found instead was a rock. I think its entirely my fault for expecting something out of a place which includes the word ‘Rock’ in its name. But anyway, it was a fun drive and having snacks sitting at a habour in Paphos was reward enough.

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5th October 2008 Drive down to The Rock of Aphrodite and Pafos

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Only recently have I realised how important it is to eat healthy. It started last year on my trip to London when I hogged on a lot of processed cheese-based items bought off the super market there to survive. My dinners consisted of pastas, lasagna, chocolates and what not. Obviously I came back a lot heavier.

Now the saying which goes something like “Fat people are happy people” is true I guess because I was pretty happy. But that saying is only half true with the latter part being “…but their girlfriends/wives are not!” So it started - the nagging. Ofcourse there is no finger-pointing here. I would (probably) do the same if it were vice-versa. Actually I’m pretty sure I would definitely nag if my GF turned 5 kgs fatter in a month.

This started the whole gymming routing. Ofcourse, I’ve always wanted to join the gym but my laziness always stood by the road block. But the thought of being single again (after 9 years!) somehow managed to break through. So I ran. I ran like the wind. And in a couple of months’ time I was back in my good old lean  not-so-mean shape. But the running made me realise how difficult it was to lose weight and how much effort goes in reversing that single bar of chocolate intake.

Hence, this time when I came to Cyprus for a month, my first visit to the supermarket resulted in me buying some roasted meat, light cheese slices, skimmed milk, lots of orange juice, brown bread and even some lettuce. Yes mom, be proud - lettuce. And so far, for the past 2 days I’ve stuck to this healthy regime, in the hope of not repeating my last year’s fiasco (see post topic for my breakfast menu ). Lets see how long it lasts. I’ll be sure to post the results here in a month’s time.

And here is a pic of my lunch in office. Its lots of green veggies goodness and a HUGE glass of cold coffee.

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