Two Movies worth watching ....

I saw two very different movies during the last week and both the movies are worth watching. Firstly, I saw 'The Bourne Ultimatum' and in one word the movie is 'exhilarating'. It is an extremely fast paced action extravaganza which simply sweeps you off your feet. In particular, the action sequence in Morocco is very well shot. The extensive use of modern technology in CIA as depicted in the film keeps you on the edge of your seats all through. Not for a moment do you take your eyes off the screen in this fun roller-coaster ride.

The other movie I saw was Shahrukh Khan's 'Chak De India'. The movie promos seemed promising and the movie itself was very well made. For movies which depict sports and sporting action on a field, it is extremely necessary that the camera pans well and angles are switched rapidly which makes them look as a continuous sequence of events. The movie not only achieves that but for me, its one of the best shot sports based films ever. The direction and screenplay are quite apt and there is no room for unnecessary distractions in the script. As far as performances are concerned, SRK packs in quite a punch as Coach Kabir Khan. This one is definately for the critics to take a note of. The other characters also look very natural on the screen and the film does raise a few pertinent questions intermittently. It is another addition to the list of different yet well depicted movies to come from Bollywood during the last few years.

Not so rare but a special win!

India's win over England in the second test at Trentbridge has been a special one for more reasons than one. As it's been pointed out that India has won quite a few away tests (16 since 2000) makes it not a rarity anymore. This one will be more special if we manage to hang in there in the third test and win a series in England after 20 years. This one is a memorable win as this is the last tour for Sachin, Sourav and Rahul(most probably) and they would like to end it with a test series win. England has always been a special place for these three guys as they have scored some memorable hundreds here.
I remember the Sachin hundred at Edgebaston in 1996 (on the same tour were Rahul and Sourav made debuts). That time a lack of a third seamer and ineffective Kumble cost us the series. I had similar doubts this time though I do expect Kumble to fare better these days. Last tour in 2002, these three made hundreds at Headingley and helped India draw a series. This time nothing but a win would sufice. I am also looking forward to India's tour of Australia this winter as it would give our heroes a last chance to set the record straight down under. I call them heroes as they have carried a generation of cricket lovers on their own over the last decade or so. No matter how much each one of them has been criticized, the fact remains that we have lived their moments and savored them in victory and defeat.
So here's wishing them a great match at the Oval and let's get the trophy home this time!