White House Down Movie Review

      It's been a while since I wrote last. Sorry about that. I was trying to finish a "project" by the end of June.... all I can say about that write now is that at least I made some progress.... I guess I can tell you about that, but maybe later...
      For this post, I would like to share a new movie that just came out today. It is called White House Down, with Channing Tatum and Jamie Fox. First I will tell you what it was about, and then I will provide a review by someone in cyberspace who saw it and then wrote a review. Yes, I know that I should be doing these things for myself, but I didn't have the time this week. So I am borrowing the work of others.... So this is how the story goes: Capitol Policeman John Cale has just been denied his dream job with the Secret Service of protecting President James Sawyer. Not wanting to let down his little girl with the news, he takes her on a tour of the White House, when the complex is overtaken by a heavily armed paramilitary group. Now, with the nation's government falling into chaos and time running out, it's up to Cale to save the president, his daughter, and the country.      For such a well-acted movie, I was surprised to find that many of the initial reviewers thought so poorly of it. But I did find someone who had something positive to share...After taking a short detour into the realm of speculative costume drama with 2011's Anonymous, director Roland Emmerich is back to doing what he does best: dealing out copious amounts of punishment to 1600 Penn. After all, he blew it to smithereens with an alien death ray in Independence Day and smashed an aircraft carrier into its south portico in 2012. It seemed inevitable that the maven of large-scale cinematic destruction would eventually make a film centering on the D.C. landmark. I just watched the movie this afternoon, and I enjoyed it. AND I think you might also. If you take me up on the recommendation, let me know what you thought... Til next time, cheers!

Summer Reads

Summer is a great time to rediscover your love for reading - fiction, nonfiction, poetry, literature....the choices are endless. In an effort to get you started, I would like to offer you suggestions..... I will provide one title and summary or review per week. This week, I would like to introduce a moving tale that was written by  Deborah Ellis, called The Breadwinner. I heard about this book many years ago, by friends who were interested in novels with a more intercultural perspective. It is a true story about a resilient Afghani family during the early years of the Taliban occupation. Below I have provided you with a brief summary of the book, as written by a fifth grade teacher in New York:

Twelve-year-old Parvana enjoyed going to school, living in a nice, loving home, and being a kid. That is until the Taliban--an extreme militia group that rules Afghanistan--took over the city of Kabul. Girls were forbidden to go to school and women from going to work. Women and girls are not even allowed out of the homes unless they are accompanied by a man. These days, Parvana only leaves her family's one room apartment to help her injured father get to the market, where she earns a small amount of money reading for those who cannot. When the Taliban bursts into their apartment one evening, Parvana's father is arrested. The family is unsure of how they will live without a man to earn money and go to the market with to get food. Then, they come up with an idea –now their survival depends on whether Parvana can convince the outside world that she is a boy.

If you have read this book already, chime in and tell me what you thought!

Hindu Mythology: Churning the Ocean of Milk

          This is the story of how the Devas (celestial beings) and the Asuras (demons) churned the Ocean of Milk to obtain the Nectar of Immortality.
          One day, all gods gathered on Mount Meru to discuss how to obtain the nectar of immortality from the Ocean of Milk. Lord Narayan said, “Let all the Devas and Asuras come together and churn the Ocean of Milk. As a result, nectar will be obtained from its depths.” Under the guidance of Lord Narayan, the Devas attempted to dig up Mount Mandaranchal to use as the churning tool. However, the task turned out to be an impossible one. Mount Mandranchal was 55,000 miles high and 55,000 miles. When the Devas could not even budge the mountain, they prayed to Lord Narayan, “God, please tell us of a way by which we can dig up Mount Mandaranchal.” Hearing their prayers, Lord Narayan persuaded King Vasuki, the king of serpents, to dig up the mountain. King Vasuki obliged, unearthing the mighty mountain. The Devas then went to the Ocean of Milk and requested permission to churn its waters to get the Nectar of Immortality. After some thought, the Spirit of the Ocean of Milk conceided, “I grant you my permission, but only if you promise to give me a share of the nectar.” The Devas and Asuras accepted this condition and asked King Kacchapraj, the tortoise king, to support the mountain on his back. Mount Mandaranchal became the churning tool while King Vasuki became the churning rope. In this way, the Devas and the Asuras started the elaborate exercise of churning the Ocean of Milk. The Devas took the tail of the snake and the Asuras took his head. Together, they rotated the mountain and began to churn the ocean. 
          A millennium passed. When Lord Brahma saw everyone getting tired, he thought, “Except Lord Narayan, all the Devas and Asuras are exhausted. So much time has passed since we started churning the ocean, but the nectar has not yet come out.” He therefore requested Lord Vishnu, “My Lord! Please give them strength. You are their only Hope.” Lord Vishnu obliged, and the strength of the Devas and Asuras increased ten-fold. 
           Soon, huge waves rose up and out came Chandrama, the Moon Goddess, followed successively by Goddess Lakshmi (the Goddess of Wealth), Goddess Sura (the Creator of Alcohol), Uccahashrava (the divine 7-headed horse), and Kaustobhamani (the most valuable jewel in the world worn by Lord Vishnu), came out. One by one, they all ascended to the Heavens.
          Then came Kamdhenu, Kalpvriksh (the wish-granting tree), and Dhanavantri (the Divine Physician). Cradled in Dhanavantri’s arms sat a large pot that contained the Nectar of Immortality. Upon discovering this, the Devas and Asuras began to fight over who gets it. Engrossed in their battle, they didn’t see Garuda, the son of the Great Sage Kashyap and Mata Vinata, swoop in and carry it away.

Movie Review: Breaking Dawn Part I

            Towards the end of 2011, my sister convinced me to see a movie in a franchise I had never heard before. As luck would have it, I managed to get a seat on opening night. The movie started with a beautiful white wedding between a mortal and her vampire beau. Their exotic honeymoon was cut short due to an unexpected complication: the mortal got pregnant. As the fetus grew, her new husband and his family speculated and prepared for the worst.  Labor pains put the mortal in grave danger. By the time the delivery was over, so was her life. As you might have already guessed, I am talking about the movie, Breaking Dawn: Part I, starring Kristen Stewart as the mortal, Belle, and Robert Pattinson as the vampire, Edward Cullen.
           The movie was engaging because the sets were creative and dynamic. But in the end, it was an unlikely story about a love triangle between a mortal, a vampire, and a werewolf. Two out of the three main characters were fictitious in nature. And yet, people of all ages (albeit mostly female) had camped out for a chance to purchase a ticket for opening night. I mean, I have heard of such phenomena, but I had never seen it until now. I think that is one of the reasons why I liked the movie so much.
           I was curious. How could so many intelligent people (again, mostly female) be so carried away with this film series? To find out, I went to a thrift store a picked up a copy of the first installment, Twilight. I read it, and then went back and read parts of it again. But in all my searching, I couldn’t find anything particularly extraordinary about the story. Remember the ferver with which I saw the audience that surrounded me in the movie theater, I picked up the second installment and read it all the way through. It took me until the end of the third book, Aclipse, to finally come to the conclusion that the very ordinariness of the storyline is what has captured the imagination of millions. And the fact that the main characters were in their teens didn’t escape me. Shortly after the first book was released, a new genre had evolved: Young Adult Fiction.

Badarikashrama Temple and Ashrama

Today I am going to dedicate this post to my two Swamijis.... I have found that though their work has been profound, people's knowledge of it has been scarce. So this is the beginning of my attempt to bring their life's work to light.... Please join me as I introduce you to two remarkable people, and the Temple they founded.

Badarikashrama

Swami Omkarananda & Swami Mangalananda

   Badarikashrama Temple, in San Leandro, California, is a Hindu religious and cultural center which is designed to serve devotees in the San Francisco Bay Area. It was founded in 1984 by Swami Omkarananda and supports the teachings of Sri Ramakrishna Paramahamsa, a     19^th-Century mystic saint, and his disciple, Swami Vivekananda. They were both influencial participants of the Hindu Renaissance, that began towards the tail end of the 19^th century.

Shortly thereafter, Swamiji’s disciple, Swami Mangalananda, directed the grand opening of an ashrama in Madihalli, Karnataka. Since it’s inauguration, the India Center has grown from a temple on a plot of 2 acres, to a full scale religious center on a plot of 52 acres. From Sunday sermons and langar, it has expanded to include visitors’ quarters and a full-scale school for children, ages 5 to 16 years.

Today, both centers stand as beacons of hope to their communities. Prayers and Prasad are accompanied by music and dance to lift the universal psyche of mankind. Go to their website at  www.badarikashrama.org  and look over their events calendar. Something may jump out at you as the perfect opportunity to a personal exploration of your spirit.

Movie Review: Thor

Happy Monday! For those of you who have a job, hope you're off to a good start. I'd like to start off the week with a movie review. Since the second installment of Thor is scheduled to come out at the end of this year, I figure it would be helpful to review the first one. So here we go...

      Thor (Hemsworth), trained in battle and heir to the throne, is banished from his homeland on the distant planet of Asgard, by his father, King Odin (Hopkins), for inciting war with the Frost Giants of Jotunheim, in reaction to a matter that resolved itself to the King’s satisfaction. For his disobedience , Thor is sent to planet Earth to live among the humans in hopes of developing a sense of humility.
      Hurling towards Earth at warp speed, Thor crash-lands in the high deserts of the American Southwest. Dazed and confused, he walks headlong into a retrofitted recreational vehicle, operated by none other than Jane Foster, a research scientist studying the possible existence of worm holes through space and time. Deprived of his supernatural powers, Thor stumbles through a series of unfortunate events, accompanied by Jane Foster and her crew. Along the way, he discovers what it feels like to grieve the loss of a loved one, to suffer from the betrayal of a family member, and to fear the possible annihilation of his homeland.

Release date was in 2011
Rated PG13: Comic-book Adventure
Starring Chris Hemsworth, Natalie Portman, and Anthony Hopkins

If you, the reader, have seen it, share your thoughts in the comments section.
Until next time, have a great day!

Actresses to Watch continued...

Noomi Rapace (Elizabeth Shaw, Prometheus (2012))

A team of explorers discover a clue to the origins of mankind on Earth, leading them on a journey to the darkest corners of the universe. There, they must fight a terrifying battle to save the future of the human race.

Rooney Mara (Lisbeth Salander, The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo (2011))

This is the first film in Columbia Pictures’ three-picture adaptation of Stieg Larsson’s trilogy with the same name. The story centers around Lisbeth Salander, an eccentric punk prodigy who makes a living as a writer. When Mikael Blomkvist, a crusading journalist, hires her to help investigate the disappearance of a woman who has been missing for forty years, they uncover a conspiracy of far-reaching proportions. Directed by David Fincher, it stars Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig as the two leading characters.

Freida Pinto (lead character,Trishna)

This is a tragic love story between the daughter of an auto rickshaw owner and the son of a property developer.

Saoirse Ronan (Melanie Stryder, The Host (2013))

From Stephenie Meyer, the creator of the worldwide phenomenon The Twilight Saga, comes this daring and romantic thriller based on The New York Times #1 bestselling novel. When an unseen enemy threatens mankind by taking over humans' bodies and erasing their minds, Melanie Stryder risks everything to protect the people she cares about most in her life, proving that love can conquer all.

Zoe Kravitz (Senshi Raige, After Earth (2013))

A crash landing leaves Kitai Raige and his father Cypher stranded on Earth, a millennium after events forced humanity's escape. With Cypher injured, Kitai must embark on a perilous journey to signal for help.

Emily Blunt (Sara, Looper (2012))

In 2074, when the mob wants to get rid of someone, the target is sent 30 years into the past, where a hired gun awaits. Someone like Joe, who one day learns the mob wants to 'close the loop' by transporting back Joe's future self.

'Gems' Followup

In a prior blog post, I listed a number of female actresses to watch over the next few years. Indeed, they are talented. And most of them came out, or will be coming out, with new movies towards the end of last and the first half of this year. For each, I have included their characters’ names and a brief description of each movie.Take a look for yourself, and then tell me what you think . I would love to get your feedback.

Jennifer Lawrence (Tiffany, Silver Linings Playbook)

After a stint in a mental institution, former teacher Pat Solitano moves back in with his parents and tries to reconcile with his ex-wife. Things get more challenging when Pat meets Tiffany, a mysterious girl with problems of her own. (I haven't seen this movie yet, but I plan to in the near future.)

Amanda Seyfreid (Cosette, Les Miserables)

In 19th-century France, Jean Valjean, who for decades has been hunted by the ruthless policeman Javert after he breaks parole, agrees to care for factory worker Fantine's daughter, Cosette. The fateful decision changes their lives forever. (I haven't seen this movie yet and I don't intend to-the misery of it would make ME miserable!)

Anne Hathaway (Fantine, Les Miserables)

Jean Valjean, known as Prisoner 24601, is released from prison and breaks parole to create a new life for himself while evading the grip of the persistent Inspector Javert. Set in post-revolutionary France, the story reaches resolution against the background of the June Rebellion.

Scarlett Johansson (Janet Leigh, Hitchcock)

In 1959, Alfred Hitchcock and his wife, Alma, are at the top of their creative game as filmmakers amid disquieting insinuations about it being time to retire. To recapture his youth's artistic daring, Alfred decides his next film will adapt the lurid horror novel, Psycho, over everyone's misgivings. Unfortunately, as Alfred self-finances and labors on this film, Alma finally loses patience with his roving eye and controlling habits with his actresses. When an ambitious friend lures her to collaborate on a work of their own, the resulting marital tension colors Alfred's work even as the novel's inspiration haunts his dreams.

Rebel Wilson (Robin Peck, Pain & Gain)

Based on the true story of Daniel Lugo,  a Miami bodybuilder who wanted to live the American dream. He wanted to have the money that other people had, so he enlisted the help of fellow bodybuilder,  Adrian Doorbal, and ex-convict, Paul Doyle. When their kidnapping and extortion scheme went terribly wrong, they attempted to salvage whatever they can. (I haven't seen this movie yet, but I plan to in the near future.)

Zoe Saldana (Uhura, Star Trek: Into Darkness)

With a personal score to settle, Captain Jim Kirk leads a manhunt aboard the starship, Enterprise, to a war-torn world in an effort to capture a one man weapon-of-mass-destruction. Our heroes are propelled into an epic game of chess, during which the bonds of loyalty and love will be tested.

Emma Stone (Grace Faraday, Gangster Squad)

Based on a true story. It's 1949, and Los Angeles is under the control organized crime. A secret crew of police officers led by two determined sergeants work together in an effort to take down the Legendary West Coast Mafia King, Mickey Cohen. Things get complicated when one of the sergeants falls for the kingpin's daughter, Grace. (I haven't seen this movie yet, but I plan to in the near future.)

Halle Berry (Jordan Turner, The Call)

When a veteran 911 operator takes a life-altering call from a teenage girl who has just been abducted, she realizes that she must confront a killer from her past in order to save the girl's life.

Liv Tyler (Madison, Robot & Frank)

Set in the near future, an ex-jewel thief receives a gift from his son: a robot butler programmed to look after him. But soon the two companions try their luck as a heist team. (I haven't seen this movie yet, but I plan to in the near future.)

Movie Review: After Earth

After Earth, starring Will Smith and his real-life son, Jaden Smith, is an action-fantasy flick about a father and son, who escaped Planet Earth with the rest of humanity over a thousand years before, and established a new home on a planet they christened Nova Prime. The father, General Cypher Raige, is head of the planet’s most prominant family. He and his wife had two children, a daughter and a son. But the daughter was killed long ago, leaving their son, Kitai, to bear the strain of an only child. 

            Kitai feels enormous pressure to follow in his father’s legendary footsteps. As a result, the relationship between father and son is tense. To reconnect, the General takes his son on a routine trip. Due to unforeseen circumstances, he and his crew must break regulations and land on Planet Earth. As the aircraft enters Earth’s atmosphere, it malfunctions and splits in two. Both pieces make landfall, but most of the crew has been killed. General Cypher Raige and his son, Kita,i are the only two survivors.

            Kitai awakens in a panic and rummages around until he comes upon his father. Once the General comes to, he discovers that both his legs are broken and he can’t go anywhere. When he locates the emergency beacon that all aircraft are equipped with, it is damaged and useless. Their only hope now is to find the backup beacon stored in the tail end of the spacecraft, which lies many miles away.

            Tasked with finding and retrieving the second beacon, Kitai makes his way across the wild and dangerous terrain.  Now it will take all his training to succeed, if not for his own sake, than for his father’s.