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!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Monday, June 17, 2013
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!
Sunday, June 16, 2013
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.
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.
Saturday, June 15, 2013
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.
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.
Tuesday, June 11, 2013
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
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.
Monday, June 10, 2013
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.
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
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!
Until next time, have a great day!
Thursday, June 6, 2013
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.
Wednesday, June 5, 2013
'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.)
Monday, June 3, 2013
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.
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