There’s some good in this world… and it’s worth fighting for.

Lord of The Rings: The Two Towers

Frodo: I can’t do this, Sam.

Sam: I know. It’s all wrong. By rights we shouldn’t even be here. But we are. It’s like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo. The ones that really mattered. Full of darkness and danger, they were. And sometimes you didn’t want to know the end. Because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end, it’s only a passing thing, this shadow. Even darkness must pass. A new day will come. And when the sun shines it will shine out the clearer. Those were the stories that stayed with you. That meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know now. Folk in those stories had lots of chances of turning back, only they didn’t. They kept going. Because they were holding on to something.

Frodo: What are we holding onto, Sam?

Sam: That there’s some good in this world, Mr. Frodo… and it’s worth fighting for.

Persevere.

Jais

Rediff’s list of 2000s best movies, Regarding;

Rediff had this feature on the best of the movies on each decade. These movies were selected by Mr. Raja Sen who gets abused  (most of it uncalled for) for almost every piece he writes for Rediff. Of course, Mr. Sen was kind enough to tell me how lists are always a matter of opinion. And i agree. However, I could not agree with the list he gave for 2000s. Most of it anyway.

For my Interested readers, the link is as follows: http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/14sd1.htm

Anyway, I sent a mail regarding the same. A reply to which i did not get. Well, didn’t expect a reply honestly. Anyway, this was what i felt.

I had mailed him complimenting his list on 1990s (http://specials.rediff.com/movies/2008/nov/05sli1.htm). However, it included neither Schindler’s List nor Saving Private Ryan. Otherwise, it was almost perfect. But i can’t say the same for 2000s.

The list starts off with Requiem For A Dream. Amazing movie with some phenomenal performances. Perfect beginning. I remember telling a friend that it wasn’t an easy movie to sit thought. He couldn’t have dinner properly for the couple of days. Deserves a place in the all-time list.

Then we come to Moulin Rouge! which i haven’t seen. So cant really comment.

However, Kill Bill i have seen. And its nowhere near the Tarantino classics such as Pulp Fiction. Mr. Sen used the words “finest-crafted”. But in what way i do not understand. Its a decent watch but nothing more than timepass. But to be in the best of 2000s list? No way!

Eternal Sunshine Of The Spotless Mind, one of the most underrated movies i have seen. Amazing performances by both Kate Winslet and Jim Carrey (Yes! Him!) Deserves to be in the list.
Good Night, And Good Luck, haven’t seen. So cant comment.

Juno, while definitely a good movie, cannot be the best the decade has to offer. The dialogues are too smart to be realistic. However, i did like the movie. And the soundtrack too. But the best of 2000s? Naaa…
No Country for Old men. Cohen brothers at their best (They say. Though i still think Fargo is their best). Javier Bardem as Anton Chigurh gave us the best ‘villain’ after Sir Anthony Hopkins’ Hannibal Lecter. Can’t really dispute this being in the list.

There Will Be Blood. Mind blowing performance by Daniel Day-Lewis (as always). Dano wasnt bad either. But the movie didnt have anything else. Does it deserve to be here? I doubt it.

Wall-E? Cute. Nice watch. but Better than The Incredibles? or Finding Nemo? Or even Shrek?

Dark Knight, good choice. Best comic book adaptation to come. X-men series were overrated i thought. good but overrated. Best 2000s has to offer? Considering the others in the list, i cannot argue against this one (Even if certain people disagree! :P)

And the last in the list being Brokeback Mountain. I really doubt anybody else would have included it. One amazing movie. It has more to offer than just two cowboys in love. Amazing performance by the Late Heath Ledger, as good as his performance as Joker.

Now coming to the movie Mr. Sen didn’t list. How in the bloody world did he miss lord of the rings series?! how? i mean HOW?! It redefined Fantasy genre. Changes were made in the movie adaptation but they weer unaviodable. Keneth Turan of the Los Angeles Times has rightly said that “the trilogy will not soon, if ever, find its equal”. It was an experience! And does not find a place in Mr. Sen’s list (Mr. Sen is a fan of Roger Ebert it seems).

And he also missed out on movies such as Memento, Lost in Translation, Almost Famous, Closer, Before Sunset, Gladiator, Munich etc. None of them are classics. But they would have been better choices that Kill Bill or there will be blood or even Juno. Any day. And why do i also get the feeling that too much emphasis has been given to movies which have in the last couple of years? Somethings wrong.

Anyway, had to write something on Movies. I mean my Blog has to have something on movies. It just HAS to. it wouldnt feel right otherwise. And like i keep emphasising, i lack the creativity to write more than couple of sentences on any topic. And this is probably the biggest blog i will write.

Cheers

Jais

Could have…?

Dear Interested readers. This is my third post in 12 hours! wonder how long this blog craze will last. Knowing me, i will delete it within the next 24 to 48 hours. Or might probably take it as a challenge and keep for a while longer. 72 hours perhaps. Decisions decisions!

Saw this as the gtalk status of a first year. Probably hes the only first year i know… anyway, it was as follows:

“The saddest summary of lyf contains three descriptions: ‘COULD HAVE’ , ‘MIGHT HAVE’ and ‘SHOULD HAVE’.”

Would i have liked it any other way? Probably. Can i do anything about anything that ‘could have’, ‘might have’ or ‘should have’? Nope. That puts an end to the debate, doesn’t it? Sometimes its easy to deal in absolutes.

However, coming back, definitely an interesting status. but in the end doesn’t really matter. As Gandalf put it in lord of the rigs: fellowship of the rings, “all you have to decide is what to do with the time given to us’ (or something to that effect).

And considering the time that has been given to me, I wouldn’t want it to be any other way…

Or would I? Hmm…

Cheers

Jais