According to Sanjoy

Ken Block doesn't need wheels on his Subaru Impreza STI

2010-09-23T08:33:00.000-07:00

He is the man who knows no fear. He can take a car to its limits, push it further and make it do things which will prompt the viewer drive a knife through the chest to see if he or she is dreaming. A pinch just won't do.

He is Ken Block (some say he is The Stig) and his videos get millions of hits on youtube and he doesn't sing at all. But he can make cars dance to his tunes. His chosen mode of transport - heavily modified rally-prep cars. His preferred one - the Subaru Impreza WRX STI. Just in case you didn't know, he never drives in a straight line.

So what if we take the wheels of his steed and replace them with something which would feel at home on a battle tank? What if we drop him and his reworked machine off at a snow-covered mountain? Would he still be able to make us whistle at his antics behind the wheel?

Enough with the teasers...watch the video.

To those who need more pictures of the machine, try googling "Subaru Impreza WRX TRAX STI".

Is it just me or does the woman on the left look a lot like Salim Kumar?

2010-09-20T07:37:00.000-07:00

Now that you have recovered from the shock, CLICK THE IMAGE to see WHERE I FOUND IT on the web.
Trust me, you'll be surprised. :D

The Expendables - SLY-ARNIE Face-off

2010-08-15T10:52:00.000-07:00

The over-hyped scene in The Expendables, where Arnold Schwarzenegger and Sylvester Stallone shared screen space for the first time in movie history, in the auspicious presence of the third man who completed the trio of 1980's action superstars, Bruce Willis himself, was nothing more than a couple of one-liners. Though some of them did succeed in getting a laugh or two, the end result wasn't so much worth writing home about.

And no, I didn't expect them to engage in a brawl or a gunfight with each other. The way Arnold limped his way to the church's altar was sight enough for me to realize that the man has aged gracefully and by no means is supposed to do anything more than walking and talking.

Clash of the Titans and some crap!

2010-07-31T05:08:00.000-07:00

Watched Clash of the Titans - a Swords and Sandals epic which lies somewhere between Troy and 300. Kraken was the piece of cake and so were the mythical creatures.

Revelation: All Greek Gods are womanizers and the seemingly good Gods are in fact the bad guys. Zeus was on a globe-trotting one-night stand spree, impregnating women on earth and tricked Hades to the depths of the underworld. Remember, Hades is always portrayed as the bad guy in Greek epics as he tries to take revenge on his brother Zeus who cheated him by denying him his seat at Mount Olympus a.k.a Heaven! How idiotic is that! Isn't Hades doing what all of us with some self-respect left in us would do when backstabbed? He is trying to get back what is rightfully his. Now how is that evil?

The story on Medusa's origin was indeed sympathetic and another example on how wayward the Greek Gods are. Poseidon, the God of the Seas, brutally raped Medusa when she was a beautiful young woman and he gave way to his urge right inside the Temple of Athena. Medusa pleaded to the Goddess to save her and Athena didn't bother at all. Instead, she turned the hapless woman into a Gorgon and that too once Poseidon was done with his hunger. How considerate! Athena's explanation for her "blessing" - she regarded it as the finest way to save Medusa from men! Medusa went on to be known by the monstrous form from then.

Now tell me - Who are the good guys and who are the bad guys?

Breaking into Inception

2010-07-18T09:37:00.000-07:00

Watched Inception and I would choose not to say anything about the movie except that:
1. Nolan, the cast and the crew have put in a lot of effort to conceive and film a movie of this magnitude, complexity and broad canvas.
2. Inception will take sometime and repeated viewings to grow on you if your intellectual capacity is equal to that of an average moviegoer like me. You''l realize that it's a path-breaking, visionary movie which will find its place in the Best Movies Ever List. But you'll find it difficult to explain why you think so.

I'm in that state now. :)

Airbender is a mindbender which will be a spinebender for its producers

2010-07-17T01:42:00.000-07:00

Despite its astonishing concept/production designing and overwhelming visual effects, The Last Airbender comes across as one of the worst fantasy movies I have ever seen. It wasn't fun, it didn't have a single character to vouch for and the bad acting buckled with ridiculous dialogues make it the worst efforts from M.Night Shyamalan...next only to Lady in the Water.

An industry counting on Inception

2010-07-17T01:25:00.000-07:00

Inception releases to the highest possible critical acclaim (Imdb rating 9.5/10) today. A whopping $200 million to make this movie and an additional $100 million to market it, Inception is hyper-expensive just like its summer counterparts. The question is, will it give the box-office that much-needed blockbuster hit and will it beat The Dark Knight?

"I love it when a plan comes together." - Hannibal is so right!

2010-07-17T00:31:00.000-07:00

Watching THE A-TEAM. So far it has been AWESOME!!! Action on Hyperdrive!!!

"Passengers, this is your captain speaking. If you could look out through the right window of the aircraft you'll see that the right wing is on fire" - Murdoch (The A-Team)

I'm loving this movie!!!

Was wondering where I have seen the actor who plays Murdoch and checked it up on wiki. It's in fact the lead actor from Oscar-nominated DISTRICT 9.

Funny, action-packed to the brim, with the feel which is undeniably that of the TV series on which it is based. Smart where it has to be, campy all the way, unapologetic for all of the above and add a bunch of lunatic amusingly OTT characters portrayed by Liam Neeson, Bradley Cooper and Co. You get the kaboom of an action movie called The A-Team - I would love to see a sequel to this movie.

LAMBORGHINI LP670-4 SV LAUNCHED IN INDIA AND WE LOSE OUR LOWER JAWS!

2010-06-04T13:26:00.000-07:00

The last time yours truly saw this machine in motion was on the TV show BBC Topgear when Hamster (a.k.a Richard Hammond) unleashed its fury on the desert highways in Dubai. The final iteration of the highly successful and admired Murcielago range of supercars, the LP670-4 SV is in everyway the Lambo which has been built with its place in the history books factory-fitted.

But more than anything else what makes the Lamborghini Murcielago LP670-4 SV such a magnificent piece of machinery is its capabilities to threaten the likes of the McLaren SLR (which is way above supercar league) and still cross the finish line making the SLR driver nervous with that image of the bull in the rear-view mirror. The Murcielago will be riding away into the pages of history by 2011-12. But it will always be remembered as...

Read the entire article and download wallpapers from Indiancarsbikes.in - India's most-read automotive blog.

http://www.indiancarsbikes.in/cars/lamborghini-lp6704-sv-new-supercar-launched-india-12491/

Prince Movie Review: Stylish but Boring

2010-04-12T09:07:00.000-07:00

Despite critically acclaimed roles in many movies, Vivek Oberoi has not had a single hit till date as the solo lead. An actor with such a resume should have put in more effort for a movie which is made on a budget of around Rs. 500 million. Unfortunately that’s not what we got to see in Prince and Vivek is not the only one to blame here.

Read the full review of Prince at

http://www.nsbollywood.com/bollywood-news/199-prince-review-stylish-but-boring

Iron Man 2 - Entertainment Today footage

2009-12-16T02:26:00.000-08:00

I can't wait to watch Iron Man 2, without doubt, the movie of the year. The promo footage from ET has made me less patient than ever. There is the much hyped Monaco F1 race track sequence and Iron Man's flashy appearance on what looks like the American Idol show. Tony Stark is no Bruce Wayne. Subtleness is not a word which he is aware of. Stark doesn't even know that the word exists. :)

By the way, if you have not received the memo, Iron Man 2 features the arrival of his wing man, the War Machine. The less flashy, more brawny version of the red and gold suit does the job for the latter. Not to mention, the colossal firepower the suit offers. For us, that's twice the metal action.

Movie of the month - Archives - November - 2012

2009-12-13T12:54:00.000-08:00

Another disaster movie from the director who made a career out of making disaster flicks. Roland Emmerich returns to repeat the success of Independence Day and Day After Tomorrow with 2012 - a visual effects filled apocalypse movie based on the theoretical end of the world expected to take place in year 2012.

Forget the fact that John Cusack is the lead actor. Who pays attention to the hero of an Emmerich movie? Even if you intend to, you may not get the time to take your eyes off all that breath taking CGI. The budget is in the $200 million range.

Breathtaking rendering - beat that Hollywood

2009-11-25T01:31:00.000-08:00

So you thought Hollywood had the best CGI ever. So wrong. This CGI flick put together by PanTural (never heard of that name) will give the Hollywood visual effects companies a run for their money and some real huge complex. As for car buffs like me, it gives millions of goosebumps. The rendering has rendered me speechless (pun intended). There is so much happening onscreen in every second and even if the cars are stationary, they look like they are doing 100 miles per hour. Boy oh boy, do they look a billion dollars! It took this wizard 110 days to complete this project and it's totally worth it.

The soundtrack was the only part which disappointed a bit. Not that the soundtrack is weak, but the fact that it was lifted from some of popular movies like Transformers, Terminator 3 and Pirates of the Caribbean. That steals away a bit of originality from the package. Excellent soundtrack choices by the way.

The plot is pretty Hollywood-esque with bits borrowed from Spiderman 3 and The Day the Earth Stood Still. The cars are impressive whether they are motionless or blasting past at neck-breaking speeds. The line-up includes a white version of KITT Attack mode from the Knight Rider TV movie and the Shelby Mustang GT 500 looks all brawny in the attire. The Chevrolet Camaro joins the pack, kicking up the muscle car quotient a notch. The rest of the team is pretty ordinary with the Jeep Grand Cherokee and an outdated VAZ 07. But those two look dashing despite their age. Surprise package - a full blown Apache gunship monitors the proceedings from above.

The fury unleashed by these machines on the track make us forget for a long while that these are just cars. I know that I shouldn't be saying "just cars". That's a derogatory term.

They transform into beasts on wheels towards the middle of the video. The Camaro and the Cherokee breaks away from the shackles to get some rubber to burn on that track. The rest of the crew join in the show-off which concludes in an explosive finale of crash and burn.

One of the best CGI mini fests that I have ever seen, this one even packs an added punch with the making of the video pre-end credits. One must hand it to this guy wherever he is. This is brilliant. Beat that Hollywood.

Movie of the month - Archives - October - Blue

2009-11-07T05:50:00.000-08:00

What if Michael Bay made a Bollywood Movie? It'll look a lot like Blue. All of Rs.80 crores as budget to splurge on bike chases, underwater action sequences, explosions, shoot outs, classy production values, breath-taking locations, hot stars, stunts, effects, camera crew and writers brought down from Hollywood and racy trailers which promise a full blown slick actioner. Scored by A.R Rahman and sound designed by Resul Pookutty, Blue also features Kylie Minogue's performance. The promotional budget of Rs. 20 crore is enough to produce a multi-starrer in Bollywood. I'm betting my Diwali on Blue.

Spada Codatrona Promotional Video

2009-10-21T21:37:00.000-07:00

Codatronca - This is not Gotham City from Director Kobayashi on Vimeo.

The Batmobile wannabe car's promotional video is a CGI fest with truckloads of inspiration from the Speed Racer movie. The Tronca has Corvette underpinnings and that is not that so unpleasant a news. So will we see one in the Batman sequel? No. Batman drives Lambos.

Bollywood Diwali Specials - Blue

2009-10-14T21:14:00.000-07:00

Genre: Action Thriler

Director: Anthony D'Souza

Star Cast: Akshay Kumar, Sanjay Dutt, Zayed Khan, Lara Dutta, Katrina Kaif, Rahul Dev

Music Director: A. R. Rahman

One line summary – An underwater treasure hunt with action sequences borrowed from Deep Blue Sea, Torque, Bad Boys 2, and a lot of Hollywood flicks.

Release Date: October 16

Bollywood Diwali Specials - All The Best: Fun Begins

2009-10-14T21:09:00.000-07:00

Genre: Action-Comedy

Director: Rohit Shetty

Star Cast: Ajay Devgan, Sanjay Dutt, Fardeen Khan, Bipasha Basu, Mugdha Godse

Music Director: Pritam

One line summary – Another fun filled carnival like Golmaal Returns with action and comedy.

Release Date: October 16

Diwali movie review - Wake Up Sid

2009-10-13T23:42:00.000-07:00

Wake Up Sid for the Hindi movie audience is a combination of elements borrowed from Lakshya, Waqt and Dil Chahta Hei. It’s Lakshya without the war, Waqt without deaths or lectures and Dil Chahta Hei without three love affairs. But the absence of these doesn’t turn the tide against it. This is a youthful movie which has the nostalgic flair of Rock On. You might not have been wannabe rock star in your younger days, but at some point of time you were a lazy, wayward, irresponsible person with no clear plan about the future.

Whether or not your dad has a shower manufacturing company which feeds your appetite for pizzas, parties, branded wear and luxury SUVs, you were not worried about the future. That’s what makes Wake up Sid universally appealing. Debutant director Ayan Mukerji’s craft is definitely into character development. The characters are absolute delights to watch. Be it the buddies who hang out with Sid or his parents who are in different tracks to correct their son. Ranbir Kapoor and Konkona Sen Sharma live up to their lead actors tags. Sid’s transformation from rich spoilt brat to poor loser and poor loser to upcoming winner is believable and Ranbir scores high on that regard. Konkona Sen on the other hand has a more grounded character to play which she does with all her charm. Anupam Kher did give a shade of Amitabh Bachchan’s character from Waqt, but his character chose to go by a more realistic route to guide his son. Supriya Pathak’s mother-act was a one which many mothers would find themselves associating with. For the first time ever, a non-actor like Kashmira Shah was cast in a role which suits her and she didn’t make us cringe this time. Rahul Khanna’s cameo was so well blended into the storyline that he almost gives the impression of a significant character.

The tracks though they are not Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy’s best, are pretty good with Iktara being my personal favourite. It’s the co-existence of contrasting characters which makes Wake Up Sid thoroughly watchable. It may not make you laugh till you cry or make you cry till you run out of tears. Neither will it prompt you to hold your lover’s hand while you are watching it. It’s actually a simple movie with a relevant message. But the message is so skillfully merged with the romantic premise and the nostalgic factor that you will never classify it as a preachy movie. That’s exactly why Wake Up Sid is a must watch.

Diwali movie reviews – Do Knot Disturb

2009-10-12T03:10:00.000-07:00

I did not deserve this. I’m not a bad person. Why God, why? I just wanted to give every Diwali movie a fighting chance and ended up losing 2 hours and 25 minutes of my life forever. David Dhawan-Govinda team used to be so good at slapstick comedy and now they have redefined that genre into a piece of film making with screaming, squealing, incomprehensible dialogues. All that the viewer could make out from the speakers was noise and lots of it.

Govinda was at his comic worst in Do Knot Disturb and Riteish Deshmukh had no clue as to what’s going on. He tried to make something out of this mess and in the process made it messier. Sohail Khan dropped in once in a while with the cry boobie-punk act which was probably the only palatable performance. Rajpal Yadav is wasted with another overacting part.

Coming to the ladies, Sushmita Sen should join a gym and fix an appointment with a beautician or a plastic surgeon. She looked downright disastrous in this outing and I seriously doubt whether the costume designer had some serious ill-will towards the once-dazzling actress. As for Lara, she was the only saving grace with her looks – killer as always. But the comic timing that she is known for was nowhere in sight.

The movie wound up with another silly climax to be added to the long list of silly climaxes in comedy movie history. All right, point noted that it’s a comedy movie and it should be silly. But shouldn’t there be some kind of a sense of satisfaction before the curtain falls, that it was a fun-filled two and a half hours? It did not happen in this case.

I should have listened to what the poster on the theatre door said – Do (K)not Disturb.

Bollywood Diwali Specials - Acid Factory

2009-09-30T01:32:00.000-07:00

Genre: Action Thriller

Director: Suparn Verma

Star Cast: Fardeen Khan, Danny Denzongpa, Irrfan Khan, Manoj Bajpai, Dino Morea, Aftab Shivdasani, Dia Mirza

Music Director: Shamir Tandon, Gourav Dasgupta, Bappa Lahiri, Manasi Scott

One line summary – An edge of the seat thriller with erased memories, heist, murder and fear thrown in.

Release Date: October 9

Bollywood Diwali Specials - Wake Up Sid

2009-09-30T01:23:00.000-07:00

Genre: Romance/Comedy

Director: Ayaan Mukherjee

Star Cast: Ranbir Kapoor, Rahul Khanna, Konkona Sen Sharma, Naseeruddin Shah, Anupam Kher

Music Director: Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy

One line summary – A romantic comedy on a lazy, irresponsible young man’s journey to find his life’s purpose.

Release Date: October 2

Bollywood Diwali Specials - Do Knot Disturb

2009-09-30T01:20:00.000-07:00

Genre: Comedy

Director: David Dhawan

Star Cast: Govinda, Ritesh, Deshmukh, Sushmita Sen, Lara Dutta, Sohail Khan, Ranvir Shorey, Rajpal Yadav

Music Director: Nadeem-Shravan

One line summary - A comedy of errors on extra marital affairs with a cast who has had a successful run in the comedy genre.

Release Date: October 2

The NeXt Generation is here - Reva NXG bullies all at Frankfurt

2009-09-18T02:33:00.000-07:00

For all those who knew that an Indian company named Reva Electric Car Company existed: the Reva electric car will have a stunning stable mate by 2011. Take a look at the image. It’s the Reva NXG that broke cover at the Frankfurt Autoshow and the name is an obvious hint at the “next generation” design.

It doesn’t require too much of scratch marks on your head to realize who designed this tiny monster. Dilip Chabbria’s lines are all over it. From the colour scheme to the grey inserts, the huge mesh-design plate in the fascia, DC’s trademark swooping lines, and the cab forward stance; NXG is DC all the way.

As for the pricing, it’s steep for a small car. 23,000 euros is not a tiny sum for a tiny car. NXG is claimed to be better than the current car as it offers 125 miles range and 80mph top speed. The looks are tempting, but as the wise man once said, looks can be deceptive too. Whatever the case may be, I just hope the design is maintained till it makes it to production.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-15T03:02:00.000-07:00

Terminator Salvation

Director: McG

Theatre visits: 2

What’s it about: A continuation of the Terminator story, set in a war-torn 2018, with a grown up John Connor and the Resistance fighting Skynet’s robot army. Contrary to expectations, Connor isn’t the decision maker of the Resistance fighters, but one of the lead soldiers. The appearance of Marcus Wright, a drifter who goes on to do his part in the war for humanity’s survival, forms the core of this post apocalyptic action fest. The android-human relationship comes into play and the question of making choices is a major theme followed.

Whistles: Sam Worthington’s Marcus Wright, the post apocalyptic world, the gritty realism in the frames, excellent sound design, cinematography, exceptional production designing, Arnold Schwarzenegger’s cameo (though it was CGI), the terminator machines (especially Mototerminator), Christian Bale’s aggression as John Connor, the twists and turns (a bit predictable but delivers).

Boos: Christian Bale’s performance looked similar to his role as Batman in TDK, the death of Sam Worthington’s character, human element subdued a tad.

Verdict: Excellent effort from McG. Makes it hard to believe that this was directed by the same guy who directed Charlie’s Angels and its sequel. Regardless of its failure at the box office, I think this is a better movie overall when compared to the other robot actioner, Transformers 2.

Sequel Suggestions: Reduce the budget to $150 million, take some consultation from James Cameron, bring back Sam Worthington and send Christian Bale to an anger management class. The dissemination of the audio file of his verbal assault was one of the reasons why the movie’s popularity nosedived.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-10T23:53:00.000-07:00

G.I. Joe: The Rise of Cobra

Director: Stephen Sommers

Theatre visits: 1

What’s it about: An elite team of covert operations specialists chosen from around the globe fight to wade off a megalomaniac weapons manufacturer and his mad scientist. The movie tracks the rise of the Cobra terrorist organization and is the first live action feature film based on the G.I. Joe toy line/comic series.

Whistles: Finally a live-action movie on G.I. Joe, Joseph Gordon Lewitt’s Cobra Commander, special effects in pieces, the chase scene in Paris, Marlon Wayans’ Ripcord (I was surprised to see that he was good.), Snake Eyes, connecting flashbacks, Storm Shadow-Snake Eyes duel, Arnold Vosloo’s cool-and-cold Zartan, the hotties Sienna Miller and Rachel Nichols, the cliffhanger.

Boos: Relentless pace, terrible and unpolished CGI in many sections (I doubt whether they actually spent $175 million making this movie or not), Channing Tatum’s Duke, Breaker (is he gay?), failure to cash in on major action sequences, the illogical scene of polar ice packs sinking (ice doesn’t sink in water…even toddlers know that)

Verdict: Not bad. I’m forced to like it as I love the G.I. Joe characters so much. Stephen Sommers disappointed. I’d like to see a sequel though with more characters and some quality special effects. Gore Verbinski is my recommendation for the director's chair.

Sequel suggestions: TF2 league CGI, more screen time for Joseph Gordon Lewitt, Arnold Vosloo and Dennis Quaid. And give Brendan Fraser a major role. He has immense popularity in the Asia Pacific. How else do you think Mummy 3 survived? Bring in some actors from other nations in guest or major roles. The latest incarnation of G.I. Joe proclaims it as an international team anyway. Put that line to good use.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-10T05:44:00.000-07:00

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

Director: Michael Bay

Theatre visits: 3

What’s it about: Sam becomes the unwilling hero as he wants a normal life without being in the midst of a robot civil war. But the Decepticons especially Megatron and his master the Fallen find him a high-profile target as the location of an energy source gets embedded in his mind accidentally. At the hands of the bad guys, it can bring the world as we know to a quick end - "end of world stuff" as the movie guys call it. So for Sam, Autobots and the military it’s battle time with more fights, explosions and twisted metal as the fate of the world rest on them.

Whistles: Bigger with more robots and a greater dose of action, better CGI and sound, more dialogues for the robots, stunt choreography, Optimus Prime’s speeches and fights, Bumblebee’s antics, the military hardware parade, Megan Fox’s glamour quotient.

Boos: Avoidable sleazy references, 50+ bloopers, no character development, tiny climatic battle between Optimus and Fallen, no fights for “weapons specialist” Ironhide, perverted Wheelie, things that Megan Fox had to do, weak dialogues, abundant plot holes.

Verdict: It’s an “all nonsense, keep your brains at home” summer actioner. So don’t think, just watch. Pop-corn muncher’s delight and do rush to an ear specialist after the show.

Sequel suggestions: Script, dialogues, attention to detail in the plotline, cohesiveness, continuity – there are many areas to look into. And keep those sleazy dialogues to a minimum. At times it gets indigestible. Don’t even think about loading up some more robots and some more action to garner audience. Take some time to chat with the executive producer, Steven Spielberg for some bright ideas. Spielberg had suggested that "a boy and his car" should be the focus of the film. It would be better if his idea is kept in mind while brainstorming about the sequel.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-10T05:25:00.000-07:00

Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs

Director: Carlos Saldanha

Co-director: Mike Thurmeier

Theatre visits: 2

What's it about: Rifts form in the unlikely gang of the mammoth, the sabretooth cat and the sloth. Diego and Sid part ways with Manfred as he has got his own family now. Sid wanders off into a treacherous prehistoric world under the ground and the rest follow to save him. A smooth talking-crazy weasel named Buck who inhabits the same place joins them in the rescue mission.

Whistles: Laugh riot all the way, thrice the fun and humour, action-packed (I can’t believe I just said that. But it has so much of action), the new entry – Buck (a mix of Jack Sparrow and Tarzan), amazing detail in animation, Scrat (how could we forget him!) and She-Scrat

Boos: Nothing much to boo. Some may argue that it doesn’t have the soul of the first movie. The statement is right. But doesn’t really matter if you are in the mood to watch a fun flick.

A big boooooo for making it the last movie of the series. We can’t get enough of the unlikely gang. Can we have one more?

Verdict: Watch it and when it comes out on DVD, own it. It’s a sure go for kids and kids at heart.

Sequel Suggestions: Please…please…please…make one. Bring in Buck too. Not as part of the family, but as the 911 emergency response for the gang synonymous with trouble.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-09T21:16:00.000-07:00

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian

Director: Shawn Levy

Theatre visits: 1

What’s it about: The museum night watchman starts a new company and moves on with the good money. But the news of his friends being packed off to the Smithsonian Museum makes him put on the watchman’s uniform again to bring them back to where they belong. To make that job a ride through hell, an ancient Egyptian ruler resurrects (courtesy: the magical slab) with plans to take over the world. Watchman puts together a team of new friends from the Smithsonian Museum to spoil the party and to save us all from doom.

Whistles: Bigger with the Smithsonian Museum as its backdrop, the funny men brigade, the laughs, bubbly Amy Adams.

Boos: Gets a bit boring after a while. Stiller looks tired of the role.

Verdict: A clean family entertainer. Got the laughs and the gags. Kids will love it.

Sequel suggestions: Ask Stiller whether he is interested; let’s not have the story revolving around that magical life-giving gold slab and try not to make it look like a reworked script of the first and second movies.

My take on the Summer Blockbusters

2009-09-08T22:37:00.000-07:00

X-Men Origins: Wolverine

Director: Gavin Hood

Theatre visits: 1

What’s it about: The past of the claw wielding Wolverine which was not clearly explored in the X-Men movies. It’s about his troubled relationship with his brother Sabretooth, the betrayal that he faced from the woman he loved, his involvement in the Weapon X programme and how he got the Adamandium claws from the one person who he hates the most – Col. William Stryker.

Whistles: Hugh Jackman, the last fight with Deadpool, Liev Schreiber’s Sabretooth, Ryan Reynolds’ Wade Wilson, the action sequences, visual effects in some parts.

Boos: Visual effects in some sections, not gripping enough, not in X2 league

Verdict: Good watch. Needs a sequel with tighter script.

Sequel suggestions: We don’t need the sequel to be too dark, but do give Wolverine the intensity that his character demands. Trace his history on how he continued his journey before he reached that cage fight in X-men. Hire a CGI team who can blend the effects seamlessly with the real footage.

Bumblebee Transforming Costume - Can I have one of these? Please...

2009-08-25T09:14:00.000-07:00

Grabbing a Bumblebee Transformer from the toy store after a fist fight with a toddler is not exactly the kind of act which will find approval from your girlfriend. She'll be giving you the "what the..." look for buying a "toy" and for quarrelling with a kid. I forgave mine for being unaware of what Transformers is all about. But even if I buy the Ultimate Bumblebee toy with all the light and sound bonus, it will still be light years away from the one in this video.

It isn't a toy actually. It's a costume and the video was shot at a Chevrolet dealership in Mexico. That's not all. The best part is that it transforms into the car. It actually transforms. Just like in the movies, or let me rephrase it, just like the toy. The dude inside all that plastic must go through a bit of trouble to get it right. But it is convincing enough for a gawk.

There are some major shortcomings. They have used a repainted Optimus Prime helmet instead of Bumblebee's head. But that's not a big deal. Is it?

Who needs it on Halloween? I do.

Wikipedia discoveries - Thomas Jane's (The Punisher) debut movie

2009-08-10T23:31:00.000-07:00

Thomas Jane who donned the trench coat and the skull T-shirt as revenge-driven vigilante Frank Castle in 2004’s The Punisher, had made his debut in a Telugu film, Padamati Sandhya Ragam. The movie which was released in 1986 starred Vijayashanti in the lead role. Thank heavens; it wasn’t one of her butt-kicking action movies. East meets west cultural differences formed the crux of Padamati Sandhya Ragam.

Thomas Jane went on to take up leading and supporting roles in many TV series and movies. Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Face/Off, Boogie Nights, The Thin Red Line, Deep Blue Sea, Magnolia, Original Sin, Dreamcatcher and The Punisher are some of his noted flicks.

In The Punisher, FBI agent and ex-Delta Force operative Frank Castle turns into a vigilante to avenge the death of his family. Jane played the role of the titular character who declares a one-man war on the mob which brutally wiped off every member of his family. The Punisher is the property of Marvel Comics and is one of the most admired comic book heroes primarily due to his troubled past and his agenda to adopt violent ways to ensure that justice is served.

Speed Breaker - From which angle do I look like.....?

2009-07-31T10:40:00.001-07:00

Things that you stumble upon while browsing...

Often the surprise that runs across your screen keeps you hooked in a good way. The rest can even give you a nightmare.

Thankfully, the one which I encountered was a treat. It's a neat site called myheritage.com. No culture-tourism boredom this is. They must rename the site with immediate effect. It has some interesting imaging tools for morphing, celebrity resemblance comparison and the like. Just for the fun of it, I tried the tool which compares your uploaded image with the images in the site's celebrity image database. The system gives you the list of celebrities who you have a resemblance to. In went an old image from college days and after a couple of seconds the results were out, that too with the percentage of similarity. Take a look.

Jawaharlal Nehru – 72%
Rajiv Gandhi – 71%
Matthew Mc Conaughey – 67%
Ayrton Senna – 56%
M. Night Shyamalan – 56%

Honestly, I don't think I look like any of them in this pic. About the close contenders one and two, it's quite ironic to add that I was in a long Kurta when this pic was taken. Both Nehru and Rajiv chose it as a preferred attire. Number three - I'm neither a fan nor a follower. Number four - not a fan, but have heard a lot about his skills behind the steering wheel of an F1 car till the moment he died. Number five - was a fan, not anymore and please don't tell me that I look like him.

P.S - I uploaded another pic of mine and the list generated had no resemblance to the previous one. So don't fly too high if your result says you can be a Brad Pitt double or an Angelina Jolie twin.

Wish someone got these garbage out of Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen

2009-07-20T09:17:00.000-07:00

"Watch it lady, the glaze is blinding...my eyes, my eyes!!! I can't see a thing"

Old footage – Come on Michael, you get millions as budget and you can’t shoot some new scenes instead of stuffing in footage which we have already seen in your previous flicks? We have seen that same aerial shot of the US Navy fleet in Pearl Harbour, Armageddon, and Transformers. Adding a dozen CGI protoforms to the visual doesn’t make it any different. Call Pentagon. They’ll be glad to help you out. After all, you are the unofficial advocate of the US military. We know that you have their number on speed dial. Use it.

This isn’t over yet. What about the VFX shots carried over from the first movie? The Autobot arrival visuals in TF1 stepped in to show the arrival of Decepticons in TF2. The shot of the Predator UAV from the first movie made its way too. Where the hell is all that money going? $200 million is no small sum.

Perverted Wheelie – The R/C truck lookalike starts off as a perverted Decepticon and ends up as a “licensed to be a pervert” Autobot. He is too much obsessed with Megan Fox and as the movie progresses she seems to like him too. That includes the way he holds on to her legs with his spoilt mind busy at work. I opted for a more decent way of putting across what he actually did. If the impact of that statement on the reader isn’t convincing, then I’d say, watch the movie and you’ll comprehend with utmost clarity.

Skids’ gold teeth – I haven’t got complaints of racism and stereotyping when it comes to Skids and Mudflap. So what if they speak like the hip-hop crowd? It isn’t that bad. But the gold teeth took things a bit too far.

Shia Labeouf’s constant screaming – Once you get out of the theatre, you’ll remember a few lines from the movie. But more than any of them, the ones that you will remember with vivid imagery will be Labeouf screaming out “Optimus” and “BumbleBee”. It sounds cool once or twice. But we can’t take it all along. All right, he needs the Autobots when the bad company turns up in full force and with the frequency with which explosions happen around him, he has to scream. But it gets on our nerves after a while.

Megan Fox running in slow motion – This is not a TV series on lifeguards with perfect bodies. This is not Bay Watch and that means there is no urgent need of a hottie running in slow motion and that too in the middle of a war. By the way, the ladies will be very keen to know which brand of lip stick Megan Fox used while filming. No matter what she does, it still shines like wet paint. If a full blown battle in the middle of a desert can’t rob the lip gloss of its shine, the fairer sex may be very much interested in buying it even if it costs a king’s ransom.

Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen - "Yeaaaah" and "Wow" Moments

2009-07-20T06:53:00.001-07:00

Sideswipe slicing Sideways in half in a clean sweep as if the latter is made of butter. The skater somersaults over Sideways who is in his alternate mode (an Audi R8) and flings his sword right into the front of the Decepticon. As he comes down he reconnects the sword back to his arm while he is airborne. Tasty part, the baddie is still on the run and the sword is still thrust deep into his hood. A bit of physics here. Since Sideways is fleeing in the opposite direction of Sideswipe, the forward motion of the car makes the whole process of cutting it in half much more easier for the Autobot. All that he had to do was to stay still with a firm grip on the sword. (Thank you Einstein) Don't miss Swipe's bragging, "Damn, I'm good". Yes, you are Swipe. Yes you are. More of similar antics in TF3, please.

Optimus Prime’s intro. He is a sight to behold, be it in robot mode or truck mode. Prime uses his privileges as the Autobot leader to good use. For the Shanghai battle, he is airdropped from a C-17 military transport aircraft. As the jet circles the night skies of Shanghai, the cargo door opens up giving us the first glimpse of Prime in his truck form. He drives out into sheer nothingness and freefalls into the urban warzone miles below. The Autobot leader transforms mid-air into his robotic form, deploys the parachute to slow down the fall, cuts off the chute cables, lands and transforms back to the truck form, all in a matter of seconds. None could stop us from whistling and cheering him on.

Bumblebee’s intro scene. He goes right through the garage door, transforms and pulverizes a section of Sam’s home while killing the furious robots in the kitchen. What followed was twice as much fun as Bee gets scolded for his annihilative pest control techniques. The way he tries to reason with Sam, that too without saying a word and his expression of despair of having messed it all up, were thoroughly enjoyable. No wonder everyone loves him so much.

Bumblebee’s melodramatic act when he realizes Sam is not going to take him along to college. After watching that scene, how many of you didn’t wish you had an alien robot in your garage?

Optimus and Bumblebee gate crashing Megatron’s “let’s take Sam’s brain” party. Technically it wasn’t gate crashing as Optimus landed right into the middle of it crashing through the roof while Bee chose to break in through the wall as he couldn’t find the gate.

Optimus Prime’s fight to the death. The Autobot leader took on three of his rivals with so much brute force and power that we knew it wasn’t going to end well. After being hurled away by Megatron’s energy cannon attack, he picks himself up, spits out some metal teeth and goes full throttle again. That’s precisely what his real life counterparts (read action heroes) would do. The twin sword fight to the death saw him taking off Starscream’s arm and ripping apart Grindor’s head. The final battle with the Fallen came nowhere close to this devastating brawl which culminates in Optimus’ death. Theme hunters, here’s your line, “If I’m destroyed, so shall you be.” Did I just steal KARR’s line from Knight Rider? Yes, I did with all the legality, as it was the same voice actor who lent his vocal cords to Optimus and KARR – Peter Cullen.

Bumblebee drawing out the spine and tail of hyper-aggressive Ravage in one clean pull. Must I say, he does so in slow motion? Reminded me of a gluttonous kid who wipes the ice candy stick clean. It doesn’t end there as Bee uses the spine-tail combo as a whip for sometime lashing it out at an impending Decepticon.

The formation of Devastator. We didn’t know which vehicle was forming which part of the giant Decepticon. None of us really cared as we were more dumbstruck by what was happening onscreen. The near 30 second assembling time was sheer breath taking.

BumbleBee again, kneeling down hopelessly and noticeably heartbroken as the paramedics pronounce Sam dead. This may not necessarily qualify as one which evokes excitement or generates applause. But the scene was one of the few real gems in this explosion-laden quarry. P.S. I love the quarry!

Optimus Prime encore, taking off to the skies powered by Jetfire’s parts. The war cry in the first movie was “Autobots, roll out”. In TF2 as he lifts off, Optimus gives us the new battle cry, “Let’s roll” and the crowd erupts.

Four times the charm, Optimus emerging from behind the Sphinx, shaking off the jet engines and striking an Arnold inspired pose, all in slow motion.

The weaponry that’s on show during the 30 minute climax. I don’t even know the names of all those military gear which rallied past during that half an hour of combat. Fighter jets, bombers, hovercrafts, airborne gunships, UAVs, aircraft carriers, frigates, missile launchers, tanks and the inevitable Humvees – the list is endless and I wouldn’t dare to speak about the rest of Uncle Sam’s garage machinery in the movie. This movie could double up as a recruitment drive video for the US Armed Forces. Bay makes it all look so damn cool. The big question is, what more will be on display in TF3?

Dus bahane karke le gaye dil...10 good excuses to adore Optimus

2009-07-15T01:49:00.000-07:00

Here they are. Those 10 lines which sound cool when spoken by Optimus Prime. Dialogue courtesy : The Late Show with David Letterman

10. Jergens lotion leaves my hands silky smooth.
9. Do you have these khakis in a size 114?
8. My perfect night involves a pint of Haagen-Dazs and season three of “Sex and the City.”
7. Man, do I love me some ‘taters.
6. It was so hot in Central Park today, I saw a squirrel rubbing sunblock on his nuts.
5. You seemed a little pitchy, dawg.
4. Brody Jenner has added you as a friend on Facebook.
3. Live from New York…It’s Saturday Night.
2. My parents wanted me to be a rabbi.
1. All the slammin’ shorties in the house say “yeah.”

I'd love to have line number 4 as an added feature on my social networking website account. Number 10 and 4 are personal favourites and number 1 is delivered by Optimus with all his charisma.

Ryan gets the power ring

2009-07-13T10:04:00.000-07:00

This was brewing for quite some time. At first it was the speculation of a spin-off series on Wade Wilson/Deadpool from X-Men Origins: Wolverine. Then the Green Lantern project gained momentum and now Hollywood's latest heartthorb and charmer, Ryan Reynolds has landed himself the role of the Green Lantern. He got the power ring, beating the likes of Jared Leto, Bradley Cooper and Justin Timberlake.

For Ryan, it's a quantum leap from the role of a sidekick to a mainstream superhero. Ryan isn't new to the superhero genre. Prior to his role as the wisecracking mercenary in the Wolverine actioner, he had worked with Wesley Snipes in the vampire slayer filck, Blade: Trinity. He was also associated with the Flash movie project which got shelved later.

The DC comics adaptation will have Martin Campbell as the director. Campbell has a line of specatacular action movies to his credit. The Mask of Zorro, Golden Eye and Casino Royale being some of them. Each of his movie has either launched or relaunched an actor to superstardom. If the Lantern movie gets its share of followers, then definitely Ryan will be coming across the workload of a Hollywood moviestar and that's what every actor in Hollywood aspires for.

Speed breaker - Taj Mahal wannabe

2009-07-13T09:55:00.000-07:00

As promised, here's the pic of the mosque at Karunagapally, Kerala which owes its design to Shahjahan's Taj Mahal. I was so much in a hurry that I couldn't get the name or details of this mosque. That's right on top of the must-do list next time I take a trip via that route.

Post TF2, non-critical advice to Michael Bay

2009-07-13T04:19:00.000-07:00

"Are you listening or should we borrow your megaphone to make you listen?"

Watched TF2. Totally awesome. The bots, the battles, the military hardware, the cars, the detailed CGI, the package was stunning and as you promised before filming, TF2 was Bay'os. But I guess, success has gone into your head. An invasion in there as well, Mr. Bay? Brace yourself for some useful unapologetic comments. If it makes any difference, I'm a follower of Bay'os. Here it goes.

Please don’t take us for granted. Just because we like the characters and the action, you can’t ignore the fact that you are making a movie and not a trailer. Bloopers account to an all time record of 50+ in Revenge of the Fallen. Some of them can be disregarded as insignificant. But even if we forget the insignificant ones, we just can’t forgive the continuity errors. We do like your “love me or hate me, I just don’t care” attitude. At a time when everyone’s getting all stressed up about making action movies darker and grimmer, it’s good to have someone like you who insists on making it more fun. No one can make pyrotechnics look good on screen like you and no one can replicate the visual style of your frames.

Don’t listen to your critics. But do listen to those who swear by you and put down their money for your movies. They happen to be the only line of defense which comes in between your career and its doom. My word of advice will be, take a break from Transformers for a while. Work on a couple of projects with Bruckheimer and then come back. Meanwhile someone can try their luck with Optimus and company. If you are too possessive about the franchise, then stay but make use of the executive producer’s directorial prowess. Spielberg has a profound knowledge of the sci-fi/action genre and will always have some ideas on how to make the audience pay attention, without blowing stuff up non-stop.

Revenge finds its way to India

2009-07-12T23:49:00.000-07:00

Finally after all those days of prayers, uncertainty and impatience, Transformers landed on Indian theatres. From July 10, around 260 movie theatres opened to sounds of explosions, screeching tyres, metal clanging, and Shia LaBeouf’s shouts. Did I miss something? Yes, Megan Fox and all those war gear which will make every guy out there whistle and pant, joined the bandwagon in Michael Bay’s robogasmic extravaganza.

I couldn’t catch a show on the first day, though that had been my intention since the day I knew that the 2007 blockbuster would have a sequel. So I opted for the next best shot – second day’s first show. 10 minutes late, thanks to the traffic and I missed the amazing Shanghai battle sequence plus the opening credits. Show-goers remarked that I had missed an awesome fight, especially Sideswipe slicing Sideways in half. Had seen it in trailers, but missed it on the big screen. So I’ll be watching the movie once more or may be twice more. Yes, I do understand the twitching eyebrow. But sample this reasoning, it’ll be another two or three years before we get to see these bots in action again. 2011 or may be 2012 is being considered as a prospective release date for the third movie. So I have plenty of time to relax my ear drums after the three-time watch.

I’ll key in my thoughts post the “three times the charm” antic.

Funny video of Optimus Prime in The Late Show with David Letterman - totally hilarious

2009-07-08T04:01:00.000-07:00

After a long tough day of saving Sam Witwicky and battling the Decepticons, Optimus Prime decided to take an evening off to entertain the tele audience. Stand up comedies still have a decent number of viewers. Probably, Prime is thinking of making some quick dollars for a new paint job.

I laughed so much after seeing this video of Optimus Prime in The Late Show with David Letterman. It's absolutely hilarious with Optimus Prime reading out lines which are totally not his cup of tea...err...oil. "Ten Things That Sound Cool When Spoken By a Giant Robot" section of the programme where Letterman introduces Optimus to deliver some silly one-liners is a delight to watch. The way he enunciates each one of them in his characteristic voice is an absolute treat. Save the applause for the brilliant marketing team of TF2 and of course the CGI experts who rendered Optimus specifically for this show. Brilliant sound editing and sound design as well. The way he walks in carefully so that he doesn't knock something over and the panache with which he played it off does make the whole thing click. Letterman, as always played along with his charm and sense of humour. I know that you won't miss to appreciate Peter Cullen for lending his voice to the Autobot.

Transformers 2 Forest Battle scene

2009-07-08T02:39:00.000-07:00

There are times when you are confused whether to praise a technology or to denounce it downright. The efforts of a sting journalist wannabe (less offending term for someone who shoots a movie in theatre) has resulted in this Youtube video of the forest battle scene from Transformers 2. Keeping my moral values at bay (pun intended) let me get down to business. This one is an absolute thrill ride with giant robots taking on each other in a fists-and-guns fight. The cinematography has improved as the camera has been pushed back giving us a clear idea on who is beating whom. Proof that sometimes Michael Bay listens to his critics. In the first movie, the shots were so much in close-up that it was impossible to make out what was happening. I see that Optimus is more badass this time in the stunts department. He rips apart every Decepticon in sight as if he won't get another chance to do so. The twin sword act is one to behold as the Autobot leader takes on three baddies simultaneously The way he lets us all see the contents of Grindor's head is nothing short of a rocking piece of action. Michael Bay promised Bay'os in TF2 and he has given us just that, in abundance.

Revenge rules

2009-07-07T02:13:00.001-07:00

The release of Ice Age: Dawn of the Dinosaurs hasn't succeeded in cooling down the excitement generated by Transformers 2. While the Ice Age sequel took home $41 million in its opening weekend, Transformers edged it out at $42 million in its second week run.

The movie has generated enough gold at the box office to green signal a sequel. But since it is made on a budget of $200 million and as an additional $150 million has been spent on the marketing, it's still far from breaking even. On a trivial note, the marketing budget of TF2 is exactly the same amount which the makers had spent on making the first movie. As of today, Optimus Prime and company have skillfully cut themselves a neat share of $593 million and that too within a mere 12 day span. In a few days it'll be surging past its predecessor's $708 million which ironically is the amount that TF2 needs to break even. The Autobots better be quick in their box office war tactics as the spell of Harry Potter will be luring away a huge number of moviegoers from July 15.

Random thoughts on the new Potter flick

2009-07-03T20:50:00.000-07:00

Adding Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince to the "Must-see movies in July" list is like the whole experience of being mugged. For me, that is. An equivalent of being forced to do something as you have a gun pointed at your head or a knife getting close and personal with your neck.

I'm not a follower of either the books or the movies which followed suit. However I can appreciate a movie which is good. A couple of them were entertaining with their inherent sweetness coupled with a sense of adventure and magic. But as the series progressed the frames turned darker and grim. I don't mind that since I do enjoy dark movies, as long as they are gripping. Point to note is that Harry Potter is children's literature. But somehow the failure of the second installment of the "kids element preserved" Chronicles of Narnia has given us all new insights on what the audience, kids and adults alike prefer more. Darkness, grittiness and complexities surrounding their favourite characters, just for the sake of it.

I did watch some of the movies and while some directors managed to make it entertaining, others brought in the pseudo complex themes. With Half Blood Prince, the crew has gone ahead and shouted that very same line that you hear on the release of every sequel, "this one is huge, this one is more complex, this one is the best in the series." If you say so. I won't be judging those lines with a movie ticket.

Whatever thoughts I may harbour in my mind, the new movie is definitely going to break some box office records and will prompt a gang of critics to speak volumes on the its excellence. No one will be interested in betting against that.

0 to 167 kms in 4 hours

2009-07-02T02:46:00.001-07:00

When I decided to go for a full blast 150 km trip from home to Trivandrum seldom did I know what was in store. Hours of convincing acts, before parents said yes. It’s difficult to make them understand that you are old enough to travel on your own. Considering the fact that I’m yet to put some decent miles on the odometer, they have a point. But as applicable to all humans, a hyper-excited mind is deaf to anything which goes against its wishes. I’m human.

What’s with all the excitement? The sights that caught my fancy en route during several trips did made me enthusiastic for a bike ride with scheduled pit stops. Pit stops which would function as “pic” stops too. I even went through the trouble of memorizing the names of all the places where I’d get down and shoot. But as the wise loser once said, man proposes, God disposes. And He did dispose it all.

Rain rain, go away, come again another day. But the rain gods were involved in other jobs and chose not to listen to my prayers. Drenching me at times with showers of blessings. With a backpack which weighed twice as much as I was when I was born, definitely my spine was in the interest of quitting. The less said about the least offending butt. I must say this - it went numb.

The list of good subjects which demanded to be shot is endless. A dozen damaged cars and trucks of all shapes and sizes filled up the sides of the road, which would make anyone scared of going beyond 30kph. A mosque which bears a close resemblance to the Taj Mahal, the rusted shell of a van, half buried in the mud, a deteriorating barge which still stood above the water as waves lashed out on its rusted sides, and miles of tree and coast lined roads craved to be photographed. I had a plan for each one when we drove past them previously. All went down the drains along with the rains. I was more worried about kissing the roads in a bad skid than about putting my eyes and the camera’s capabilities to the test.

That doesn’t mean that I didn’t shoot at all. A couple of frames did make their way onto the camera’s sensor. A few clicks at a beach and a quick stop pic of the Taj Mahal look alike mosque, that’s all.

A couple of close calls and hours of silent riding made up the trip which took all of 4 hours. Please don’t ask the receiving party on how I looked at the end of the road trip. It wasn’t the best way to turn up at any place. Thankfully, no one judged.

Transformers sequel erupts

2009-07-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

So while proving its worst critics terribly wrong, Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen raked in a massive $108 million in its opening weekend in US. This event launches TF2 to the top of the 2009 releases opening weekend toppers list. Michael Bay's bombastic robot wars movie has been lapped up by audience from around globe with equal fanfare. Within a span of 6 days it collected a quickfire $419 million in total. $214 million is the current figure at the US box office. With aggression it is chasing down the box office figure of every single movie which released in 2009. In a few days Star Trek, Angels and Demons will be bowing down before Tf2's victory run. If the pace is maintained, it could very well pose a threat to the elite $1 billion movies as well. Watch out Dark Knight!

Ugliest cars in India - Mahindra Xylo

2009-06-24T06:23:00.001-07:00

If there is one car which will give a manatee good company on land, then it's the Mahindra Xylo. No complaints on the kit that the sedan-(b)eater has on offer, no issues with the fit and finish and the price is really tasty. But as a looker it still is miles away from what is perceived as a good looking MUV. I do understand that it's a cruel comparison, but it looks as if it's been inspired by a manatee. Cruel as in cruel to the gentle sea mammal.

The front end is neat and classy. But as we go beyond the front door, things start losing way. Designers, haven't you heard of a space filler called a wheel arch? The plain and almost creaseless section under the third row window is dull. It's like a huge blank on a poorly done magazine page, equivalent to a white space. The resulting effect is that of an over-blown balloon. Just like it's tough-guy brother Scorpio, the rear end is where the plot is completely lost. The creaseless theme continues below the rear license plate as well. The single ridge isn't the solution to the clean metal sheet treatment.

Sedan-beater? I'll say yes, considering the 17,000 bookings in the register. Best-looker, definitely no.

Stunning frames

2009-06-24T06:15:00.001-07:00

A contrasting sky with dark rain clouds forming the lower section and the feather-white clouds filling up the portion above. This in turn imparted the image with two different colour schemes - blue above and a yellowish tint below. The Stunner made up the foreground and the evening sun's rays struggling to make their way through the dark clouds give the pic an end-of-a-roadtrip feel.

Revenge is coming to US tomorrow

2009-06-23T09:55:00.000-07:00

Finally the big day is here. In a couple of hours from now, the biggest movie of the year will hit theatres in Uncle Sam's land. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen did please the Queen's countrymen in the UK with a blistering opening weekend of £8.35m. With ease, it beat the records set by this year's summer flicks Terminator Salvation and Star Trek. The takings were a bit lower than the record breaker - The Dark Knight, which stood at £8.6m.

The foreign market cash count right now is a total of $19 million. Almost $14 million of this total comes from UK, Ireland and Malta. The rest can be attributed to the fans in Japan. Still unimpressed? Point to mark, it's barely 4 days since the day it set the first theatre screen on fire.

As for the US opening weekend predictions, expect the three day rake to be in the range of $80-100 million. Keeping my fingers crossed, as I don't want this to be a humiliating failure like Terminator Salvation.

Ugly Duck-kitt

2009-06-19T22:46:00.000-07:00

So I missed the first episode of the new Knight Rider. Most probably it was the 2 hour pilot which was all over the web right after its NBC telecast in the US. A decent looking Kitt and a stylish attack mode made the pilot quite digestible. So in order to catch the first season episode I set the timer on the TV to 10pm , Friday, Star World. I knew what was coming. From the first season opener, they had turned the Kitt into a monster. Not a compliment. In the attack mode t indeed looked like an ugly monster.

The style of the pilot episode car was replaced by rice boy creativity. A cross between a drag racer and a dump truck, that's what the upgraded attack mode was. They took a good looking car and turned it into a heap of scrap. The supercharger on the hood looks more like a trio of PVC pipes glued together than of anything to boost the power. The side scoops look atrociously ugly. Who designed this thing? Drag racer ambitions translates into rubber band profile front tyres and dough nut wannabe rear tyres. To finish off - a spoiler which goes all the way upto the heavens with no purpose but to make the car look garish. And what's with the neon lights? The neon glow looks so cheap and down grade. It's a car for god's sake, not a diner from the 80's.

The transformation scenes look good though. Not of Transformers league, but close. It's an entirely different matter that I just hate what it transforms into.

If by any chance you liked the car in the image, the credit goes to the photographer. He must have had a tough job finding a less disturbing angle.

Ugliest cars in India - Tata Indigo XL

2009-06-17T23:51:00.000-07:00

Two reasons - the rear door and the boxy boot. The Indigo was not the right follow-up to the the beautifully designed Indica hatchback. The boot of the Indigo looked more like an attempt to add more luggage space, by someone who had no idea on the looks of the parent car. However the car was a wise move from Tata as it became a huge hit with its low price, cheap maintenance and practicality.

The rocking success made Tata go one step further and do the unthinkable. An increased wheelbase, luxury amenities, a name which obviously refers to its size and it was time to say, "Hi XL". The misproportionate looks continued, but this time with more vigour. What's with that mile-long rear door? They could have added a panel in between the two doors which is the standard design feature of most limos. Sprinkle some creases, curves and plastic inserts on the panel and that will make it less boring. That requires re-tooling, but of course not as much as what was done for the rear door which can also double up as a fortress gate.

I'd rather choose to say "Bye XL". The manufacturer chooses to call it a luxury limousine. It has acres of space inside and the luxury car ingredients. Still, it doesn't qualify as one. Point acknowledged, that it's cheaper than many sedans in the C-segment. Will that part make the brand conscious buyer turn to the XL? The answer is a big NO. Or an over-ambitious "may be".

"Look ma, a long Indigo" looks don't help. Who'd choose to pay a premium for a luxury car which hasn't got too many distinguishing features from the so-so budget sedan next-door? Or let's make it worse, it looks exactly like the city cab at the next intersection.

A word to Tata. Either make a proper stretch limo or don't make it at all. A "limo" which is mid-way between a short wheelbase sedan and an executive class saloon isn't the right way to (Indi)go.

T1 may be Can'ned by CanAm

2009-06-16T08:42:00.000-07:00

So you thought the Caparo T1 is the closest that it'll ever get to an F1 car. You were so right. Let me modify that phrase a bit. You "were" so right. Confused? Continue reading.

What you see in the image is the Hulme CanAm, a supercar from the land of the Kiwis. It shamelessly borrows a lot from the T1 when it comes to styling. To the casual onlooker, CanAm looks exactly like the T1. Even the promotional car colour is the same. The low stance lends it loads of grip and the highlighted F1 car feel. The F1 racer inspired styling continues bumper-to-bumper. The narrow nose, the chunky side panels and the high set spoiler contributes to the toned down F1 machine looks.

CanAm's power and torque figures will make the T1 run for cover. 600 Bhp in power ratings and 600 Nm of torque, all of which are drawn out from a huge 7 litre V8 Chevrolet engine. A six speed gearbox mated to the powertrain makes sure that all that numbers are put to good use on the road. Speed freaks will be amused by its projected top whack of 320kph.

At $700,000 the CanAm isn't in the same price range as the T1 which retails for around $500,000. However the elite buyers of the CanAm will consist of those who find the 575 Bhp power and 420 Nm toque of the T1 quite less. Point to note is simple and clear. Every good thing comes at a price. This just happens to be pricier.

Carbon on a roll

2009-06-15T09:07:00.000-07:00

Pack your bags, Fords and Chevys. You are about to be dismissed from the highway patrol team. Crown Victorias may go back to the taxi business or take up under cover jobs with the Feds and Impalas may do whatever they are suited for. Yes, the recession has taken its toll on everything in sight. But that’s not the reason why these old ladies are being shown the door. We have a new gatecrasher in town – the Carbon E7. A whopping 10,000 cars have been ordered by various police departments in the US. Interestingly, the cops are willing to wait for four years till they take delivery.

The name Carbon E7 suits a carbonfibre bodied sportscar. But the subject is not one. It’s a built-for-the-job cop car. While the Crown Vics and the Impalas have to be modified to suit their high voltage job profiles, the E7 comes factory-fitted with all the equipment needed for the action. Being a strongly built machine, it can multi-task as a car chase terminator too.

Powering this enforcer is a 3 litre turbo diesel which churns out all of 300bhp.A six speed automatic gear box transfers all that brute force to the wheels and with a 0-60mph figures coming at 6.5 seconds. A top speed of 155 mph will make the E7 remain in the rear-view mirror of those with too much of need for speed. Cops won’t have to break the chase with stops at the gas station too, as the E7 is a frugal machine. So inter-state chases will be a non-stop breeze.

The oldies have all the time till 2012 to plan their less eventful future. Cabs get to be part of high-octane chases only in movies. Not in the streets. Bad luck ladies.

Q n A

2009-06-14T10:26:00.000-07:00

Every year a minimum of 10,000 new species are discovered from the deepest of forests and the depths of oceans. Scientists believe that there are thousands more to be brought to the list. If no one has any qualms in accepting that fact, then why can't they believe that aliens exist?

The vastness of outer space has not been seen or measured by the best technology available with us right now. We have limited knowledge on the planets in our solar system and the universe. Based on that limited knowledge we pass judgments and follow guesses. Educated guess is a nice-sounding usage in this context. Those educated guesses have told us that there are thousands of solar systems out there, each comprising of stars and planets. So can't atleast one of those planets have intelligent life forms?

Aliens is a term which is so much cliched nowadays. But let me use that word. Just like we send out probes to find more on other planets, just like we collect samples form other planets, can't aliens too drop in on planet Earth to study it more? Wouldn't they be as curious as us to study the dominant species on the planet, efforts of which are better known as alien abductions? Why do we find it hard to believe that we are not the only inhabitants of this universe? Proof is required to support this statement. But isn't it not just unfair but also a stupid move from us not to give it a chance of probability? That too at a time when we have evidence which hints life on some celestial bodies in our vicinity.

To all those who are still find it difficult to believe, let me remind you that five hundred years ago everyone found it difficult to believe that the earth was spherical. Lucky for them, they aren't alive to shamefully take back the idea which they followed blindly. When Galileo suggested that the sun was at the centre and the Earth revolved around it, he was subject to trial and was condemned by the Church and the society. Do we have to be referred to in history as the stubborn society which despised and neglected chances and probabilities?

The image above is one of the most recognised posters of all time. Followers of the X-Files TV series will be familiar with the poster from Agent fox Mulder's office wall. I guess, the image puts things in perspective more than any words could ever do.

Ugliest cars in India - ICML Rhino RX

2009-06-14T09:45:00.000-07:00

The Toyota Qualis would have made it to this list if it were still around. But Toyota pulled the plug on that breadbox-on-wheels MUV a long time ago. Do we miss it? Well, not exactly. It was a remarkable MUV which redefined a segment with its quality and packaging.

Toyota began its innings in India with the Qualis and it did complete justice to the bulletproof reliability associated with the company. So no one really bothered about the Jurassic era styling. Later the Innnova drove into the showrooms and our car parks, effectively replacing the Qualis.

Things were looking good and then this one came into the picture. Meet ICML Rhino RX - the exact relica of the Qualis. That excludes the superb engine and the fit and finish levels. One more similarity, the Rhino is as unreasonably priced as the Qualis. The logic in this copycat-act is a mystery. If they had to copy a design to save costs, couldn't they have picked a better looking vehicle?

It must be admitted that Rhino is a bit better than the Qualis when viewd from the front. Head-on, the rounded headlamps and the bumper design are reliefs. That doesn't save the rest of the package. There are the usual style-savers like two tone paint jobs, stickers and a list of new colur schemes. Is someone forgetting the fact that these are dated ways to save face? More dated than the two-decade old design itself.

Ugliest cars in India - Honda CR-V

2009-06-14T01:52:00.000-07:00

Another Honda and this is something that I really hate to do. I have said this before. Honda makes the best engines. But one way or the other they give the rest of the world lots of arguments against their sense of style. Some automobile mags call the new CR-V a revolutionary design. I agree. It is revolutionary, but only if it means tasteless. The softroader which it replaced was a conventional looking city slicker which had the stance of an SUV and the mannerisms of a sedan. That design was in need of replacement and the one which came to fill its shoes made us all pray that Honda hadn't replaced it at all.

Now let us get down to business. What is that front end all about? To be specific, the grille which comes right below the Honda emblem. Is it a space filler which the designers chucked in to fill up the plain space between the bumper and the headlamps? Looks so to me. The glass house is another distraction. The slanting profile of the third window isn't exactly a tasteful touch. May be it is a match which suits a car with a styling package like this. I don't wish to say anything at all about the rear end.

But here's the catch, it's a Honda. For buyers who know the reliability which comes free with that insignia, that pretty much ends all doubts and comments on its styling.

New York may bring a smile

2009-06-12T23:23:00.000-07:00

Kabir Khan's debut movie, Kabul Express had its flaws. But the movie festivals picked it up and they fell in love with the movie. That the entire shooting was completed in a post US invaded and battle-torn Afghanistan was nothing short of an acheivement. It dealt with the plight of all the people involved in that war and thankfully didn't preach. A visual feast, which told a fine story with the help of breath-taking frames.
The director is only a movie young and he is on it again. This time kicking it up a notch. Teaming up with Yash Raj Films, the new movie titled New York deals with post 9/11 issues faced by the international students in the Big Apple. The star cast comprises of a better acting John Abraham, still a non-actor but gorgeous looker Katrina Kaif, niche kid Neil Nithin Mukesh and the always marvellous Irrfan Khan. The promos have Kabir Khan shots written all over them. Since it's a YRF movie, no compromises on the packaging part.

The promotional poster does deserve a mention here. A night shot of the Manhattan skyline with a ghostly image of the World Trade Centre is not just catchy but can be a topic of discussion for the bearded thinkers. The WTC is long gone. However, the ghosts of the past still remain to haunt the inhabitants of the city.

I hope Ram Gopal Verma isn't listening. If he is, then please don't take thae previous sentence literally. And don't torture us with a Nisha Kothari-starrer horror flick set in New York.

June 19 : Angry young man coming to town...No, it's not Big B

2009-06-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

It's been almost 40 days since X-Men Origins: Wolverine released in the US. After a scintillating run around the globe it's finally on its way to our shores. The $150 million movie has taken in a decent sum of $351 million so far and is yet to open in some more markets. Obviously, it's successful enough to green light a sequel.

On a personal note, I'm not happy with the India release of Hollywood movies being delayed like this. This time, it was the rift between the distributors and the multiplex owners which kept summer flicks like these out of our reach. Earlier it used to be the tag of a small market, which resulted in delayed releases.

In the case of Wolverine, the dates were postponed more than once and if the trailers on air are to be believed, very soon we'll get to see the angry young man of the superhero universe tearing apart bad guys in the latest movie of the X-men series. The date to mark on your calendars is June 19 and that can also be marked as the date to give your nail cutter that much needed vacation.

Critics, please shut your mouth and pack up. We don't buy tickets to a summer action flick with a hope to savour cinematic brilliance. We do it for the mindless fun. If you can't figure that out, look for another job.

About the pic, that's not Wolvy's idea of a manicure. Nor is he sharpening his adamandium claws. For him, it's just a day's work of saving the good guys.

Iron Man to be whipped

2009-06-11T22:32:00.000-07:00

This is another metal clanger update that I had been waiting for. Iron Man sequel may release only in 2010. But the shooting footage and pics are gently making their way into media. So who do we have here? It's Academy Award nominee Mickey Rourke as Whiplash, the bad guy in Iron Man 2. From the looks of it, he seems to have followed Obadiah Stane's modus operandi from the first movie. The electric whips draw power from what strikingly resembles the same arc-reactor powering Tony Stark's armour suit.

For the droolers, there is Gwyneth Paltrow reprising her role as Tony's assistant, Virginia Pepper Pots and Scarlett Johansson as Black Widow. Too much to ask for and too good to have. Just in case you are anxious if Johansson's character is negative, there is no reason to worry as she is one of the good guys. Terrence Howard checked out and in his shoes as Lt. Colonel James Rhodes is Don Cheadle. Though I'd choose to watch Cheadle's movies over Howard's, I really don't think this is one role which suits the former. Samuel L. Jackson, takes command as Nick Fury and rumour has it that he has been signed in for nine movies as the same character.

Of course, though it needs no mention, we have Robert Downey Jr again as the witty, wise-cracking, super-rich, playboy hero. The first film made him an icon and I just can't imagine what the sequel will do to his career. Whatever it might be, one thing can be confimed now. It will definitely boost his superstar status. The suit will be of help in conquering those heights with ease. Up, up and away...ehm...wrong line.

Moto-Terminator beefier than Arnold's Harley

2009-06-11T21:55:00.000-07:00

If Christian Bale and Sam Worthington are actors who you don't even care about, you have got one more bait to fall for Terminator Salvation. The Moto-Terminator will set the screen on fire with its physics defying stunts and will probably make you fall off the seat at the movies.

Set in 2018, Terminator Salvation follows the battle between Skynet and the resistance led by John Connor. So where does Moto-Terminators fit in? These baddies are best described as Terminators on wheels. Hunting machines built to run down resistance fighters, they are armed to the teeth with guns and rocket launchers. Not your usual list of accessories come retrofitted.

Now for the juicy part. The bike was inspired by a real world machine. The Ducati Hypermotard, a niche bike which has taken the biking world by storm was used as a reference for the visual effects. All the stunt riding featured in the movie involved this torquey little monster. In post-production the bikes were replaced by 3D rendering of the Moto-Terminator.

Alright, it's not a real bike. It's a CGI effect onscreen. But it is one hell of a machine which unfortunately can't be ridden. Even T-800 will stay away from this monster bike.

Fire and Ice Land Rovers...too hot, too cool

2009-06-11T09:41:00.000-07:00

Tata taking over Land Rover was not the best thing to have happened as far as the Brits are concerned. The argument which iss against Tata is simple. A truck maker will never appreciate and understand the heritage and brand name associated with Land Rover. So wrong you are, Brits. Take a look at the new Fire and Ice editions of the workhorse in LR stable, the Defender and prepare to take your words back.

The rest of the bare-basic SUVs have taken the luxury root, even the G-wagon. So how can the Defender stay behind? So in addition to the rugged standard Defender, LR has for its customers two special editions. The shell remains the same, retaining its 1948 design. The semi-dolled-up look owes to the colour coded head and tail lights, recaro seats, leather upholstery, new 5-spoke alloys and sunroof which lets the sun and nature in.

Fire edition comes in a Vesuvius Orange metallic, which of course is very much loyal to the machine's name. Ice edition, obviously comes in Alaska White. Both have been given a dual tone paint job with black finish on the hood and the roof.

They aren't cheap. Nor are they available for all. The tag says $95,000. 850 lucky and super rich Land Rover lovers will get to drive off in one of these.

TF2 deported from June 24 to July 3 - Why God why?

2009-06-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

Didn't I forgive those who sinned me? Didn't I pray on my knees each day? Didn't I try to be better person? Didn't I? And is this how you reward the good guys, oh Almighty?

That hurts. That really hurts. No, I'm not giving a caption to the pic which by the way is of Optimus uncle getting a power-packed kick from Megatron. Call paramedics!.

Why can't the movie studios stick to their release schedule? Take the case of TF2. They announced June 24 as the India release date and fanboys like me popped the bubbly instantly. Drinks all around! And now they are airing trailers with July 3 as the India release date. We were running out of patience and were hanging on to what's left of it, when June 24 was the announced date. Now what? It comes next month? Thank you guys, for making the month of June a mirage.

Thumbs down and booooooooooooooo!!! (to the so-called box office strategists at Dreamworks and Paramount Studios) As for the movie...TF2 will rock the planet!!!

US Air Force to rear studs...Ford Mustangs to begin with

2009-06-08T01:37:00.000-07:00

The US Air Force is at it again. No, they didn't bomb an entire village in Afghanistan to kill a single terrorist. And they haven't admitted that they have a flying saucer in one of their hangars in the Nevada desert. Instead they have drafted in Galpin Autosports, a tuner company to make this - a special edition Ford Mustang.

Apltly named US Air Force Mustang X-1, this car is wider than the standard Mustang. With a heavily altred front section which reminds you of the new Knight Rider it is indeed a loud car. They say it has been designed with fighter jet design as source material. I'll take that with a pinch of salt. Power figures are way north of 500bhp and the nitrous adds to the surge. The tyres are so wide that you'd wish you are never run over by this one. Finished in white (an unusual choice), this one has all black rims, scissor doors which would make a Lamborghini proud and an ejector seat. Yeah, you read it right - an ejector seat. That does makes it outrageous. It's a single seater and the driver sits in the middle. Very much like a fighter jet. The interior wouldn't be quite new to the seasoned fighter pilot as well. Did I mention that it has a shifter borrowed from a fighter jet? I'd be surprised if it doesn't have the storage area for the warheads.

So what is this machine for? Why exactly would the Air Force need a car like this when they have Raptors, Eagles and Stealths as pin-ups? Short answer. The car will be part of the recruiting programme. Uncle Sam has aged and what the armed forces need to get the attention of the youngsters is the all American muscle car phenomenon. And it always works.

Don't dare to ask too many questions unless you have atleast a hundred anti-aircraft missiles in your backyard. Everything is on a need to know basis and you don't need to know.

P.S - This isn't the only machine which is part of the recruitment drive. A Stealth inspired Challenger is also drafted in. More on that in a later post. Statutory Warning: It is scarier than this one.

Autobot Bruce? Naah...

2009-06-08T00:55:00.000-07:00

Before you jump to conclusions, let me clarify. This is not Bumblebee's long lost younger brother, if he has one. This humble Chevrolet Cruze is the handiwork of a Transformer's fan from China. The Chevrolet Camro was an expensive car for him and the special edition is yet to to be launched.

So our fanboy went ahead and bought a Cruze which happens to be a practical family car and not a powerhouse. To make up for the loss of the real Bee, he added decals and the twin stripes and we have to give him a pat on the back for his work. The detailing is immaculate. It does look purposeful and doesn't pass off as just another sticker job.

So Chevrolet, how about a Cruze, next time in TF3? Make him an Autobot. If the Chevy Volt can be the Autobot Jolt, may be Cruze can join the team as...Bruce (?) . Meanwhile I can transform my pick up truck (if I had one) to turn it into Ironhide. Bull bars, roll cage, chunky off-road tyres, rocket launchers, laser canon...did I go too far?

Terminator burns more

2009-06-07T20:58:00.000-07:00

With the deepest regrets and heartfelt condolences I’d like to let the world know that the fourth installment of Terminator series will turn out to be the second biggest disaster of 2009, post Watchmen. The US box office collections till date have not been so much encouraging. It has been 18 days since Christian Bale’s resistance started its battle at the box office. The results are nothing to write home about - a near-numb $105 million in the US and a paltry $25 million in other markets. The comparison with the third movie brings up more disappointments. Turns out that T3 had a better run compared to Terminator Salvation. Matters are getting worse as T4 is witnessing sheer drops in collection with each passing day.The low figure in foreign markets is due to the distributor’s move to postpone the international release to June. T4 releases in many foreign markets in June and July. This in turn will turn out to be the blunder of the year. Even a toddler is wise enough to avoid a release schedule which overlaps with that of Transformers 2. By the time T4 makes it to international markets, the theatres will be fighting for time to fit in more shows of Michael Bay’s robot wars epic. So T4 may not stand a fighting chance. Worst case scenario, it’ll crash at $300 million or if the chances are better it may settle for $400 million. Either way, it’ll not be the hit we all expected it to be.

Transformers 2 : India release date announced

2009-06-07T09:29:00.000-07:00

All fans of the transforming bots celebrate!!! Transformers 2 is invading theatres in India on June 24. That's excellent news given the fact that it's the same date on which our friends in the US get to cheer Optimus in theatres.

New Zealand and UK will be the lucky ones as they get their share of the robogasm on 18th and 19th respectively. Number-crunchers, here's one for you. The five day opening weekend in the US is expected to plough in $160 million or may be more.

As for the pic, Optimus takes a quick breather while battling Blackout and Starscream. Sword drawn, metal muscles flexed, tired but never to quit - now that's what I call a killer pose. I'm gonna shout when this comes up on the big screen.

Knight Rider drives into Indian TV screens

2009-06-07T01:27:00.000-07:00

Think of David Hassellhoff and the first things that come to your mind will be one of these two - Baywatch or Knight Rider. The result depends a lot on whether you are a babe guy or a car guy. Let's pay attention to Knight Rider as it's the one which belongs in this blog. The 1980s TV series on a crime-fighting duo - Michael Knight (David Hassellhoff) and his sentient talking car (KITT), was an instant hit. So much so that it has witnessed reruns on channels around the globe. A total of three TV movies and a spin-off series (Team Knight Rider) followed suit. In India, DD picked it up quite early and later Star World took over the wheel. As producer Glen. A. Larson envisioned, Knight Rider was about a modern day knight who fought crime. It was more like a western with a cow boy-like protagonist as far as charm and attitude are concerned and a hi-tech car instead of a spirited horse.

In 2008 NBC resurrected the franchise with a new cast and more tech-laden concept. David Hassellhoff was replaced by soap opera pretty boy Justin Bruening and the iconic Pontiac Trans Am, justifiably was replaced by a new Ford Shelby GT 500 KR Mustang. Bruening played Mike Traceur, son of Michael Knight. The 2 hour pilot episode garnered enough rating to approve a full-fledged season. Though purists did complain about the missing charm of the old series, the lacklustre performances by the actors and of course the selection of Val Kilmer (Batman Forever, Top Gun) over William Daniels as Kitt's voice, the makers and NBC launched the new series in September 2008.

Despite the abundant use of special effects and the move to make KITT more sophisticated than a Transformers robot, the series does lack the simplicity and fails to keep the attention of the viewer. Kitt has a new-look super pursuit mode which I must say often makes it look uglier than the cars featured in BBC Topgear Carbage section. It's absolute garbage.
The new Kitt borrows a lot from the Transformers movie with its instant transformation tricks as it shape shifts to other Ford vehicles. Over-the-top product placement from Ford. Unlike the good old Kitt, the new machine is a weapons specialist. Guns, missiles, EMP, laser, everything that will feel at home in a Star Trek battle ship, lurks under its panels. The signature Turbo-boost which launches the car to a short leap over hurdles is back too. But the scenes are nowhere near the ones from the original series which stunned you with the realism. The base got bigger too as now Kitt relaxes at Kitt-cave, a rip-off of Bat-cave and a specially designed cargo plane instead of the trailer truck does the pick-up and drop duties.

Seriously, I never wished any of this to happen. I am probably one of the biggest fans of the original series and I'd love to see Hoff and Kitt with their buddy talks, hi-speed runs and the final drive, to the sunset with that brilliant theme score in the backdrop. Knight Rider is out of place in this age. Regardless of all the tech, transformation and the espionage acts the new edition fails to deliver and fails to match the adorability of the real cast, crew and themes. It's one of those series which belong in that age. It shouldn't be fiddled with, but has to enjoyed in all its original glory.

The new Knight Rider airs on Star World from June 18. The one hour show will be telecast every Thursday and Friday at 10 pm.

Ugliest cars in india - Tata Indica Vista

2009-06-05T04:29:00.000-07:00

I celebrated with all my heart when Indica hit the roads way back in 1998. It was a moment of pride for Tata and the entire Indian automotive community. The first car made in India and made for India, this spacious hatch was styled by the Italian design house I.DE.A. They did a remarkable job and Tata followed it up with freshening ups and subtle face-lifts. A prepped-up Indica can still give the rest of the hatchbacks some style-check lessons, even now. Then the unthinkable happened. The Indica Vista was born.

A new platform and new looks were the much shouted USPs of Vista. But this was cruel in a way, at least to the Indica brand. Take a look at the traditional Indica and the Vista and you’ll understand what I’m trying to say. There is class and dignity in the former while the latter unsuccessfully tries to be an attention grabber. It does succeed at times by gaining attention for the wrong reasons. The bulged up hood with wrap-around headlamps makes you cringe than fall in love with the car. The glasshouse is another nail which tinkers with its looks. Let me guess, the plausible design guideline was, “Let’s build a people carrier to beat the Innova” and once the designers completed the design of the front section, the manufacturer changed it to, “Ok, make that a small car”. Vista has a bulky looking front section and from the front wheels to the rear it looks undernourished. To finish it off there are the ruler-thin tail lights which look more like an afterthought than anything else.

I have seen some souped-up versions of the Vista. But they don’t stand a chance in front of a similarly modded Indica. No wonder, the latter stills sells more than the former.

Ugliest cars in India - Renault Logan

2009-06-04T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'm a very reasonable person and I like the Logan. A decent car with no sky-high ambitions, the Logan is a basic A to B mode of transport. It's priced right and is cheap to maintain. The low price owes much gratitude to the cost-effective manufacturing techniques adopted by Mahidra Renault. Thanks to that, they can sell it at rock-bottom prices which will make even smaller cars seem over-priced.

Now to the titular case. It's not a stylish car. It's well-designed with smart design elements which aim more at practicality and comfort. Add to that the cost-cutting measures and the end result is a car which looks cluttered. There are too many straight lines on the Logan for a new age car. Ask a kid to draw a car and he'll draw one which looks strikingly similar to the Logan. That's not a compliment, Renault! This is more of a ruler-and compass work. Since renault is well known since time immemorial for the quirky styling of their cars, this isn't a surprise.

Mahindra-Renault has introduced a couple of new versions in new shades with alloy wheels and the works. But the bad styling is something which can't be covered up with these add-ons.

Speed Breaker - Honda Stunner joins the show

2009-06-02T01:15:00.000-07:00

So finally I got my set of wheels. Thanks to the frequent convincing acts from friends, the blogger zeroed in on the ever-reliable Honda. A bit flashy here, a fantastic engine there, this machine is quite well above the expected standards. I often find it tough to convince others that this is a humble 125cc commuter which looks like a 150cc big bike(by Indian standards).

With a bit of performance bike aspirations thrown in, it looks purposeful. The fixed front cowl and headlamp assembly, the sharp fairing, the sporty seating postion and the stepped seat do lend it an aggressive stance. The low end range is encouraging as far as city commute is concerned. Say good bye to frequent gear shifts because of that. 5 gears isn't necessary for a bike which tops out somewhere around 100kph. I have no complaints, as the feel of having a 5 gear transmission at my disposal is pleasing.

Thank heavens, she is less demanding than her looks convey. Handling isn't exceptional, but doesn't make the rider uncomfortable. The tyres are meaty and give a firm grip on the tarmac, inspiring confidence. A fine choice for long trips too and that translates into more beautiful places to go to and shoot, like the one in the pic.

Trust me, the pillion rider will love this bike. The higher postion of the rear seat ensures that she (hopefully!) gets an unhindered view of the road ahead. That's a good excuse to buy this machine if you haven't got the bucks for a full-blown performance/cruiser bike. It works for me. :)

Ugliest cars in India - Nissan Teana

2009-06-02T00:39:00.000-07:00

What exactly is the Nissan Teana? A sedan? A station wagon? A notch back? Or a mess? Probably it's an example of the last kind. A bland design which is so much lifeless and dated that the prospective buyer will be reluctant to part with his money. Nissan has some fantastic looking cars in its portfolio and I still wonder why they opted to give India this jelly bean shaped luxury car.

Nissan does need a refresher course on Indian tastes. Organic shapes are making their way out of the car design industry and if they still expect us to fall for a dull looking vessel, they need something more than the course.

Teana sets you back by Rs. 20 lakhs and for a bit north or south of that sum, you can take home better lookers like the Skoda Superb and VW Passat. The equipment levels speak in Teana's favour. But a D-segment buyer expects more than the interior comfort and features. He wants style and chunks of it. Unfortunately Teana has anything but style.

Ugliest cars in India - Tata Sumo

2009-06-01T06:08:00.000-07:00

A pre-historic design and that too a bad one, that’s the Tata Sumo. No matter how many face lifts and how many stickers Tata gives the MPV, it still remains as ugly as it used to be at the time it was launched. It has been put through tons of paint jobs, colour schemes, minor aesthetic changes, and Tata still failed to rectify its major design drawback – the kicked-up rear end. In profile the vehicle reminds you of a Sumo wrestler trying to walk tip-toe.
Based on the tried, tested and tired 207 platform, Tata Sumo was one of the first cars (if you can call it one) designed in India. Space was not a problem. It had enough area for the extended Indian family and the dog. Ride was comfy unless the vehicle was pushed to its limits. The range topping Victa was a bit of a relief as far as looks are concerned. The Spacio never came anywhere in the territory of design and styling. But atleast it never tried to be a family vehicle. Overall the design was flawed. It lacked poise and handled like barge.

The new Sumo Grande does look promising and fresh with the borrowed design cues. But the old wrestler still lags behind and it still sells. Courtesy, the space, the price and the cheap maintenance.

Ugliest cars in India - 2008 Honda Accord

2009-05-30T01:26:00.000-07:00

Chris Bangle does have a long lost son and probably junior is working for Honda. What else could probably explain the mangled (Bangle'ed) look of the 2008 version of the luxury sedan from Honda? Its predecessor was an icon here as a performance king and was often referred to as the big brother of the first Honda City. Sharp as a razor in styling and handling it was indeed a slick package.
The replacement is disastrously ugly. I often find it odd as it gives the impression of being designed by more than one designer. There is a hell lot of Chris Bangle's BMW designs flashed all over it. The dented look of the doors, right below the waistline, the arrow-straight shutline of the rear door, even the confused rear end design, all these speak volumes of a BMW 7-series inspiration. Not to mention the fact that the latter is not a good example to emulate.The Accord is an unpleasant amalgamation of BMW, Audi and Hyundai signatures. Check out the way in which the rear section of the roof flows down to the boot - pure Audi lines. The front section is a clear rip-off of the new Hyundai Sonata. The rectagular headlamps with those blisters makes matters worse. It's good in pieces but as a whole it's a really ugly picture.

Accord has a gem of an engine, but it's not a jewel of a car.

50 Fast and Furious days

2009-05-24T19:57:00.000-07:00

And we have crossed fifty days. Critically panned (banned!?) car racing flick Fast and Furious is well on its way to crossing the finish line anytime soon. The total collections on the 50th day stand at $345 million worldwide. Breaking it up that would be a total of US gross $153,524,010 and international gross $192,231,401. You may have to give or take a couple of millions from that, as box office numbers aren't so much reliable to the penny.

Anyway, it beats the other three movies which came before it and that too by a huge margin. If that doesn't prompt the makers to come back with the same cast in a sequel, what else does? :)

Mayhem in May - T4 disappoints, Museum receives more vistors

2009-05-24T19:44:00.001-07:00

Am I disappointed today? Of course I am. What was hailed and screamed from the rooftops as one of the biggies of the year, surrendering to a "does-anyone-really-care" fantasy comedy - just what I needed. :(

If the opening weekend estimates are anything to go by, Terminator Salvation received something more than a kick on the butt. A dismal $43 million is all that it had on its first weekend. Lower than expectations, lower than its unimpressive predecessor and lower than its current opponent, Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Museum had a fine start at $53 million. Not so bad a performance, during these times. But the shock which T4 has given me and the number-crunchers still persists. If Fast and Furious (non-brainer) and Wolverine (some-brainer) could get a sumptuous opening then why didn't T4 manage a similar feat?

Mayhem in May - Terminators to battle the Museum boys

2009-05-22T02:20:00.000-07:00

Another face-off of the unlikely kinds is brewing in the box office. Two different contenders in the ring.

On the left, we have the resurrected Terminator movie, Terminator Salvation. Powered by Christian Bale, this one is be counted on as the big hit which will boost up the collection counters from the former booster rockets (read Fast and Furious, Wolverine, Monsters v/s Aliens). A brand new cast with the right use of CGI and real action, T4 is just what the doctor recommended to the franchise. Hopefully we are about to witness Terminator “Resurrection”.

On the right, we have the ever dependable funny little man Ben Stiller with Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian, the sequel to his previous hit, Night at the Museum. The theatre count of the fantastical action comedy is on the higher side compared to Terminator Salvation’s 3480. The museum parade will be on display in 4096 centres. The return of the good old cast isn’t that bad. Ben stiller teams up with fellow smileys Robin Williams, Owen Wilson, Hank Azaria, Steve Coogan and Bill Hader. Amy Adams forms the romantic angle here.

T4 definitely has the edge as Bale is flying high, post TDK and Stiller is on a bit of a low after the mediocre run of Tropic Thunder. Give it a week’s time and the image of the winner will be more clear. Till then T4 holds the cards.

Take home your own Bumblebee Camaro...life size

2009-05-22T01:19:00.000-07:00

GM is all set to cash in on the Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen buzz. Rumour has it that Chevrolet is planning to launch a special edition Camaro along the lines of the Bullit Mustang from arch-rival, Ford. The car will have Bumblebee and Autobots splashed all over it(not literally). If the tip is accurate, Sam Witwicky wannabes will be able to book their own Bumblebees on the same date of the movie release. Do I have to say that date is June 24th?

Hope it doesn't relieve on someone's head like the real Bumblebee did in the movie. GM must be infusing some manners along with goodies like the Autobot insignia on the inside and on the special wheels.

Mayhem in May – Angels and Demons not in Da Vinci league

2009-05-19T05:25:00.000-07:00

Two good reasons why Angels and Demons didn’t have an opening weekend run similar to its predecessor. One, the book on which it’s based was not as controversial as The Da Vince Code. Two, the response of the church was rather cold than its hot-headed approach last time. Thanks to these, Ron Howard’s adaptation of Dan Brown’s book has garnered a rather ordinary $46 million in its first week. In the international markets it fared much better. A $102 million collection in the foreign markets once again confirms the fact that the movie will be performing like The Da Vinci Code.

We are speaking about ratios here and not necessarily about numbers. The Da Vinci Code made $217 million in the U.S and $540 million in the international box office. A whopping $758 million in total. A&D will sell in the foreign markets at a higher rate than in the U.S just like the Holy Grail escapade of 2006. It may not be able to match the numbers of the Code.

New releases and the strong ones which are settled and building in the box office are posing a major threat to A&D. Though Wolverine is losing strength, Star Trek is holding strong and that’s a huge threat to A&D. May is getting tighter with more release lined up. Next up are two biggies - Night at the Museum : Battle of the Smithsonian and Terminator Salvation. Now the Angels and the Demons will need a lot of faith or divine intervention for a box office sweep.

Mayhem in May - Star Trek lifts off

2009-05-11T02:19:00.000-07:00

To be totally honest, I have a very bare-basic idea on Star Trek, be it the series or the movie franchise. The less operatic version of Star Wars, that’s my take on the series. No offence intended to the followers of the ever popular space adventure.

So except for the fact that the 11th movie comes in the action packed summer season, there isn’t much which makes the latest Star Trek appealing to me. I loved the way director J.J Abrams treated Mission Impossible 3. His TV series, Alias and Lost are quite good too though Lost has lost its grip. So definitely he has done his homework before working on this major reboot of a franchise which has seen its share of ups and downs.

If the opening weekend numbers are anything to go by, then he has either done his job well or the marketing team has done its job better. A production budget of $150 million has been splurged on this one and the movie grossed a fine figure of approximately $76 million in its first weekend. Not so punchy a number as Wolverine’s outing, yet fabulous.

Definitely Star Trek will take will take a huge share of the box office away from the Mr. Retractable Claws a.k.a Wolverine. But the shadow of Angels and Demons looms over Trek as the former is expected to hit shores on May 15. So more to fear than to cheer about. May the best movie win.

Mayhem in May - Wolverine claws in

2009-05-05T03:34:00.000-07:00

X-Men Origins: Wolverine ripped apart competition raking in $85 million in its first weekend. The collections are equal to those of X2: X Men united and way better than the first X-Men movie. In the process it neatly displaced Fast and Furious from the top position in the 2009 opening weekend chart. To add to the harvest, the movie also clawed in $73 million from the foreign markets.

Swine flu threats and the much worried about issue of the leaked workprint of the movie didn’t take away the enthusiasm from the fans. All the critics who gave this one a terrible rating will be hiding their faces in the shadows as the popularity is expected to rise in the coming days.

Made on budget of $150 million, X-Men Origins: Wolverine is the second most expensive movie in the franchise. I seriously doubt those numbers since the packaging doesn’t look or feel as big as X3 or X2. Not so hard to believe that Hugh Jackman was paid a whopping $20 million for the part. The producers who must have had a lot of trouble to pay that sum will now be glad to be paid back in full for the investment.

Mayhem in May - X-Men Origins: Wolverine

2009-05-01T03:18:00.000-07:00

“May day, May day…Wolverine is out of the cage”

Kicking of the summer season this year is X-Men origins: Wolverine. More than a fine way to raise the curtains on the blockbuster season to follow which stretches out all the way till August.

The multi-layered character who carried on his broad shoulders a considerable weight of the X-men trilogy is finally a solo hero. The first movie in a series of prequels on the major characters in the X-Men series, X-Men Origins: Wolverine traces the disturbed and violent past of Wolverine.

Hugh Jackman reprises his role as the hot-headed and at times arrogant mutant. Directed by Gavin Hood who has won an Oscar for Best Foreign Film in 2006, the movie finally sheds some light on the mysterious history of the character. The movie clarifies many questions on his origins, his love life, his association with the Weapon X programme, the fellow mutants who he met and his acquaintance with Col. William Stryker. A better of picture of Logan (Wolverine) and his character will make Wolverine followers who couldn’t get enough of him in the X-Men trilogy, run to the theatres. Liev Schreiber in the role of Victor Creed (Sabretooth), Wolverine’s half brother fills in the shoes of one of the many battle royale adversaries. The worst nemesis, Weapon XI tests the real mettle of Wolverine’s Adamantium claws and the claws do get up close and personal with a Helicopter mid-air.

For the viewers there is a catch, as the director has stated that the movie will have multiple endings. Box office numbers are difficult to predict. But given the positioning of the movie’s release date and cashing in on the popularity of the character, it can open big at the box office. $80 million is a reasonable figure for the opening weekend count. We’ll have to wait till Monday for the actual figures as it remains to be seen on how much furious can Wolverine get at the box office battle.

Remarkable action movies : Matrix Reloaded (2003)

2009-04-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

Why : Too much philosophy didn’t mar Wachowski brothers’ second movie in the Matrix trilogy of its additional selling point – breath-taking action. The Matrix introduced us to revolving cameras, strobe effects, bullet times, detailed slow motion, cutting edge special effects and a fine display of Wire-fu.

Reloaded took all these to the next level. This was the perfect action movie as it had the best of every genre of action. Martial arts, shootouts, car chases, explosions, guns, knives, swords, cars, characters with real purposes for their acts, visual effects and all packaged into a coherent unit with a strong plot.

The most memorable moments include Neo’s one-man battle with hundreds of copies of Agent Smith and the $50 million dollar car chase which was shot on a specially constructed freeway. Trinity racing against the traffic on the Ducati superbike was an armrest grabber in all rights. Neo took to the skies and beat Superman in the frequent fliers race.

The movie had a huge impact on popular culture and film making. The cinematography style is still a favourite among directors. Same goes for the all-black costumes. Black became the most desirable colour for dress code. Black shades, black tux, black shoes and special edition Neo goggles sold like pizzas. We haven’t seen a movie creating a fashion statement like this in recent times and it still goes on.

The Matrix was a better movie, but Reloaded was a better action movie.

Remarkable action movies : Backdraft (1991)

2009-04-20T03:50:00.000-07:00

Why : The best monster movie of the early nineties was Backdraft. Don’t be surprised and don’t be confused. Fire was put across as a character, almost equivalent to a creature in the movie. The way it crawled across the floors, sprang up from nowhere on Kurt Russell and William Baldwin, consumed everything in its path, all these elements would feel at home in a creature feature. The writers could have done away with the dialogue on it being a living thing though.

Ron Howard’s action drama on Chicago’s firefighters did attract criticism from both sides. But it still is a classic inferno movie with the most spectacular explosions and fire sequences. Pyromaniacs swear by it and they can’t be blamed. Backdraft was probably the last of the movies in which special effects were not used to replicate fire. So all that destruction that you see in it was shot in the middle of controlled incineration in sets. Controlled is not the right word, if you ask the crew.

Warner Brothers Studios has a popular theme park ride inspired by a major blaze in the movie and the ride is still on top of the crowd-pullers list.

Backdraft raised the status of a fire fighter to that of a knight who fought a dragon which didn’t just breathe fire. It was fire itself.

Oh, and it starred Robert De Niro in an extended cameo.

Speed breaker : Radiator Springs...a surprise

2009-04-17T04:23:00.000-07:00

A blown radiator, an over-heating engine, wayward wipers, unprecedented rains, all these pretty much summed up this year’s trip to Vagammon on Good Friday. Life has never been so much cruel to us. It was midnight; barely half way into the journey, the radiator gave up. The war veteran Amby, all of 40 years of age had given us all signs of retirement way back in the past. This was the final nail on that well deserved coffin.

We have climbed the Kurishumala peak before with the same car dropping us off at the foot of the hill. Not so trust worthy even then. Some how the clockwork functioned in miraculous ways to allow us to visit this famous pilgrim centre.

Situated on the foothills of the Western Ghats, the place is an anthill during the holy week. Thousands flock in for the Way of the Cross climb. The 2 hour ascend is an experience in itself. Add a bit of rains and mist; you have the semi-tough guy trek at hand.

They say that when everything else on the car makes more noise than the horn, then it’s time to ditch the car in the dumpster. Words of wisdom. But sometimes they fall on deaf ears. Moving on, there were times in this trip when the engine bay emitted more smoke than the tailpipes of an entire fleet of State maintained buses. Frequent stops to cool the engine kicked the timeframe of the journey from 2 hours to 5 hours. Serious thoughts of retrofitting a water tank in addition to the diesel tank crossed our minds. Rain Gods blessings came in the form of strong showers. With wipers which had the obedience of a kindergarten kid, night-driving turned into Marco Polo mode. In simple words, no idea of what lay ahead of us.

But for a visual feast like the ones in the images, was it worth it? Totally!!! If the images don’t impress you, then that’s probably because my expertise in photography isn’t exceptional. Sometimes, images just don’t do justice to the beauty of the subject. J

Photography Tips : The Twist of the Wrist

2009-04-15T11:32:00.000-07:00

Ohoi! SLR rookies...got a new tip for you all. I call it "the twist of the wrist". Check out the three images and the specs.

Image 1 was shot in automatic mode
Shutterspeed : 1/80 second
F-number : F/9
ISO : 100

Image 2 and 3 were shot with the following adjustments.
Shutterspeed : 1/4 second
F-number : F/22
ISO : 100

It doesn't require a second glance to note that pic 3 stands out among the lot. Fact admitted that it's not clear. However, it's catchy. I have tried a bit of a controlled blur in this image. The result was acheived without using any image editing softwares.

So here is how it's done. Switch to manual mode. Choose a slower shutterspeed. Zoom out as much as you can and focus on the subject. In this case, it's the top of the tower. Once the subject is locked on, press the button down. Along with that, give the lens ring a gentle twist. In short, zoom in as the shot is being made.

I won't specify any particular speed as you'll have to figure that out based on the availabilty of light. The speed and intensity of the twist may have to be judged as per this factor. Try it out by yourself and you'll get a hang of it in a while. All that is required is the twist. :)

Best movie cars : 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T (Vanishing Point)

2009-04-13T01:10:00.000-07:00

The epitome of a cult classic, Vanishing Point is worshipped by road movie fanatics even decades after its release in 1971. Many may have forgotten the name of the lead actor, Barry Newman. But the car is unforgettable - 1970 Dodge Challenger R/T. The visual impact of the movie was as impressive as its interpretations. A catastrophical transformation of a routine car delivery to a high octane inter-state car chase.

The Challenger raced past police cruisers for a reason which many movie critics found too lame to believe. Without any modifications in the looks, the car was still eye-catching in the frames. The makers picked the Challenger for two marked reasons. One, as a token of gratitude to Chrysler for providing 20th Century Fox with cars for their transportation needs. Two, as the car was sturdy and powerful. The muscle car didn't take a breather while filming and except for the modded suspension, the rest of the car was pure stock. In what can only be defined as a rare instance in movie circles, all the five cars which Chrysler had loaned for the production of the movie were returned to the company after the completion of shooting.

Fox TV aired a remake starring Viggo Mortensen with a 1970 Dodge Challenger in 1997. Surprisingly the remake was a fine movie. Relief.

TF2 : latest info on the robot cast

2009-04-11T03:24:00.000-07:00

Transformers fans…lend me your ears. Here is one more list of the robots who have made the cut for Transformers : Revenge of the Fallen. The credibility of this list is one aspect which remains in the shadows. But here it goes anyway.

The heroic Autobots will be led by Optimus Prime with the Peterbilt truck alternate mode. Bumblebee continues to be the 2010 Chevrolet Camaro with a little bit of face lifting. New age cowboy, Ironhide will reprise his role as the weapons specialist of the team. The vehicular mode of the all-brawn tough guy is that of a GMC Topkick. Medical officer Ratchet, roams around in the Emergency vehicle look of the Hummer H2. Arcee and her two sisters form the flower power as the first feminine robots and they are the first two wheelers in the film. Not much of a scoop is at hand regarding the alternate modes. Expect heavily modified superbikes on duty for the roles.

Sideswipe is another new entrant to watch out for as his role is played by a special concept car from Chevrolet called the Corvette Centennial concept. Jetfire, who is in fact one of the characters to watch out for, is an SR-71 Blackbird aircraft. The Decepticon who shifts allegiance to the good guys will be an attention grabber in the movie.

A similar development can be seen in the character of Wheelie, a radio controlled monster truck as he leaves the Decepticons in order to join the Autobots. Chevrolet Volt gives life to the character Jolt. Skids and Mudflap a.k.a The Twins, will roam through crowded streets as Chevrolet Beat and Trax respectively. Expecting a bit of laughs from those guys.

As for the Decepticons, most of them will be making a return after their defeat at the hands of Autobots. We saw some of them fleeing from the climatic battle, some of them being completely destroyed and dumped in the ocean. Decepticon leader, Megatron is back in the form of Cybertronian battle tank. Not sure what exactly that looks like. Starscream, the treacherous air commander of the Decepticons comes back in full force after his retreat in the first movie. No new looks for the ruthless bad guy as he looks kickass in the F-22 Raptor guise. Soundwave finally made his way into the casting list after his rejection from the first film. Guess what, he can fly. A spider-like robot called The Doctor takes care of the medical duties of the Decepticon team.

After his unexplained exit before the final battle in transformers, Barricade will be reclaiming his position as the group’s hunter. An Audi R8 is in the role of Sideways, who is basically a non-warrior member. Ravage, as the name suggest is about wrecking havoc. But the mechanical Jaguar is an aggressive fighter who would have felt a lot better if the name was Savage. The mechanical scorpion, Scorpnock is back in action too. But the Decepticon juggernaut to watch out for will be the Devastator. The combined form of seven robots, this behemoth will give the Autobots some real workout. There’s also a rather surprise package in the form of Alice, played by Isabel Lucas. Alice is a pretender or in simpler terms a robot which is in a human form.

The biggest baddie is The Fallen, one of the first thirteen Transformers. The Fallen shape shifts into a Cybertronian jet.

So, there you go. Give or take a few from here and that’ll be the best calculated guess in terms of the virtual cast of the most anticipated movie of the year.

Best movie cars : 1964 Aston Martin DB5 (Goldfinger and Thunderball)

2009-04-09T00:31:00.000-07:00

"The name is Martin…Aston Martin..."

Had the car been given a voice instead of the growl, Aston Martins would have delivered as charismatic a line as the super spy.

If there is one movie car which has the panache to take movie buff by the heart, then this is it - the Aston Martin DB5. The most recognized Bond car ever and a beauty from headlight to taillight, the car is a favourite with Bond movie directors. It has made appearances in Goldfinger, Thunderball, GoldenEye Tomorrow Never Dies and Casino Royale. While it was the Bond’s ride in the first two movies, the roles in the other three were guest appearances.

In Goldfinger and Thunderball, the audience was treated to a wide array of gadgetry which this car was home to. Revolving number plates, smoke screen, oil slick, armour plate to block bullets, ejector seat and the Benhur-inspired blades in the wheels which tore apart the tyres of the not-so-friendly road users were the jaw dropping then. The arrival of more advanced Bond cars haven’t stolen the DB5 of its position as the car which is as identifiable as Bond himself even decades after the first time it came on screen.

Best movie cars : General Lee 1969 Dodge Charger (Dukes of Hazzard)

2009-04-08T10:30:00.000-07:00

Based on the CBS TV series which aired between 1979 and 1985, Dukes of Hazzard was a modestly budgeted movie directed by Jay Chandrasekhar. The exploits of the Duke cousins who evaded the corrupt count cops in their souped-up Dodge Charger (General Lee) was neatly carried forward to the movie with similar flair and energy that made the series popular back in the early eighties.

General Lee was the car to have if your daily schedule included leaving cop cars in the dust, jumping over practically anything which blocked your path and the frequent brushes with fellow road users. Giving the car ahead a nudge had never been easier and fun filed before the arrival of Lee.

Fortunately the makers of the movie didn’t mess with the car much. A few minor changes were there, but not so much to mar the Lee of its trademark look. The boys still had to jump into the car via the windows, had that massive roll cage and had the Confederate flag on the roof. The movie had some really outrageous and at times ridiculous chase scenes. To be honest, the car spent as much time airborne as it stuck to tarmac. Regardless of the mindless nature of the stunts, they were thrilling by all means. A total of 24 cars were used while filming. The cast comprised of Seam William Scott, Johnny Knoxville, Burt Reynolds and Jessica Simpson

The movie was panned by critics and was nominated for the Raspberry Awards in seven categories. Who cares!

Happy Birthday to Me

2009-04-08T01:52:00.000-07:00

Today the blogger celebrates his 23rd year on this wonderful planet. A moment of prayer.

Dear Lord,

Bless the good men and women at Google and Blogger who work the hell out so that we may post in peace. Let the coming year be enriched with more and more cars and entertaining movies. Give good health to Michael Bay, Christopher Nolan and Steven Spielberg. May Zack Snyder recover from the heart attack that Watchmen gave him. Enlighten Tom Cruise with humility and bless American cars with more power. Protect the manufacturers and the movie makers from the tentacles of recession so that we get our share of machinery and entertainment. Keep my senses intact for the experiences which lie ahead and to pass them on to the less fortunate or the more privileged.

And do make some one gift me a Batmobile Tumbler, or even a scale model, the closest I'll ever get to owning one.

Amen

Best movie cars : 1968 Ford Mustang Fastback (Bullitt)

2009-04-07T10:28:00.000-07:00

Bullit was as much about the car as it was about Steve McQueen. Each mention of Mcquenn is followed up by a mention of the character of Frank Bullitt and the legendary car chase filmed in San Francisco.

The high speed pursuit in the streets of San Francisco with McQueen behind the wheel of the iconic "Highland Green" Ford Mustang fastback and the bad guys in a louder Dodge Charger R/T 440 Magnum is one for the ages. The Bullitt mustang with its distinct understated look attained instant idolization at the hands of mustang enthusiasts. In 2001 and 2008, Ford released special Bullitt edition Mustangs commemorating the movie and the car.

The best thing about the car chase was that it was shot at a time when the abbreviation "CGI" was not even heard of. This was the real chase with real cars on real roads. No controlled enviornments, no virtual worlds, no graphic wizardry. It was all about skilled driving. Even McQueen, a talented driver that he was, drafted himself in for the stunts.

It had its own share of flaws. The Academy Award winning editing was not upto the mark in the chase. However, the Academy Award nominated Sound effects were marvellous. The car chase sequence had no background score. It was the growl of two all American muscle cars which made all the music. Pure, unadulterated, brawny - Bullitt was for men and not for riceboys.

Hyundai Genesis was shown the door in Fast and Furious

2009-04-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

As Fast and Furious races past records in the box office, Korean manufacturer Hyundai is in a less jubiliant mood. Hyundai's recent talk-of-the town sports car, Genesis was slated to make an appearance in the movie. To make the car the showstar, Hyundai had prepared a special edition red Genesis too. But later on the car's part was edited out of the movie's script.

Rumour has it that another manufacturer had played the strings in making sure that Genesis was out of the movie. Though Hyunadi refuese to comment on the rival's identity, it has acknowledged the fact that foul play had taken place. Not to fret Hyundai. Ggiven the huge response that FF4 has received, we know that FF5 is on the cards. Hush.....

Best movie cars : Batmobile Tumbler (Batman Begins, The Dark Knight)

2009-04-06T10:41:00.000-07:00

Let a Hummer military vehicle stay overnight with a Lamborghini Countach and you’ll get this mean machine – the Batmobile Tumbler. A far cry from the batmobile concepts that we are used to through comic books, TV series and in live action films, Tumbler is by far the most purposeful batmobile in the caped crusader's fictional universe.

Christopher Nolan’s realistic treatment of Batman Begins also translated into a believable version of the batmobile. Production designer, Nathan Crowley did a fantastic job in his role and that resulted in the creation of this machine.

The rugged and brutally fast version of the batmobile was very much required. With battle tank-inspired armour plating in place of the sleek panels of its predecessors, Tumbler is the right vehicle to gatecrash mob meetings, gangster dens, joker's hideout and may be the occasional celebrity party at Gotham city.

Unlike the flimsy looking batmobiles from Batman Forever and the notorious Batman & Robin, the design did away with the loud wings and overhangs. Early versions of batmobiles were merely Chevrolet Corvettes with redesigned bodies and interiors.

The design is one of its kind and the engineering behind it, impeccable. Tumbler was built from scratch and it was built to endure all the abuse thrown at it. The best part is that we can actually believe that Tumbler is a plausible vehicle. This monster was meant for Batman and met his requirements so well. Jumping over roof tops, crashing through walls, running over obstacles, enduring showers of bullets to name a few. And it took the beating like a piece of cake.

Coming to dimensions and specs, it’s 15 feet long, 9 feet wide and weighs a massive 2.5 tons. A 5 litre Chevy V8 engine with 500 bhp on tap powers this behemoth of a vehicle. The axeless front section is the vehicle’s signature. An impressive acceleration figure of 0-60 kph in 5.6 seconds. When accelerated, it rises up on its front arms posing an aggressive stance. That’s mean!

A jet engine at the rear powers the car to higher speeds in order to jump over obstructions. Two propane tanks are used to fuel this engine. The Super Swamper tyres at the rear are as tall as the vehicle itself. Off-roading and hi-speed chases had never been so much fun.

The fictional specifications include canons, rocket launchers, grappling hooks, stealth mode, caltrops deployer, a system which shifts the driver’s position and the absolute surprise package – an ejectable Batpod. Not to mention the rest of the hi-tech wizardry which are yet to be explored and applied.

The self-destruction of Tumbler in The Dark knight doesn’t stop its admirers from expecting a return in the upcoming sequel. Keeping my fingers crossed too.

Remarkable action movies : Die Hard (1988)

2009-04-06T01:43:00.001-07:00

Why : The movie which placed Bruce Willis on par with Sly Stallone and Arnie Schwarzenegger, Die Hard is considered as the best action flick ever made.

Contrary to the usual perception of an action hero, Officer John McClane was reluctant, scared at times and was the typical old-school cop. He was best described as being at the wrong place at the wrong time. Heroism was never a priority for this guy, but somehow the situation took shape in such a manner that he had to put on the shoes of the saviour. In Die Hard, he didn’t even have a pair of shoes! He bled like a tortured slave and wore nothing more than a blood stained vest and trousers. But calling it quits was never his line. It was “Yippee ki yay, motherf@#ker".

Die Hard was 45 storeys of pure, unadulterated excitement. High voltage shootouts, explosions and the presence of one of the most polished villains made this movie a favourite with the movie buffs. Alan Rickman’s portrayal of the smart-suave bad guy, Hans Gruber was totally fabulous. The light dose of humour was another specialty.

The movie achieved the status of an adjective, often used to describe other action movies, like Speed and The Rock. The series of three movies which followed up the escapades of John McClane were equally successful though critical acclaim didn’t reach the heights of the first film.

Fast and Furious reigns in opening weekend

2009-04-05T11:05:00.000-07:00

Raking in a total of $72 million in its opening weekend, the fourth film in the street racing tetralogy has silenced critics and has established that there is still life in action flicks. This is by far the best opening weekend collections posted in 2009, beating the the $59 million haul of Monsters Vs Aliens.

A pack of records came down along with that. Pixar's Cars had maintained the best car-movie opening weekend record since 2006. With a $12 million edge over Cars' opening weekend bounty, Fast and Furious will be in the throne from now and if it is able to sustain the excitement among the movie-going crowd, then we could very well be looking at one of the top grossers of 2009.

If you ask me, FF4 will keep the US box office bells ringing till the collections reach $150 million or may be more. As for the rest of the world collections, the fate is yet to be decided. $30 million is in the cash bag from the rest of the world centres. Not too bad for a movie without superstars. The next couple of weeks will be revealing whether the Diesel-Walker vehicle is one meant for a quarter mile drag race or an around the world endurance run.

Fast and Furious : Comes late, kicks butt!

2009-04-04T10:36:00.001-07:00

Fast and Furious blasted off to a massive start at the US box office with box office collections of $30 million on its opening day.

The movie surpassed the opening day collections of all its predecessors by a huge margin. To add to its credit, the opening day collections are higher than opening weekend collections of its immediate forerunner, The Fast and the Furious : Tokyo Drift.

By the looks of it, Fast and Furious will prove to be just what Hollywood needs right now - a blockbuster which will revive the box office. The opening weekend collections are expected to cross $ 65 million by sunday. If it manages that feat, then FF4 will be a feather on the entire team's caps. The result will launch it to the top of the opening weekend toppers of car-racing genre beating Pixar's animated film, Cars ($60 million). It will also settle down as the top opening weekend grosser for Vin Diesel and Paul Walker.

On a personal note, FF4 ROCKS!!!

Remarkable action movies : The Bourne Supremacy (2004)

2009-04-03T11:37:00.000-07:00

Why : Nausea-inducing shaky camerawork has been the trademark of all Jason Bourne movies and has prompted widespread criticism from reviewers. But that’s probably the only flaw that the critics could ever find in a Jason Bourne movie. Right from The Bourne Identity, through The Bourne Supremacy and all the way till The Bourne Ultimatum, the franchise has maintained exceptional pace and grittiness throughout.

Among the three, the second movie stands out. Paul Greengrass took the director's chair from Doug Liman and Greengrass made an already fine concept even better. Loosely based on Robert Ludlum’s novel, The Bourne Supremacy epitomized gritty look and realism in stunt sequences. Matt Damon gave a fabulous performance as the troubled spy who doesn't know his identity. To add to that, he excelled in the strenuous fights.

The plot functioned, not as an adhesive to fix the action pieces together, but as the frame which held everything as one strong entity. Darker and more complex than The Bourne Identity, with more bone-shattering chases and hand-to-hand combat, Supremacy reigns high up in the action movie chart. The car chase in Moscow was brilliantly coordinated and it shows.

Supremacy went on to inspire two significant reboots in Hollywood – the James Bond sequel, Casino Royale and the Batman movie, Batman Begins. Directors addictively turned to real stunt work instead of special effects and this movie was instrumental in that transition.

Above all, it was the movie which taught us all that a magazine can be used to kill a man. Lesson learnt, not the hard way

Remarkable action movies : Equilibrium (2002)

2009-04-03T09:04:00.000-07:00

Why : I didn't know who Christian Bale was when I watched Equilibrium. Men in black attire made me expect something along the lines of The Matrix. But the absence of stars prompted me to expect something less spectacular. But Equilibrium turned the tables in its favour with one watch.

It's definitely not one for the enthusiast who wants to see cars and buildings blowing up. The movie was made on a modest budget of $20 miillion, but all that money was put to real good use.

Equilibrium had arguably, the best gun wielding scenes and the stunt choreography was flawless. Precision was the catchword. The fictional martial art of Gun Kata was the piece of cake. Guns ruled the frames with the characters using it for everything from shooting to delivering a blow. The whole idea of predicting the line of fire and remaining unhurt in a shower of bullets was difficult to believe. But on screen it looked spectacular.

The storyline revolved around Walter Preston, a man of authority in a future society where feelings and emotions are suppressed. The man who was supposed to uphold that autocratic system turns against the very system which appointed him.

Equilibrium failed at the box office as it wasn't distributed on a wide scale. It grossed a meagre $5 million worldwide. Commendable collections for a small release. Now it has been elevated to the status of a cult classic.

Remarkable action movies : Bad Boys 2 (2003)

2009-04-03T08:30:00.000-07:00

Why : This was the condemned and criticized sequel to Michael Bay's directorial debut movie, Bad Boys. The director kicked the action quotient up by a huge notch in the second movie with three hearbeat-accelerating car chases.

Michael Bay has always insisted on a judicious mix of action and CGI giving prominence to the former. The guy does know how to blow up stuff in style and Bad Boys 2 was no exception.

It was a hell ride from the word "go". Shootouts and fender bending car chases with trails of destruction were executed in style. The inter-coastal freeway chase is regarded as one among the most thrilling car chases ever filmed. A total of 100 cars, a tractor trailer truck and a boat(!) were totalled during the shooting of this epic car chase. That was Bay's answer to the chase sequence from The Matrix Reloaded. Way to go Bay'os!

The cost cutting editing techniques were much appreciated even by the critics who panned the film. Bad Boys 2 was the action junkie's movie. A movie which had no qualms in admitting the fact that it was a non-brainer.

Remarkable action movies: 300 (2007)

2009-04-03T02:14:00.000-07:00

Why : Historical inaccuracies, check. Racial controversies, check. Eight pack abs, check. Adherence to source material, check. Hard rock score, check. End result - a killer action movie.

Zack Snyder’s version of the Battle of Thermopylae stayed true to Frank Miller’s graphic novel of the same name. Even the camera angles and framing were similar to the artwork in the graphic novel.

The legend of 300 Spartans who fought a million Persians was told with abundant creative liberty. Sinister warriors and vicious creatures filled up the screen as the bare-chest flaunting Spartans battled in fury.

300’s uniqueness was in the fact that it was almost entirely filmed indoors. But the CGI was so well executed that it didn’t make much of a difference for the viewer. The treatment turned out to be the USP and the defining feature of the movie.

The movie marked the rise of Gerard Butler as the new poster hunk and Zack Snyder was hailed as a visionary director. Talks of a follow-up movie are underway with Frank Miller working on the sequel novel. Zack Snyder has expressed his desire to direct, but is waiting for Miller to complete the novel.

Remarkable action movies: Mission Impossible 2 (2000)

2009-04-02T10:38:00.000-07:00

Why : John Woo loves doves, low pitched vocals and slow motion. With Mission Impossible 2 he got his perfect canvas to paint that picture. Regardless of being a senseless action flick with no skeletal structure to hold things together, MI-2 was a huge hit, raking in $546 million globally.

The action sequences had grace and poise instead of energy and it wasn’t bad at all. Realism took a step back. But nobody complained, as the package was so much glossy. The doves, the slow motion, the vocals, the score, all added up quite well. The theme track was an instant smash hit and remains as one of the best theme tracks ever.

It didn’t have the cinematic brilliance of the first Mission Impossible movie. Weak character development, too much attention on styling and it tried to be too many things at the same time. But MI-2 is the movie which defined Tom Cruise as an international superstar. It was the movie which wannabe action movie directors looked up to when they ran short of ideas.

The movie is still a source of inspiration for film makers around the globe. Different versions of the climatic bike chase, the confrontation between Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and Sean Ambrose (Dougray Scott), the presence of doves in the stunt scenes are still being used shamelessly by directors. Not to mention the mask trick, which can be seen in most souped-up slick flicks of today.