The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug

 

The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug. It's a movie that literally exceeded all my expectations. I did expect something great from Peter Jackson, but despite my already high expectations (From the magnificent LOTR Trilogy and Hobbit's 1^st instalment), I got a lot more and am all the more eager for the third instalment. It’s indeed a lesson to be learnt from Peter Jackson and the rest of the team how to live up to the high expectations of the public and how to keep up the quality of your work high.

First of all, the movie was a visual splendour. The scenes, frames, graphics, special effects, everything was just extraordinary. Secondly, comes the excellent acting of all the different actors, including the dwarves, elves, wizards, orcs, men, the one hobbit and above all SMAUG (Benedict Cumberbatch's voice over and animation team's work are both above all the praises I can provide). Thirdly the excitement and thrill provided in especially last one hour of the movie (I was literally on the edge of my seat). Last but not the least, the ending, which literally made me recline on my back and say "sigh! When will the next movie come??!! Oh God let it be out fast!!”

The story picks up from just after the end of the 1^st Hobbit movie. Just like all the middle age films of Jackson, this one also had some brilliant illustrations of the middle earth terrains and species. Legolas was shown as agile and skilful as ever. As a bonus we got the super elf Tauriel and she was indeed amazing in all respects. Some ancient black elvish spell, when uttered by Sir Ian Mckellen, sounded as epic as always. The journey of the dwarves through mirkwood was exceptionally wel scripted, and the much awaited barrel ride was so spectacular that i was rendered breathless while watching it. All in all, despite the much fuss about such a small book being made into 3 long movies, I felt the movie was pretty fast paced and brimming with information from all middle earth fictions of Tolkien (not only the hobbit) and absolutely mesmerizing at several places.

It doesn't happen often that a movie buff like myself get on the edge of his seat while watching a movie. I am really lucky that it has happened so frequently in the last 2 months. Gravity and Captain Phillips were both such excitement to watch and cherish (I really felt that after several months since TDKR, I saw such exciting two movies), and then in less than a month and a half, came Hobbit's second instalment. I am spellbound. Long live Hollywood for keeping my life entertained and me busy appreciating their great works. Kudos Team Hobbit.

Premer Byatha

Bhalobashar daam diye kini nai prem,

Kinechhi ek jhuri lanchhonar byatha,

Hridoye ache je lukono photo frame,

Tomari chhobir sathe boli tai kotha.

Akhono tomay bashi njer theke bhalo,

Tumi e shob, tomay chhara ache aar ki?

Hridoy jure tumi kore rakho alo,

Ei premer theke ache kono nistaar ki?

Mone pore ek sathe katano samay?

Ek saathe bhag kore newa sukh dukh?

Aaj kano chari dik phaanka lage hay?

Mon amar kaande tobu hashe tomar mukh!

Aaj tumi chaona bhuleo ei pane!

Abohela dao more, akash kore kalo,

Tobuo janbe joto din thakbo ei khaane,

Tomarei tobu ami beshe jabo bhalo.

Kandchhe mon tobu mukhe niye hashi,

Prithibi er monche kori abhinoy.

Amar chiro taaja prem, tomar kachhe bashi,

Ishwar tobu koruk, tomar jibon sukhomoy.

Farewell Sachin

It’s an amazing feeling today..Peculiar, weird..Seeing Sachin play for so many years, didn't realize how time flew and i grew up from a little kid..the kid i once used to be, watching sachin play, in a black and white TV, sitting on my grandfather's side..his brilliant innovative as well as text book shots..his centuries, his sixes, his fours, we cherished every bit of 'em..we mourned when he lost his wickets, we rose when he rose his bat, he practically became a part of our life..in india, cricket is the most glamorous game and cricketers are as popular as movie stars, even more perhaps..credit for that goes entirely to Sachin..even before exams, children told their mom "lemme see the match as long as sachin plays, then I'll study" and moms didn't protest..that era ends in the present test match..cant believe it's his last match..cant believe the young kid playing amidst seniors like azhar, siddhu, etc, scoring runs after runs, finally called it a day..the little master retires..he retires after breaking all records possible..he retires after setting such new records which god knows when anyone can ever touch or break..my friend Mayur Tailor aptly says: "Somewhere between the Debut and Retirement of Sachin Tendulkar, We all grew up"..
indeed..thank you Sachin for making us all so proud of you..thankyou for everything..

Gravity & Captain Phillips

Amazing Sunday, well spent with friends..

It was 6 O' Clock in the morning when the alarm sounded. I was irritated since it was Sunday and only because of my friends' coaxing had I made a plan to take a trip to Kolkata for watching two movies back to back. I did not know then that it was going to be so much worth it.

The 1st movie was Gravity. I won't call it a movie. It was rather an experience. It felt like literally being present in the hollow space with Sandra Bullock and George Clooney. Their acting was amazing, so was the direction, 3D, cinematography, sound editing and the concept of the film is beyond my praises. I remember the last time when i got so much hang of a movie after seeing it in a theater. It was the Dark Knight Rises. Felt similar kick after watching this one. Took me literally several minutes to realize I'm back to the real world after the movie..Amazing..simply amazing..Every word spoken by George Clooney literally had such impact..

Not only me, even my friends thought it's enough. Gravity was so awesome that the next movie won't be able to match the kick of gravity. We were all so wrong. Captain Phillips is what we saw next. Tom Hanks proved yet again that aging doesn't depreciate the value of gold..He reminded me again of his genius in Forest Gump, Philadelphia, Cast Away, etc. The man is a gem and so is the movie. Amazing screenplay, direction, all round exceptional performances from every one, and legendary performance from Tom Hanks. The entire movie was awesome, but last half an hour proves, no one but Tom Hanks could have played this role of Captain Phillips..We were speechless seeing him. The hangover of gravity was not only removed totally by Captain Phillips, but was rather replaced by its own kicks and highs..

I am going to remember this Sunday forever, because may be several times before I saw back to back movies in multiplexes, but it's the 1st time that both turned out to be such extraordinary films..I can't still believe my luck today..Thank you buddies..

Bhaskar Sharma & Syamantak Dhar..