I should probably call movies as the next best thing in my life. Next to the original cheesecake from the Cheesecake factory of course.

But that would be undermining my life. Even so, I shall proudly proclaim today that movies should be entered in the Human Achievement Hall of Fame.

I saw two movies in 2 days, so there’s the title explanation. Up on friday night, followed by Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian on Saturday night.

I am not a reviewer of movies, and in spite of my many efforts, I never get it right either. So, basically, ya, here goes Up.

The best part of the movie, I feel, was the first 5-10 minutes where the entire life of Carl (or the entire “adventure” of Ellie, you choose) is shown. Summarized in the short duration, you get a feel of the life of Carl, who, after losing his one true love, Ellie, ends up the way he is.

Very importantly it also lays down a foundation for the movie, for the very spectacle/plot of the entire movie. Would have been hard to see why an old man could do such a thing as to fill up a gazillion balloons to lift his house in order to fly off to some exotic/mysterious place!!!

Rest of the movie lives up to the Disney expectations of introducing lovable characters (Russell the lovable bumbling kid,Kevin the bird, Dug the dog) and the pitiable antagonists consisting of Alpha and Charles.

Standard fare there.

After the said initial few minutes I actually got bored of the plot until a little bit of action ensued followed by the comedy and  then a lot of “emotional” heart-tugging and finally, the happy ending!

Disney movies are so predictable!!

 

Next movie is the Night at the Museum 2: Battle of the Smithsonian. Honestly, this movie was not on my list of “movies to watch in theatres”, may be DVD. It just doesn’t deserve the sequel.

Honestly speaking (or typing), I can understand why every fan of a movie cringes at the mere rumor of a sequel. Movies like NatM:BotS didn’t need to be made. The plot is stale, same more or less. May be a little fresh sprinklings in the way of “artifacts” brought to life, but otherwise, it’s a definite must-miss in theatre.

The characters are more less the same, and since you watched the first one, you know what to expect. I guess spending $8.75 for couple of new characters wasn’t worth it.

Now that I think about it, it seems even more ridiculous. So this is what I will do, I shall go sleep, and forget I ever saw it, more than the movie, I will regret the 8.75 x 5 that I spent for the movie.

 

But, it was a fabulous end to the day though. A perfect pot-luck, not-so-perfect hosting, and whole bunch of laughs, who cares if it was at my expense, I enjoyed it!!

 

Movies I am itching to watch during the summer:

Next up: The movies I was itching to watch and watched.

Huddy didn’t happen. But I am not complaining.

House M.D. Season five ended on the most eeriest and ominous note as possible. I wouldn’t use part-happy ‘cos, I wasn’t really moved by Chase and Cameron’s romance anyway. But the sight of House walking into the psych center, Wilson’s mixed emotions while watching it, was definitely the effect desired in usual season finales of House that we are so used to.

I think September is a long time for the next season (6) to start. But, I have to wait it out. There’s not much of an option, is there?

May be I will keep myself busy with Battlestar Galactica or may be Chuck.

 

 

 

 

 

 

In other news, the trip to Dallas went well. We started on a beautiful Friday night, with a full-moon watching over us, and me remembering Wolverine (the story from the movie). I didn’t want to drive, so I gladly left the duties for my friend. Though I did take over after our extended dinner break, only to return it probably 2 hours later as I found myself yawning to death. (From previous experiences, never drive while I yawn in the night, seriously, I can sleep while driving a motorcycle!!)

Anyway, we managed to bungle up our directions (in spite of a GPS) and ended up reaching our destination at an ungodly 5am-ish. Did we sleep?? NO.

After a couple of brief introductions, we were watching the IPL2 match between Deccan Chargers and Kings Punjab(??) Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to hold on anymore and dozed off to sleep.

Next thing I know, morning, or late morning, we were in a hurry discussing where to go for lunch. When we finally decided, 3 guys, loaded into the car and pushed off to the restaurant where we were supposed to meet our other batch.

Nice, we get a table, take our seats. And… 4 girls and 3 guys. Guess what happens?

Awkward silence. Intros came late. And then it never went anywhere. I was too busy (pre-occupied rather) with the plethora of Indian food (including vada, idly+sambar) along with the more regular biryanis and fried rices, and chicken/mutton curries.

Finding the conversation was heading no where, I headed over for dessert, surprisingly, found fruit salad and kheer. Fruit salad? in an Indian restaurant??

Then came the big embarrassment, the great deed of paying the bill. I don’t know where the hesitation came, but we ended up going dutch, almost.

Next stop, 6 of us (I know, we were minus one) left for … ok no, in between, we went to book tickets for this telugu movie called “Kick”. No, its not an action movie. To write about it would need an entire blog, so am not gonna waste real estate on it.

Next stop was White Rock Lake Park, which we reached after several phone calls, false turns, and an absolute no-trust motion (which I thought was ridiculous) on the GPS. The weather was slightly on the gloomy-but-fantastic side, which meant we could venture out without any bother of sun.

Lake, photos, silly antics, feeding ducks, and more photos, swings and a lot of walking. After a brief supper at a chaat place, having dosa (yes I know, chaat and dosa) we left for the movie and walked out with a huge headache. Lucky amongst us was the guy who actually dozed off mid-way.

So, then, at around 1am, we went downtown for some pics, and on the request of one of our adventurists (girls incidentally), ended up at a pub and me having a So-Co on the rocks first time since New Year’s eve. While there were ladies (respect) dancing with umm.. something that resembled poles, which kinda closely resembled pole dancing (and also strip dancing, except they already stripped to something considered close to minimum and weren’t going any further). But it closed within minutes so, we jiggied a bit (which means moving bodies.. sorry trunks and necks to the rap music) and left for our respective homes. Ok, no, we actually went to the terrace of our 5-floored friends’ apartment and tried to take few snaps but since it was way too foggy, decided otherwise.

Day 2. Wasn’t that great to begin with. Slept till 12pm after intentionally ignoring incoming calls from the girls side that wanted to disturb our peaceful sleep. But, having had to heed (phew) the calls from un-ignorable stomachs, we finally (after a lengthy, no super-lengthy) discussions, decided on a biryani place.

Reached, ate to stomachs’ fill and left for Galleria Mall. After the customary window shopping, the brave ones amongst us ventured into ice-skating (minus the costumes) and had real fun which I guess teased the girls into committing to it themselves (not all did).

After a successful 15-18 rounds (lost count) without falling on either my ass or my teeth, I managed to step out of the rink victorious and photographed (we all were photographed actually).

Then, the some grocery shopping at an Indian place, started finally, at 9pm back to Lubbock. This time I was carrying the driving duties, which I performed remarkably well by missing couple of exits, a toll way (for which we still await the consequences), and after about 4 hours of driving I started hallucinating winged horses (I refuse to call them Unicorns for the fear of being ridiculed) and shiny lights, I decided to pass over the mantle to my fellow driver. Slept. Reached Lubbock after a tumultuous post-my-driving-drive with extreme fog and high speed winds.

Came home. Unpacked, arranged and slept.

So ends my weekend. And so does this post.

 

Wow! I never thought I could do a travel-journal!!!

I had a good two morning sessions in the past 2 days. We had a seminar series and to myself occupied I resorted to something. Now, I want to post the details here, but I don’t have a scanner for that…

I did an impromptu extempore-kinda, essay writing too on “career changes”. Too bad, I need a scanner to put that up too..

Which begs the question, why the heck don’t I have a scanner. Aayega (will come), abhi (now) I got a 22” inch beauty. Good deal.

So, next up should be a digi-camera. After that, GPS followed by a car. (Shouldn’t it be the other way??)

Ok. May be my online-retail therapy is going too far..

If there was ever a bollywood script written to suit SRK, it would have been pre-IPL and IPL2 itself (script would be perfect if actually KKR went on to win all their games from here on).

I feel sorry for them. Not just because McCullum is absolutely in the middle (muddle) of it, but no matter what they do, it’s just not working out for them.

T20, by its nature, is fickle. No well demonstrated by my beloved Deccan Chargers themselves. But, even they have their days too!! What about KKR!!!

In the other news, if ever there was a script to unite (ok, this is for House M.D. fans) House and Cuddy, episode 23 (Under my skin) is the one. I was one of those disgusted fans who felt betrayed by their apparent coziness at the beginning of the season (or was it last), primarily, because it appeared so concocted, and then because it seemed forced upon the viewers.

Yes, they are a match made in heaven. But, you also need a script to make that sound right, and proper. And this episode succeeds in just that. I was actually contemplating a delay in writing about it, ‘cos I knew my hormones would probably take over in praising it to the sky, but I just couldn’t resist!!

Why would I want to write about House? Suddenly?

Well, if there was one thing over the past one and half year, I really looked forward to, regularly (in a life that has gone dry without things to look forward to, consistently), it was/is House. Why, I don’t know. There are facets of House which resonate with me (people would disagree, one wouldn’t) and its just awesome to see House wade through all the muck created by one’s own opinion and behavior.

May be I should add one more requirement to my potential “more significant other”, should have, willing to watch House M.D.

May be, I am naive, may be I am stupid, but then, what’s life without it??

Alright, I will tag this as crap. Don’t be disappointed!!!

ing

blogging, ‘cos I know the next thing coming would smack of extreme sorry-ass whine combined with a completely fresh self-destructing maniacal post.

 

Hence, I avoid.

 

Wish I could put it in less funny words. LOL.