Karate Kid

Image via Wikipedia

Saw Karate Kid(Jaden Smith and Jackie Chan) today. Great movie, watched with a great friend, forgot everything except that a wishful thinking was lingering in back of my mind. Why not?

I didn't expect crowd on a working day noon show, and that too for a Hollywood movie, but once there, and seeing the crowd, I realized that Jackie Chan is even more bigger star than SRK in Kerala. Hey, you should have heard the crowd when Jackie came in first shot, that too with his back turned to the shot. As usual, this first shot drew lots of laughs. And I could see the smile which made my own heart yearn. The cat calls and jeers for some scenes were vulgar, but hey, it is all in fun. Me and my friend commented on them being from our old college, we were remembering our days in college. It was funny to think exactly the same thing, on same topic, on two different days by two different people.

The movie started with a great visual of markings on wall, giving a flash back any number of frames and rolls of shot can give; could debate a lot on it with another of my friend on that issue, with respect to an older advertisement. The movie had lots of funny incidents which shows the multicultural American way.

Hey, China is really beautiful. I hope it is shot in 'somewhere in China' itself, and not in any studio. Its so wonderfully alive, and people are so much into living. And this movie is very pro China too. Beijing is said as the new Detroit in the movie, a subtle hint at Chinese growing presence in auto industry. It shows Beijing with lots of people living freely together, a lot of luxury is there around, and the determination and rituals in life is shown starkly. The level of rigor being put in practice sessions, making the Polgars a parody of the whole country. Jaden Smith is so good, and cute too. The kid shows real punk, and makings of a star in Bollywood rather than Hollywood(he sings, he dances and he fights;and it is not fifty's anymore in America). Taraji Henson(is she from Caribbean?) is not what I remember of her from a photo shoot(sic), but still very licious. Jackie Chan is wonderful as usual, but very subdued acting as per his standards.

The superb cinematography makes the whole movie even more beautiful. The hazy lights and vapors makes some of the scenes ethereal. The Forbidden City, Great wall of China, Chinese festival and theater are shown so beautifully that anyone who sees it will surely think at least for once to go there and see it.

The music. The soundtrack is arranged by James Horner(of Braveheart fame), and it is really good. The song by John Mayer is too good. It gave the move from Detroit to Beijing a very poignant touch. Hey, the song which the kid plays on piano before the Chinese girl comes is by Chopin, I don't remember the name. Man, these Chinese know how to take care of prodigies. And nowadays, no movie soundtrack is complete without an AC/DC song, which all started with School of Rock, and reached peak with Iron Man series, and now with the tournament in the movie getting its share of adrenalin with the ultimate AC/DC song 'Back in Black'. End credits started with song 'Never say Never', which I think is absolutely perfect to end the movie.

The entire movie is so predictable, but as with any feel good movie, this is best watched in company. If this was a review, I would have given a four and a half star, it losing out only on some small improvements needed in dialogues. This is best movie to come out this year which you can see on that day, when you are home after a bad episode in office/wherever, and see it(not alone, please) and you feel so much better.

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Volkswagen tries to woo India

Advertisements are sometimes very much evocative. The latest of the ads from Volkswagen does justice to the each of the models brought to India by the brand

Volkswagen Phaeton

German Engineering. Handcrafted Luxury.

The super luxury car from the stables of 'people's car' is a masterpiece of perfection, and what can you compare it with? Obviously, not just India but world acknowledges the beauty of Taj Mahal as symbol of eternal beauty and power, and of course to a large section of population, of love. The ad is very pleasingly photographed with Taj in the back ground colors of sunset, and an elderly couple told about the Taj by a tour guide(a perfect representation of half knowledge guides, both in English and History). He says that the Taj is hand crafted to perfection by many master craftsmen in the heydays of Mughal empire for the great Emperor. And then, the video shifts to the parts of Phaeton being assembled by hand, showing the beautiful car in its glorious black form, by Volkswagen engineers. And then they say, “Dear Emperor, You car is ready”

Volkswagen Beetle

German Engineering. Recreating Legends.

The car which transformed world with its idea about style, came from Germany and not Italy. The Beetle evolved and sustained its many avatars with aplomb against time and tradition. The latest ad shows just that. A beautiful girl,(I would have wished to see a better 'model', but they wouldn't risk their career with such an ad) enters a hotel and sits on a table where the waiter lays down a choice meal, and asks, 'Are you expecting anyone?” And she says negative as the camera takes the wide shot of the table which is laid with a meal for many. She goes on to a gluttonous spree. The tag line says, “The curves are back”

Volkswagen Polo

German Engineering. Made in India.

The car with which Volkswagen takes on mighty Maruti Suzuki in its own turf is the Polo. The small car is touted as the perfect car for Indian conditions, with Indian mentality taken into consideration – of mileage, service and spares; the three trump card of Maruti which always beats its opponents hands down. Couple of ads which illustrates its mileage and durability against Indian conditions matches the wit, but still this is the bleakest of all ads. This is supposed to take the middle class mind by storm, and sadly these ads lack the spark which is needed to fire that. The middle class doesn't identify themselves with the rural background and conveniently forgets those roots, and majority would never even know that there is rhinos in India, let alone a species called Indian Rhino. Sad to say, these ads are a big thumbs down.

“Engineered for India”