Images

Going Cukoo Over Aliens

Image February 25, 2015 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

Has it ever happened to you that when you start watching a TV series on Netflix, you begin to see its theme relate to your daily life; more you watch more you relate.

Like when you a crime investigative series you start to notice every crime happening in the world. You watch Dexter, and suddenly every bespectacled person seems like a potential Dexter. (not everyone, just trying to come up with a better example)

I remember the time I was watching ‘House‘, I somehow convinced myself that, more rude a doctor is to his patient; more genius he is in his field. 😛

Or, when I watched ‘Medium‘, I started feeling presence of every dead relative of mine. 😦

Now, don’t even ask me, what happened when I watched all three seasons of ‘American Horror Story‘.

Now, that the context is set, let me come back to the right topic, I want to discuss today – Aliens.

I watched ‘Ancient Aliens‘, and it did raised so many questions in my mind.

First of all, how we discourage someone from seeing something as extraordinary as a UFO.

So many people report seeing UFOs, but we label each one of them, as crazy or under the influence of drugs. We call their experiences hallucinations. It could be that all those people hallucinated about UFOs, but who has given us the right to call them attention seekers or liars.

What if they are telling the truth?

Now, when even our scientists believe that taken the vastness of this universe, galaxies and innumerable Stars; it is quite possible that we are not alone. Why do we still think, that we are only intelligent race existing in the universe.

Why are we not asking questions?

Why are we so worried that we will be labeled as silly or crazy?

Why block our mind to a possibility that can exist?

Why stop asking, what if we are not alone?

It’s a lot to digest and a lot to believe, but if we can believe in miracles and our more than miraculous mythological characters, then why not Aliens?

It’s an irony, that we can believe in a religious God, but we do not trust technologically advanced Aliens.

I do not believe everything that this documentary stated but I do believed in one thing that after watching this series, it was easier for me to believe in God and miracles; as I can now see the science behind them.

Watch this space, as there is more to come from this crazy mind…..

America’s Secret UFO Files(TheRundownLive.com)
10 Facts About the Anunnaki(humansarefree.com)
Linda Moulton Howe: ET Resurrection Annunaki & Interdimensional War(forbiddenknowledgetv.com)

Food, Health

Mouthwatering Monday – Simple Tortilla Rolls

Image February 23, 2015 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

A simple veg Tortilla rolls is what every Mom should know to make. Easy, quick and healthy and no fuss eating. since they are so easy to make and you can fill them with a variety of filling; I best thought of writing this recipe in a totally different way.

So, here it is.

Off-Course you will need a tortillas or even if you don’t have that, you can use a flat bread/Roti/Chapati, to use as wrapper for your filling.

For filling use any vegetables you like. I have used lettuce, cabbage, carrots, green chillies, pickled onions, green pepper. Julienne it or cut into small cubes. For mixing them together you can use Mayo or if you want to go healthy way, use yogurt of your preferred taste.

That’s all the things you need. Wrap them in your style. Serve them the way you want. I have served them hot with Mint and Tomato dip. 🙂

Enjoy!!!

What My Kids Want From Me?(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
Mouthwatering Monday – Paneer Tikka(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
Mouthwatering Monday – Honey Chilli Potatoes(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
4 meals you can make at work(nzherald.co.nz)

Sketch

Silent Sunday – a drop or a tear…

Image February 22, 2015 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

~ Sketch by Jyoti Singh

Movies, Random

Two and a Half Men Finale – A Painful Void

Image February 20, 2015 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

What have you done Chuck Lorre? You killed Charlie Harper, not once but twice in now.

For those who are yet to watch the series finale of ‘Two and a Half Men‘, I am issuing a spoiler alert for you; rest of you; come along.

Yesterday, on 19^th February, 2015, the much prolonged but successful show of all time, ‘Two and a Half Men‘, said final goodbye to all its fan. Finale was titled, “Of Course He’s Dead”, teasing enough to recollect you the time Charlie Harper was declared dead on the show, to be replaced by Walden played by, Ashton Kutcher.

Coming straight to finale episode, it was teasing and emotionally draining, when all the fans were waiting for that last moment when Charlie Sheen will be seen again as the famous Charlie Harper. Alas…. the moment never came.

It happened so that our favorite stalker, Rose, has actually kidnapped Charlie in her dungeon and is keeping him there trapped more like a ‘silence of the lamb’ style; till one day he escapes. Now, Alan, our not so favorite parasitic brother, is planning to claim the $2.5 million money coming from Charlie’s music royalties. Alan began his search for Charlie’s death certificate only to get a revengeful text message indicating that it is a possibility that, Charlie is still alive. Soon, not only Alan, but his Mom and Walden himself receive threatening messages from Charlie, in his signature , read, ‘Tiger’s blood’, style. By the way, I love the one Walden got.

Everyone else in the show, however, have received money from Charlie, with a note saying ‘Buy something expensive for yourself’, including Berta, Jake, Charlie’s daughter and his ex girlfriends, all.

This show had a houseful of cameos too from the most fascinating one of Arnold Schwarzenegger, to John Stamos, Christian Slater, and, Chuck Lorre himself. One scene where Arnold repeat the storyline of ‘Men’ is so on point, that you laugh at yourself of what kind of shit you were watching over the years.

For me the highlight of this episode was to see Jake again. Jake the dumb kid of Alan, now all grown up with beard and all. It was nostalgic and fun, unlike the rest.

There was an animated sequence too, which quite explained what happened to Charlie when he was kidnapped by Rose. It was a refreshing change and it was that moment which actually made you wonder, if you are ever going to see Charlie Harper again in this show.

No, you did not.

Charlie was never shown in flesh, not for a single second. In the end, supposedly his back is shown, knocking on his Malibu beach house, when suddenly a Piano fall over him. Camera then takes you to Chuck Lorre, sitting on a Director’s chair and saying #winning only to have a large Piano fall all over him too.

It was an interesting finale but it did disappointed me not to see Charlie again. Although, Chuck Lorre released a vanity Card, stating that they have indeed approached Charlie sheen to star in the finale. Charlie Sheen however declined, saying, that he goes where Love is. True. There was no love left in ‘Two and Half Men‘, now.

Whatever this show was, it was fun to watch and it deserved a much better finale than it got. A toast to Charlie and Alan. May you b$##@#hit together, always.

Two And A Half Men(curationclub.com)
It’s Official: Charlie Sheen Will Have a Presence on the Two and a Half Men Finale – But There’s a Catch(people.com)
Tuesday Talkies – PK – Is it a Waste of Time?(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
Weird Things Americans Are Passionate About(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)
Tuesday Talkies – Oculus(jcisnowjs.wordpress.com)

Movies

Tuesday Talkies – Shamitabh

Image February 17, 2015 jcisnowjs Leave a comment

Amitabh Bachchan, who doesn’t know what a powerful artist he is…. Artist and not actor, because I think he is not merely an actor, he has proven himself to be much more than that. He is Art.

When you are making a movie to accentuate every aspect of this superstar; its bound to raise expectations to an overflowing level. But, alas, the movie ‘Shamitabh’ rests on a much below ground than is expected.

Shamitabh, is a drama Indian Film, which is a loose satire on Indian Film industry. This movie is written and directed by the talented, R. Balki, who has earlier made films like ‘Paa‘, ‘Cheeni Kum‘, and ‘English Vinglish‘; all near about close to masterpieces in themselves.

Shamitabh stars Amitabh Bachchan, Dhanush and Akshara Hassan in lead roles. As a matter of fact title of the movie – Shamitabh, is taken from lead actors names; SH from DhanuSH, and AMITABH from Amitabh Bachchan off-course; making it Shamitabh; which Dhanush cleverly explains in the movie as ‘sh..sh….. as in Silent Amitabh. Silent as in mute…. dumb; which is Dhanush, playing a dumb movie buff, whose sole objective is to become a movie star.

Lets delve into story of Shamitabh. Dhanush, is a mute, who wants to be a Hero. Despite his disability, he is positive that his talent is much extraordinary to be wasted in a small village, driving a local bus. Come first opportunity and he runs to Mumbai, the dream city for movie buffs. He gatecrashes studios, vanity vans of actors, and, every possible place where he could meet his favorite directors/producers. On one such attempt, he strikes a gold, when he comes across Akshara; an assistant director; who sees potential in his talent and tries to help him.

How can you become a Hero, when you cannot speak? Comes science and technology. Although the technological solution shown in this movie seems absurd at first, but you will easily ignore this feeling and move in with the flow of movie. Now, Dhanush can speak; but, he can speak only borrowed speech from someone else. After searching a lot for a perfect voice for Dhanush, they come across, one drunk homeless guy – Amitabh, who was also an unsuccessful struggling actor.

Contract is signed, and now, Dhanush is speaking in Amitabh’s voice. Whatever Amitabh speaks, comes out of Dhanush’s mouth. Dhanush is complete, his talent is complete. He even changes his name to ‘Shamitabh’, Silent Amitabh. Shamitabh rose above all and becomes a superstar. While Dhanush is riding the wave of success, his voice, Amitabh is in the background, treated as a valet to the superstar Shamitabh.

Ego game starts between the two. Amitabh of the belief that it is his voice which is the real power in Shamitabh’s success; while Dhanush believing that it his talent and his acting which is terrific on its own and voice of Amitabh is just an add-on to Shamitabh’s whole persona; and there is nothing more to it. Ego clashes; they fight; they demean each other; they repulse; and they go separate ways to figure out who the real Shamitabh is, actually.

Whole concept of this movie is excellent and unique, and with a star cast as powerful as this movie has; there is nothing topping it. It is the best recipe for a masterpiece movie. But, is it a masterpiece?

NO.

it is not. Reason being, when you are telling a story of two great Egos clashing against each other, you have to first make them great; you have to make them equally compelling forces. You have to give them equal space for growth and character development. Problem with this movie is that it is more of an Amitabh Bachchan’s movie than A Movie. Scale of affection is shifted to Amitabh’s way, by R. Balki, tilting whole movie’s direction towards shouting to everyone, how great of an actor, Amitabh Bachchan is.

Balki, you don’t have to scream. We know already.

There is an opening scene in the movie, where a young Dhanush (a child artist), enact a scene of his mother’s death. That scene is so powerful and so intense that you perceive adult Dhanush character having the same depth in his acting. But, when the time comes to showcase his acting, Balki, shows Dhanush in doing ‘Lifebuoy’ and ‘piddaly’. There is no scene as powerful as that one. Dhanush is a terrific actor and he has proved that he can act without saying a single word. If only there would be more of him in this movie.

Amitabh, as I have said in the beginning, need n introduction. He is an encyclopedia in acting. But, as too much of anything, degrade it’s value; so is the case with his presence in this movie. Balki’s fixation of keeping Amitabh in almost every scene possible has cost him making this film a phenomenon. Too many scenes of drunk Amitabh….. repetitive dialogues and references. Dull. 😦

Akshara is awesome. She has the looks and talent both, from her gifted parents, Kamal Hassan and Sarika. She has stood out in this movie on her own. She looks beautiful and elegant and portrays a strong character. All her scenes are wonderful; specially the ones with Dhanush alone, they are so funny and satire is bang on. Way to go girl!!!

Second half of Shamitabh, is terrible, dulling the movie. Editing is bogus. Direction is confusing and scenes are predictable and too long. Sometimes when you try to over simplify something; you confuse it and make it more complex. Balki has done the same with this movie. If only he could have thought of his audience as intelligent enough to grasp the essence of the film, without detailing every stupid scene for whole half hour; it could have been a better crisp yet critically magnificent film. Here to oversimplification …..