~ Interstellar ~

Watched the movie Interstellar last Friday and was spellbound. Such movies definitely triggers one's imagination of life outside our planet and inspires people to explore Space.

Though the movie is quite complex for an average human, Christopher Nolan has tried his best to keep the movie scientific and entertaining throughout. Few of my friends who had watched the movie, did share links to brush upon concepts like Wormhole, Blackhole, Space-Time-Gravity, so that the movie can be understood. I didn't read much of; the climax is complex to assimilate the 

5-Dimensional world where communication happens through gravity. 

Post the movie, I did Google to find out more about what inspired Nolan brothers to write a movie on Space. Most of us know Christopher Nolan as the director of Inception and Batman Trilogy. It is interesting to know that both the brothers were fascinated with Space from an earlier young age.  To keep the movie narrative scientific, they did sign Caltech Physicist Kip Thorne as technical advisor. He challenged the artistic process of movie making to keep it more real.

You can watch Time's interview of Christopher Nolan and Kip Thorne here

The effort put by the Nolans into the making of Interstellar has definitely set the bar higher for other directors who wish to make movies on Space. For those who wish to read the concepts in details, Kip Thorne has written a book 'The Science of Interstellar'. Here is the description of the book:

Interstellar, from acclaimed filmmaker Christopher Nolan, takes us on a fantastic voyage far beyond our solar system. Yet in The Science of Interstellar, Kip Thorne, the physicist who assisted Nolan on the scientific aspects of Interstellar, shows us that the movie’s jaw-dropping events and stunning, never-before-attempted visuals are grounded in real science. Thorne shares his experiences working as the science adviser on the film and then moves on to the science itself. In chapters on wormholes, black holes, interstellar travel, and much more, Thorne’s scientific insights—many of them triggered during the actual scripting and shooting of Interstellar—describe the physical laws that govern our universe and the truly astounding phenomena that those laws make possible.

For those who of us who do not have time to read that book, Discovery has an episode on the same subject 'The Science of Interstellar' with narration from Mathew McConaughey explaining all the concepts to a layman. I suggest you watch it. 47 mins well spent!

I love what Marsha Ivins, former NASA astronaut, states "Every astronaut who has been to space, has come back and said the same thing. As you circle the earth from space, you do not see natural borders and boundaries  that separate the countries. All of the wars & angst that are tearing up the world feel insignificant from there".

Ain't that statement true? Just look at two countries that gained  Independence in 1947. One is trying to grow, explore & get better every year. While the other is just caught up in religion and bring down other countries. 

I wish and hope Space Travel become a reality in my lifetime.

References:

Documentary - The Science of Interstellar

Infographic - The Science of 'Interstellar' Explained 

Time - Interview with Christopher Nolan and Kip Thorne

~ Dirty Wars ~

We all have come across the popular idiom "All's fair in Love & War". One can relate to it if they have either waged a war or has been in love. I can relate to it as I have experienced the taste of Love and at times you become uncanny to get what you want.

Well this post ain't about Love nor the side-effects of it. Rather it's about War which the United States has waged over last decade in the name of National Security. No doubt every country has it's right to protect citizens and their right to live peacefully. I believe War might not be the ultimate solution for buying security in the long term. The victory might come with a shelf life, as the same War might be creating monsters thereby a vicious cycle that doesn't have an end.

Jermey Scahill, a war journalist who has covered wars in Iraq & Afghanistan and the author of International bestseller "Blackwater: The Rise of the World’s Most Powerful Mercenary Army". His investigation journalism into the deaths of many innocent civilians across countries -Afghanistan, Yemen, Somalia & other countries, threw light into the operations of US President's elite armed force named JSOC. 

Jermey Scahill's latest book and the film Dirty War gives an insight into the various operations of JSOC across the world and how they operate. 

After watching the film, don't think we will see any large scale war in the future. The JSOC seems to be the likely force that will be used to derive the necessary outcome anywhere in the world. President Obama might seem very liberal unlike his predecessor George W. Bush; but has definitely given JSOC upper hand in getting things done. Not sure if this is a good or bad thing for US and other countries. 

The questions at the end of the film leave you thinking as to what would happen next. The war on terror turned into a self-fulfilling prophecy. How does a war like this ever end? And what happens to us when we finally see what's hidden in plain sight?

Reading: Jeremy Scahill: the man exposing the US Dirty War | Jeremy Scahill Profile

~ Epic Mashup ~

One of most seamless movie mashups ever to be made. Watch this & let me know if there is something which is better than this.

~ Sugar man ~

In the afternoon I saw this movie titled 'Searching for Sugarman' & I was blown by it. A beautiful movie about an Artist who was not only forgotten by everyone but he chose to move with his life. Until two people Stephen 'Sugar' Segerman & Craig Bartholomew Strydom decided to find out more about Rodriguez.

The movie seems like a fairytale than anything else. We all have so much to learn from Rodriguez. I don't think any Artist in the current era who stature is compared to being Elvis of South Africa, can lead such an humble lifestyle.

If you love music then watch this movie. No other movie on a band or musician comes close to this one. After watching this one, if you feel there is something better than this then do let me know.

I wanted to dedicate my 400th post of this blog to Arsenal, the EPL club. But life, as always, throws surprises at you & you are left wondering what to do with it. That's how Sugar Man replaced the Gunner dedication post.

Update:

Not only did he skip the Oscar ceremony – he was asleep when he won. Searching for Sugar Man director Malik Bendjelloul begged Rodriguez to attend the Oscars, but he refused, feeling it would take the attention away from the filmmakers. "We also just came back from South Africa and I was tired," Rodriguez says. "I was asleep when it won, but my daughter Sandra called to tell me. I don't have TV service anyway." 

...giving away most of it. 

Rodriguez has lived in the same modest Detroit house for over 40 years. He has no car, computer or even a television. His daughter Regan forced him to get a cellphone a few years ago because she grew weary of driving around the neighborhood trying to track him down. "He lives a very Spartan life," says Regan. "I almost want to call it Amish. He once told me there's three basic needs – food, clothing and shelter. Once you get down to that level, everything else is icing." 

 He plans on giving much of his money to his three daughters and some old friends. "That's his philosophy," says Regan. "He takes great pleasure in giving it away, especially to people that supported him when he wasn't a big commercial success. I do really wish he'd spend some of the money on himself, though."

 Read more: Rollingstone 

~ Saṃsāra ~

Saṃsāra literally meaning "continuous flow", is the repeating cycle of birth, life, death and rebirth (reincarnation) within Hinduism, Buddhism, Bön, Jainism, and Yoga. 

Ron Fricke's latest silent narrative is somewhat similar to the literal meaning of Saṃsāra, where we humans over time in a continuous manner have evolved. Saṃsāra captures the  changing eco system, consumerism, automation of many industries, economic disparity, art & religion which is all related to the way we lead our lives in the current era.

A must watch movie or documentary which binds you till the end. Here are some of the visuals from the movie & the trailer.

~ Women in command ~

Quite an unusual title for a movie review post on Zero Dark Thirty. The story revolves around Maya, played by Jessica Chastain, the analyst who did all the hard work and never gave up against various odds including encountering the male ego.

Kathryn Bigelow has done a great work in highlighting that essence of Maya throughout the movie. Brilliant direction & editing keeps you hooked without getting bored in the 157 minutes of drama.

Am sure the movie will bag few Oscars, hope Jessica will get one for her role. I thought the movie would be about the planning and execution of Operation Geronimo as narrated by an Ex-Navy SEAL in his Autobiography No Easy Day. However, the movie starts with events as early as 2004 covering various incidents - London Bombing, Marriott Hotel explosion in Pakistan, New York TimeSquare plot - till the tracking & nailing of the messenger who leads to the Abbottabad safe house. 

I would have liked a bit of showcase of how Navy SEALS  grouped, organized & train. I guess that is off limits for an Hollywood movie maker. When I watched the hanger scene where the SEALS are introduced, I was waiting to see if they match the description - who are not your regular army soldiers, they have beards, long hair, tattoos, etc - of the men as told in the biography & they did. The casting team have done their research in fielding the actors who match the SEAL members. One of the reasons why I admire Hollywood and their movie making. Also, there isn't too much of VFX or gadgets extravaganza involved in the movie, which keeps most of the scenes real. They definitely could have done a better job for the scenes which were shot in Delhi to hide the Indian shop signage.  

Overall a great movie, watch it. For the operations by SEAL team am gonna watch this one by NGC.

P.S: I wish men across the world treat women as equals and the discrimination ends.

~ Bringing awareness to self-indulgence ~

I finally managed to complete the movie 'Barah Aana'. Nothing great about the story line. A simple story which revolves around 3 people who go by their day- to-day life. Depicts human emotions, short comings, economic imbalance, governance, self-respect & how the M factor drives the world.

I loved the message at the end - "What do you need to survive in this world? Two meals, shelter, pair of clothes & respect. Little Respect" Watch the clip here.


The message got me thinking. Once you have the basic necessities for living - food, shelter, clothe & respect, one can afford to think of achieving or doing something else in life. Everything else comes later. Money is such an essential commodity in the present world which decides many situations in our lives. 


Many of us have a decent job & steady income and get on with our life without much worry for the necessities. Then there are those, who are struggle to meet the ends for basic necessities. 


Looking back at the past 4 years, I have been operating on the lines of materialism. Somehow there is never an end to the affinity towards certain materialistic world. There is never an end for your desires. However, one can strive towards being contented in the materialistic world and stay grounded.


The movie has definitely brought some amount of awareness & sense in my materialistic indulgence. The next step is to apply it while staying in the world capital of Materialism i.e. United States of America.


Completed a month in the US as of today ;)