The Dark Knight

First of all let me just say that, the IMAX Experience, for this movie is a must.
I was just browsing through WIRED magazine one day, unaware that I had actually subscribed to it. While reading through it, I came across a picture of Christopher Nolan. Now, he being my favorite director, I naturally started reading the article and I found out that he was making The Dark Knight and that he had previously made Batman Begins.
Now I am not a Batman fan, and in fact I don't like superhero movies. It's so like, bad guy does something bad, in comes the good superhero, who has all these powers and he subdues the villain and his henchmen and la, there ends the movie. I get enough of that in Indian movies. So, I was never too excited about Batman Begins. But after reading about it online, I realized it was more than just a superhero movie. First it's not a superhero movire per se. Batman has no super powers. And second, it's more of a drama, as the name suggests, how and why Bruce Wayne became Batman.
So, a film by my favorite director and the above points in mind, I watched it and loved it. And it was but natural that I was going to watch The Dark Knight. An added bonus, the film was partly shot in IMAX. So, it was like a documentary-ised thing. It was going to be different from watching butterflies and birds on the 8-storey screen. Rather an action packed film, with car chases and explosions and a painted face.

With extreme anticipation, I saw The Dark Knight last night at an IMAX theatre and the exprience was awesome. The film, if seen on a normal screen would have been great too, but IMAX made it special. The film is well made, good story, great action sequences (thanks also to the IMAX cameras) and super acting.
Action, yes, the main character may not be the villain, but he is the main character the people love. The film, and especially the Joker was extremely hyped up and he lives up to the hype. This is a scary clown... or rather, a scary, clown person. I want to use them as adjectives. Scary, because he is, he scares the hell out sometimes with his weird deep voice, and his antics. Clown, because he has those moments when he actually is a clown, not the fake red-nosed one, but a clown with a painted face and a female nurse's uniform, walking as if his legs were tied together. People laugh as some of his dialogues, but the humor is subtle and does not affect the dark tone of the movie.

Heath Ledger has done a magnificent job, and everyone else, even Christian Bale, are happy to let him take center stage. I don't think the fact that Ledger passed away earlier this year has brought his performance (sympathetic) praises. If he were alive, they would have just handed him the Oscar right away. Christian Bale as Bruce Wayne and Batman is really good. He carries over from where he left in Batman Begins. He hasn't fully evolved yet. He is still unsure about his work as Batman and is ready to hand over the baton to one Harvey Dent. In comes Aaron Eckhart, who I think is good as Harvey Dent, but then when he transforms into the villain Two-Face, brings down his performance. I thought that the Two-Face scenes were just not good enough. Maybe because you have seen the Joker, you feel Two-face should b as good. But he isn't No offense to Eckhart. I think he gave his best to the role, but Ledger just gave more. Another weakpoint is the character Rachel Dawes. It feels so unnecessary sometimes, but she does become and integral part of the plot. There could have been something else, but the romantic angle seems to work a bit. Maggie Gyllenhaal is as bland as Katie Holmes was in Batman Begins. Other characters played by Gary Oldman, Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman do justice to their roles.

Overall the film is great. Barring the scenes with Two-Face, that seem dull (as compared to The Joker and Batman scenes), the film is an entertainer. Action sequences filmed in IMAX are worth the IMAX experience. The truck sequence is one of the best I have ever seen inmy life. I was awed by some of the sequences and even clapped for some of them. They were that good. You never know what the Joker is upto and it keeps he suspense building. You try to second guess sometimes, and you are even sure what's going to happen, but then ujust the opposite thing happens. That is Nolan style. And it makes for a great film. I would recommend it and recommend it on IMAX more than anything, it won't disappoint.

My rating, 4.7/5.0 (0.3 cut for Two-Face).

Fed is still King!

The Times of India ran the headline "Fed is Ex, it's Nadal now" as soon as the Wimbledon final was over. They could not be more wrong. So Federer lost. That was supposed to happen someday. Even Sampras lost at Wimbledon, after 4 consecutive titles (his 7th overall). But that does not mean, Federer has been dethroned.

Didn't Federer beat Nadal in the last two finals at Wimbledon? So, doesn't the record say 2-1 in favor of Federer? Then why rebuke him for a loss. Yes, he lost, but he played a great match. It was just that Nadal was better. It was his game that made Federer commit so many unforced errors. But that does not mean Federer is history.

The important point here is that tennis fans were treated to the best match that has ever been played. Facing Championship points, Federer took the game away from Nadal with beautiful plays, made the match go to the final set which was, till Nadal broke Federer, a see-saw battle. I have to agree, Federer looked out of touch, but that was because Nadal played shots that pulled Federer away from his natural game. Nadal was the deserving winner, after an epic battle of 4 hours and 48 minutes. At the end, it wasn't Federer's loss that thrilled the audience and the fans, but the spectacular tennis that was played. I am sure, Federer will come back strong. He has the US series now to show he is still the best. Will he do it, we shall wait to see. But till then, no one should doubt his ability and his class. One loss is not the end of the world. But it's like they say, everyone remembers your downs more than your ups. How can they forget that he won at Wimbledon for the last 5 years, he has a win percentage of more than 80% and he has a record of 65 consecutive wins on grass, 56 on hard court, 10 consecutive Grand Slam finals appearances and has been ranked number 1 for 232 consecutive weeks. Now that's a record hard to beat, and all those people who want to write off this man, read these statistics and then think about criticizing him.

FA wants World Domination!

It's not enough that they are the most profitable and the most lucrative football league when it comes to foreign countries. I can personally guarantee that more people follow the EPL than any other league in India. But that does not seem to stop the FA's elite think that there needs to be more support for the game abroad.
How come people who don't actually get onto the field and run miles and miles on end every gameday decide what's good for the game. Ask a player how he feels about playing an extra game in an already packed schedule and he'll scream and shout. Already every manager in the league is revolting against the announcement. Even the international leagues have voiced their shock and opposition.
Here the managers are fighting for a winter break and there the management fools are burdening the players with more competitive games. Are there not enough International friendlies and Champions League games and Domestic Cup games and International qualifiers to make the players feel the longing of an outstretched day on the beach with their lovely wives.
An almost $2 billion a year television contract isn't enough that they have to look for more avenues to make money.
I for one am totally against this policy and the FA stupid decisions. No wonder the national side is filled with such hapless players.

Just Bad Sports!!!

Watching his winning streak come to a sudden halt, a sportsman can stoop to such levels as to become an evil competitor. That's what I call Ricky Ponting. Don't get me wrong, I admire him as a batsman. No doubt he is one of the world's finest in that field. But as a player I feel he lacks the integrity and spirit that's required to become a sportsman.

That was clearly indicated during the Sydney Test. An Australian win would equal a record set by them for most consecutive test wins, set when Steve Waugh was the captain. Seemingly, that streak was coming to an end. India were well and true on their way of at least saving the game, and maybe even winning it. With Ganguly and Dravid at the crease, it seemed a good bet that they can get through a couple of sessions and save the day and rub the Australians' noses after halting their streak yet again.

I wouldn't say that the umpires were also considering not letting India enjoy that feeling again. But Steve Bucknor has had a poor umpiring record when it comes to Indians. And I think he likes it when people appeal more aggressively, then he puts his slow finger up. And who can do that better than the Australians.

A player like Ponting should know that a catch is not a catch when you ground the ball immediately after catching it. But that rule seemed not to apply when he started shouting even before he made an attempt to reach for the ball. Then, Dravid given out. We have seen it so many times that a knick cannot be heard by the umpire, but to hear one even when there isn't one is unusual. Even more unusual was the appealing from the Aussies. The went up even when they could see that the ball had gone through untouched. Sourav stood his ground when he was caught, but had to be on his way when the umpire consulted with a player and Ponting pointed that he was out. Now I was under the impression that if the umpire isn't sure about a decision, then he either talks to his colleague on the field, or to the colleague in the stadium, or just plainly says 'No'. But he didn't do either thing. And the catch is so dubious that even today none are convinced if it was cleanly taken.

The game didn't stop here. The Aussies then revolted against Harbhajan for racial slur. I agree that Harbhajan may have or may have not said all those things. But now when it is clear that Symonds initiated the abuse, no action has been taken against him. Moreover he and the other Aussies are angry at the minimal punishment handed out to Harbhajan.

The Australians have been guilty of sledging for decades. And don't feel that they say nice polite things during these frequent sledges. No action has been taken against that sort of behavior. Nayan Mongia was reprimanded when he shouted from behind the stumps when Kumble bowled, but Healy was let go every time he did so when Warne bowled.

They may be the best team out there, but the players need to be sportsmen first. Players with the right spirit. But the Australians don't seem to be the sportsmen kids would and should hang posters of in their bedrooms.