New Year's Eve...

New Year's eve is like every other night; there is no pause in the march of the
universe, no breathless moment of silence among created things that the passage
of another twelve months may be noted; and yet no man has quite the same
thoughts this evening that come with the coming of darkness on other nights

~ Hamilton Wright Mabie

AVATAR

James Cameron’s mum had a dream of 12 feet-tall blue women and in course of time, The Na’vi were born. He wanted to create a movie that would make ‘Titanic’ look like a chick-flick…he wanted to unleash something huge that was choc-a-bloc with groundbreaking technology and exhilarating action, all neatly driving home an uncomfortable social-message………and Avatar was born.

The year is 2154, and in a distant planetary system we have an earth-like moon called PANDORA which houses the ecologically-conscious, blue-skinned humanoid race called ‘The Na’vi’. RDA corporation is mining Pandora in an attempt to lay their hands on the large deposits of a precious mineral called ‘Unobtanium’. Providing security and serving as merceneries are ex-marine forces led by the brutal human tank, Colonel Miles Quaritch (Stephen Lang).

Since humans cannot survive unassisted in Pandora’s atmosphere, the only way to infiltrate Na’vi territory is to implant genetically engineered Human-Na’vi hybrids called ‘Avatars’ which are controlled by genetically matched human operators. Jack Sully(Sam Worthington) is one such operator. Taking the place of his dead twin-brother who was involved in the experiment, the paraplegic ex-marine is all bluster and raw-courage.

But an unfortunate accident as an Avatar leaves Sully alone and at the mercy of Pandora’s night-predators. Neytiri( Zoe Saldana), a female Na’vi saves his life and takes him back to her clan: Omaticaya-Mo’at. Jack in his Avatar learns the ways of The Na’vi, trains as a warrior under the tutelage of the haughty Neytiri and develops a growing respect for his eerily-beautiful surroundings. He falls in love with Neytiri and is soon initiated into the tribe.

Loyalties shift and the wiser Sully sees the folly of his employer’s ways. Attempts to convince the Colonel and the corporation fall on deaf-ears and open war is declared on the unsuspecting Na’vi. What ensues is kaleidoscopic chaos…destruction of a home, devastation of a race and the death of innocents.

It is now upto Jack Sully and his handful of supporters to turn tables on the system and bring some sanity to the proceedings…

Avatar scores on many points….it is like a plate of Turkish-delights for the fantasy/ sci-fi lover….the scenes are rich, bursting with colour and detail. The Nav’is are a gorgeous race …caring, socially adept and complete with the usual mixture of good and troublesome characters. Sigourney Weaver as the scientist Dr.Grace Augustine who heads the Avatar program pitches in with her reliably-brilliant performance. The military mutton-head Quaritch is custom-made for the role. He looks like a G.I.Joe villian who came to life and decided to wreck the maximum carnage in minimum time…or as he charmingly puts it “wrap it up…I want to be home for dinner”. Trudy Chacon (Michelle Rodriguez) reprises her tough-chick-with-a heart act and does a slap-up job of a security force pilot who is disgusted by the mindless-violence. Jack Sully, the newcomer, is truly likable….he starts off as a cocky-bloke (despite his infirmity), someone you would imagine chilling out at a bar surrounded by red-faced drinkers and gradually matures into a man with a mission…..a man who realizes the error of his callous ways and a man intent to bring about change.

The movie caters to all…the action-seekers, the fantasy-lovers, the technologically-inclined…and amidst all this, it strikes a socially relevant message. The movie couldn’t have released at a better time.

Go, watch and be amazed…(sorry, couldn't resist adding the last, cheesy bit)

Birthday Prayer (...came across this on a site)

Lord, let this feast of my birth be a reminder to me of all the gifts and blessings
I have received from You this day and all the days of my life.
On my day of celebration, I thank you for my life and all of my blessings
and ask for another year filled with Your presence in my life that I may continue to grow in your love.

Gracious God, I thank You for enabling me to celebrate my birthday.
Lord You have been good to me all these years
and I thank You for all the blessings
I have recieved but especially for life itself.

Creator God, I do not know what lies ahead for me this year.
Yet I know that You are holding my future in Your hand.
Let my ways be pleasing to you.

As You have promised, be with me, Lord.
Grid me with Your strength and grace so that I can live for Your light.
Enable me to draw closer to You
that I may walk in your peace
and be the creative and loving person that you intend for me to be.

I ask this and all things in the sure and certain knowledge of your love for me and for all your people.
Amen.

My spankin' new mobile!

...from the mouths of babes

.....kids today are maturing faster, cussing sooner and developing a streak of cynicism so broad that it would put a seasoned politician to shame. I was at CrossWord today, in the kiddie-section. A trio of kids were checking out the games and here's the ensuing conversation.

Kid#1 : Why don't you go for this???

Kid#2: H-ush..

Kid# 1: Why don't you...

Kid#2: Wait!

Kid#1: Why don't y...

Kid#2: Why don't you shut up and die...

...and Kid#3 sniggered evilly and did the best sidekick act this side of a summer no-brainer.

..................ok, I am guilty of finding it a tad amusing. Here's this chocolate-faced preteen mouthing some seriously sharp sentiments and my lips are curled in amusement. Bad Namz...Bad BAD Namz! Makes me wonder what choice phrases I had come up with when I was ten...

Christmas in Bandra

...come Christmas Day and many of my friends who had flown the nest were getting nostalgic over Christmas in Bandra...Most of the status-messages on FaceBook were dedicated to yearnings for the goode olde-days...hell, I still live in Bandra and even I get all misty-eyed!

So I decided to tramp around my bee-yootiful Bandra and click some snaps...here are a few which turned out nice (despite the jolts from the festive crowds, yanks on my ponytail by hyperactive kiddies and the innumerable potholes that I swear, snicker nastily evertime I lose my balance!!!)

Christmas Lunch!

...the only place to be on Christmas Eve

...shopping...the endless mall...demented shoppers...wrong shoes...miles to walk before you find what you like...shoe-salesmen who pounce on you like you are the last piece of chicken in a tub of KFC...the over-enthusiastic perfume squirter who nearly blinds you... ill-mannered louts who squeeze into the line and have the gall and utter audacity to act like they were ahead of you (Mais oui!!!)...tiny tots who take a fancy to your hair and grab them in their tiny (but surprisingly strong) grip and DON''T.LET.GO.........

...am I channeling Scrooge's spirit???

b-ah! humbug!

Christmas Movie-Time

Holiday Season means an overload of schamltz...and what says schmaltz better than Christmas-Themed movies? While there are quite a few tear-jerkers out there, here are a few which I quite like:

...Holiday Reads

BARNES & NOBLE is my guilty pleasure….I can burn up bandwidth by spending many a happy hour gawking over the delectable spread of books, gizmos and what-have-you. And Christmas just makes the site a visual treat. Here are a few book covers that got me all shiny-eyed (…and a tad materialistic)

...Christmas...as it should be...

Retro Christmas

Christmas Funnies...

The Christmas Story

St. Luke 2: 1 – 14

And it came to pass in those days, that there went out a decree from Caesar Augustus, that all the world should be taxed. (And this taxing was first made when Cyrenius was governor of Syria.)

And all went to be taxed, every one into his own city. And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David), to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child.

And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.

And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them at the inn.

And there were in the same country shepherds abiding in the field, keeping watch over their flock by night.

And, lo, the angel of the Lord came upon them, and the glory of the Lord shone round about them; and they were sore afraid.

And the angel said unto them, Fear not; for, behold, I bring you good tidings of great joy, which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior, which is Christ the Lord. And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace,

good will toward men.

...Christmas Quotes

~Christmas is a time when you get homesick - even when you're home. -Carol Nelson


~Christmas, children, is not a date. It is a state of mind. -Mary Ellen Chase


~Even as an adult I find it difficult to sleep on Christmas Eve. Yuletide excitement is a potent caffeine, no matter your age. -Carrie Latet


~Christmas is for children. But it is for grown-ups too. Even if it is a headache, a chore, and nightmare, it is a period of necessary defrosting of chill and hide-bound hearts. -Lenora Mattingly Weber


~Nothing's as mean as giving a little child something useful for Christmas. -Kin Hubbard

...Christmas-themed vintage Comic Book covers

...cos Santa is a tough-guy too

P.S.I Love You

...am not big on mush…and chick-lit has lost the sparkle which used to attract me like a magpie. Needless to say, 'P.S.I love You' wasn’t my cuppa tea…atleast not when it first released. But suddenly, courtesy the bout of melancholy that strikes me every December, I found myself sitting through the whole movie...loving Holly & Gerry’s scruffy lil apartment (which frankly was a kitschy dreamy delight!)...laughing at Denise’s ballsiness...feeling that dull-ache in my heart over Holly’s mourning...being ever so slightly charmed by Daniel’s lopsided self-deprecation and goin' crash*bam*thud over William’s rugged awesomeness. And yep…I even cried a wee (wee) bit over the mother-daughter bonding at the end.

I would watch the movie again just to soak in all the lovely scenes. The colours were bright and cheery (despite the subject) …and at times quite awe-inspiring (read: Ireland countryside). Yep…good stuff there.