Recently released on Amazon Prime Video, a romantic movie (A), The Idea of You, starring Anne Hathaway as the protagonist, is a must watch, especially for those born in the early 1980s. There is a dialogue between the characters Solene and Tracy which goes something like, “I didn’t know my being happy would piss so many people off.” To which the reply is, “People hate happy women.” I think it pretty much summarizes various issues women face.
The meanness and the ignorance across age groups is almost always palpable in the comments section of various social media platforms. Without knowing or even bothering to understand the whole story, some people comment just after reading the headlines. The palette of innumerable shades of hypocrisy on the many social media platforms is well depicted in the movie.
While commenting on a post, some just forget to reflect on their own lives, which maybe in the deepest of the deep s**t. However, it is so much fun to make a mockery of someone else’s life, especially that of a woman, and if that woman happens to be a decent-successful-smart-intelligent-independent person—a combination very difficult to accept as such personalities are conveniently labelled as intimidating, while the one who labels is an absolute insecure individual, be it a man or a woman, no matter what the age.
Entertaining movie. Great actors. Lively songs. Beautiful house. And a much-needed plot.
Image credit: Screen shot from Prime Video Mobile Phone App.
Nor did I cook, neither did I bake. But I did read and still reading Books by Robin Cook and Ate and still eating Cakes! Advantage of the birthday month.
I got lucky; three more Robin Cook Books from the library: Read—Crisis and Reading—Cure and Harmful Intent.
Crisis: Gives an understanding on concierge medical practice along with in depth analysis of a narcissistic personality with interesting courtroom sessions. You get to experience a good balance and dependency between forensic medicine and legal practice. Words etched in memory: Narcissism, Perfidy and Foibles.
And applying the C&C combination to my life so far…
A grade 7th student, a thirteen year old and an author!
I am writing this post as I watch Mission : Impossible Ghost Protocol for the nth time on Prime Video. However, this time it reminds me that a few years back, and in a few circumstances still, women as writers was or still is, a mission impossible. Centuries back, women writers had to adopt musculine pen names or gender ambiguous pseudonyms to get a book published. And yet today, we have women writers across all ages as novelists, authors, journalists, bloggers, influencers, life coaches and the list goes on.
This arduous journey from years to today is almost captured by Ethan Hunt’s Leap Of Faith Expressions in the MI-4 movie. Even ‘impossible’ can be read as I’mPossible. It’s just when, not if, you take that leap of faith. No, I don’t mean anybody to jump from any building or any height here, but to break the stereotypes and move ahead with confidence.
I’m yet to read Vandita Mitter’s book. But I am sure it will be a fun read.
Until next, Happy Women’s Day to all women and all those who empower women!
Long back, some ten to maybe twelve years back, I had read the novel, Coma. And then I made it a point to watch the movie. Another movie was Outbreak. Both movies based on Robin Cook Novels by the same name. Excellent plot. Excellent read. Excellent watch. And recently I got the opportunity to read Vital Signs. It was not just a reading experience, but it was an amazing learning experience. It took me back to the five and half years of medical school training and internship days. From anatomy lab to pathology, bacteriology, microbiology to forensic medicine, surgery and more, the novel was a reminder of all those classes and discussions once I had as a medical student. Doesn’t matter which year the book was published; each book is an archival of information that can be of immense significance in the present and the future.
I do not own the book as it is difficult to find Robin Cook novels in the book stores. But I got lucky that it was available in a library I frequently visit. I am glad I read. I hope I get the opportunity to read all the novels authored by Robin Cook.
That’s the recorded voice, which self-destructs post giving instructions to Ethan Hunt, in the film series Mission Impossible. Or your boss talking to you. One and the same. Which makes you Ethan Hunt. Nothing to be happy about. You too are now supposed to hunt or get hunted. I don’t enjoy either.
Dead Reckoning Part One was interesting. Some scenes, the dangling train ones specifically, were very well directed, acted and shot. Excellent execution. Worth watching on a big screen. And you can’t forget the bike, the jump and the fly towards the train…thanks to Benji’s technical system issues. It is just like any IT department of an organization. When you need it the most, that’s when it stops functioning, and in the worst-case scenario, it crashes completely. What do you do then? Same thing as Ethan Hunt—run or ride or jump or fly or swim or dive or all at once!
Ilsa, she was my favourite character after Julia.
The White Widow is an intriguing character.
Ethan-Luther-Benji make a good team.
And the Entity…hmmm…more to know on the same next year now!
As a teenager and even as a young adult, I had struggled but fought against the crippling effect of stage fright. Real bad fright…increased heartbeat, uncontrolled knuckle cracking, shivering, anxiousness, and the whole adrenaline rush effect. After years of practice alongside overcoming several mental blocks, and indeed guidance received from the best mentors and trainers throughout my academic and career journey, today addressing any audience on any stage, planned or impromptu, isn’t a problem. If I can conquer this phobia, then anyone can.
The grass is always greener on the other side of the fence. So is the idiom. I had seen one side. And Nanavati School gave me a chance to witness the other side by being one of the judges on the jury panel for the AISM Debate Zonal Round which had participants from the ICSE (Indian Certificate of Secondary Education) Schools, hosted by Nanavati School, Vile Parle, Mumbai on the 18th and 19th of July 2023.
It is only when you have experienced being on the stage, facing a huge audience that you have to address, sensing all eyes on you, memorizing the topic and related content you are expected to focus and speak on while ensuring you make no mistakes, then you would know how relaxed it feels to be on the other side of the stage. As a judge I was relaxed, but eager to learn the ‘for’ and ‘against’ arguments presented by the GenZ contestants on the very interesting debate topics.
The topic for Day-1: AISM Debate Zonal Round ISC Section (ISC Grades 11th and 12th contestants) was ‘Virtual Influencers And The So-Called New Age Digital Careers Are A Mirage, Here Today Gone Tomorrow.’ And the Day-2: AISM Debate Zonal Section Junior’s Section (ISCE Grades 9th and 10th contestants) topic was ‘In This Era Of Super-Tech, Our Imagination And Creativity Are Not Just Inspired, But Also Blatantly Plagiarized And Compromised On Privacy.’
Well, I won’t debate here on the topics. Readers can do so in the comment section. It would be interesting to know various diverse views on these topics as technology now is an integral part of our lives.
I am glad and grateful for the opportunity to be on the Jury Panel of the prestigious AISM Debate. Thank you Team – Nanavati School! An excellent host! Congratulations to the winners and every participant, with or without stage fright! Best wishes to the winners for the upcoming AISM Debate Maharashtra Regional Round!
The AISM Event experience hosted by Nanavati School is well described in the words of one the esteemed AISM Judge, Mr. Soumitra Sen, Past President – DDB Mudra Remedy and Present Co-Founder, Thinker, Mentor – Storytellers, “It was a soul churning experience for me. Got to meet a bunch of kids who are being prepared so well by the principal and her team of teachers who are so dedicated to the cause of building lives and careers. I could see that the students of the school are well on their way towards becoming amazing global citizens. The debating competition was also so well organized. Meticulously organized and wonderfully implemented. My interaction during the day filled me up with enthusiasm and energy which I needed to give me the impetus to carry on with my life’s journey. The debating was of a very high standard and the students showed immense maturity while communicating their ideas to their peers. Last but not the least were the well-choreographed and coordinated cultural extravaganza that really took my breath away. All in all, this was an experience that I secretly wish happens to me again and again.”
And what more can I add…well, let’s say this…grass is greener on both sides!
It was on my Prime Video list for some time now and I binge watched it last week. Despite eleven years gap between the release of the Sex And The City (SATC) 2 Movie and that of And Just like That… an HBO Max series, I just didn’t seem to miss those years. It was like walking from room to another at my home…very familiar, very connecting, nothing missed, yet something new waiting, something different to discover. Or maybe I felt so as I am a SATC fan; series as well as both the movies, and of course, a Sarah Jessica Parker fan!
Starts with the loss of Mr. Big and ends with a hope in Carrie. Interesting script. Notable performance. Excellent locations. Fabulous aesthetics. Colourful, fashionable and wearable outfits. Beautiful bags. Nice shoes, heels, flats and the rest, as always.
I thought it was just me who uses two sling bags at once. I was relieved to see Carrie doing the same in the very first episode. Makes me feel less odd, maybe the good odd.
Throughout the series, Big’s character is missed and yet not missed. So is Samantha—she is absent, yet present. Seema Patel (played by Sarita Choudhury) is a new and a very strong character introduced—strong enough to take the fourth seat with the three on the girls’ lunch dates.
Miranda, a different side of her is explored. Steve is as sweet as ever. Charlotte-Harry marriage is aging gracefully. The children are in their adolescence phase with GenZ problems—cell phones to curiosity killed the cat. And Anthony’s baking team is baking hottt!
Brand placements are creatively weaved into the script, appearing educational than promotional—every placement is like a part of the character’s daily life. Good job there.
With the ongoing second season promotions, it will be worth to know whether in the future will it be just Carrie, Carrie Preston, Carrie Bradshaw-Preston or Carrie Bradshaw again…
From column to podcast, SATC has evolved. And just like that, it’s a wonderful continuation to Candace Bushnell column/book series…
Four languages – German, Turkish, Croatian and English, all blended so well in the script that the multilingual aspect of the movie never gets in the way of enjoying the movie.
I have watched a lot of content on various OTT platforms. However, Faraway—this Netflix movie is one of the best recent releases on my watch list.
Generally romantic movies tend to show the polished-refined-glamorous side of the lives with all characters looking perfect, body perfect, with perfect houses and cars, etc. etc. Faraway is pretty far-away from the unrealistic version of life.
To see characters as is in life is relatable. The movie is a clutter breaker amongst the sea of romantic movies; a clutter in itself, but a beautiful clutter.
What stayed with me is the line…“Is your heart a sponge or a fist?”
Watch the movie for the answer, and well-answered it is!
Movie: Faraway, A Netflix Movie Casting – Excellent. Storyline – Different. Location – Picturesque. Romance – A unique version. Humour – Realistic, Sarcastic. Language – Multilingual, with subtitles in English. Background Score – Apt choice of songs. Wishing Girl by Lola Marsh is my favourite, but I liked all the songs. Likes – Double Likes!
PANORAMAA 