Sherlock Holmes - Movie Review

Yesterday, I went to watch the new movie based on my favourite fictional character (after Hercule Poirot), Sherlock Holmes. I was eagerly waiting for its release and it didn't disappoint. But I have to be honest though ...this movie doesnot have repeat value as in it is good just for a one time watch. Here's list of what I liked about it and what I didn't or what was lacking in it.

Loves:
1) Robert's potrayal of Sherlock Holmes. Though, we would forever remember Jeremy Brett as THE Sherlock Holmes, Robert does successfully create his own Sherlock Holmes.

2) The fight sequences of Sherlock Holmes..how he first imagines it in his mind and then implements it. It's a very stylised take on how a methodical detective like Holmes would definitely do before attacking his opponent.

3) The surprise for me was Jude Law's potrayal of Watson. Initially, when I came to know Law would be playing Watson, I was kind of put off by the idea, cause I didnot think, he would be able to play the role of a war veteran, mature doctor who should also have good comic timing. But after watching the movie, I'm a changed person. His Watson is bang on!

4) Chemistry between Robert and Jude's character is exactly as it should be.

5) The creation of old time London is great.

Don't Love:
1) The screenplay is pretty loose, maybe because the story itself is not very intriguing and doesnot allow the movie to be that captivating.

2) The angle of Irene Adler looks very forced into it. Her being dictated by Professor Moriarty is not convincing at all.They could have easily introduced a new female character. Also, Rachel Mcadams' Irene Adler is very light-hearted "modern" woman, not the graceful lady, who had outsmarted Sherlock Holmes, we all have come to love.Maybe the story and the screenplay is the main culprit as Mcadams is a very fine actress otherwise.

All in all I would give a solid B to this Guy Ritchie movie. You should all go watch it atleast once.

Lovin' my new boots!

I usually don't post on clothes and shoes. But, guess I will start on that as this blog is about doing life and wearing beautiful clothes and lovely shoes are part of doing life for me.

My new boots..just looooooove it! Its very comfortable and doesn't have very high heels just the way I like it. I got it on Monday..it's a gift. Even better.

They are leather with patches of suede in it.

Dubai, I Love You! : Chapter 3

Chapter 3: Dazed and Confused

PAST
11.30AM, Dubai

Bastakiya Area, Burdubai

So, how was the dinner? - Noor
Elena- It was o.k
Noor- And how's the crazy frog? Have he turned into a prince yet?
Elena- Oh, com'on Noor, it was just a dinner!
Noor- Yeah, the 4th one in the last 10 days and I'm ofcourse not counting the other outings!
Elena just smiles.
So, what are you going to do ?- Noor
Elena- Nothing
Noor- Thats sad, you know, cause he is hot.
Elena- O.K enough.Lets talk about you and Sagar. Looks like he's got feelings for you.
Noor- Maybe but you know me its got to be an Egyptian.
Elena- Oh com'on, what happened to the "Dubai, the united colors of Benetton" thingy???

PRESENT

3PM, Dubai Media City

Elena- Ivanayyyy, are the faces ready?
Ivan- Not yet, give me some time
Elena- They might want us to add some other stuff too.Customers never have time man you know that..
Ivan- And you remember that never allow the customer to design.
Elena- RightO! I just want to get over with the storyboard don't want the story to continue like a never ending soap opera.
Ivan- Speaking of soap operas, when's your leading man landing?
Elena- Havn't checked yet.
Ivan- So, you trying to get serious with him?
Elena- Why on earth you people keep asking me the same question again and again!!!
Ivan- BE-CAUSE!
Elena- O.K I will answer your question. I will get serious when I meet Captain Jack Sparrow.
Ivan (smiling)- You know thats asking too much
Elena (laughing)- Not much, O.K I could do with Dr House also!

Glenn- Hey Boss, can we talk?
Elena- Yeah, Sure; and you finish the faces

PAST
1.30AM, Greens

The sharp sound of the intercom startles Elena. She gets up from the maze of tender documents ad answers the intercom- Who is it?
Shawn- Your friendly neighbourhood stalker
Elena- Shawn? What are you doing here at this time of the night?
Shawn- Nothing, I was just...I don't know, just kinda wanted to see you.
Elena- O.K, come up

Shawn- Hey
Elena- oh my God, Shawn, what happened?
Shawn- You should have seen the other guy, American Douchebag
Elena- What was the fight all about?
Shawn- Nothing
Elena- Nothing? Why do you guys have to do it everytime? Let me see it..eww, let me clean it up for you.
Shawn- No,Its o.k
Elena- Bloody nose, swollen eyelids, yeah its o.k actually its quite sexy.
Shawn- You want to clean it?
Elena- yes
Shawn- O.k I will let you clean it if you let me kiss you.

Elena doesn't know what to do with this guy. Both start to laugh. They are interrupted by the ringing phone.

Elena- Hello?....Fridu, slow down please, ...what happened?.....o.k I will be there in 15, just hang on o.k? I will be there
Shawn- What happened?
Elena- Its my friend Frida. I need to meet her now.
Shawn- Its pretty late, let me drive you.
Elena- O.K

PRESENT
3.20PM, Dubai Media City

So what is it?- Elena
Glenn- Boss, can i borrow some money?
Elena- Sure, however I need to know why?
Glenn- The other day I was at the bus stop, this Indian guy was bothering one girl, she is a Filipina, I couldnot stand it, you know that right
Elena- Mmmhmm
Glenn- So, I punched him, he fell down. there was this policeman, he took him to the hospital but took my Pataka card. He said he will not arrest me cause he had seen what had happened earlier. But I need to pay the medical bills. So, I need the money around 300 would be fine.
Elena- O.K, here it is and remember next time, just make sure police is not around and yes give a kick from my side as well, will ya? Both smile.

PAST
3.30AM Sana Fashions, Al Karama

Frida- So tell me E, what do I do?
Elena- You do life! Is there any other plan girl? I'm sorry, its just that I don't understand why do you have to make anyone your life? They can be part of your lives but they are not your life!
Frida- Its easy for you to say that..guys always fall for you look at Shawn..

Elena- You don't know that do you......I had a nervous break down once and since then I have realised, there should be nothing in this world, I mean nothing..that you cannot live without.

Frida- How can you be so always cut to the point?
Elena- That's called mutation
and they both break out in laughter.

Elena- Seriously, Fridu,Look, you will find your way out of this ..I cannot tell you how, everyone's road is different.If he has already decided to marry according to his mother's wishes, then you should stop seeing him. Cause you will keep going around with him and he will still go ahead and marry according to his mom. You know these mother's boys belong to only one kind of woman and that's their mother.So, let him go to his mother, you go ahead with your life. Don't be bitter, as long as it was, it was beautiful. You don't cry when your ice-cream box finishes at midnight..there's always some ice-cream parlour open if you so really want or you can wait till the morning when you can shop for all the ice-cream in the world.

Frida- E you really have some timing...and you keep complaining that your friend Robbie is painful.. I think its a tie!
Elena- So you o.k now?
Frida- I don't know I'm confused.
Elena- Give yourself time, what comes naturally, will go naturally. ...It was around 3 months right? So, I give you 2 months..you will be fine
Frida- EEEEEEEEEE!!!!!

Fireflies: Summer of 87-My Monkey Days

My mom tells me that I was one of those kids who didn't crawl and straightaway walked. And it showed when I was growing up.

I was superactive as a kid one who couldn't stay in one place or one thing for too long. I was into every kind of extra-curricular activities, including but not limited to sports, music, drama, art, not to mention the fist-fights, the tree-rooftop climbs or the uncanny ability to take apart the pieces and put back together every tricycle or four wheels(not the big ones-the kiddie ones) I got as gifts.

I was not exactly a complete nightmare for my parents though.. because no matter how much hard time I gave them with my extra-currics, I definitely made up in my grades in acads. I was what you say a straight A+ student. I was one of those kids who would play all day in the mud but as soon as the lights came up in the house, clean up and sit to do the homework.
Basically, I would oscillate between being responsibly irresponsible and irresponsibly responsible several times in a day.

Lets get to the topic of discussion- My monkey days
Climbing trees was one of my all time favourite passtime. I used to spend majority of my afternoon on one of the trees or under the trees in our orchard. Ah! such carefree days
( Got it in the web, that lill girl is Sooooo Me!)

Our orchard and the kitchen garden was like a huge farmland courtesy my mom. She could easily be crowned one of the best horticulturist around. In Dubai, we get good quality fruits but I have to pay for them. Back in the day, when I was young, buying fruits was an alien concept in our house. If I couldnot pluck it from the trees I wouldnot call it a fruit, be it custard apple, mango, guava, banana, lychee, all kinds of berries, dates, plums, papaya, pinapple. You name it we had it in our backyard. My favourite were "Kalo Jaam" (in the west they call it the Black Plum or Java Plum I guess)

I liked them cause they had great combination of taste- sweet, sour and astringent all put together and also, because they would temporarily make my tongue color purple!

Another fruit I always liked was guava. We had four guava trees and one of them had grown so big , it almost reached the window of my parents bedroom in the first floor of our three storied house.

One afternoon, I climbed onto this tree and after a quick scan set my eyes on a pair of guavas that were perfect for a late afternoon snack.They were almost at the edges of a thin branch. I couldnot stand on the branch without breaking it.If you had climbed a guava tree you would know what I'm talking about.So, I decided to stretch myself to the edge, while standing on a stronger branch. But,as I was finding it difficlut to reach out and pull the pair, I decided to use both my hands to pull them ( I know, I know what you are going to say..man I was so caught up in the act!)
As the fruits came off the branch, THUDD!!!

For a few moments, I went blank. Then I heard my mom's voice" What in Devil's name were you thinking???"
I looked upwards- I could see my mom's worried-angry face on the window.
Then I looked around. I had fallen on my back, the body on the field(so there were no injuries), but left side of my head had hit the edge of the concrete pathway around our house. And yes, the guavas were in my hands.

A few stitches and a few days later I was again ready to monkey around the trees.

I did get myself many gashes before and after this incident. But that fall left a dent on the left corner of the back of my head and hair never really grew on that area.

My mom thinks my idiosyncrasies increased after that incident.

I must add that my mom's usually right about everything she says.....

Fireflies: Once Upon A Time

Some call them the wonder years,
Some the golden ones
Yet some others the best time of their lives
I call them the Fireflies

Cause,

Like fireflies,
They get to shine
Only for a little while

Yet,

In the dark of night,
When I'm upset about today
They shine in my memory
& make me smile


In this section I would put down all about my escapades while growing up in an idyllic small town in a beautiful countryland.

Dubai, I Love You!: Chapter 2

Hook, Line and Sinker

PRESENT: 3PM, Saturday, Dubai

Discovery Gardens

Ivan: So how much time did he give you?

Anna: 1 week; I never felt so humiliated in my whole life.

Ivan: Don't cry, please..please

Anna: I'm trying, just don't know how to handle all these..I hate my life - doing this stupid job at the art gallery, hardly saving any money and now my boyfriend wants me to move out of his life and apartment. Thought in Dubai, I will find all the joys I was searching for and now all that i find in Dubai is sand!

Ivan: Com'on now. Don't say that. Give time to yourself. o.k? And you don't have to worry about the accommodation. You can stay here with me till you find a place.

Anna: Is it o.k?

Ivan: Of course Anna; Tell me how long we have been friends? 14? 15 years? You helped me come here. Look at me I'm living my dream and I want to share it with you.

Anna: Oh Ivan, you are the best.

Ivan: You ever doubted that?
They both laugh and hug.


PRESENT: Somewhere off the coast of Arabian Sea

Elena: Where are all the fishes?

Robbie: Looks like they have gone for a swim

Elena: Really Thor, were you always like that?

Robbie: Like what?

Elena: Dodgy hair and shit sense of humor!

Christopher: So, you miss him?

Elena: What?

Christopher: Com'on now, don't give me that. I know...say you miss him.

Elena: O.k O.k.maybe a little.

Robbie: Shall I call Skinny and tell him

Elena: Thor, you are impossible.

Christopher starts to chuckle.

Elena: Topher lets just push him off the boat. He is superhero anyways!


PAST: 1 AM, The Greens

Elena: Hey Topher gotta go now, its almost 1 now.

Topher: What? Please stay for sometime more.

Elena: Tomorrow I'm working unlike you losers who get to enjoy their weekend morning sleep.

Topher: Well then at least have the ice cream and go. I got your favourite one Cream and Cookies. Will get it for you..

Elena: That's o.k let me get it myself


Elena walks into the kitchen and opens the refrigerator to take out the ice-cream.

So, how old are you?: Shawn

Elena taken by surprise: what?

Shawn: I asked how old are you, cause I won't date a girl if she ain't legal

What hit her????

Elena: Funny

Shawn: I'm serious, I want to take you to dinner sometime.

Elena smiles: No thank you, I'm good

Shawn: Yeah I know you are good that's why I want to take you out.

Elena laughs: You are crazy or something?

Just then Ivan enters the kitchen: E, lets go man, I'm sleepy.

Elena: Excuse me please.

PRESENT: 4PM, Golden Sands, Burdubai

Noor: Ismail, I'm fed up of your excuses! When are you going to grow up?

Ismail: Noor, I'm honestly sorry but I really need this money. This time we have a good business plan. Its going to work out for sure. I will pay you back everything and I'll take care of you and parents. I promise.

Noor: Ismail, my brother, every time you say that and every time you fail us all.

Ismail: Please Noor, don't abandon me in this time of my need. I'm your younger brother. I thought I didn't have to ask others for help when I have a successful Business Manager for a sister. Please Noor, where will I go?

Noor:............ O.k Ismail, this is the last time I'm going to give you money. Remember, I'm doing this for parents.

Ismail: I love you Noor. I'll make it up to you for sure.

PAST: 4.30AM, Dubai Marina

As Elena starts her round of jogging, she says to herself: Its a perfect morning.

Is it???

Hey!: Shawn

Elena: Oh God!

Shawn (smiling): Yes?

Elena shakes her head in disbelief

Shawn (still smiling): What?

Elena:What are you doing here?

Shawn: Oh, Topher told me you do your round here and I thought if I go home I might just sleep over, so basically, I was waiting here for the past 3 hours for you to show up.

Elena: What? Are you a stalker or something?

Shawn : Naah. Just wanted to tell you I'll pick you up tonight at 7 for dinner.

Elena: Dinner?!

Shawn: Yeah dinner; and please wear something short and freeflow. There's dancing too in the menu. See ya, laters then.

E-Wise: Mortal Kombat

In my teen years, I settled every fight with my fist and kicks.

When I was in my 20's I silenced my opponents with my sharp tongue.

Now that I'm in my 30's, I don't fight. Because I realised nothing in this world is worth fighting for.

Just let go

E-Wise: Mean Girls

Many people deal it this way : If i don't like you I have to be mean to you.

Why?

Just because I don't like someone doesnot equate to I have to be mean to the person. If i dont like a person and still have to deal with him/her then I just try to understand what he/she is doing and why they are doing it. Thats all.

E-Wise: The Grateful Dead

First time when you get all out to help someone, they are grateful to you.


Second time, when you help them, they are a little less grateful to you.

And,

As you repeatedly help them, there comes a stage when they are outright ungrateful to you.

So, one should help people only under two circumstances - either when the person is dying or your are about to die if you dont help the person.

Dubai, I Love You!: Chapter 1

Chapter 1: Truth is stranger than fiction

11.45AM, FRIDAY, DUBAI

Baghdad Street, Al Qusais

Rani, " Babuji! Where have u been babuji? I have been logged on for so long."
Arun," Sorry dear, got caught up in a meeting. So, what's ur plan for today?"
Rani, " Will go to Irish Village with Elena and her gang. Oktoberfest is going on there. Its going to be a blast they say!"
Arun," Enjoy, enjoy, our weekend starts tomorrow. Hey I miss you"
Rani, " Miss you too babuji."

Sana Fashions, Al Karama

" Got to send the money to India today, oops need to take out the clothes from the machine before it starts to smell"
As Frida straightens her hair, she also makes a mental note to buy some dresses this weekend. "Its never enough when it comes to dresses for a girl"

Golden Sands I, Burdubai

" Noor, we will have to keep the cast for another extra week", Dr. Haitham
Noor, " I see; I was thinking maybe, we can take it out as soon as possible. You see I'm going home for vacation & I have not told my parents about my leg. I don't want them to worry unnecessarily, you know, I just.."
Haitham, " Dont worry, everything will be fine. Inshallah."

The Greens, Sheikh Zayed Road

" E, baby I'm hungry. Is the food ready?", Christopher
Elena, " Get your ass up here Topher! I ain't gonna bring you food in bed. Thor is already here."

8.30PM

Frida, " Granny's getting her eye operated, Missing family a lot."
" Hey, don't cry. Things are gonna be o.k", Elena
" I really don't know E, too much pressure from family", Frida
Elena, " Then why don't you just meet the guy. Nothings wrong in meeting yaar. Who knows you may even like him."
Frida, " I dont want an arranged marriage."
"O.K Queen Victoria, even the Aviation Club manager has called asking for you. We gotta go now", Christopher
Elena, " Hey Fridu dear, my gang is waiting for me. We are going to IV. You just try and relax. I will come down tomorrow to your place. Is that o.k?"
Frida, " O.k sure; bye then, enjoy"
" I will", Elena

11PM, Irish Village, Aviation Club, Al Garhoud

Rani, " Hey E, How's your friend Noor doing?"
Elena, " The cast's gonna stay another week, It sucks big time."
" Hey guys! What's up?", Jamal
Christopher, " I didn't win the Billion dollar lotto, thats the news."
Jamal, " O.K, what happened, why is he pissed?"
Thor, " He can't have more than 3 pegs tonight; E made him promise that."
Anna, " That's so severe..why E?"
" Cause!, I don't want to clean up his shit again tonight. You should have seen last night. What a mess he did in my living room."
Ivan, " He had a whole bottle of white wine and two glasses of dirty martini!"

Lila, " What a concoction!" "Tell me about it", Christopher, " By the way who are you?!"
Jamal, " Sorry folks!, This is my friend Lila. This is Topher-Christopher,Ivan, Thor, Anna, E and..". E," Thats Rani". All, " Hi, come join us"
Jamal, " Thanks, but others are waiting for us over there. See you guys later."
" Laters.."

Forever (DJ Clement remix) playing in the background. Christopher, " Common E, thats our song, lets dance"
Elena," Do you see anyone dancing Topher?"
Christopher, " Exactly! Common doll"

" Quite a group", Lila. Jamal, " Yeah, rude, trippy, genuine"
Lila, " What kind of a name is Thor?"
Jamal, " Oh, His real name is Robbie; they call him Thor because of his height and size. You know Thor, the superhero?

Lila, " No, I didnot know that. See,they are dancing..; Hey that girl E and Topher, they a couple or something?"
" No, no, Topher is Skinny's best friend", Jamal
" Skinny? Who is Skinny?", Lila
Jamal, " E's boyfriend."

Tripping: M&Ms- That's my life (at the moment!)

Marlboro
Margarita
Money
Movies
&
Mickey Blue Eyes

Heaven and Earth!

Feel The Rush!
Feel It In The Air!
Keep On Movin' It Forward And
Live With No Fear!

HAPPY ME!

Fun after a boring conference!

I'm what I'm; not so much because I like it but because thats the only way I know how to be!

Tripping: Looking for my voice

I lost my voice to a bad case of viral infection and have been looking for it since sunday. It started with a bad headache on Thursday. By nightfall, I had high fever. I couldn't sleep the whole night. Next morning and afternoon were the same. My weekend sucked badly. Thank god, saturday was off for me this week or i did have to take my day off.

My new found voice( or lack thereof) has given me lot of names. Ivan the Terrible calls me Golum (LOTR) now, but I prefer to call myself Don Corleone. Hager the Horrible, on the otherhand, is very happy, cause I cannot argue with him now about the sales tracker and sales forecast. Truth is I'm supposed to make my team members achieve their targets, whereas I myself has been unable to achieve it- which is-I've been after him these past one week for the sales forecast figures without any success, whatsoever!

Coming back to my current situation- I'm taking steroids that I'm allowed to take. There is no fever and I feel very strong but am still looking for my voice. I pray that there are no important meeting with clients this week.

Tripping: The Anthem

Aurora's anthem:

Smoke Baby by Hawksley Workman

Smoke baby, smoke baby
More alcohol baby
Cocaine in Montreal
And black out on the plane baby
An early flight will leave
And on it will be me, yeah
I'll be half asleep
And you'll get up at three

And I've never felt
Quite this close to hell
All this rock n roll, baby
Ony time will tell
But we're young now, having fun now
On the town now, get around now
It's fine for now
But someday we'll settle down
But not now baby
Smoke baby....

Tripping: Two guys, a girl and a revolving restaurant (under construction)

Date: 3/02/09, Place: Fortune Tower, Jumeirah Lakes
On camera: Ivan The Terrible & Hagar The Horrible
With camera: Ms. Lenticulars

On their quest for the daily dose of LSD, the day Trippers stumbled upon this unknown place- a revolving restaurant on the 33rd floor. The restaurant is under construction; only the basic framework has been laid (wheels can be seen in the photo). The view is magnificent from the top- almost all the landmarks of Dubai are visible.

It was a great find- there were no one at the site. It was a fantastic place for day tripping!

Tripping: The Chronicles of Bangalore: Margarita, Maamaji, Marlboro & Dhenukasur

Date: 8th Dec'08 - 12th Jan'09

GM Palya, M.G Road, Brigade Road, Chikpet

Silk Saree, Creape Saree, Bridal Saree, Puneri Saree

Maamaji, Dhenukasur, Balika badhu, Loser Ross,

Marlboro Lights, Wills Filter, Marlboro Lights, Marlboro Lights

Margarita, Margarita, Margarita, Margarita

KFC, Mainland China, Barista, 13th Floor

Athena, RNBDJ, White-shirt Black face, Formal Wears

Mundu Lao, Methi Paratha, Beans Aalo, Tomato Maggi

Mackeral, Prawns, Rohu, Mackeral

Udaya 2, You Tube, Desi Torrents, Dr. Raj Kumar

Biriyani, Zinger Chicken, Kebabs, Dosa

Birthday Party, Engagement Party, New Year Party, "Don't care for the world" Party

Vodka, Bitching, Vodka, Bitching (in between mad-angles)

CMH, Manipal Hospital, Manipal Hospital, Manipal Hospital

ENT, ENT, Optha, ENT

Pharmacy, Steroids, "Pillan Pouder", Hot Doc

Eating, Throwing Up, Chatting, Throwing Up

Last but the most

TRIPPING, TRIPPING, TRIPPING, TRIPPING......

MISS "US" BIG TIME!

SEA- I can SEE u now!

The climate of Dubai is so wonderful today. Actually it has been a lovely winter since it started to rain from the first week of december. It has rained regulary these two months..maybe just a couple of dry days and the rest wet, foggy, cosy and beautiful.

Today, visibility was about 50mts around my office area which is like next to the sea.

I still remember the day my "friends" at B-School, laughed at me when I had told them that I have never been to a sea beach before. I always longed to see the sea, smell it and touch it. Wonder of wonders, my first job posting after MBA was in Mumbai, India.I got a load of "sea dose". But, there was more to come.

I'm in Dubai now. I live near a sea beach and work at a office situated by the sea. I get to enjoy the sea everyday. Oh , the view from my cabin- the yachts, the towers, the beach, the sea and the sea-gulls! I love the "MARINA"