vandiemen

Everyone talks of how cool a show Alias is. And it is really cool and fast paced, with a definite story line that sets it apart from its contemporaries. The search for the Rambaldi artifacts and the unfolding saga during season 1 and 2 killed me. That was truly amazing. Season 3 is kind of lost on me but I guess I'll learn to love it.

But at its basics things sometimes become monotonous. Like Sydney will always get out of any situation alive, Vaughn will always be safe, Syd's father (Jack) will always try something backhand, Marshall will always be endearing among others such moments. And life will go on. But one thing that never is monotonous and is always refreshing as each new day is the show's music. Its one aspect of the show that remains highly underrated (at least in where I come from, saying nothing ‘bout places I know nothing ‘bout).

Alias' music is really amazing. Grade-A. My usual routine after watching each episode is to feed in the lyrics of the songs in Google™, get the name of the songs and spend the rest of the day iMesh-ing. Call me weird but in some things I like to be predictable. Alias really has great music. The songs that I downloaded include `Rollin (remix)' by Limp Bizkit, `Weapon' by Matthew Good Band, `I Feel Love' by Donna Summers amongst others. But even more bracing is the usual country songs that make up each episode. Since country songs are not available where I come from, these are really cherished.

In the end I'd like to raise my glass to a good show and really good music. `To good music'.

Blue Crush. I have this really stupid habit of putting the names of the movies that I loved on the wall of my room. I spend hours deciding whether or not to put up the names of the movies making notes of its pros and cons. It's a tough job!!

Today, so very strangely, with the opening scene of Blue Crush I wrote its name between ‘The Matrix' and ‘Underworld'. I knew I was going to love the movie even before I had seen it. And truly enough I loved the movie.

What I loved so much about the movie was the story. It was a story of struggle against the odds to survive, to live for a dream. Isn't it the intensity of our struggle with our inner demons and external nightmares that determines the person that we grow up to be. The theme – I have a dream, never fails to win me over. If you don't live for your dream what will you live for. The art direction was awesome. If nothing else go to see this movie for the photography. The underwater shots - breathtakingly beautiful. The movie setting was perfect and the waves huge. The spirit of never-say-die that the movie leaves behind is undeniable. I also loved the fact that the leads both were set in different financial backgrounds. To see the trio of friends working as maids seeing to the luxury of the rich in a posh uptown hotel was an experience.

Kate Bosworth does a really good job playing the role of a promising surfer who has a nightmare to live down. Michelle Rodriguez is Hollywood's toughest girl. Its about time she gets to prove her worth instead of being given the second lead. This tough girl can take all of Arnie, Stallone, Vin Diesel and give them hell in their own home turf. I may have watched the movie originally for Michelle Rodriguez, but who really stole my heart was Lena. She has this bright outlook at life that truly brings to life the essence of being alive. Kate B's sister, Penny, going wayward growing up was also great.

The music was really cool. I'll admit I'm mostly a punk rock/ sometimes heavy kinda boy, but the song that I'll be humming for a long time will be `Cool Summer' from the movie soundtrack.

In the end I always write about the glitches in the movie. Today this will remain blank. I found none. Brian Grazer in an interview talked rather proudly about this movie and the surfing stunts in it. And to God, he has a definite reason to be proud. And its called Blue Crush.

Reading the summary most of the people probably thing I am all set to bash Resident Evil. Actually I'm taking just the opposite stand because I really loved this movie. Lets just say love doesn't even come close to define my feelings for this movie. Okay, I'll admit, this movie isn't Oscar material except maybe the special effects, but its really a good movie if you happen to like the RE series. Even if you haven't played the games you might just learn to love it.

Human struggle for existence against all odds always makes a good tale. But I should say I'm not one for zombie movies. Somehow I find them meaningless. Maybe because playing the games beforehand or the fact that I willed myself to like this movie ever since I heard it was coming, I really liked this one. Another reason for me liking this movie is – Michelle Rodriguez. There can never be a reason not to like a Michelle Rodriguez movie for me. The art direction was awesome. The concept of the Hive was super cool. The dogs were scary. Scarier than the zombies. The laser scene was trend setting. What I really liked was the Red Queen, a holographic representation of a super-computer modeled after the head programmer's daughter. To hear the innocent voice of a little girl saying- `You are all going to die down here' - is really chilling. That's Red Queen for you.

I didn't know anything about the movie before it was released. I just saw its trailer once in UK Top Ten. So, I didn't what really to expect. I was hoping to see all of Jill, Claire, Leon and Chris. I was real disappointed not to see any of the video game characters. To tell the truth that killed me but things like that happen. It seems like the movie is going to follow a storyline slightly different from the game series starting with how the T-Virus spread. In the games the T-Virus was spread by James Marcus (as in Resident Evil: Zero). The movie stand is different. I guess the games and movie storylines will deviate from each other a bit.

Glitches? Milla Jovovich is definitely one of the most good looking women in the world. In fact she's stunningly breathtaking. But somehow I didn't see her as Alice. She looks too precious. It might be because of the scene she was introduced in. Anyone who knows Jill, Claire or Rebecca know that they are really tough women. Maybe Milla J. looked fragile to me because she was next to Michelle Rodriguez. And boy! is she tough.

I hope I get to see the game characters in some future RE movie (haven't checked RE:A till yet). So gotta go. What am I doing next? Well, to quote Rain, `when I get outta here think I'm gonna get laid!!'

I was first intrigued about Underworld when Paula called it the 'Romeo and Juliet of the gothics'. That's Paula Malai Ali, the greatest VJ in the world, for the uninitiated. The trailer seemed cool enough but still wasn't sure if it was a movie for me. But yesterday seeing the choices that I had, I picked it up. And thank God that I did. Cause I really loved the movie. Its awesome. It really is. I mean if you are into that goth blue and black, total dark thing, you'll love it. The story is fluent, action fast and acting sharp enough.

I am so totally into that blue darkish movies that there is no reason for me NOT to love this movie. The war between lycans and vampires is a story line that pulls one in. The story has love, anguish, fear, betrayal, death and vengeance. And I'll swear, half way through the movie you WILL change your allegiance. That the movie concentrates more on the storyline than mindless action sequences is one of its definite plus points. Another thing I loved about the movie is that the two lead characters don't fall upon each, groping. There is only one very brief almost kissing sequence. That's prêt cool cause its not much of a war if the characters start getting all hot and sweaty in between. The CGI doesn't try to go overboard and does a splendid job.

Underworld is basically Kate Beckinsale all the way. She talks in this darkish kinda way and kicks some heavy metal butt. And I can't even imagine any other actress doing her role, that great Kate Beckinsale looked as Selene, the vamp-ire.

Glitches? Well, black trench coats should really go out of fashion. Both vampires and lycans have one thing in common – either they have long hair or shaved heads. I mean, can't you qualify to be a vampire or a lycan without the hair attribute. Speedman spends most of the movie being just a pretty-boy hustled around. The story leaves behind a lot of unanswered questions. What the movie really needed was some more time. For the story to develop even more and for some more war sequences between vampires and lycans. The story had potential if only things didn't happen too fast. The slicing of Victor's head is a scene that has been liberally 'borrowed' from Resident Evil. That could have been avoided. But all said and done this is one of the better dark movies that have come along in a long time. As of Kate Beckinsale what can I say:

I want you, in a vinyl suit, I want you bad Complicated, X-rated, I want you bad

• 'Want you badd' by The Offsprings.

The Girl Next Door. I'll state the reason that I watched the movie in the first place in two words – Elisha Cuthbert. Actually that would be reason enough to sit through ANY movie. But to tell the truth I really liked the movie. There is something about the movie. The movie made me laugh and yet have a stupid grin plastered on my face all throughout, cause I know what its like to be a love-sick idiot. I'm one of those melodramatic fools… It's a simple tale all throughout the movie but told like a charm. But like most teen movies it tends to be a different wrapping for the same teen movie stuff. What is it with the teen movies? The general rule is that everything happens at the high school. Think of all the movies and TV series and tell me what DOESN'T happen in the high school. And what's with the prom? I'm kinda tired of all teen movies having a climax set at the senior prom. How come the dork ALWAYS gets the hottest girl? Come on, this is giving insecurity complex to the actual good looking blokes!! The Girl Next Door. Its sweet, its nice. Its great to sit through. I'd say the movie's strength lies in its characters. Not the predictable high school dorks but the actual girl next door – a porn star, and other bits and pieces of the porn industry. My favorite is Danielle's producer Kelly. This guy is one in a million. Rough and tough he can work his way into anyone's books. Danielle's porn mates, April and Ferrari, are a great laugh too. The movie had me laughing with all its twists (and turns) in the tale.

In the end everyone will go home, but I don't think many would feel as if they have lost the moments from life all the time that they spend watching this movie. But I'm still wondering the next time I go to see the movie (cause sure as Hell I'm going again) if I should take my GF with me. Me gawking at naked chicks is not what she particularly likes!!

Roswell- mystery, enigma. There is some thing in Roswell that I can't put my finger on. And it is this that makes Roswell so very special. And suddenly - I believe in aliens. Whenever I see any of the episodes I feel as if everything is happening around me, as if I am one with the show. The characters of Roswell would stand out among a million others. Max, Michael, Isabelle, Liz and Maria - bonded by a secret. Max - so calm, so composed. Liz - unsure, disturbed yet optimistic. Michael- wild, impulsive. Isabel- though haughty yet with a faint touch of meekness. Maria- unsteady, 'on the edge' but true. Liz and Max, when together, depict everything beautiful in this world. The chemistry between them is so wonderful that it could make anyone wish to fall in love (all over again). The words spoken between them make time stand still, and make me feel like I'm the only audience to the most beautiful thing of the world. They, like, share an unspoken promise that, no matter what, they'd forever stand by each other. This is what that makes their relationship so special. It is a special relationship between special people The rest of the cast too carve a niche for themselves and make themselves felt against so strong a principal cast. And just to think I never knew about a place called Roswell, somewhere far away, where a secret will forever lay buried.

P.S: At home, the first season of Roswell started this October (2001). And I am writing a review after having seen just six episodes.