from India to outer space, what an a*list!

 

Knowing I have the inguinal hernia surgery on April 1st, I've made it a point to pack in as many movies as I could this week.

Fortunately, the AMC 11 was only too happy to oblige my every taste!

Did I want something about second chances?

"Reminders of Him", seen as part of a rare Sunday double header, certainly fit the bill, as it followed a woman who'd lost her husband to a drunk driving accident - when she was the driver - and lost custody of their child born in prison.

One of the things I really enjoyed was that she kept a journal, filling it with letters she wrote to her lost love.

Very nice!

Did I want something with some Bollywood flash?

The second feature that day was just perfect for that.

"Ustaad Bhagat Singh" was actually Tollywood, but it had several song and dance numbers in its action-packed tale!

I very much enjoyed that, though Carolyn thought it a bit too violent.

I'd seen the earlier Pawan Kalyan film, though, and this one gave me exactly what I expected: laughs, action, and dance!

Did I want something in the science fiction genre?

Yes, I did, and Ryan Gosling was magnificent in "Project Hail Mary"!

I've been waiting for this one for a while, ever since the cinema put up the cockpit display of the spaceship in the lobby.

Let me say this: it was every bit as good as I'd hoped!

Gosling has most of the screen time as the sole human as he interacts in space with the argon-breathing alien, who he has named 'Rocky'.

Incredible!

So much science, so much compassion, so much about learning to communicate by finding a common ground in math!

I'll definitely be seeing this one again!

Did I want something in the witty horror vein?

Sure, I'll take that, especially if it's a sequel of a movie I liked!

"Ready Or Not 2: Here I Come" was just exactly that.

Although IRL it's been 7 years since the first movie, this one picks up right where that one left off, with the bride's sister getting dragged into the fray.

Ah, yes, nothing like a bit of sibling rivalry turning into fierce family togetherness when outsiders threaten harm!

Thanks, AMC, for these varied offerings to my dance card!

stray kids... meow!

Seriously, one of the boys in the band actually meows!!!

That would be the bass-voiced blond, Felix.

I know, I talk like I know who the Stray Kids are, but I don't.

 

Before I came to this concert film in the Big-D auditorium at AMC, I'd never heard of them.

However, thanks to my A*List membership, I took a chance.

I'm so glad I did!

As I told Carolyn, it was like watching Bollywood dance sequences back to back, with just the guys strutting their stuff - RAWR!!!

It may look like they're all wearing the same outfit, but each of the eight members has unique touches: in the jacket lengths and cuts, in the designs of the sparkly stones, in the shirts under those jackets.

Seriously... RAWR!!!

And look here: they even have their own Greased Lightin'!!!
No wonder that the Los Angeles arena was jam-packed with women of a variety of ages and ethnic backgrounds!!!

And get this: those fans knew all the songs, too, singing along with Seuteurei Kijeu, also known as SKZ.

Just who are the Korean pop stars?

Well, thanks to the interviews spliced into the concert segments, I actually know a little something about that.

As I already mentioned, Felix is the blond with the surprisingly bass voice, and a saucy sense of humor!

Bang Chan is the ipso facto leader and caretaker, in as much as he makes sure that each one gets the support they need; he's also the one who chose each member to be a Stray Kid.

Hyunjin is the sexy dancer in the band, usually wearing the least clothes.

As I already mentioned, Felix is the blond with the surprisingly bass voice, and a saucy sense of humor!

Changbin is the hunky rapper and songwriter for the group.

Han is also a prolific songwriter, whose goal is to keep his SKZ persona separate from his own identity.

I. N. is the youngest member of the group - but only by about 6 months!

Then there are Lee Know - another principal dancer - and Seungmin, the guitarist to round out the octet.

Like I said, something for everyone's taste in this smorgasbord!

I'm so glad I took advantage of the upcoming bad weather to see this!!!

Oh, wait, I never mentioned the concert movie's name, did I?

"Stray Kids: The Dominate Experience".

Be sure to check it out for great dancing!!!

Sweet dreams!

(smile!) 

Paul and Cathy go to Wash Plus!

Ceviche for breakfast!!!
You bet! Since it was laundry day (today's travelers by plane must pack light), we ate brunch at Jalapenos, right across the street from my favorite laundrette. What a great way to start the day!

While Cathy and I enjoyed our brunch at a leisurely pace, Paul bopped across the road to Wash Plus to start the wash cycle. By the time it was done and he bopped back to put the load into the dryer, we were sated!
It was so nice to introduce them to Nami, too! She and I have known each other for almost 20 years!
You see, I've been coming to her place for tending to my clothes ever since 1996.

Clothes were washed, dried, and folded. On to other events!
First on the list was a trip to the Owens-Thomas House. It's part of the Telfair Museum group and had been included with our admission to the other two yesterday. Also, I couldn't recall having been there, so it would be new to me, too.
The weather was warm, so off we went, clothes still in the trunk!
What good timing we had, too. We arrived about thirty minutes before a tour of the grounds was to begin. Yeah!

Afterward, Paul and Cathy took a few moments to enjoy the lovely garden and fountain. Such peace and serenity! Such a lovely way to pass time before the movie...
What movie? The latest Bollywood film over at the Royal Cinema! I had been chatting up the film ever since their arrival, so of course they humored me and agreed to go!
And so we did, dining first at the coolest pizza joint in this area, the Mellow Mushroom in Pooler. You know, where it's cooler.
Local joke!
(smile)
So, we had slunch, with the five Ultraman statues, under the Spiderman on the ceiling, and admiring the artwork on the walls. I tend to avoid pizza places since I became lactose intolerant six years ago, but this place is just that cool that I work around that whole cheese issue.
Then it was time for "PK"!!! Woohoo!!! What a grand blend of Bollywood, science fiction, romance, and comedy!!!
Definitely stirred up a hunger for Indian food, too.
So, that was our next destination! Back to Savannah and Pakwan! We have several Indian restaurants in town, but I like this one best. Tonight, I didn't have my glasses, so reading the menu was out. No worries. I had the special, lamb chops. I am so glad I did! Absolutely fabulous!!!

Then, back to home, fetching the clean clothes into the house.
We were right on time for a bit of relaxing (and Paul's foot massage) before the two Sunday-evening episodes of "The Big Bang Theory".
Perfect timing!
How very nice -
we'd had perfect timing all day!

lingaa, in multiple tongues

Woohoo! it's the beginning of the month and you know what that means, right?
Bollywood time, baby!!!
This one coincides with the 65th birthday of its star, Rajinikanth. This man has been super-popular in India since the 1970's, playing the lead in more than two hundred movies.
Wow.
I can certainly understand the attraction! The man has excellent comedic timing and knows how to work a camera to his advantage. In "Lingaa", he plays two roles, including his own grandfather. (Yeah, there's a joke in there, for sure!) The title character is a thief on the path to redemption, saving not only himself and his compatriots but also his family home from destruction. What I really liked? Its historical perspective, working in the past and present relationships between India and England. And I don't usually like history lessons!
There were only five songs in this movie. Generally, there are considerably more, including much dancing, but I guess the nature of the film (adventure/history) simply didn't offer those opportunities. Still, it's available in three languages, so you can check it out.
Three languages, you say? English, Indian, Spanish?
Hahaha haha!
Not hardly!
No, here is how it works. India, which is a little less than half the size of Australia, but has more than a hundredfold that country's population, has no national language.
Let me repeat: India has no national language.
I first became aware of that during my years as a graduate student for Leo Mandelkern. Rakesh and Nandi were postdoctoral students in our polymer chemistry lab. Both were from India, but different regions, and neither could talk to the other in their native tongues. I don't know which of the 22 languages in India they spoke. They had to communicate in English. Interesting, yes?
"Lingaa" reflects that multicultural aspect of life in that country. Made using the Tamil language and starring the Tamil mega-star Rajinikanth, it also featured key players who spoke two other major dialects, Telugu and Hindi. The distributors released the film in both Tamil and Telugu, both dubbed in English. I attended the latter version, as the time better coincided with my schedule.
One other person, a man, was in attendance. During a glitch in the film, we talked to pass the time. The reason he had chosen this version over the other? Telugu was his native tongue. His best friend spoke Tamil and was attending the other version of the film, two screening rooms from us at the Carmike Wynnsong cinema.
Sure, they could have opted to watch the movie together... but which would get to enjoy hearing the language and which would have to simply read the subtitles?
No problem. Since both versions were in the same cinema, the two men had opted to each enjoy the Indian film as it would be if they were in their hometowns.
How very cool that they even had that option here in tiny Savannah!!!
I'm telling you, I am so fortunate to have grown up in a seaport! There's nothing like it for broadening one's relationship with the world.
Oh, before I go, here's a joke. (Well, not really, but work with me, okay?)

Q: Why did the man from India sit in the upper rows at the cinema?

A: Because, back home, those are the expensive seats!

happy new year, with music!

No, I haven't lost complete track of time!
I'm talkin' 'bout this "Happy New Year"! The Bollywood musical!

The cinema in Pooler is continuing to regal me with the musicals I so love - thank God for the Royal! Ever since September, I've had an Indian musical to make me happy every month! I do believe I just may be addicted to them.
(smile)
This time, we have a group trying to pull a heist, but there's a catch, of course. They have to qualify as entrants for a dance competition to be held on - when else? - New Year's Eve. Much hilarity, much dancing, much fun!
Here's a joke I wrote about it!

Q: What do "The Full Monty", "Sneakers", and "Happy New Year" have in common?

A: All have a collection of odd guys working toward a common goal!

Hey, I didn't say it was a good joke.
(smile)

I was so very psyched up for this movie! As I was ordering my popcorn, I was chatting with the young woman behind the counter about my love of the Bollywood films and how I had seen the ones for the past two months and was so excited to be seeing another one.
(Yep, I even ran on like that, too.)
And you know what?
She's a big Bollywood fan, too!
And you know what?
She gave me a poster for this movie!!!!!
Yes, she did!
A full-sized movie poster!!!!
(smile!!!)

just one look and i fell so hard, oh ohhh

Today, I've had my own little film festival. Three movies at the local multiplexes: one foreign, one musical, and one drama.
Let's just say this day has run the gamut of my emotional range and I am wiped out.

It started early this afternoon. Oh, but first, let me give a little introduction before I launch into my "today".

Early in September, I had found that Bollywood films were coming to Savannah! Well, close enough here for me! I'd gone to see "Raja Natwarlal" at the Royal in Pooler, having missed it on its short run here in town. What great fun! Imagine "The Sting" as a musical, then add lots of jingly-jangly costumes and a healthy dollop of humor - I loved it!!! It was the kind of movie that I would have gladly seen twice, given the opportunity.
Ever since, I've kept my eye (the left one, my "good" eye) on the cinema schedules of the Royal there and the Wynnsong here in town.
Finally my vigilance was rewarded! "Bang Bang!" would have its final screening in town today, before its weeklong run in Pooler.

So, that was my first order of business today. Go get some fresh Bollywood and maybe have leftovers next week! And, oh, am I glad I did! There I was, at 1:00 PM sharp, sitting in the cinema, watching "Bang Bang!" And getting totally hot and bothered. Totally. Lots of action, a plot involving spies and a case of mistaken identity during an internet-arranged blind date, lots of singing, lots of dancing! Lots of Hrithnik Roshan. Oh, my! I found myself on the edge of my seat, trying to get as close to him as I could.
Raawwwrrrr!
Three hours later, I found myself heading straight home to relieve some sexual tension. Straight home. No radio, taking the parkway as much as possible, concentrating only on the mission at hand. Seriously.
What a relief it was, too! It's been a while since I was that ...that ...you know what I mean! A woman has needs, especially after watching that man move and listening to that man talk and sing... oh, my, Y E S!!! And you know what the attraction was? He was built like a real man. Solid shoulders, solid haunches, great hair, incredible eyes... the combination was irresistible to me.
I will, most assuredly, go see this again next week.
Oh, yes, I will.
This definitely rates a trip out to Pooler.

So.. where was I? Oh, yes, talking about the emotional rollercoaster of my film festival today.
Well, that was the giddy high point.
Afterward, I took a little break before heading back southside. I had tried to get my friend Lauri to come with me, as I know she has a soft spot for World War II films, but she had other plans. Actually, I think she backed off when I said it was a musical.
Perhaps she was expecting it would be too lightweight if the players were breaking out in song? Not quite. Tim Rice's "From Here To Eternity: The Musical" was certainly full of pathos and realism. Anyone who thinks all musicals, Broadway or off, are simply farsical fun need to take another look, especially at opera. This work has a lot of serious pieces, more so than songs of mirth, as can be seen in this trailer. Robert Lonsdale and Ryan Sampson were especially good in this theatrical piece. If you ever get the chance, please do watch it.
I was glad I did, but saddened a little by it. My Great-Uncle Sam Grantham was over in Pearl Harbor on that auspicious day in 1941, a day that came to life again in this play-turned-film. I cannot even imagine what impact that had upon him as a young man. He died of colon cancer when I was a teen; I don't recall him ever talking about those days as a sailor in Hawaii. However, this musical brought home to me how great a shock it must have been to go from watching hula girls one day to trying to save your life the next morning.
Well, that was very sobering.

One last movie to finish out the day, I thought. Let's make it a new one, fresh from the West Coast! And in the very same southside cinema as the musical, too. More Regal points for me!
"The Judge" promised Robert Downey, Jr., in a serious role, as opposed to playing Marvel's Iron Man. (Please note: I love the Marvel films, I do! But I wanted to see Downey stretch a little, too.)
No one warned me that this was a father-son film in which the father was dying of cancer. That last little part was left out of the previews.
It certainly did allow for some stretching of acting skills for both him and Robert Duvall. Both were well-equipped for the challenge and did a stellar job. That made sure I would be in tears at the end.
As if I wouldn't have been reminded of my own father's death from cancer, just five years ago.

All in all, one heck of a day.
I'll have to do this again sometime.
It's good for me to stretch, too!