Friday, January 13, 2012

Under The Influence

What is the point of doing something when we somehow have a feeling that something just isn't right. Something is affecting our judgment of things and we just don't know how to express our thoughts, feelings, emotions etc.

Well, think of the times when you feel confident. No make that: when you feel confident but in fact, you have an inkling that you aren't confident, truly (think optimism bias). So what do you do? Try and try as you might, you just can get over that 'feeling'. Leave it, and it'll manifest into something more influencing, in a not-so-approving way of course.

There are pangs of panic, anxiety, apathy and self-consciousness of something in us that is there but might not be there. Is it doubt? Is it our flawed judgment? Maybe there isn't anything there. We are only searching for something that really, is not there. One word: paranoia.

So, why do we get this certain kind hunch (thoughts, precisely) that we can't trust out judgment just because we feel there is 'something' influencing us? Simplicity is the key word here, based on the outside view. We can just set our frame or state of mind to be straight to the point, arranging our thoughts for diferrent experiences. Now, wouldn't that be so simple?

But to our (mine at least) relief, it's not all smooth-sailing. Somehow or rather, we tend to resist simplicity, right until the end when we realize our mistake of ignoring simplicity.


For a pessimist, we can't really change who we are. If we are flawed, we are. That is the way it is. But to a realistic optimist, we can at least reduce our flaws. Who are we? Who knows? We would always be under the influence, anyway.
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Review of The Week!

Movie : The Avengers (2012)

Awe-inducing, funny and action-packed, this could be the superhero movie of the year (not that there are many).


It is unusual for directors to modify the genre of superhero movies. To be precise, if we are looking for some popcorn entertainment, Joss Whedon could have easily turned this into a full-blown alien-versus-superhero affair (that actually would not be too bad). Interestingly to note however, he does not. With an affinity to blend action scenes with tongue-in-cheek humor, he balances the tone of the movie to be both rewarding and most definitely, superhero-themed.

There are plenty of noteworthy things you can brag about this movie. The cinematography, the script, the visuals, the cast, the production design. Surely though, there would be one or two flaws, but they are not really meant to be called 'flaws' per se. Bending the laws of physics, 'saving the world' is saving the US and how Hulk manages to comply to orders are just some of the minor 'flaws'. These are probably things that you would just like to ignore for the sake of giving the director the benefit of the doubt.

It is quite evident that Whedon has made this film his own. He incorporates humor into almost every scene, as if things are not to be taken too seriously in the world of The Avengers. And it should be like that. Again, the emphasis on superhero movies usually lie on destruction, life-saving and personalization of characters. But here, there is some of that, but not completely. No chessy lines. No rushed pacing. No cliche-ridden narrative. (Just Loki speaking in a not-so-sharp English accent.)

The movie can also be likened to last year's Deathly Hallows (Part 2); a lot of hype, and duly delivered. At least we could expect how the last Harry Potter movie was meant to be : an emotional, epic battle. The Avengers did deliver but there is something different to the whole theme that somehow manages to change our view on how superhero movies should be in the future. Is it Robert Downey Junior's Shakespearean jab at Thor? Or is the excellent cinematography of sticking to single shots instead of quick-fire editing? Heck, it could even be Scarlett Johansson's semi-obscene display of bust. Anyhow the movie is a success, most definitely.


Unprecedented, now that is one word to decribe Joss Whedon's take on a superhero movie.


Personally*... Stay in your seats till the end; there are rumors that an extra scene is added to the US version of The Avengers, for compensation of the late release.

http://www.rottentomatoes.com/user/894039/reviews/

Spark of inspiration?