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Happiness

Joker: Is it joking around tender minds?

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Joker

It’s not a movie review, and there is no point in reviewing a movie after months of its release. The movie was put on a back burner due to some policies that were formulated to promote the market of Nepalese movies, eventually irking Joker fans, but it soon saw the light of the day, which made Jokerians heave a shy of relief, as they could witness the long awaited movie in the silver screen.

With its release, it really proved why it was the most anticipated movie, not just in Nepal, but all over the world, as people thronged the theaters, and came out ‘putting on a happy face’, just like what the Joker had ordered.

Not aware of what or who Joker is, it took me almost three weeks to grab my attention as most of the movie lovers were talking about the movie. Also, slowly and steadily mainstream media started publishing reviews, not as late as me, but not as early as two weeks though.

Even my mid-teen aged nephews watched the movie, and with their due recommendation, I was off as they promised that the movie has nothing to do with earlier franchises where Joker was portrayed, and I can treat it as an individual plot.

I wanted to kill two birds with a stone, as I wanted to experience newly opened Eyeplex Mall’s One Cinemas as secondary, and watching movie was the primary. As I approached to buy tickets from its webpage, it didn’t let me go further until I acknowledged my age to be 18+. Though running in my mid-thirties, I just made sure my ID was intact, if they wanted to verify. I would have felt really good and young, had they asked for my ID, but theater staff neither did it to me nor to the folks looked in tender age queuing for their turn to get in. So, the age verification proved to be just a mere formality, if not in other countries, but definitely in Nepal for sure.

I was into the cosmopolitan theater. To my surprise, I missed the opening scene, though I was just only seven minutes shy of the mentioned starting time of 12:15. Usually in QFX Cinemas, the movies do not start even after 15 minutes of the assigned time, but the theater really made me pay for the price of opening scene for not being punctual.

Having travelled so many countries, for the first time in my life, I saw the theater with full-lean seats upfront. Those were not my assigned seats, so as rushed toward my seat located at the rear end. On the way facing back to the screen, I could hear the perpetual laughing of Joaquin Phoenix— the Joker. Soon, I sat nice and firm and concentrated on the screen, he was still bursting in laughter. I was not sure what he was up to. I felt bad for missing good seven minutes of start, something to heed on for the next endeavor at One Cinemas.

Done and dusted with movie, and I returned home wearing happy face. When I checked the reviews and rating of the movie in web portals, despite some negativity, it was showing the staggering 9+/10 in an average. Keeping this facet in mind, I thought of not reviewing the movie, but thought of analyzing it in terms of Nepalese context.

The Joker—not sure whether to call him, protagonist or antagonist, inspires people to wear happy faces, no matter what. Analyzing the plot, his so called happy face came with a big price, blood of so many people. Can someone wear a happy face, by killing people—no matter, it is for good or bad?

I think 90% of the screen time, Joker was shown smoking, which obviously made him look cool, but at many instances, I find those scenes surreal. When I asked my mid-teen aged nephew about that, and the killings, they said that the unnamed city happened to be a Gotham city where crime was rampant at that time, so people could do whatever they liked. When I studied cinematic arts from the land of Hollywood industry, I was taught that for a good movie, it should follow verisimilitude that means ‘Very Similar’, so when you are watching the movie you can relate it to your real life existence.

In this case, even if i were a chain smoker, I could never think of smoking inside an ICU room of a hospital with mounted smoke alarms, and don’t think I could be able to make a grand entry in a live show of a national television with cigarettes sandwiched between lips. Also, police and moles were shown so feeble, could not even nab a person suffering from schizophrenia, with full access of his location.

There must be some reasons why it is restricted to people less than 18 years of age. Not sure, but this movie has shown smoking as cool behavior, and it really doesn’t matter in western countries as smoking is not a taboo, but in case of Nepal, I think underage might give it a first shot to smoking after watching this movie— as they might not analyze this glitterati with given access to the theatre with ease.

“Smoking kills more than 7 million people ever year”, the sign was hardly off from the lower left of the screen. These types of movies will not help to dwindle down this number for sure. Anyways why one care as tobacco contributes to one of the biggest amount of revenues in most of the countries—America in particular and Nepal is not too behind.

I felt that I absolutely understood the movie, which is about the widening gap between rich and poor that engulfed revolt and ultimately led to mass killings. The fire got fuel when Joker killed four notorious aristocrats in a subway, and all the suppresser got united and donned or painted clown face to show the solidarity.

At times, killing was shown to be so easy, giving a false belief that if you own a gun, you are a superhero. With the upsurging hate crime due to liberal gun law in the USA, and with already an incident taken place in 2012 in Colorado, I think the movie can add more bad than good. However, I think in Nepal it should not make a big difference, because there isn’t any provision to keep guns. Nevertheless, this Tihar, don’t get surprised with the Jokerian fans if they mock shooting at each other with the toy firecracker revolvers.

When I was discussing about these factors to my nephews, they told me so many things about the movie I was unaware of. They told me that the little son of the mayor is the soon-to-be Batman. The affair of Joker with his apartment mate lady was just an illusion as he was just imagining the romance with her even the elongated lip lock scene was a hoax. Boyy!! I thought it was real.

There is not doubt any technical aspects of the movie; it’s simply phenomenal—kudos to Todd Phillip for his amazing directorial extravaganza. Aspiring young directors can take a leaf out of the movie’s book to learn many aspects. The lightning part is balanced in a way to give a realistic touch. The theme of the movie is dark, and it’s is portrayed dark, however, viewers can see each and every details with naturalistic feel. The last scene where mayor and wife were shot dead, on the background, rodents scurrying for cover can be seen vividly. The Oscar award for the best male lead goes to— I won’t be surprised if it goes to Mr. Phoenix. I can’t imagine how would this actor be in real. He has just created a mindset on me, that he still laughs when disturbed. I am little skeptical about the movie winning awards galore though.

With other movies on the heels pushing their ways to get in, Joker will be completely wiped out from the theaters in a week or two. I don’t mind people watching it, as I too got my investment’s worth. I learned more positives than negatives from the movie. If your underage kids have watched it, do talk to them, and get their perception, and suggest remedies, if you think to do so.

“Wish you all a very very happy and prosperous Tihar and Chhatt.”

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Happiness

The Hero – The Bollywood story

A short-film that feels like 2-hour long Bollywood for good.

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We have watched lots of Bollywood films and series touching upon the theme of struggle of middle-class man to find a recognition in Bollywood. This short-movie“The Hero – The Bollywood story” is also in around the similar story line about a man who once was aspired to make his name and fame through Bollywood but could not because of his personal obligation and circumstances.

It is an Google India sponsored short film starring Vicky Kaushal,notable Bollywood actor, just risen up from the fame of critically acclaimed movie Masan and Sanju, in the role of Son; Morali Desai, notable Gujarati actress, and Nandu Madhav, a notable Marathi actor, in the role as dad. This short film has tried touching the emotional dynamic of father-son relationship and has tried beautifully depict how a man’s dream never really dies even long after the dream is forgotten.

The story starts with the son talking with his mom about his job in Mumbai and how he wanted both their parents to come visit him. Then mom told him about the time when his father went to Mumbai to be an actor and somehow landed upon a small role in a movie too. She talked about his father’s aspiration and dream but how he was forced to return back home since his father insisted him to get back to home leaving his budding career in Bollywood. Listening to the story and moved by the fact that his father’s dream could not be fulfilled then, the son with the help of Google search system found out the details about the movie his father played a role in. To surprise his dad, he plans a trip to the shooting location and takes him there to give a taste of joy from the past and his unfulfilled dream.

With the simple plot revolving around the man in his late 50s/60s, who once dreamt of making big in Bollywood and how his family pressure ruined his dream but despite how after many years the son motivated him to get feel his desired life through short trips around the country was depicted quite nicely in it. The casts were phenomenal too, with Vicky Kaushal again flaunting his impeccable acting skills and so Mr. Nandu Madhav as dad.

Sound is spot on throughout the scene, with touch of sad music when mom is telling her son about shattered dream of his father and when they reach the location where Sholay was shot, we get to hear the cheerful Bollywood music. With lyrics from legendary lyricist Amitabh Bhattacharya, this 5-minute actually feels like watching 2 hours of Bollywood movie.

Some annoying parts to me in this movie is it the direct push ad of Google making experience bit cringe, but hey! they sponsored for this beautiful short film, so deserve the discount.

Anyway, overall it is worth investing 5 minutes of your life over this short film. Loved it!

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Documentary

Who will be a Gurkha

Who Will Be a Gurkha shows the 200 years old selection process of Nepalis youth into British Gurkha.  Directed by Kesang Tseten, the documentary shows the selection process, sentiments and emotions of young candidates, their struggles and dreams, along with the recruiters and their duties, which otherwise is less known world for others. 

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Who Will Be a Gurkha shows the 200 years old selection process of Nepalis youth into British Gurkha.  Directed by Kesang Tseten, the documentary shows the selection process, sentiments and emotions of young candidates, their struggles and dreams, along with the recruiters and their duties, which otherwise is less known world for others.

This documentary can trigger some disturbing questions in any mind with bit of nationalism and patriotism.  Also, can strike emotional chord in any sentimental mind.

In the end, you will only add huge respects and love for those Nepalis serving British Army because by now, you will have already learned the hardship they must have gone through to get there.

This documentary was released in 2012.  It has been screened at many national and international film festivals and has won numerous jury and viewers awards.

https://www.facebook.com/kaagmandumagazine/videos/564087254389925/

Also check this out, 

A small click on what happens as these selected guys reach to UK.  A small video clip overloaded with cuteness.

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Arts & Literature

Anime is not only for kids

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Comic books was part of my growing up, and then came English movies and series. I am that “Government school guy,” which means my English was terrible (it still is but it was worst). Thanks to the subtitles, I would watch anyway and with time, things started getting smoother and easier for me as English didn’t seem that hard. Until now, I was still a Hollywood fanboy. It’s only after meeting that one friend in college, who happened to be a big fan of anime, that I learned about that thing. At first, like everybody else, I thought anime is cartoons made for kids. The friend introduced me to anime world, and through him, I learned that there is this one anime called “One Punch Man” that anime community is going gaga about. So, I got curious by the title and gave a shot. Guess what? I got hooked with anime like magnet to iron. And here I am giving my opinion about anime and why it is superior form of entertainment in this world filled with movies and TV shows. Yes, SUPERIOR!

So, what is anime?

copyright to myanimelist.net

Anime is just the animated motion picture version of comic book called Manga. Manga is the original source materials for the anime. It is a picture book with all the actions, dialogues, and everything that a comic book contains produced by exceptionally good and creative artists. It can differ from simple kid shows to shows which deals with heavy real world politics too.

The original source of these mangas and anime are from Japan but nowadays it’s spreading into other countries like Korea and China too. Mangas and anime are so popular in Japanese culture that it is part of school curriculum.

My recommendation

There are lots of high quality animes out there. Some of my favourites are:

One Piece

copyright to cbr.com

This is my favourite among all the favourites. This was first published around the year 1999. The storyline is about pirates and their shenanigans. It’s kind of light hearted with touch of comedy but it actually sends out the message related to an oppression of the people by those from a higher power; it covers racism, slavery; shows what real freedom feels like, so for people who like deep characterization, value of friendship, value of dream and tackle of real world problems, then this show is definitely for you.

Death Note

copyright to filmaffinity.com

This is another boundary breaking show. It gives the message that if you do bad things with good intention for good of the people, it’s still bad. This anime is about hero who wants to save others, and a psychopath who will kill all for achieving peace. It is detective-type story with main character being Kagami Light and Detective L. So for people who like cat-mouse race story, this show is definitely for you. This anime generally falls under starter pack for new comer in anime world.

Demon Slayer

copyright to denofgeek.com

It’s not boundary breaking in terms of characterization or in a story too but its boundary breaking in animation. When it first came out, people lost their mind over its animation. With awesome cinematography using excellent animation, this anime defined the new era in anime world. So, those who like to feel the evolution of anime world should not miss this one to feel the differences and how anime world changed with time.

The Promised Neverland

copyright to cbr.com

This anime belongs to the horror genre and took the genre to a whole new level. It has simple story with no as such monsters like creature, but it deals with a bunch of kids from age 4/5 to 12 years old, who are kind of genius for their age and are trying to run away from their orphanage which they found out is the place meant to harvest these kids for the monsters living out in the world. If you like horror genre then this shows is definitely for you and its animation is also of topnotch.

Okay, I am done! Now go check out on your own some of the best animes available and you know will what I meant. All I can say for now is, if you are multimedia entertainment fan then anime is something you have been missing for a long time. Containing entertainment of every genre, with topnotch cinematography using crisp animation and dealing with real world problem in a very subtle and metaphorical way, then anime is what you need to watch right now. Go watch it.

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