I review - Cars

Amidst all the car brouhaha last week in India (courtesy 9th AutoExpo), I took upon me to watch a related movie -"Cars". I, not being a big fan of animated movies, had reservations about the film. The only reason why I chose to watch it was because it looked visually pleasing while it was playing on a 52" Bravia at some electronic store.

First things first, the movie - fantabulous. Better than Pixar's own -The Incredibles. This seventh film from Disney/Pixar was a real treat and could keep the audience engaged for entire 120 minutes. The theme of the film, though, is much cliched one that winning isn't the only thing and team spirit and sportsmanship matter even more.

Set in a world where entire world is populated by cars and other vehicles, the film opens in a final race for the Piston cup. Three main contenders for the race- strip the weathers is a nine time champion, Chick Hicks is all time runner up and lightning MacQueen is a rookie and the protagonist for the film. Scores for the season have been tied between these three and the winner of this final race takes the Piston cup. The final race somehow ends in a tie again and one more decider match is scheduled 10 days later.

During this period MacQueen lands up in a small town called Raditor Spring along Route 66 where life is 100 times slower than what he is used to. Once a busy hub for the passengers travelling to California, life in Raditor Spring has slowed down follwing the construction of interstate 40. It is here that arrogant MacQueen learns about real things in life. MacQueen, otherwise without any pals, makes new friends in the town. He also meets a former Pistion cup champion Hudson Hornet here and learns a trick or two from him. The newly revived MacQueen then reaches California for the ultimate race.

I would not reveal the climax though :).

Its truly amazing how technology has changed the face of motion picture. I bet you would not be able to differentiate between an animated tree and a real tree (both in films ofcourse). A scene where MacQueen's transport truck (called Mack in the movie) after a daylong drive dozes off at night while still riding was beautifully s..well not shot for sure..watever..

Some other scenes like "car" bugs revolving around the neon tube, MacQueen chasing Sally ( a Porshe and MacQueen's love interest) are worth mentioning. About the music, "Life is a highway and I want to ride all night long" is one track I liked.

Post-movie-watch-studies told me that many characters and places in the movie are directly inspired on real Route 66 places and people. Cars won the Golden Globe Award for the Best animated film. Cars also won the highest award for animation in 2006, the Best Animated Feature Annie Award.

Well, that ends my first review on any movie. All in all, its more than worth (both rupees and the fuel) going to the DVD store for this one.

Rating: **** (dont misinterprate the four stars.)

Bas yaade reh jati hai...

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This song by Ali Haider really captures the essence of bachelorhood.One of my favourite songs.Reminds me of college days.

Njoy!!

Where cigarette smoking is salubrious to health ...

Sometimes I feel that a lot of world's money is wasted on solutions which in themselves are absurd but the motive behind it noble. I donno how it starts, but only after we come a long mile clutching onto it we realise that nothing concrete has been acheived. (Before this gets weirder let me clarify I'm not talking about Bush-Iraq-WMD episode).
Cigarettes have been injurious to health ever since they were invented (or discovered??). They have managed to retain its position in the "top 10 carcinogenic substances" list for quite a few years now. Smoke it releases is unpleasant. (though some of my freinds hold a different or rather opposite view). And my biology teacher believed that the carbon it releases would make Antartica flood one day.
Given all of the above, you are still not able to make a smoker think otherwise. Lot of money has been wasted on anti-tobacco rallies, camps, WHO fundings etc. (For god's sake this is tax-payers money and many of the tax payers are non-smokers - well !! atleast not directly).Even after all these efforts i doubt if this has helped in reducing the number of smokers.
I think we need to change the strategy here. If we cant change the smokers we need to change the cigarettes. Lets just say we can make cigarrates more healthy.
Even if we invest today we can come out with a substance which is healthy and as stimulating as tobacco. And it will still be a better deal than wasting on rallies and camps while waiting for the panacea on cancer and then allowing the smokers to continue with the same old tobacco sticks.
If some UN/WHO representative happens to read this post and would solicit my opinion on tobacco issue, the verdict is :" start looking for a healthy stimulant."

Picture this - Cigaratte packs come with a label "Cigarrates smoking is salubriuos and helps you keep fresh for the whole day."
Cigarettes packs are coming in different flavors :choco, caramel, strawberry ...
Nutrint contents : Proteins : 10mg, iron : 25mg, vitamin A : 20 mg, XYZ: 40mg..etc (where XYZ is that magical substance which is keeping this dream a dream till now.)
A mother to her son on breakfast table - "Son, please have this glass of milk, fruits and toast. And dont forget to grab your pack of cigarrettes for the day."
A doctor asking his anaemic patients to have 2 sticks of cigarettes after each meal.
A newspaper survey showing the average life expectancy of smokers is 5 more than the non smokers. A world in which chain smokers are looked up to and not cast out.
Well I can go on and on with the list..
And i believe it could be a reality if only the money is well spent..



DISCLAIMER: The above views are purely whimsical. They should not be used as basis to draw conclusions about writer's habits.