The Gaffe of Gaffes..Or Is It?? - Part 2

As soon as the reports and tweets started to surface all over the Netweb and Idiot Box that there had been a 'vishwaroopam' goof up - the  likes and scales of which has never been seen before - by wrongly announcing the Best Picture Award, my thoughts travelled at RoadRunner's pace to the scene in FRIENDS where Ross utters Rachel's name at Emily's Wedding Altar!

The gargantuan stuff up was taken in good spirit by the La La Land's team. However, possibilities are like petrol/diesel. They make the world to drive in infinite directions - Not the 16 geographic ones.!

The 2 PwC partners memorize the 24 winners during their laborious hand-counted votes before the D-day. So, IF Ruiz and Cullinan were the only two people in the entire world to know the winners of the Oscars before the actual event happened, how easy or difficult for any influential director or accomplished artiste to use their coercive or reward or referent powers to sway the Academy Awards in their favor by browbeating or cajoling or coaxing the Accountants prior to the ceremony since there is no evidence of any paper trails or systems to cross-verify the winners as selected by the 7000 Oscar members??

Many will say it is the up to the integrity of the 2 partners to morally and ethically uphold the real talents to be the true winners. Even I am of the same opinion but I found it extremely hard to believe that a person as Cullinan having 30 years experience under his belt to spectacularly screw up the one job he had in his hand despite being cautioned that they shouldn't use their mobile phones in the backstage.

Had anyone been in PwC's position, they would have fired the 2 partners on the spot for bringing their prestigious firm to such reputational infirmity and shame. But, Ruiz and Cullinan were not given the pink slips. So, was it a part of a grand stage up between the Oscars and PwC to obliterate them officially from the Red Carpet and have 2 dummy newbies to manage a cumbersome process next year under their supervision behind the scenes?? Only they know the truth.

However, what is more of a probable certainty is that this year's Oscars wanted to show to the world that they welcome diversity with open arms with not only just nominations but also handed over the Academy Awards in multiple categories like Best Picture unlike the previous 2 editions where the minorities were not even nominated in the first place. Ah! Such Sudden Love!!

Thank you Google for lightening up my time in giving this extensive stats

La La Land epitomized the heartwarming story of how 2 aspiring wannabes with pure and true passion and talent in their respective professions break down the strong walls of poverty and misery to lead a successful life with sheer dedication and hard work. It's an inspiring and stirring movie that hits your heart at the right places to follow your heart to enjoy the meaning of work and come triumphs in it as well. A musical rags-to-riches story well-told by the 'Whiplash' director. Not to take anything away from Moonlight, IMHO, La La Land was more about positivity and optimism that results in joy and happiness to a person by motivating us to have the world at our feet when we rightly put our minds and hearts to it.

It was really a pleasant shock that Moonlight won the coveted Best Picture Award. The same applies for Best Supporting Actor as well. Mahershala Ali was good in the Moonlight but was he the best when compared to Jeff Bridges or even Dev patel?

Did the Oscars try to present themselves a self-image to save their faces by saying that they care for the minorities by attacking their own President in their backyard through the gestures of doling out the awards or they gave away the awards because the awardees really deserved it? Again, only the Oscars would know the truth for this as well.

Despite having a positive review, this year's Oscars was more like O! Scars! for the way things turned out especially with the surprises dished out in the Awards category and the massive what-the-hell-just-happened moment in the Oscars history.

Speaking of Trump, I do not know the electoral promises of Hillary Clinton but what made this election so explosive was that of Trump's candidature to run for the President and his big dream to build the Mexican wall.

                                                           
                                                                   X---To be Concluded---X


PS:

a) Those who want to read more about the harmful effects of Self-Image,
                                                                           
                                                                Bad! Self-Image Very Bad..!

b) Others who want to read more on Trump and New Zealand,

                                                                 Really TRUMPing it up..!

c) Still the selective majority who wishes to read both the parts, please do click the above 2 links for your reference.

The Gaffe of Gaffes..Or Is It? - Part 1

Mistakes - People simply look down upon you as if you are a pig when you make one! But, when they commit an unforgivable howler, they utter punch dialogues like "Mistakes are the secrets of success" or "Mistakes are a part of life" etc. So, what is exactly happening here?

From aeons when the first human beings framed and formed a society and learnt how to communicate through language, we have always been at the mercy of others for social validation despite our unique talents and expertises. Then, there are those mavericks for whom society is like a bowling alley wherein they get a strike by dismantling all the pins in one-go.! Let us focus on common people like us here.

Success or failure depends on the mistakes and errors that we consciously or unconsciously effectuate in our daily lives. The perceived notion is that the success rate of an individual is indirectly proportional to the number of goof ups that they have done in their lives. Most of us have subconsciously equated success with money and money with hard work when we forget a basic fact that even a smuggler or any person indulging in unethical, immoral, unlawful and illegitimate acts also has oodles of green cash at their disposal.

So, success is a very subjective term as it will definitely vary from person to person because it is a summum bonum of each and every person's needs, activities, attitudes, interests, wants, opinions, desires, beliefs, faiths, cultures, habits, behaviors, lifestyles and personalities. However, the underlying self-image to be right, despite the evidence contrary, in front of your parents, friends, relatives, peers and strangers has been playing a pivotal role since time immemorial so that others view us in good light even if there is no electricity!

Without you uttering any profanities or expletives for the above pathetic PJ, we will proceed further. So, why do we have the incessant urge to get the attention of other people and make them see that we are correct? It gives us a sense of false satisfaction that we are right in this world because of our beliefs and values that makes us who we are. Also, when we give others the impression that we are right, they tend to have a sense of confidence in us and accept us into their fold. We have always wanted to be associated with a part of a group as many of us crave for love from others and also to have the feeling of belonging with the 'normal' society so that we are not alienated and pushed into the despairs of depression and chasms of unhappiness. 

Instead of being genuine, authentic, sincere and original, this concept of self-projection is the most destructive weapon to have been invented by Mankind, and Womankind!,as even in the face of evidence that when a person is actually and factually wrong, they deny it vehemently to protect their own self-image from harm and wound by accusing and blaming anything and everything in sight without having the conviction to acknowledge as to what they did was improper and incorrect. Such small-minded people are so self-obsessed with their excessive selfishness that they cannot clearly see they have caused hurt and injury - be it physical, mental, emotional, psychological, spiritual or financial - all around them because they have strongly and deeply clung to their wrong opinions and judgements as if they were sacred gospels and canons.

Such people don't have any sense of guilt or regret that their stupid actions have caused tremendous and unnecessary troubles to other people. All they care about is to safeguard their dumb self-image and be luxuriantly happy with their inflated egos that everything is fine and dandy when it is not in reality. As how I see it, however flawed a person is, it is better to be real than hide behind the steel walls of facades.We can strive for perfection by grit, determination, patience, endurance, persistence, perseverance and iron will to be the best at what we excel in. Whether that is achieved or not is entirely different story but the pursuit for perfection and excellence can be executed than displaying false smiles and fake laughs.

The reason is that the consequences are disastrous when someone deliberately or unintentionally punctures their helium-filled delusional self image which they had meticulously created to be seen as apparently right. When such a thing happens, the ruptured self-deflated individual goes to great lengths to take their revenge on the person who had dared or attacked their self-image in an unplanned manner. I don't have to spell out as to what will happen when there is a tit-for-tat. The extreme hatred and intense hostility might even span generations.  

There are those who will now say "Dude..We know these things already" without actually knowing these things. This is yet another kind of self-image to project that you are a sciolist. Another ostensibly elite category will try to live beyond their means like champagne on a beer budget.

Why am I giving an elaborate gyan about the effects of self-image and its morbid ramifications?

Part 2 has all the answers to it.

                                                      

                                                     X---To Be Continued---X 

Kavan - Reality Shows Strip "Danced"..!

The concept of a competition to the public, at least in Tamil!, was put forth by Sun TV in the incipient beginnings of the Cable Era during the early 1990s with the show "Sapthaswarangal". As with the growing interest and surging popularity of this show. the competitors namely Jaya TV wouldn't definitely want to be left behind in the race. They had their own version "Raga Maalika" followed by Raj TV who jumped into the bandwagon as well. Just like the Pet Rock fad, these shows were the Pizzas of the audience - liked and loved almost by all to the point that we started to cheese off  with the overwhelming glut of the singing spectacle.  How a candle wanes off in dribs and drabs, the lustre of the shows began to sheen away. People began to give the shows a big-time time out. It wasn't that the shows weren't aired but no one gave a hoot..!

Flash Forwarding to the the late 2000s - the spectacular emergence of Vijay TV with rib-tickling "Lollu Sabha" ensured that the Tamil audience once again started to tune in to new food for entertainment. Bring in Airtel Super Singer - Season 1. It was a rousing hit that even the likes of Vijay and Ajith (In those days, they had a rough time with blockbusters!) would have been envious of the show's phenom success. Post the stellar Super Singer's crowning achievement, the trails, competitions, eliminations and finals for Jodi Number 1 was also held which once again proved to be feather in Vijay TV's hat. Following Season 1's triumphing TRPs, what followed next was an endlessly insatiable and single-minded focus to glue in the eyeballs to their channel for the I-have-lost-track number of seasons for both the song and dance events. Just like how the X-Men have had many prequels, sequels and spin-offs, the shows branched off to bring in the new talents through the innocent and raw skills of kids. 

What ensued then was utter mayhem as every other competitor like Kalaignar TV, Jaya TV, Raj TV, Sun TV etc. desired to have a go at these competitions in their own respective way to the point of taedium vitae of such contests marked and marred by controversies like the Simbu's in Jodi Number 1 to generate enough attention and curiosity for the spectators to not miss to out on the show. 

Leapfrogging to 2017 where we have 'Kavan' directed by the canny KV Anand and highly flexible Vijay Sethupathi which got released some time back. I don't have to go into the nuts and bolts of the story or the screen as that had been the talking point for some time in the social media - Real Life? Who cares anymore?? The current generation are almost more of keyboard warriors..!

It seems that the director literally wanted to express his anguish at the plight of the children and artists being manhandled, woman handled and children handled by the makers of the show. As with every trademark KV Anand movie which has a heavy undercurrent of social message infused with commercial elements, he has clearly showed how the producers, just for the sake of TVTs, do not realize that they are dashing the hopes and dreams of the young talents who have big aspirations to come out on top to the next level using the respective platform provided to them. There was no doubt in anyone's mind on which show he was explicitly targeting through his striking narration.  

Likewise, the running gag as to how he self-deprecates his earlier movies is also present in Kavan as well when he requests for an award for his film-making abilities. The songs were bit of a high speed breaker in the already long and meandering movie especially in the second half wherein the storyline seemed like losing its plot, pun intended. Nevertheless, the ship steadied herself at certain inflection points of the movie which was in such a way so that the audience goes "Wow. Amazing twist" instead of the twists naturally blend in with the storyline and not standing out conspicuously like Australian Off Spinner Miller's Blue hair color! 

Though some of his jokes may have fallen flat, TR had pulled off an astounding performance as ever with his impeccable timing and delivery. As ever, Vijay Sethupathi was fluid and  masterful in his portrayal as an idealistic reporter who wants to sensationalize the truth in the form of right news. Madonna Sebastian charms her way in and out of Kavan like a gentle breeze on a hot, sultry day with her expressions and cute smiles though the director could have used her further. I am not sure whether it was only me but the scene where Powerstar drums his way to glory reminded me of Simbu's Manmadhan where STR plays in front of a similar audience for a contest and utters the punch dialogue "Vaazhkaila firstu yaaru poranganu mukiyam ila. Last la yaaru firstu varaanganu mukiyam". Power Star also has a close enough punch when the audience requested for an encore. 

Overall, Kavan represented the state of stark reality that is predominant in our society wherein the media really cares only about their ratings and nothing else which is an alarming and worrying trend as put forth by the director.

PS:

The way Vijay Sethupathi transforms and does a Arnab Goswami was the best scene of the movie. However, he says the answers are more important than the questions. IMHO, that holds tenable ONLY IF the answers are true and considering that many of the politicians are seasoned actors and actresses without National or Oscar Awards, the questions are most imperative and asking them in the tough and vociferous manner as Arnab Goswami is of paramount importance when we see the current context of the dynamics.  

Are we seeing a BCCI Carrom Ball? - Part 2

Everyone will indelibly remember the dismal performance of our Indian team in the 2007 WC where they had to exit in the very first round after a shocking defeat to the Bangladesh team. But, the 2007 edition was also the one where ticket sales and viewership plummeted in the Caribbean Seas due to several reasons most notably being the ironclad fact that the Indian team's sudden departure from the Calypso. I am not making this up. When India exited the 2009 T20 WC, TV viewership declined.

                                                Check out Anisha Motwani's comments

Similarly, the viewership skies upwards to Exosphere @ Superman's flying speed whenever there is an Indo-Pak clash.

  288 MILLIONNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNNN cortexes hammered in by the ads

But, when you have watched that match closely, you would have found that the Pakistani fielders dropped many catches off Tendulkar. I am 110% positive that everyone would have heaved a big sigh of relief and cheered the Little Master like me whenever the fielders spilled their chances. Sadly, there is yet another spin to it. I did not take it seriously when news broke out that the match was fixed. However, 6 years has passed since the massive emotional event and many a pattern has been established which will certainly sow the seeds of suspicion in the minds of any logical, reasoning and rational person. I shall furnish out the pattern but kindly read the explosive article before it. 

                                                             The article is a nuclear drop..!

The pattern is as follows as compiled and curated by me from extensive research:

Tournament	Year	Hosted By	Finals
Champions Trophy	2013	England	India Vs Eng
World Cup	2011	India	India  Vs SL
World Cup	2015	Australia/New Zealand	Australia Vs NZ
Asia Cup	2013	Bangladesh	Pak Vs Bangladesh
Asia Cup	2014	Bangladesh	SL Vs Pak
Asia Cup	2016	Bangladesh	India Vs Pak
T20 WC	2012	Sri Lanka	SL Vs WI
T20 WC	2014	Bangladesh	SL Vs India
T20 WC	2016	India	WI Vs Eng

A back of the envelope calculation reveals that in the major tournys played since 2011, it is more than 50% of the time that a host team has featured in the finals barring their winning/losing the game. Not to mention that SA, WI and Aus tri series held @ WI in 2016. No Surprises. WI was in the final and it was against Aus.

Also, Afghanistan was 2-0 in the series against Ireland held in India. Suddenly, Ireland won the next 2 matches and it went into a decider much like the India-Australia test series. I am not undermining Afghanistan series triumph or India's victory or the heroics collectively exhibited by the Men-in-Blue, okay Men-in-White! 

But, with IPL around the corner, a massive win against the Number 2 team as the mighty Australians will categorically, convincingly and markedly increase the market value of the ads and the players for the next one year especially with the Champions Trophy around the corner and the Indian Team's stellar success under Kohli's positive aggression  leadership in this season.

Economic Times ensured that my workload is reduced by half in breaking down these indisputable and irrevocable numbers.

  

TARGET: 1300 crores in 2017

Though Kohli might have missed out in the Oz Series, it is really unfair of some critics to pan him down when he has splendiferously delivered his goods consistently. It is only when you get out onto the field and play under the duress of the grueling hot sun that people will understand the tremendous difficulty.

I have not played cricket on a professional level yet I have experienced the scorching torture of the sun sapping away the heat from your body and wearing you out like how Dravid makes the bowlers tire. It is the same as saying that writing a blog is extremely easy. But, when you actually sit down to type out or write an unbiased, neutral and objective write-up, then you will know the travails and how arduous it is to bring out the entire thought process revolving around a theme to the fore.

Need I say more.. or lessssss?  That's a solid, textbook defense to Doctorate providers

In this case, this blog is about the fact, using hard core facts, as to whether the ICC, BCCI and other cricketing bodies are hand in glove with each other by misusing, abusing and exploiting the keen, honest, genuine and earnest sentiments of cricket lovers just to extend their personal cash reserves at our expenses - Financial, Mental, Physical and mainly Emotional cost. 

I am neither a big time nor a small time conspiracy theorist. In fact, I used to wonder how the real CTs work. All I have done here is to present the current situation AS-IS with the help of figures, tables, numbers, quotes and established patterns.

I leave it to you to better discretion and bright minds whether the matches are being fixed by the upper rungs in the hierarchy and we are all made fools in one go by the complete Cricketing Bureaucracy.

                                                              

                                                                   X---Concluded---X

Disclaimer:

This blog is not intended to discredit, disgrace, disrepute, malign or defame BCCI or ICC or any other Cricket Board or any player in any manner whatsoever. I have said and presented the data as clearly as possible allowing no room for any misinterpretation. Any wanted, warranted or unwanted conclusions or inferences derived is solely the reader's responsibility and not mine.

PS 1:

Kohli will achieve even greater heights as a captain if he abstains from repeating the same antics as his opponents by firmly setting a better example to our team and millions of youngsters who see him as their idol just like MSD. Some might perceive his mirroring of the opponent's rile up, mock or taunt to be childish and immature when he is way beyond that. Why to get an unnecessary bad name when you have excellent qualities?

PS 2:
I am neither suffering from apophenia nor banged my head against a wall to conjure up the data to suit my theory.

PS 3:
I am not saying by any stretch of imagination that I am ONLY factually right or realistically wrong. The data is accessible for you to verify, cross-verify and validate.

Are we seeing a BCCI Carrom Ball? - Part 1

The moment when a person tells us "Well. And That's My Theory" especially underlining the word "Theory", most of us give him/her an ugly, cold, distasteful and a revolting look but disguise and sugar coat it by saying "Ah! Fantastic One" and then back talk by saying to anyone who is within our earshot "He/She and their stupid theories" emphasizing again on the word "Theory".

Almost everyone has developed a natural sturdy aversion or strong mutinous reaction whenever someone mentions the "T" word in the mainstream to the extent that it has percolated to the core where many raise their eyebrows and give a disdainful smirk when they hear the "T" word even in a scientific context. You don't have to believe me but how many of you have said "It's just a theory. Forget it". That's the level of deep negative connotation the word is disgustingly inbuilt into your conscious and subconscious perceptions just like how many have primed and equated our own ancient, insight rich and wisdom sated Shastras and Vedas as humbug when in reality the Vedas and Shastras are nothing but science in its pure and distilled form. How do I explain it further?  There is an excellent video which echoes my thoughts concisely and precisely:

You surely don't want to miss this good 7 minute mind-altering and thought cleansing elementary video

So, it is established now that a "Theory" is not bad at all if it is based on solid data, evidences and proofs that are empirically tested and available in the open universe around us. We will go down a level further in the escalator about Conspiracy Theory (CT). As how I see it, CTs expand our thinking process that challenges the conventional and prevailing information which are gluttonously fed to us on a consistent basis by the media** who always try to divert our focus and attention from the main, existing and real issue which actually happened thus distractimg us like a sexy Item Number wherein the Femme Fatales set the stage on fire. No, they are not Hanuman Bhakts!

Condoning my worst possible PJ, Conspiracy Theories are the ideal fodder to titillate a dull and boring conversation. The veracity of CJs are undoubtedly questionable. Nevertheless, the possibility of its existence is true as there is an element of infinitesimal probability involved though smaller than the smallest bacteria! If you are an open-minded person, that specific CJ should be explored for testing their validity, however wild or unimaginable. You should not forget that a great scientist as Galileo was branded as a heretic as his idea was against the appeal of the masses when he propounded that the Earth revolved around the Sun which was later proved to be true. Inference, the MAJORITY at that point of time were WRONG as far as this significant point was concerned. The popular is not always right. And the right is not always popular. History has proved us time and again.

How does theory and conspiracy theory are pertinent to a Cash Empire as BCCI? I will get to it soon. Before that, let us try to answer a few tough, hard and necessary questions so that we smoothly embark on this journey together.

Why do you watch a cricket match?
a) You love the sport - Cricket.
b) You couldn't become a cricketer. So, you give your ideas, tactics and strategies whenever you watch one.
c)  For a particularly successful team or an outstanding individual or a glamorous host like Mandira Bedi.
d) Dad and Granddad says/said so!
e) My friends are seeing it. I will also see it to not to be left out. Peer Pressure.
f) National Sport or Most Followed Game and It's my goddamn brilliant country that is being represented. I want them to win at any cost.
g) Your husband/wife/BF/GF/Crush watches. So, you mimic them - whether you know the sport or not!
h) A combination of the above reasons.
i) Any other reason apart from the specified. Well, I couldn't think or imagine anything further!

The next extremely important question:

When will a person definitely watch a cricket match?
a)  A series is evenly poised like 1-1 and the match heads into the decider.
b) A hotly contested game or series having lots of twists and turns like a thrilling roller ride irrespective of the outcome.
c) Semi-Finals and Finals especially when the match is held in the host country and the hosts are in the Semis and Finals.
d) Forced to watch due to 'n' number of reasons.
e) For bet's sake or have lost a bet.
f) You can add more reasons when you are absolutely sure as to when a person would not miss a match even if their lives depended on something else.

Why am I giving a detailed exposition on the mechanics as to the whys and wherefores to a Cricket Match?

Simple. As you all know that BCCI is a private organization who controls and coordinates the cricketing activities in our cricket-crazed land of 1.3 Billion population. From a Business Standpoint, 130 crore** ardent spectators, who are internally drenched with intense and deep reverence for a sport like cricket, is simply too good an opportunity to miss out for earning the top dollars, Okay rupee! So, if a person can figure out, just like how I did, as to what motivates and propels the passionate aficionados to compulsorily make them to enjoy a match, the authorities in the top echelons can wallow in and swallow the money by emotional extraction and exploitation from the people's love for the Gentlemen's Game.

Now, people who hate and abhor Marketing and Advertising will cite that the ads on the TV or over the Internet also force the consumers to purchase their products by persuasive messages. Unfortunately, that is a common misperception just like the "T" word.  Marketing respects the free will of the individuals and gives the complete freedom to the customers to buy or not to buy an advertised product or service unlike in the earlier situation where all of us might be forced against our free will to watch a match just to fill in the coffers of the already deep pockets of BCCI.

"Are you suggesting that BCCI fixes the matches played by India"? I can hear your mind voice shrieking like a banshee through my screen. It will be answered soon.

                                                               
                                                        X---To Be Concluded---X

media** ---> Not all media are biased, prejudiced, stereotyped, mislead or cherry pick in their attitude when it comes to reportage of disseminating essential information to the public.

130 crore** ---> Likewise, not all the 130 crore Indians will like or love the game of Cricket. However, there are countless Indians living across the globe who sacrifice their sleep by either waking up early or staying up till late night due to time differences to catch their favorite team hitting the turf instead of them hitting their sacks. Basically, the entire world may be enslaved at the smartness of the shrewd and astute BCCI.

For more on Kohli's leadership and the concluding part which includes the Earth Shattering Indo-Pak WC 2011 Match Fixing Report, you are merely one click away.

                             Are we seeing a BCCI Carrom Ball? - Concluding Part  😎 😊😊

Logan - Eternally Adamantined in our Hearts! - Part 2

Though Deadpool was R-rated as well, the funniness and quirky nature of the character of the protagonist saw to it that the blood and gore was seen in a lighter vein, pun intended, unlike in Logan where it was a savage carnage at its violent best.

Undoubtedly, it was Hugh Jackman (HJ) who carried the entire film on his shoulders, okay claws! as the tired-of-life, vulnerable and when-will-I-die Logan and also as the short-cropped, mean killing machine X-24. I couldn't believe that HJ was only 48 yrs old on seeing the beefy and hulky X-24. It was really astounding and amazing to watch him in such a way at that age. He is indeed a source of enormous inspiration to all those who hit the gym regularly.

Just check out his workout regime here:

                                                    Wolverine Body Build Up

The Oscars have always given the cold shoulder to superhero genres but if one person who is deserved and merited to warrant a nomination from the superhero genre, then it has got to be HJ for the way he had given a stellar acting with his physique and expressions for both the roles in his swansong despite battling a cancer. Also, let me break up some numbers as to the revenue generated by the X-Men Franchise:

a) X-Men Franchise (10 films including Deadpool ): $4.6 Billion

b) Deadpool's Cume: $784 Million

c) Only Featuring Wolverine:  3 Films
d) B.O. Total of The Wolverine Spin-offs: $790 Million (excluding Logan's collection)

e) Weekend collection, Logan: $237 Million (and Counting!) 

There was time in the past when our batting maestro, Sachin Tendulkar, was the face of Indian Cricket.

Likewise, HJ was the darling of the masses in the X-Men Franchise. So, Yes. The Wolverine has been chiefly instrumental and played a pivotal force in garnering close to $4 Billion when we do simple math here with HJ cashing in on approximately $1 Billion single-handedly. What more could the Oscar committee require than these mind-boggling numbers and a person who has given his everything for 17 solid years especially in his curtain call 'Logan'. This should at least convince the jury of an exception clause, pun intended, for the Best Actor Nomination as HJ has worked himself to the bones, literally!

Can there be another Sachin? No. Could there be a Messi in future. Def Not. Any possibility of another Fedex? Hell Negative. But, Wolverine? Certainly Yes as the producers will surely want to rake in the extra moolah on the brand. Unfortunately, whoever reprises the role, they would have an extremely hard time convincing the fans that they are The Wolverine!

Just like the Adamantine structure that is ingrained into Logan's body, the image of HJ as the Wolverine is strongly, deeply and fiercely engraved in the sands of time for the fashion in which he has lived and immortalized the character. 

Mathematically speaking,

                                                   Wolverine = Hugh Jackman. Period.

How the Undertaker uses his signature move "The Last Ride" to create the right impact to win on a high, when Laura changed the "Cross" into an "X", the last possible chance to see the man don the ultra-sexy hairdo with his awesome sideburn and beard also got buried in the ground but not without entertaining everyone to the core in his Last Ride.

R.I.P James Howlett.

You are not just a survivor anymore. But, A caring leader.

                                                          

                                                                    X---Concluded---X

                               

PS:
I am neither a Marvel or DC fan but a neutral spectator who loves good superhero movies like the Dark Knight, Avengers 1, Captain America 2,3, Deadpool, Ant-Man, Guardians of Galaxy and watches other superhero movies with the hope that they are good!

You can check out my reviews of:

a) X-Men Apocalypse
b) Captain America Civil War
c) Suicide Squad

Logan - Eternally Adamantined in our Hearts! - Part 1

                         
                              Hugh Jackman - You are inimitable. Adios The Wolverine..!

This lump-in-the-throat tribute video was not made by me but a fan in the DC and Marvel world. It summed up superbly the wonderful journey not only for the Wolverine but also for each and every one of us who had assiduously followed in his footsteps.

Now, let us begin here......

Just imagine a scenario where there are no rules and laws in our present society and the world. Confusion and chaos will definitely ensure that anarchy ensues in an uncontrolled and rampant manner. But, being an idealist, I shall you give one more scenario. As there are no rules, laws and bye-laws to guide the proper actions of a person, it means that the freedom is at the mercy and behest of an individual and they can do whatever they seem and deem fit to be appropriate, right and falsely right as per their whims and fancies which is solely based on their strength of morality, intensity of character, degree of actionable actions and depth of personal integrity.

Yet, when all the people consciously choose to make good use of their unchecked and unsuppressed liberty for the betterment of others and also for themselves in the process, it is only then that our society has really reached a level of pristine evolvement and personal progress wherein the person is not only self-aware, self-reflective and self-corrective but also truly independent yet dependent in terms of emotional, physical, psychological, spiritual, financial and material wealth. Some might aver that this is impossible to achieve but as I see, it is difficult but certainly not impossible as only an idealist can help others to grow and prosper. So, how does freedom fit into the context of a movie as Logan?

Simple. For close to 2 decades, Wolverine has enthralled us on the big screens with his ripped bod, menacing expressions, snazzy looks, brash behavior along with those uber-cool claws. You simply cannot hate this guy how much ever mean or grumpy or cynic or sarky that he is on the screen while it lasted.

Still, I had always felt that this is one character in the X-Men series which was utterly under utilized by not realizing the character's fullest potential. I couldn't pinpoint and articulate the reason accurately until Logan was released last week. Oh. Man. And Woman. And Gawwddddddddddddd.

The moment the director was given the go-ahead to do a R-rated film, Mangold had the complete latitude to stitch together a hardcore bloody, realistic, violent and tear-jerking storyline to give an immensely fitting farewell to one of the most stylish characters in the X- Men franchise.

Unless and until that absolute and unlimited creative freedom hadn't been dictated to the director, Mangold wouldn't have been able to given us such a beautifully crafted, engagingly brutal, rib-tickling and ossumatic gripping emotional adieu which ended not just mine but also your 2 decade long fervent fandom with the Wolverine and his strong-headed antics. Mangold - You are indeed a Man of Gold! to unleash the latent feral power of the beast in its raw and uninhibited form which was exactly how the Wolverine should have been portrayed since his journey began in the 2000s.

Everyone knew that Hugh Jackman has finally hung up his shoes, Okay claws!, before we stepped into the theatre. So, the element of surprise that he will be dead in Logan is completely annulled. But, how it happens is wonderfully presented in an exciting, exhilarating, wowing and tearful manner. I had the slight apprehension that Logan might take the road of X-Men Apocalypse or its other contemporaries with their mindless, thoughtless, meaningless, purposeless and needless orgy of VFX vomit on the silver screen. Luckily, sanity prevailed upon the director and his team by seeing to it that the CGIs lucidly blended with the screenplay instead of conspicuously standing out like a sore finger!

Likewise, Mangold had the tension and suspense build up, slowly and steadily, and piqued my curiosity to the point my mind voice was shouting internally "What the hell is Laura's specialty?". And when Laura emerged from the ramshackled warehouse throwing the severed head, it was one of the most badass scenes in a while. I was one amongst the many who hollered in the theatre when her two sets of claws were shown for the first time.

Speaking of  Laura, the cute little devil has given a splendid performance on par with Lyanna Mormont from the Game of Thrones. I wondered for a moment what would have happened if there had been a cross-over then and the duo had met! Similarly, the way by which she was playing around with her colorful pink shades to infuriate Logan was too good. Extra hats-off to Mangold for imagining and executing such a scene to create pure humor at the right places.

As we are on the topic of humor, Mangold also made sure that the comedy is situational-based unlike Deadpool which heavily relied upon profanity, obscenity and expletives. Take for example. The scene where Logan asks Prof. X. whether he had his medicines in the car. It did not just evoke laughter but also showcased a tremendous sense of emotions underlying the scene where it seemed like Logan saw Prof. X as an aged father more than a mentor and the latter saw him as a son than a mentee. Similarly, where the kids trim Logan's beard and he sees himself in the mirror was not only scream-worthy but also a fan delight.  Also, the scene where Logan learns that Laura could actually speak was priceless or the manner in which he takes a dig at the X-Men comics to name a few hilarious of them.

                                                                  X---To be concluded---X


PS:
If you have been wondering and searching where Sachin and FedEx are on this blog, they are in:
                                                                             Part 2