OSCARS 2016: AN INTERESTING EVENING OF MANY "FIRSTS"!

Hi Friends,

How are you? And how was Valentine's Day? How did you spend that day in February which comes once in four years? Yep I'm talking of the leap year i.e. 29th February...hope you partied hard! ;-) Even if you didn't, Hollywood sure did when the film fraternity converged together once again to celebrate,honor and reward the finest talents among them at the Oscars.And we too celebrated in their joy as we cheered and rooted for our favorites while sitting in front of our television sets!

While the curtains on the awards season may have come down with the grand finale culminating at the Oscars but at the outset this year has been a mixed bag indeed especially when it came to predicting the winners! And perhaps for some it may even be disappointing to say the least with Sylvester Stallone not winning the Best Supporting Actor award, the lack of diversity clearly visible in the list of nominees and subsequent to it #Oscarsowhite trending across different social networks.

CELEBRATING VALENTINE'S DAY WITH SONYAA'S RANDOM MUSINGS: FIVE ROMANTIC FLICKS YOU SIMPLY CAN'T MISS!

Hi Friends,

How are you doing? I do hope that the first month of the new year has kick-started your plans, goals and resolutions on a high note!

Of candle light dinners,romantic getaways/dates to chocolates, solitaires, champagne, expensive gifts etc...the season of love has finally arrived! Yes, February is right here! In a fortnight everyone will be celebrating Valentine's Day,a day that's dedicated to love!That day in the year when love reaches its zenith! 

Besides gifts here are a few movies that I can add to your list that would make your V-day extra-special (and that too without pinching your pocket)! After all, if you have a choice of five movies to pick from which I am about to share with you...you could rent it out well in advance (or gift a DVD to your sweetheart/ beloved) and enjoy those romantic moments watching the film together as you cozy up to one another. :)

Before I begin this month's post, you can check out two posts from the archive section of my blog wherein I have listed 20 such romantic films that would make Valentine's Day a memorable one indeed!

TOP 5 POSTS ON SONYAA's RANDOM MUSINGS FOR 2015 [A YEARLY ROUND-UP]

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the New Year!Of celebrations, jubilation and resolutions... may the New Year usher in harmony, peace, goodwill, joy, happiness, good health, abundance and love in your lives.

In this month's post,I shall round up the top five posts on Sonyaa's Random Musings that enjoyed immense popularity among the readers in the past year. 

Based on analytic and statistics from 1st January 2015 - 31st December 2015 let us see which posts made it to the coveted list!

Let us the countdown begin...

DECEMBER MUSINGS: REVIEWING SPECTRE,HUMOR TIME WITH JIM CARREY & MUCH MORE...

Hi Friends,

Howdy? Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post on James Bond as you discovered the charming Roger Moore who cast a spell on the audiences and set many a hearts aflutter as the suave and dashing 007 agent back then! 

Psst...speaking of James Bond,we decided to watch Spectre at the multiplex yesterday which also happened to be my birthday.But I must share my disappointment here and candidly admit that I did not like the film.It was quite un-James Bond like -  not a well-structured film with a wafer-thin plot and an unclear mission to start with. 

  --- Spoilers ahead ---

         

WE WANT SOME M(O)ORE...ROGER THAT! [A WALK DOWN THE 'JAMES BOND' LANE!!]

Hi Friends,

What's up? Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post as much I as I enjoyed writing it here exclusively for you on Sonyaa's Random Musings! :)

Lately,I have been keeping the 'Spectre' of the good old Bond movies alive in my watch-list as we head to the countdown of the next franchise that releases sometime in the first week of this month.Among the 007 agents so far,I had always loved Pierce Brosnan...but I had to do a rethink when I recently watched some of the old Bond classics like Live And Let Die, The Man with the Golden Gun and The Spy Who Loved Me...and that's when I fell in love with the charming British actor whom the world knows as - Sir Roger Moore! 

OCTOBER WATCH-LIST: OF COMEDY, CRIME & SUPERNATURAL...MAKE YOUR PICK!

Hi Friends,

How are you? Hope you are doing good? In this month's post I shall be writing about four films that I watched in recent months which I thought you could add to your watch list too! These films of different genres that I am about to write of are here to give you the spook,there's one that would make you sit up and gasp in awe at supernatural events unfolding within the narrative of the film while another might simply make you laugh! So read on and make your pick from these diverse range of films!

This one's not for the faint-hearted or weak-spirited though the film is not even a horror!This film is something that you perhaps may have never watched before on screen for it wreaks out hell, havoc,torture and mayhem from the start to the end.The film in question is the Kelly Reilly and Michael Fassbender starer Eden Lake. A young couple on a weekend romantic getaway confront a gang of violent youngsters only to suffer brutal consequences unleashed on them.

ENTER THE ACTION CLUB: ACTORS IN THEIR 50's++ ROCKING THE BOX OFFICE!

Hi Friends,

How are you doing? Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post on digital film making and how the accessibility of technology in today's age and time has made it possible for each of us to become digital film makers in our own right.

Earlier last month I watched Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation and I quite loved the kick-ass action particularly the plane stunt pulled off in the opening sequence of the film. Previously, Ethan Hunt scaled Burj Khalifa in Ghost Protocol...remember? I wonder what's lined in the next M:I!Air, building... probably now it's time to expect some mind-boggling action taking place in a submarine in the abyss of the ocean or on Mt. Everest! Concept wise, Mission: Impossible Rogue Nation was both interesting and intriguing particularly IMF shaking hands with Secret Service and Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) meeting the  femme fatale James Bond, Ilsa Faust! Actor Tom Cruise never seems to age...he is our good old Ethan Hunt and still packs a punch in all these decades of film business! Who would say that the actor is in his 50's!

DIGITAL FILMMAKING...PAVING THE WAY FOR A NEW LEAGUE OF FILMMAKERS!

Hi Friends,

Howdy? Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post on the adrenaline rush of high-voltage action films that has got our pulses racing all through 2015!

Image Courtesy: filmdoctor.co.uk

However this month's post is tad different from the rest as I shall be sharing with you two of my recent works, both of which were entries for the Road Safety India Campaign held earlier this year.Though the results are awaited,nevertheless I just thought of sharing my experience with you in this post. Perhaps,in the chain of things it might inspire some of you to just pick your handy cams and start shooting your own film today.Considering that we live in a digitized world where technology is affordable,accessible and available to all... thus you never know the limitless possibilities and opportunities that beckon each of you aspirant filmmakers out there!

Thus when this opportunity presented itself before me through an advertisement that appeared in the local city newspaper, I asked myself the following questions- Are there any technical specifications specified? Is this film doable? With the limited resources at hand,can I pull off this one on a shoe-string budget? What is the idea? And what are the requirements to put this idea in motion? And when I got the answers to the questions that I was looking for, I began working towards putting my jigsaw puzzle together piece by piece.

2015: A YEAR OF FULL THROTTLE & HIGH-POWERED NON-STOP ACTION IN HOLLYWOOD!

Hi Friends,

I was just thinking how quickly time slips by and lo,here we are already more than half-way through the year! 

Speaking of films,then genre-wise 2015 can confidently be touted as an out-and-out action-packed year with our favorite action stars/superheroes/agents both from the past and the present making their grand comeback in popular film franchises.So fasten your seat-belts and get ready to witness some never-seen-before high voltage action sequences laden with thrills and chills,fast cars and extraordinary chases that is sure to pump your spirits and give you the adrenaline rush!

And it is for that edge-of-the-seat excitement which a film guarantees that moviegoers rush to theaters and shell out those extra bucks at ticket-counters that set those cash registers ringing...isn't that the case with most of us?

Here are some money-spinners that released in the first half of the year which have set the pace and momentum for films in the months to come...

ROUND-UP OF THE OSCARS 2015 : THE HITS & MISSES!

Hi Friends,

Howdy?The shortest and romantic month of the year,February slipped by so quickly and lo,here we are in the third month of 2015 already as I pen down my March musings! 

February...the season of love? Ask Hollywood and you'll know that it is also that month of the year when the crème de la crème of the film industry gather together (a la Thanksgiving meeting!) to celebrate talent by recognizing and rewarding tour de force performances, cinematic excellence and life-time achievements with awards, awards and a plethora of awards!

Just recently,the Oscars concluded and thankfully for us, the wins sprung no surprises! We were saved from all the heartache post the nomination snubs,when predictably the favorites tipped to win,won that night!

22nd February was the date when Hollywood's glitterati assembled at the Dolby Theatre for the 87th Annual Academy Awards.And as the curtains came down that evening we had new winners,with the likes of Eddie Redmayne, Julianne Moore,JK Simmons and Patricia Arquette taking home the golden statuette for the Best Actor, Actress, Supporting Actor and Supporting Actress respectively.

So here's once again revisiting that evening for you in a nutshell...

AN ACTOR PREPARES... - SONYAA's RANDOM MUSINGS PICKS HER FAVORITES!

Hi Friends,

I can't believe that a month has slipped by so quickly and we're already in the second month of the new year. Nevertheless I do hope that all the plans and resolutions you've made are progressing smoothly (or have at least made a head-start) at your end as you keep pace with the many expectations you have of yourself! I speak of resolutions because there are so many outstanding resolutions of the past year that I keep bringing forward which has become akin to a journal entry of accounts! :-) Thus,I'd love to hear from you on your approach towards a resolution and how you go about fulfilling them in a systematic manner.Do share your thoughts in the comments section below,it will inspire me and many others in this thought chain.

THE TEN COMMANDMENTS & GLADIATOR: DECODING STORY-STRUCTURES,UNDERSTANDING STORY-TELLING!

Hi Friends,

Welcome to the New Year! 

Hope you bade a warm goodbye to the year gone by and ushered in the New Year with celebrations, splendor and a prayer!A prayer that everyone be blessed and the cup of life be overflowing with love,good cheer,good health and happiness to be shared with loved ones,friends, strangers and alike.I also believe that every new day is a new year...so let us hold on steadfastly to this thought as we celebrate and cherish every moment that our lives behold!

On this positive and assuring note,let's begin this month's post...

DISCUSSING FILMS, DECIPHERING STORY-STRUCTURES

Hi Friends, 

How are you doing?It's been a while since I blogged... however besides being missed (just kidding!) I do hope that you are in the spirit of charity as Christmas nears when you in your own little way can help make a difference in Joe's life. For those of you who missed the thread of this conversation that I am referring to,here's the link to the post.

In this month's post I shall be discussing some of the films that I have watched over a period of time and have gradually come to observe that while on the surface of it they may appear to be films of different/ same genres but on the inside if you look closely you'd find that they somewhere share similar story structures and plot-lines.These are those you do not look out for at the first instance especially when you're munching buckets of popcorn and sipping on Colas or perhaps some of you may be deeply engrossed watching the film as a whole.But these are those films that on delving deeper you discover how beautifully they have been 're-adapted' (if I may call it!) in several different ways to give the audiences something new to watch out for and behold!

Remember,I am not talking of remakes here.Once again I re-iterate my point-I am going to discuss three such films in random order in this month's post and share my observations on how two films of different/same genres can share a similar story structure, plot-line and premise but have been re-modelled under different themes,conditions and situations.

HELP JOE GET HIS LIFE BACK...MAKE A DIFFERENCE!

Hi Friends,

Come September and I've decided to do something very different from the usual for this month's post!So for a change it's not films for a topic of discussion but a chance where you could get involved to help someone and make a difference!

In this month's post,Sonyaa's Random Musings has taken it upon to promote the book titled, "Bitter Facts, Beautiful Truths" as we extend our support to the author of the book,Joe Vaz also fondly called Babuji.

Before you go on to call this post a book review,I want you to halt right there because I assure you it is not so.We choose to call it a 'cause' instead for you'll soon know the reasons when I explain more about it in the coming paragraphs.

The name 'Joe Vaz'/ 'Babuji' may not ring a bell for he is not a renowned author nor does he have an impressive body of work to his credit. 

'IN THE SPOTLIGHT' ON SONYAA's RANDOM MUSINGS : V FOR VENDETTA

Hi Friends, 

How are you doing?Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post where I reviewed Meet Joe Black and described my thoughts about what I most loved about the film vis-a-vis the story, performances and direction.

This month I shall be reviewing yet another film but of a different genre that I've watched umpteen number of times.(At least for a change many of you won't jump to the conclusion that I'm only into classics, romances and costume dramas...I write about action, thrillers and sci-fi too!)

What happens when a tyrant takes charge of a country?Then what will it take to trigger the conscience of the masses that 'V' the people will rise and march onward?Did I just say V?Ah,yes it is - 'V For Vendetta'!

Each time I've watched this film,it has added a new dimension to my thought-process. Perhaps,I somewhere take this film as a reference in view of a disturbing trend that we are all a witness to of the growing ire and discontent among the masses against their governments that's emerging globally.The situation could well flare up and spiral out of control as we saw it happen in the climax of the film if governments around the world continued to lie, betray and conspire against the best interest of the people.

'IN THE SPOTLIGHT' ON SONYAA's RANDOM MUSINGS : MEET JOE BLACK

Hi Friends,

How are you doing?Hope you enjoyed reading last month's post titled-DISCUSSING THE 1994 TV MINI-SERIES, SCARLETT: COULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER? Here's the link to the post for the benefit of those who are yet to catch up on some past reading on my blog.

Today,I shall share some memorable moments and inspiring quotes from two such films I've watched (and re-watched) recently which I loved so much that they've stayed on in my thoughts ever since! And as I couldn't hold them back any longer, so I just thought of pouring my heart out here in this month's post!Of course,this article shall be divided into two parts as I could go on and on when it comes to discussing those defining moments from the two films that stole the thunder!

So then let's unravel the suspense of the first film right away...

(*****SPOILERS AHEAD- For those who have not watched the film*****)

And our first film in this two post series is the 1998 romantic drama, Meet Joe Black.

DISCUSSING THE 1994 TV MINI-SERIES, SCARLETT : COULD IT HAVE BEEN BETTER?

Hi Friends,

How are you doing?In this month's post,I shall once again be discussing the 1994 TV mini-series Scarlett,the sequel to Gone With The Wind and get analyzing on what clicked with me about this adaptation and what didn't vis-a-vis the plot, characters and story-line.And for those of you who haven't read last month's post which was a brief review of Scarlett then here's the link. It'd help you to connect on what I am just about to discuss in this month's post!

So then...let's get started!

Scarlett,the sequel to Gone With The Wind

As I read the plot of Alexandra Ripley's book,I found that the series directed by John Erman starring Timothy Dalton and Joanne Whalley deviates sharply from the original novel with some unusual twists and turns that is hard to comprehend and as a result falls flat on the face!It doesn't by any account do justice to the characters and the plot that Margaret Mitchell had envisaged in her best-seller novel, Gone With The Wind which was further aptly adapted on the big screen with a perfect cast and deftly helmed under the direction of Victor Fleming in 1939 starring Vivien Leigh and Clark Gable. However all said and done,I'd have been happier to watch the sequel,Scarlett from a different perspective altogether had it not been touted as the sequel to Gone With The Wind!However,this 1994 mini-series is one classic case of an adaptation to a sequel gone horribly wrong!Of course,Ripley's novel was sans any dramatic twists to get you hooked on to the book either however the 1994 television series,a varied version of the book was incoherent, inconsistent and formulaic to say the least with the intent of springing up surprise elements of suspense,crime and court- room drama to spice up the narrative of the story!

OF PREQUELS & SEQUELS TO BEST-SELLERS & CLASSICS:DO THEIR ADAPTATIONS CLICK?

Hi Friends,

Another month gone by and here's yet another post that comes your way! :) So...how've you been? 

We've all watched Margaret Mitchell's best-seller novel, Gone With the Wind come alive on celluloid some seven decades ago and then we've had the many adaptations of Jane Austen's Pride and Prejudice and Charlotte Brontë's Jane Eyre etc.That you have watched them is the assumption which I'll take as a yes!Now,you must be wondering what's the connection between these novels and the celebrated women authors I just mentioned above...well to be honest,there's none at at all...but as you read on you'll join the pieces yourself! :)

OSCARS 2014: THE COUNTDOWN BEGINS...3.2.1

Hi Friends,

The Oscars are nigh...in less than two days from now,new winners  will be rewarded whose work shone like a shining star all through the year-be it through their performances, direction,production design, costume design, story, screenplay etc.So,once again it's going to be one big occasion where Hollywood will celebrate the best among them.I believe all are winners in my eyes whether they are nominated or not because behind every story, performances and technical details/ aspect of the film there's blood,sweat,tears and years of hard work of people striving to make the film a reality.Ask me,I know how difficult it was for me to put together a ten and a half minutes film...so you can well understand the  level  of commitment a feature film entails! So,it's three cheers to all of them!!

FEBRUARY MUSINGS:THE JOY OF DISCOVERING FILMS IN RANDOMNESS!

Hi Friends,

Are you on with your resolutions?

How are you doing? Trust all's well at your end.Hope you're still holding firm with the resolutions you've made for the year rather than hanging up in the first month itself!Well,when it comes to me... I don't make any! Surprised?Though as a child I loved making a 'To-do' list pasted on the wall of my room to remind me of the goals I had set for myself and behold what joy it gave me when I'd strike off tasks that were successfully accomplished! Sadly,I don't make them any more!Much as there's lot to do...may be,I need to surprise myself this time around on what I'm capable of achieving!Perhaps,at the end of this post...I might just draw up a list once again with some realistic,achievable and short-term goals!I think that's the problem with most of us including me that we set unrealistic goals in the first place!Like someone rightly put it -"Inch by inch life's a cinch; yard by yard life is hard!" I guess,the place for the power of the unrealistic lies in the realm of our dreams some that we see with closed eyes and some that we see while we are wide awake!But like they say, dreams do come true! So hold on to them!