DAWN OF THE PLANET OF APES (A Hollywood Science Fiction Movie)

Directed by Matt Reeves, Produced By Peter Chernin/Rick Jaffa/Dylan Clark/Amanda Silver, Music By Michael Giacchino, Cinematography By Michael Siresin, Distributed by 20th Century Fox
Starring Andy Serkis (as Caesar), Toby Kebbel (as Koba), Jason Clarke (as Malcolm), Keri Russel (as Kelli, Malcolm’s wife)

Storyline: Caesar, the leader of the Ape population living in Muir Woods, away from the virus destroyed human world, comes across Malcolm, his wife and son who come into the woods to restore an old hydroelectric power house for electricity, in order to save the remaining human population living in a secluded place in a city faraway.
Though Caesar doesn’t like it first, he agrees to allow them into their world, provided the humans do not encroach into their territory. Koba, the second in command of the Apes, does not like this deal. Koba, in vengeance, tactfully destroys the living quarters of the Apes, shoots Caesar and makes them believe that it is the deliberate act of the humans. Thus a war is waged against the humans by the Apes in the city, under the forced leadership of Koba. Later, Malcolm discovers the wounded Caesar in the jungle and treats him medically to bring him back to normalcy. Caesar along with his son and loyal apes, encounter Koba in the battle and kill him in a hand to hand combat. The Apes, delighted to see their beloved leader back, stop the battle. But, the humans already make their arrangements to defend themselves by calling for military help from somewhere else. The movie ends with Caesar recognizing the impending danger and asking Malcom and his family to leave, so that he and his remaining army would fight the humans on his own as it was the Apes who started the war.

Pros: One of the best screenplay and cinematography ever filmed and viewed off late. Sequel to Rise of the Planet of the Apes, with the same taste of pure entertainment. The jungle atmosphere and the Ape costumes were so real that one would have the feeling of being amidst the Apes as long as the show is on. A very sentimental story, that really connected to the audience of the entire world. The entire movie was based on the Apes’ point of view. One would really feel how wrong humans can sometimes be in their decisions. A must watch and definitely a product that deserves to be in your video library. Do not forget to watch this lovely visual treat in a 5.1 surround audio system on big screen.

Cons: The emotions and intelligence of Apes was shown on par with the humans, which in real might not be true. The true inherent animal instinct is visible only in Koba but not in any of the other Ape population, which again cannot be true. A little over kindness displayed in Caesar, which I feel is the result of destruction of his entire race.

My rating is 4.5 out of 5

Poisoned Heart by Jason Blacker
My rating: 2 of 5 stars

A rather simple murder mystery, that could be read in just over an hour. The story starts and ends in the Abernathy Castle of England, whose owner Godfrey Apleby is in deep financial crisis after the World Wars. The small get together arranged by the Aplebys inviting the famous lady detective Frances Marmalade and Mr. Mountbatten, the future representative of the British Crown to India, leads to the murder of the housemaid Christine through cyanide poisoning. Frances, with the help of the Police Inspector Pearce cleverly investigates the brief encounter of Christine’s son and ex-husband along with the butler to dig out a secret relationship between Christine and Godfrey, which resulted in Christine blackmailing Godfrey for huge money. Godfrey ultimately confesses that he was the one who killed Christine because of her pressure to shell out more and more money.

Pros: It’s quite a simple story that involved only few characters and moreover the solution was predictable. The story portrayed the English way of living.
Cons: Did not like the way Indian climate and their habit about drinking tea even in hot summers was being looked down upon by the British, forgetting the fact that Indian tea is world famous and soothing even in hot weather. Can be read once but not a library stuff.

My rating is 2 out of 5


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The City Of The Sun by Tommaso Campanells
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

This short book is written in the form of a poetical discussion between the Grand Master of Knights Hospitallers and a Sea Captain of Genova of Italy, the birthplace of Christopher Columbus.
It can be taken as a discovery of a Sea Captain (probably Christopher Columbus) of a totally different civilization somewhere in his voyage, which is practicing most of the modern life practices right from birth to death. The minutest detailing of each and every aspect of life regarding the birth, education, marriage, old age, love, warfare, protection, laws and wisdom of this civilization is awesome. Though this city is quite small, there seems to be perfection imbibed in the blood of each and every individual dwelling in the city. The perfection lies in every walk of their life irrespective of sex, colour and age. One could learn how in the olden days people perfected life and why there were no differences amongst them despite there were other cities around which were suffering with internal strives.

Pros: It is great to understand the fact that in this City of the Sun, there were no names to the citizens nor does it practices any caste system. A nice learning about the best practices of life, which could be imbibed into almost all the cultures and civilizations of the world today. The story seems to be inclined towards the cultures of some civilization which was related to India. The exact base on which the principle of Communism was developed upon seems to have been reflecting in the lifestyle of this City of the Sun.

Cons: The name of the City was not disclosed, nor was the place of its existence.

My rating is 3 out of 5


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TRANSFORMERS: AGE OF EXTINCTION (HOLLYWOOD SCIENCE FICTION)

Directed by Michael Bay, Produced by Don Murphy/Tom DeSanto/Lorenzo De Bonaventura/ Ian Bryce, Music By Steve Jablonsky, Visual Effects By Wayne Bilheimer, Cinematography By Amir Mokri
Starring Mark Wahlberg as Cade Yeager, Stanley Tucci as Joshua Joyce, Niclola Peltz as Tessa Yeager and Kelsey Grammar as Harold Attinger

Storyline: This is the fourth of the movie series TRANSFORMERS. Optimus Prime the main Autobot created earlier along with its co-Autobots rescue the human race from Galvatron, a specially created Transformer by a CIA assisted private defence agency KIS owned by Joshua Joyce. Though Galvatron was made with a special unstable metal, called Transformium, that has the capacity to transform itself into any thing on earth, it goes out of control of KIS and is all set to transform the organic matter on earth into its own kind leading to extinction of life on Earth. This attempt of Galvatron is foiled by Optimus Prime and its team with the help of Cade Yeager, his daughter Tessa thus terminating Galvatron and its team. Finally, Optimus Prime foresees danger to the human race if it stays on Earth and leaves Earth to space along with a Seed that has the capacity to transform any area of land into metal and cyber form.

Pros: An exquisite visual treat to the audience on big screen. An opportunity to take one’s fantasies to the extreme to learn how machines might control the universe in the future. An wonderful display of graphics technology used in production.

Cons: It was too heavy on display of war machinery that seemed to be literally impossible even in the future. The machines shown are too loaded with so many imaginary features that is difficult to absorb. Lengthy and dragging. Not much of human sentiment attached to the story due to which there is not much interest to know what next. Not much of talent in action and drama of the cast involved is observed. Though the movie might be a commercial success, I consider it as a failure personally. Can be watched once for sound and light effects but not a library product.

My rating is 2 out of 5

When The Eagle Screams by Stephen Bowman
My rating: 3 of 5 stars

How many of us knew that there was a bombing of World Trade Center in New York on Feb 26th 1993, much before the same bombing on Twin Towers on Sep 9/11, 2001?
Yes, this wonderful book written much prior to 1993 disaster gives a clear insight to its readers as to how vulnerable is the so-called Super Power of the World is to terrorism and internal strives.

The author has made an extensive research on each and every terrorist act across the world and identifying almost all the major terrorist and extremist organizations of the world which have spread their tentacles and just waiting to strike at the right moment. I have observed that the author has been quite unbiased in his approach towards terrorism and the simple reasons which have led to the birth and growth of the same. One needs to appreciate his daring attempt to accuse United States of America of being the main cause in allowing terrorism to grow and become a threat to its own existence. USA seems to be falling into the same ditch dug for someone else !

The following main points have been elaborated in the entire text with so many details and examples that need to be applauded.
1. Terrorism is a symptom of political, social and religious issues basically ignored by the Governments.
2. Terrorism can no longer be taken for granted as terrorists now have access to weapons of mass destruction.
3. National infrastructures like energy grids, oil reserves, transportation networks, communication grids etc are at great risk
4. Stricter measures in Immigration, Foreign Policies and lesser dependence on foreign countries required to counter the threat.
5. Terrorism is ineffective against a stable society and active involvement of people.

The author seems to have neglected his detailed study on the aspects which gave birth to terrorism. The subject was only superficially scanned.
What made the Middle East, Latin America, North Korea and East Bloc countries turn against USA? Who is actually responsible for today’s situation and why? How can the West protect itself from the horror of being terminated by its own selfish motives? All these questions find an apt answer in this book.

This book is a must read and library item for all those who are looking for a safer and peaceful world to live in. At the same time, the need for the West to respect the cultures and importance of the East is very much required for softening of the impending threat to world safety.


My rating is 3 out of 5


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