Bagger Vance and the Bhagvad Gita

Watched "Legend of the Bagger Vance" after a long time... This is one movie I can watch again and again... On the same day!!

Winston Churchill said that "golf is a more expensive way of playing marbles". I agree. Yet I love this movie.

Bagger Vance is as much about golf as "Gone with the Wind" is about the Civil War. Golf is merely a backdrop to the story.

The movie is actually a modern day interpretation of the Bhagvad Gita. Will Smith (Bagger Vance) as a caddy plays the role of Krishna advising the confused Batt Damon (Randolf Junnah - R Junnah - Arjuna!!) about discovering himself, pulling himself backup and moving on with his life.

Charlize Theron, Will Smith and Damon have given performances which I dont think will be repeated in their career..

Run, don't walk, to get this movie. Something worth adding to a collection if you have on

Purity of Essence

One of my fav movies ever.... Dr. Strangelove satirizes the cold war and the strategy of "mutually assured destruction" (MAD) that was supposed to prevent nuclear attacks.

In the 60's, the Strategic Air Command (SAC) was responsible for a major chunk of the US nuclear delivery platforms. They controlled the B-52 bombers and the ICBM's (The other nuclear delivery platforms were the ultimate deterrent - submarine launched ICBM's - and tactical nukes launched as artillery shells). To provide deterrence, SAC operated a fleet of B-52's in the air at all times, ready to strike targets in the Soviet Union within 2 hours of orders. This was called Operation Chromedome.

The movie portrays a B-52 bomber crew who have been given orders to bomb their targets by a lunatic general. What is impressive is the level of detail to which the actual nuclear dropping operations have been shown. The youtube clip below shows it all - multiple levels of security to make sure that accidental nuclear strikes don't happen; as well as security to ensure that once orders are given, they can be followed easily.

Which brings us to the economics of having a nuclear capability. You might need to spend only 30 billion to develop a nuke. But developing reliable delivery platforms will cost you a 100 times that. And developing a set of processes for handling these nukes safely is priceless.

As for the title of this post, you need to watch the movie to get it :-)


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JgHSDa2Jwqc

Feeling the heat?

"A guy told me one time, "Don't let yourself get attached to anything you are not willing to walk out on in 30 seconds flat if you feel the heat around the corner." Now, if you're on me and you gotta move when I move, how do you expect to keep a... a marriage?"
-- De Niro in "Heat" (One of my all-time fav movies)

Back in 1999, I had slipped off from home to watch "Heat" with some friends. Made up some story to parents about going to somebody else's house . Watching an English movie was an anathema in our conservative household! As for me and my buddies, "Heat" meant prospects of some sizzling sex scenes... LOL. Seems so funny when I think about that now...

We were disappointed on the sex front. But man... what a movie... The bank-shootout scene is IMHO the best in any movie. Period.

Pretty please... with sugar on top. Clean the fucking car

I used to be like this chap...

The last part of this video is one of my favorite parts of the movie...
The Wolf: Jimmie, lead the way. Boys, get to work.
Vincent: A please would be nice.
The Wolf: Come again?
Vincent: I said a please would be nice.
The Wolf: Get it straight buster - I'm not here to say please, I'm here to tell you what to do and if self-preservation is an instinct you possess you'd better fucking do it and do it quick! I'm here to help - if my help's not appreciated then lotsa luck, gentlemen.
Jules: No, Mr. Wolf, it ain't like that...
Vincent: I don't mean any disrespect, I just don't like people barking orders at me.
The Wolf: If I'm curt with you it's because time is a factor. I think fast, I talk fast and I need you guys to act fast if you wanna get out of this. So, pretty please... with sugar on top. Clean the fucking car!