In pursuit of WOW!

Yesterday evening I was at my in-law’s place for dinner, followed by a DVD screening at my home of Spielberg’s “War of the Worlds”(WOW). I have read the Bengali translation of this HG Wells classic many moons ago, which was, believe it or not, published in a C-grade paperback format, and I remember picking up the same from one of those quintessential A H Wheeler outlets. This is an example of what happens when Spielberg tries his hand at B-movie-making. What I admire is the scale and extent of destruction which was portrayed…straight out of a gothic manga – thanks to the talented folks at ILM. I am not surprised at the lukewarm reviews this film received. Perhaps its not virulently jingoistic or a visual spectacle like say, Independence Day. Not due to the fact that the film is “cold”. I can vouch that a lot of Kubrick’s work is colder!! Spielberg has faulted only on one count : He has been not able to establish the fact that “the germ is the idea”! Blame it squarely on his scriptwriters who have not been able to develop on the "germ of an idea" inspite of all of HG Wells' genius. Hope they learn the cinematic technique after revisiting Ang Lee’s “The Hulk”. And moreover I could spot the clever ploy adopted by Spielberg of always focusing on the trials of a hapless girl and thereby hijacking the sensibilities from the sense of the viewers. Imitating oneself can sometimes become a self-depricating act of mimicry no matter howsoever one strives to make it out as the sincerest form of flattery. Some sequences in the film are carbon copies of Jurassic Park and Schindler’s List. Like, for instance, the sequence in where the aliens are searching for their prey inside the basement. Cut and paste with the digitally-created raptors, and voila! you jump cut into a ditto sequence from Jurassic Park. The pursuit of WOW has been abandoned. Game over!!

Some serious meetings are happening at office on year-end targets. Only to be interrupted by stupid phone calls from clients. It’s a different war out here with estimate amounts and deadline pressures. A wretch of a life!
Planning to go to Some Place Else today evening to meet up with old college pals. Got to down a few pegs with them.