Kelly and Carrie Battle for Top Selling Idol Album!

BillBoard Rankings: green = "Clear As Day", maroon = "Stonger", orange = "Blown Away", blue =  "Sparkle"

Every week a different former American Idol has a particular good sales, week and this week it is Kelly Clarkson whose sales were "Stronger" (you knew I had to say it!) Kelly saw a 44% increase in sales to reach 15K in sales which actually placed her ahead of Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" in sales and in BillBoard ranking (Kelly was #19, Carrie was #21) That makes a grand total of 915K for Kelly and 722K for Carrie. The next Idol album on my chart is one recommended by one of the few people who actually comment on my blog, but since he does, I will add the "Sparkle" soundtrack featuring Jordin Sparks to my list! In its fourth week in came in with sales of 14K to places right behind Kelly and Carrie at #25 on the chart and has sold 49K in total. The "Sparkle" soundtrack is selling at an unusual pattern since it started off with only 12K and 7K in sales its first two weeks, but has sold better the last two weeks (16K last week and 14K this week). The final Idol album on the BillBoard Top 200 also saw an increase in sales and is none other than the best selling Idol over the past 12 months. Yes, Scotty McCreery's "Clear As Day" saw another increase to sell 4K more and land at #129 to bring his total sales to 1,106,000. If he can keep this up for 5 more weeks he may end up in the BillBoard Top 200 a full year after his release (for Kelly that is almost guaranteed).

As for the Season 11 EP and their sales, the only one registering much of anything is Phillip Phillips who sold another 4K to land at #132 on the charts (behind Scotty, can you believe it?) which brings his total to 70K. Brian only lists Hollie at "less than 1K" on his chart, so I have no idea how well the other Season 11 contestants are selling (Joshua Ledet, Skylar Laine, Jessica Sanchez).

Movie Review: Finding Nemo (3D) (2003/2012)

My thoughts on the 3D conversion, Partysaurus Rex, and the film itself!

This past weekend, I had the amazing opportunity to watch a limited advance screening of the 3D re-release of the Disney-Pixar classic, Finding Nemo. It was an incredible experience, and I would like to share my thoughts about the film, and whether or not this 3D re-release is worth your time and money.

Simply put, it is. Read on!

Finding Nemo is the fifth collaboration between Walt Disney Pictures and the revered Pixar Animation Studios. Originally released in 2003, the movie was a box office smash, grossing more than $800 million worldwide. It also won the Oscar for Best Animated Feature and still is the highest selling DVD of all time.

After taking us to the worlds of toys, bugs, and monsters, this time around, Disney-Pixar take us underwater, to the depths of the Great Barrier Reef, Australia. Marlin is an overprotective clownfish who goes to great lengths to protect his only son, Nemo from harm. But when Nemo gets carried away by a scuba diver and ends up in an aquarium, Marlin decides to brave all odds and search the entire ocean for his son. Along the way, he meets up with Dory, a forgetful blue tang fish, crosses paths with vegetarian sharks, meets a century-old turtle, and ends up in the stomach of a whale...all in the name of finding his son, who himself is trying to escape the aquarium and meet his dad again.



In the nearly ten years since its original release, the movie looks and feels new as ever. That goes to show just how cutting edge its animation is.

I sadly did not see the original film in 2003, but did catch it later on DVD. And I have never been that big of a Nemo fan. My favorite Pixar movie is still The Incredibles. But I now can proudly say that Finding Nemo is simply awesome. The breathtaking animation, witty dialogue and excellent voicework (special mention to Ellen DeGeneres as Dory!) all add up to an unmatched experience. Even though I had seen this film many times before, it had me tearing up inside my 3D glasses!

"Hi. I'm Dory."

What I don't like about the film? How episodic it is. The movie switched from one episode to another really fast. There's the shark scene, then the lantern fish scene, then the jellyfish, then the turtles, then the whale, and finally the climax, with the aquarium scenes in between. It's an odd and minor complaint, but is rather noticeable. However, the treatment and development of each character is really cool, and the film wraps up in a really satisfying way.

"That's a big butt."

SPECIAL FOCUS: 3D; PARTYSAURUS REX

THE 3D: Like I mentioned, Finding Nemo is returning to theaters in next-gen 3D. So obviously, the 3D addition is an important selling point for the film. It's really good, and the extra dimension adds to the film's rich visuals. Some particular sequences of note are the jellyfish scene, the turtles scene ("The EAC, dude"), and the inside of the whale. It didn't feel like individual layers, but felt very natural and real. Really cool and eye-popping stuff. The 3D really immerses you into the ocean, and makes all that particulate matter visible and surrounds you with it. It's really very cool. I also noticed things I had never seen before, like the sheen of Marlin and Nemo's scales. Maybe it was the big screen and not the 3D, but I never noticed that the dentist had a "Highlights" magazine in his room.

Some of the colorful supporting cast

However, sadly the 3D effects tend to darken the screen a bit. But that happens with every 3D film, doesn't it? Also, I noted that the film was presented in a funny aspect ratio. It didn't really fill up the entire screen and seemed cropped somehow.
 
That said, the 3D really adds a lot to this film. You will find yourself gasping and jumping in your seat when the shark snaps his jaws in your face, or when the turtles take you into the Vortex of Terror. It's a unique experience and really transforms this film. Overall, the 3D is very well done and is not just a lazy conversion.
Once again, I have to say that animation HAS to be in 3D. It's like 3D was tailor-made for animation!

"Maybe a different dialect."

PARTYSAURUS REX: Another selling point for people who have already seen Nemo is the new Pixar short film, Partysaurus Rex. This new Toy Story Toon takes us back to some of our beloved characters from the Toy Story world. It's bath time for Bonnie and she takes Rex along to play in the bathtub. But after the bath, the toys are left behind hopelessly in the tub, so Rex decides to turn on the water again and turn the tub into a party! It's great to see the wild side of Rex for a change, but above all, it's just great to see some old friends again! Since the short is just a few minutes long, I won't go into details or spoilers , but just say that it's a lot of fun! The water-themed short is a perfect match for Finding Nemo, in case you noticed.

Partysaurus Rex. Image courtesy Disney-Pixar and Entertainment Weekly

 

CLOSING THOUGHTS:

Finding Nemo is a near perfect film. I simply can't recommend this film more. Not just as a Disney or Pixar fan, but as someone who loves good movies, I suggest you go watch this when it comes your side. And take the kids along and introduce them to this classic! The 3D effects are great, but what's better is experiencing this film all over again in the movie theater.
A true, fun, hilarious and heartwarming adventure that goes beyond the depths of the ocean. Another Disney-Pixar classic.

Found.

RATING: ★★★★★ (Excellent!)

Three Idol Winners Break 100K Barriers!

This week was a good sales week for three separate American Idol winners, all who saw good sales increases, each remaining again in the BillBoard 200 and all breaking through a 100K barrier on their total sales. Again I will start off with Scotty McCreery's "Clear As Day" whose line color I have now changed to green since he keeps on earning more money for his label! His sales increased by 42% to sell 3,000 units for the week and take him to 1,103,000 in total sales. He made me increase the maximum on my total sales graph to 1.2M and also kept himself in the BillBoard 200, improving this week to #141. Not to be outdone was the original Idol winner, Kelly Clarkson, who saw her sales increase a whopping 81% to sell 10K this week and reach the 900K threshold in total sales. Her Billboard rank also improved, putting her at #35, a position she has not held for over a couple months. But the top selling Idol for the week is again Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" with a 15% increase of 17K in sales, letting her pass the 700K threshold to land at 707K total sales and a #17 chart position after 16 weeks.

David Archuleta's "Begin" also landed in the BillBoard 200 at #138 with 4K in sales, but with a 68% drop it will likely fall off the chart next week. Still David has a two week total of 14K in sales. I was also happy to see Daughtry's "Break the Spell" back on the list which had not been there for a while. My last number for him was in the 440K range a few months ago so I had to fudge some intermediate numbers to bring him up to his current total of 466K.

As for the Season 11 EP sales, this week Phillip is the only EP still on the BillBoard 200, selling another 5K to land him at #89 with 67K in total sales. Joshua Ledet and Skylar Laine continue to match each other in sales (2K sold each, 30K and 27K totals respectively), Hollie Cavanagh sold another 1,000 units, and Jessica Sanchez is again missing from Brian's list. I am curious what Jessica's total sales number is at this point, but to be kind I am bumping it up to 14K total since Hollie is quickly gaining on her otherwise with total sales now of 11K. Jessica must have sold 1,000 units in the past 4 weeks!

Album Review: "David Archuleta: Begin." (2012)

"Begin" Copyright 2012 Shadow Mountain Records

Four years ago, the world was introduced a young seventeen year old with the voice of an angel. David Archuleta was a global sensation thanks to his performance on Season 7 of American Idol. Although he didn't win, he finished a close second, and has since gone on to find success in the industry.

Currently serving a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints in Chile, David has released his 5th studio album this month. Featuring 10 tracks, 9 of which are covers of popular songs and one being an original, "Begin" sounds distinctly like David's style. Below I will do a song-by-song review of the album.

1. "Beautiful" (Christina Aguilera): A great way to open up the album. I have always loved this song and David does justice to it. Although he never really sings, "I am beautiful," for obvious reasons, he changes it to "You are beautiful". A good effort.

2. "Somewhere Only We Know" (Keane): Another great choice. A sentimental, nostalgic song, David sings it with the right amount of emotion. However, I found him to be singing it a little higher than the original. Or maybe he kept the same key and had to sing it a little higher. Sometimes David sounds uncomfortable, especially in the high notes. But a good version nevertheless.

3. "Everybody Hurts" (R.E.M.): A pretty big song for David to do, but then he's sung pretty much every big song on Idol. He stayed true to the original and didn't change anything. I liked it!

4. "Don't Give Up" (Peter Gabriel, Kate Bush): I had never heard this song before, and was glad I got introduced to it. The highlight of this song was the presence of Libbie Linton. She has a beautiful voice and lends the song much tenderness. A very inspirational song, and definitely one of the best on the album!

5. "Angel" (Sarah McLachlan): I thought I didn't know this song, but during the chorus I was like "Oh! I've heard this!" Nice song, overall. Maybe a little safe and snoozy, but then again, this album isn't meant to be very commercial. (More on that later)

6. "Bridge Over Troubled Water" (Simon and Garfunkel): Big song alert! David kills it! Great, great, great. Awesome. Love it.

7. "Broken": The lone original song on the album. And of course, an inspirational one. Not a radio hit, this one, but a great addition to the album. Deep and meaningful lyrics and convincing delivery make it a great song.  I love when David sings the high notes, they sound very real and touching.

8. "True Colors" (Cyndi Lauper): Needs no introduction, this one. David changes it up a bit, making the tempo slower and making it more emotional. Can't really go wrong with a song like this!

9. "Pride (In the Name of Love)" (U2): I had heard OF this song before, but had never heard it itself. And it's the only fast song on this album (which goes to show how slow the songs are). But it's a good one, nice to hear it for the first time.

10. "Be Still My Soul": And finally, a hymn. It's a nice way to wrap up the album. Soft, tender and beautiful. A worthy rendition.

Overall, this is a ballad album, filled with mostly inspirational and uplifting songs. Which is good, because David is now serving a mission, so it's very apt. And this is a good album to fill you up with good feelings. It does not have commercial sensibilities, and is a small, personal album.

David Archuleta has quite a unique voice, which allows him to sing many different types of songs ranging from upbeat pop to demure, toned down ballads. If you are a lover of slow, uplifting songs which make you feel good, this is a great album to have. If you are an American Idol or David Archuleta fan (like me) then this is a no-brainer. Although I wish there were a few faster or upbeat songs here, the fact that we won't be hearing from David for the next two years is reason enough to get this!

RATING: ★★★

American Idol Albums Sales Numbers - Better Late Than Never

BillBoard 200 Rankings, yellow= "Clear As Day", orange = "Stronger", blue = "Blown Away"

I was waiting last week to find the Idol Chatter Album Sales numbers, but never found them. Luckily the sales numbers were posted today! A couple of interesting tidbits on this weeks numbers. First off being the re-entry of "Clear As Day" into the BillBoard Top 200. It appears Scotty McCreery had a slight increase last week to bring in another 2,000 in sales to bring his total to 1,099,000 and land him #182 on the chart. Along with Carrie Underwood's "Blown Away" and Kelly Clarkson's "Sronger" his is the only other Idol contestant in the Top 200 not counting the Season 11 EP sales and the debut of David Archuleta's "Begin" album. As usual Carrie continues to lead the way with sales of 16K placing her at #16 and with total sales of 689K. Kelly saw her sales slips slightly, but with 6K more her total is up to 889K and she remains in the Top 75 for over 40 weeks now. Archie debuts this week at #28 with sales of 11K for his latest album. I will wait to see how well its sales hold up next week before I add it to my graph.

As for the Season 11 EP sales, with the live tour still going strong, the sales for Phillip and crew keep marching along. Once again Phillip Phillips's EP leads the rest in sales, almost matching the sales of the other contestants combined. Phillip sold 7K more to bring his total to 62K, whereas Joshua Ledet and Skylar Laine each sold about 3K to end up at #157 and #177 on the charts (for totals of 28K and 25K respectively.) Again Jessica Sanchez does not show up on the list, but Hollie Cavanagh does with <1,000 in sales and a total of 10K. At this rate Hollie will catch up to Jessica's total in a couple weeks if I do not get any more numbers for Jessica!

Season 11 EP Sales Total

Season 11 EP BillBoard Ranking

Movie Review: Toy Story (1995)

It's just too hard to sit here and think of enough words to describe Toy Story. Simply put: it is one of my favorite films of all time, period. I have seen this movie more than a dozen times (maybe even more!), and when I re-watched it today, I was filled with all the emotions I always feel each time I watch it.

Like Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, which was the first-ever animated film, Toy Story was the first ever computer animated film. Released in 1995, when Disney was in the midst of their animation "renaissance", Toy Story put a little studio called Pixar (heard of it?) on the map, and reinvented animated film in the process. Not bad for a studio that made TV commercials for a living.

Directed by John Lasseter, Toy Story tells the story of, believe it or not, toys. When toys are not being played with, they come to life. They have emotions, problems and relationships like humans do. Woody (voice of Tom Hanks), a pull-string cowboy doll, is the favorite toy of a boy named Andy. But when Andy gets a flashy new space ranger toy named Buzz Lightyear (voice of Tim Allen), Woody's status as top toy is threatened. So begins a roller coaster ride of ups and downs, with Woody and Buzz realizing that what matters most is true friendship.

"Falling with style!"

I can't say more for Toy Story that hasn't been already said. It was a huge commercial and critical success, leading to two equally classic sequels. Everything just works in this film, the characters are flawed and endearing, the story is gripping and fast paced, and the music (it's not a musical) matches the film perfectly. Several Disney films are quotable, but almost every word spoken in Toy Story is worth remembering. The supporting cast, consisting of dozens of colorful characters including Mr. Potato Head, Hamm, Slinky Dog, Rex and Bo Peep, are hilarious, memorable, and do not overstay their stay. The film also features cameos from famous toys like a Trollz Doll, an Etch-a-Sketch, and even a Battleship board game.

The supporting cast

The animation is top-notch for its time, considering this film is nearly seventeen years old, it still looks striking and polished. Textures, lines and surfaces are clearly noticeable. It is this kind of painstaking, expensive animation that makes Disney-Pixar collaborations stand out every time.

You've Got a Friend in Me.

Computer animated films are the norm today, with traditional hand-drawn animation given a  niche status. While I personally would love to see a revival of 2D animation, it is films like Toy Story that make 3D animation worthwhile. A good story, matched with groundbreaking animation. This is the Pixar mantra, people.

It was the phenomenal success of Toy Story that led Pixar to create a string of critical and commerical hits, including Finding Nemo, The Incredibles, Up, and their recent hit, Brave. Pixar's focus on storytelling above technical wizardry makes their films all the more classic, and that was established with Toy Story.
All the praise is legitimate, because Toy Story, apart from it's historical and cultural significance, is just a fantastic film. A genuine classic which will be treasured for years to come.

RATING: ★★★★★ (Excellent!)

One Month Since I Left Facebook

Are you on Facebook?

If you're one of the billion "normal" people, you probably are. You also probably checked your Facebook before visiting this page. Or you will soon after reading this. Either way, Facebook is a pretty big thing today.

Today marks exactly one month since I left Facebook. Let's say that I left because I wanted to be responsible for my own happiness, not depend on others for that. It's actually pretty crazy once you think about it. With every status update, every picture added, every comment, people clamour for more and more "Likes".And don't even mention the thousands of "friends" people have online! "You have 2358 Friends? how cool!"

Not.

You see dear readers, I am not against Facebook as a platform to connect with your loved ones. That is great. I am, however, against the use of Facebook to garner attention. Because we feel great when people comment or Like our pictures, it becomes an addiction. We want more. And more.

Please do not depend on Facebook for your happiness! I have said this before and emphasize this again: you are responsible for your own happiness. True happiness is not the sum total of comments and Likes on our profile. That is temporary and will fade away. True happiness is when you accomplish something on your own after a lot of hard work. It is talking to your family and friends in person, laughing along with them and sharing experiences with them.

Sure, Facebook is a great platform to meet and connect. But once you start basing your happiness on a website, you cross the safety line. One month ago, I decided to permanently delete my account. Since then, I revamped this blog, spoke to family and friends on the phone and in person, and have found time to do more productive things. I can truly say that I am no longer dependent on a multi-million dollar corporation for my personal well being.

I will return to Facebook some day. Whether in a few days, a few months or a few years. But when I do, I most certainly will not depend on it as the primary source of my happiness.

What about you? What are your views on Facebook? Is it okay to live on a website? And are people who are not on Facebook psychos? Sound off!

The Olympic Gold Medal in Gymnastics goes to... Phillip Phillips

American Idol Season 11 EP Sales Totals

Now that the womens gymnastics events are over on the 2012 Summer Olympics we can clearly see that the big winners for the United States, were Aly Raisman, Gabby Douglas... and American Idol winner, Phillip Phillips! For the week Phillip saw big increases in sales of both his hit single, "Home" and for his American Idol EP which includes that single. Whereas the other Top 5 finalists saw there sales "tumbling" for the week (-8% for Joshua Ledet, -12% for Skylar Laine, -13% for Hollie Cavanagh, Jessica Sanchez again not listed), Phillip saw his sales "vault" 12% for sales of 7,000 and total sales for his EP jumping and flipping to 55K. His Olympic driven single has done even better, with a 15% increase to 47K downloads, bringing his total to 617K, a golden effort for sure. Joshua is still at #151 on the BillBoard chart but, Skylar just barely hangs into the Top 200 at #199. Hollie and Jessica are both still off the list, but Phillip actually improved slightly to #51 after 5 weeks.

American Idol Season 11 EP BillBoard rankings

As for the rest of the American Idol alumni album sales, the same artists remain at the top of the list. Repeat after me, Carrie, Kelly, Scotty, Adam. They have all held very consistent sales over the summer. Carrie Underwood had an especially good week seeing not only a big jump in sales for her current album "Blown Away" (16K more sales to reach 673K total, #20 on the BillBoard 200) but even her debut album "Some Hearts" which sold 2K units to reach its current astonishing total of 7.224 million units. Kelly Clarkson's "Stronger" also had a good week which matched her sales last week of 7K (#55 on the chart, 884K total) and Scotty McCreery's "Clear As Day" sold another 2K, which although a slight decrease still continues to increase his impressive total to 1.097 million. Adam Lambert's "Trespassing" also sold another 2K bringing his total to 148K. Idol Chatter also listed a few other Idols who have sold 1,000 to 2,000 more in sales including Mandisa's "What If We Were Real", Lauren Alaina's "Wildflower", and the debut albums from the two Caseys (Casey Abrams and Casey James).

Scotty and Adam's departure from the BillBoard Top 200 leave only Carrie and Kelly left (excluding the Season 11 EP releases), but I will leave "the guys" on the graph just so it does not look so empty. Plus it is fun to compare to see how Scotty's chart record stayed low better than Kelly's initially, but how after nine months Kelly has become even more consistent than "Mr. Consistency" with 40 straight weeks in the Top 75 albums in the country.

Mystery Girl

Have you ever had a moment where you meet someone you really like, but disappears before you get to know him/her?

Well, today at college that happened to me! I was in the English department, looking at the noticeboard, and got out a pen and paper to note down the timetable. There was a bit of a crowd in front of the board, and I couldn't see well. So I moved around and went next to this girl who was also reading the notices. At once, I got an overwhelming smell. Like perfume... and... shampoo...? I guess...! Whatever it was, I was like, Wow.

And I couldn't concentrate on the notices any more.

Anyway, this girl was like, talking to people. Asking questions and stuff. And I happened to hear one, because she was talking in English and when someone talks in English in The University of Allahabad, everyone takes notice. That's because the primary language spoken is Hindi, and English is usually reserved for conversations with teachers and in class.
So, she was asking someone, "Are these classes co-ed or are the boys and girls separate?" and nobody seemed to be giving her an answer.
Me, being the helpful person that I am, said, from behind her, "You're in the first year right?"

She turns around, looks at me, and I'm like, she's cute!
"Yes."

"Well, your classes might be separate from the boys. That's only for the first years."

And she says, "Oh okay, thanks," smiles, and leaves.

And I, smooth as I am, go back to looking at the board!!!

What was I thinking!?

I really wish I had spoken to her a bit more, I don't know, maybe I was a little spellbound in that moment.
But man was I crazy! By the time I left, she was nowhere to be found! I thought, How could she disappear in two minutes?

I have to find her. It won't be easy, because there's hundreds of people in college! Plus, she's a first year and I'm a third year! This is a mission and I'm going to persevere! I know something special when I see it and I am not letting this go!

As always, stay with me for the updates! To be continued!

Top 10 Things I Notice While Watching Preschool TV

Today I spent the morning watching preschool TV with my nephew Azrael and niece Ariana. While watching, I made some observations that I think should be shared. So here are the

TOP 10 THINGS THAT I NOTICE WHILE WATCHING PRESCHOOL TV:

1. It is impossible to get into an elevator without sing-counting the numbers from 1 to 10.

2. The ABC song is too catchy and annoying, it should be banned.

3. The adult actors in these shows are a little weird.

4. What is with that sun-baby in Teletubbies?

5. Primary colours can blind you.

6. Stories are read extra slow...

7. No matter how much the actors and characters sing and dance, your toddler will remain glued firmly to the chair.

8. It is a crime for song choruses to be repeated 10 times in succession.

9. No need to pretend, I know that is a green screen behind you.

10. The purple Teletubby scares me a little.

The face of terror.

All I know is that I am not watching any more preschool stuff for now.

Oh great, I was humming the Teletubbies theme song unconsciously. D'oh!

Toddlers and Technology

My brother Ryan and his family are visiting our house for the summer. It's really great to have them around! Especially my nephew and niece who are as adorable as they were when I last saw them. In fact, I met my niece Ariana for the first time! My nephew Azrael is as naughty and energetic as ever.

Looking at how the kids were passing their time really made me jog my memories and think back to how I used to spend time as a young child. Of course, I don't remember what I used to do back when I was three, but I certainly was not staring at a screen almost all day. Azrael, age three, loves his cartoons, and will throw a tantrum if you change the channel, and Ariana, only eleven months old, is fascinated by smartphones. Which makes me a little concerned! After all, when I was growing up, I did watch TV and the occassional VHS, but certainly not all through the day! I had toys, I drew a lot, and my mom read me books. A LOT of books.

Of course, I don't know flip about parenting and probably couldn't "parent" a potted cactus, but seeing the behavior of today's kids is a little disheartening. They lose interest in toys, think books are boring, and probably don't even know most of the classic nursery rhymes. Give them an iPad and that's enough. The worst part is the dependency the kids develop on these gadgets.

Hey, I don't mean to be all boring and old fashioned here, but come on, isn't it a little early to give a three year old the laptop to play Devil May Cry 4 ?

What do you think? Is it okay to put technology in toddlers' hands? Or should we wait till they're old enough?

Some Dreams Do Come True!

Hey there!

Have you seen the new "The Bucket List" page at the top of the screen yet? Well, it's still incomplete, but I will keep regularly adding to it as and when a new aspiration pops into my head.

Until then I am pleased to say that two of the aforementioned dreams have already come true! As I didn't have my blog up then I didn't post pictures, but now I would like to share with you good people the proof that (some) dreams do come true!

First things first. #62. Be an extra in a movie.
As glamorous as this sounds, it really was a pain in the butt! In 2008, my high school, St. Joseph's College, Allahabad was chosen as the set for a new family movie called Chal Chalein. In Hindi, that means "Let's Go".

 

Seriously, Let's Go. Far away  from here.

It's all about parental pressure on kids and stuff. I honestly didn't like it a bit. It was too long and drawn out. And the acting was just plain bad. I believe the highest review was 2 stars out of 5.
Give it a look-see, maybe you'll find something you like which I didn't.

Anyway...I was part of a group of students who snuck into the shooting were made extras in the film. There was really nothing much, just walking around in the background and stuff. I loved the experience and it gave me an insight into how films are made.

So here's some movie screenshots which feature MOI somewhere in the background. Sorry for the low-res images, this was a really low budget movie!*

Me! In all my blurry low-budget glory.

I don't know about you, but I think I look good!

 There's a few more scenes but I don't want to be embarrassed any further, so let's move on.

Dream #15. Visit Dubai! I have been wanting to visit Dubai since I was little! It's a really rich country in the Gulf and my Aunt Brigitte and my brother Ryan and his family live there, I also have second cousins and family friends there. I was fortunate to visit the country in Summer 2011. It was awesome! Really hot though, the sun was stifling! That didn't stop me from taking pictures though. I went shopping at the world's largest mall, The Dubai Mall, saw the world's tallest building, the Burj Khalifa (but was unable to fulfill Dream #31), and saw the world's most luxurious (7-star!) hotel the Burj Al Arab (also unable to achieve Dream #30). A lot of superlatives in Dubai!!!

Here's a pic of me and my dad near the Burj Al Arab:

What a memorable day!

Anyway, so that's 2 dreams out of 100 fulfilled!

The point is...as I continue to make my dreams a reality, remember that YOUR own dreams are possible too! Never give up! Don't stop believing!

Gary

* P.S. I don't own the rights to the images from Chal Chalein. Quite honestly, I'm glad I don't.

A Walk in the Rain

It was raining very heavily this morning. Still, my mom, being the "character builder" that she is, sent me out to the local bakery to get some buns for breakfast.

Of course, I protested. "But it's raining!"
"So what? Take an umbrella!" she said.
Very funny.

Anyway, I got dressed and set out. Without an umbrella. I don't know why, but something told me I wouldn't need one. And I didn't, because the rain was just a strong sprinkle now.

Walking along, I thought of the last time I took a walk in the rain. I couldn't remember it! But at that moment, I knew that it didn't matter. I was in the present. In the now. I made sure to splash in all the puddles I passed. I didn't care what people thought. I didn't bother about my clothes getting ruined. I was free and loving it. The air was cool and fresh, a light spray fell on my face.

On the way back from the bakery, I thought. A strange realization came to me. This was me, connected to nature. No phone, no iPod, no internet. Just me, in tune with God's beautiful creation. I felt strangely at peace. This was real happiness. It had been so long since I felt that way!

A lot of us take our lives for granted. We depend on technology for our basic happiness. And that is understandable, it is the 21st Century and we all have hectic lives. But when was the last time you stopped and thought? When was the last time you were responsible for your own happiness?

Material things may make us happy for now, but eventually we are driven to more and more greed.
Today, stop and think. You are the source of your own happiness. Depending on people and inanimate objects will not grant you peace.

Go on, be happy today!

Gary

The Pokémon Phenomenon - and Me!

Today I was swept by a wave of nostalgia. I was reminiscing on my preteen days, back in 2002-04 and how much those years have influenced me. For most part, a large portion of my childhood was devoted to Disney. The same way, from age eleven onwards, another thing that turned my world around was Pokémon.

You've probably heard all about the Pokémon phenomenon. A franchise that started way back in 1998, took the world be storm. Hundreds of colorful creatures were yours for the taking. The first games, Pokémon Red and Blue, were released for the Game Boy and became so popular that there was soon a TV show, a Trading Card Game, clothes, and a LOT of merchandise. So it's no surprise that once I turned ten or eleven, I was introduced to the Pokémon world.

At first I never got the deal, because there were kids in my class who would collect and trade the cards. I was mildly interested, but never got into the "scene". However one day, I saw "Pokémon: The Movie 2000", which I thought was just incredible in every way (it is a great movie!) Soon enough, in Summer of 2003, when I was eleven, the Pokémon TV show started in India!!! I watched the first episode and was sold. Then onwards, I never missed a single episode for the next four years and six seasons (yeah, we got it a little late).

And it was no surprise, but Pokémon was literally, EVERYWHERE.

Food companies gave away free Pokémon merchandise with their products. There were clothes, bags, water bottles, lunch boxes, clocks, even bed sheets! It was crazy and I was loving it! For the next couple of years, I devoted my life to Pokémon. I watched the TV show, purchased cards, bought hundreds of packets of chips for the free Tazo inside. 

So now, nine years later, I would like to share with you people my Pokémon Collection :)

Pokémon toys! Not much, but I love them!

Above are some toys that I have collected over the years. My first one was Charmander, I remember I had just finished my exams and was so happy when I was done that I went with my parents to the toy store and bought a Charmander! Mew is my personal favorite, you can pull it back and it watch it move!

Pikachu and Minun. From McDonalds!

Pikachu and Minun are toys that shoot these little discs out when you press their heads! So cute! I got them in 2006 with my McDonald's Happy Meal! Sadly Pokémon hasn't returned to McDonalds in India since then. :(

My whopping collection of Pokémon Diamonds, Greeting Cards, Stickers and Chase Cards

Above you will see some of my Pokémon merchandise. Diamond Cards (free with Kissan products!), Greeting Cards, Stickers and Chase Cards (free with Perfetti van Melle products!).

Tazos and Flippers!

Frito Lay was actually the first to jump in on the Pokémon bandwagon, offering Pokémon Tazos and later, Flippers and Jenga Cards with their products like Cheetos and Uncle Chipps.

Jenga Cards!

Of course, Pokémon was a global phenomenon, and I got in on some of the action! My Pokémon Trading Card collection grew exponentially! Sadly though, I don't have a complete deck, as we don't get full Theme Decks in India. :( But there's always tomorrow!

Pokémon TCG Cards! Always the best!

Digging around, I found something special. A rare Pokémon Movie Trading Card, which was made in 1999 to promote the First Movie! Sadly, it's in pretty bad condition.

How rare.

Below are some of my Pokémon books! The Black and White Handbook I got just a few months ago! I also have a bunch of Pokémon manga, but I will put them up some other time. 

The Official Annual, a Fire Evolver,Talent Showdown storybook, diaries, and Handbooks!

Here's a Ruby and Sapphire poster I got with my Handbook! It features all the Pokémon from the Hoenn region!

Classic.

Oh, here's some things I made! A Jigglypuff alarm clock (doesn't work), and some drawings I put up in my room!

Doesn't work!

Cool, huh?

The starters are the cutest!

And here's where it all started: the games. I have three. Pokémon Pearl, Pokémon SoulSilver, and Pokémon White. My personal favorite is Pokémon SoulSilver! These games have sold millions upon millions of copies in recent years. If you haven't played these, give them a shot! They're simply awesome.

 

This is where it all starts!

So there you have it! A peek into my large Pokémon Collection! The amazing thing is, the Pokémon franchise still is going strong! There's new games (Black 2 and White 2) due in October. Season 15 of the TV show is going strong, showing a new episode every week! Every few months, a new expansion to the TCG is released! It's still a phenomenon, proved by the fact that the most recent games, Black and White,have sold more than 11.5 million copies, so far! It's huge and still awesome.

My childhood was influenced by Pokémon in such a big way. I made some great friends (some whom I am still in contact with!), learned to interact with people I didn't like, and most importantly, it helped me have a happy childhood. Whenever I was scared, or in trouble or going through something difficult, I knew I had the vast world of Pokémon to fall back on for comfort.

What about you? Did Pokémon influence your childhood the way it did mine? Or did something else? Sound off! In the meantime, I'm going exploring in the woods. Maybe I'll discover a Legendary Pokémon!

You Gotta Catch 'Em All!
Much love, 

Gary

Movie Review: Brave (2012)

Going into the theater for “Brave”, I was experiencing mixed emotions. Yes, I knew this was the newest Disney-Pixar film. I also knew that we have come to expect anything from Pixar. In the past two years alone, Pixar has made two sequels. In 2010 was the smash hit, “Toy Story 3”, which broke records and became the highest grossing animated film in history, earning $1 billion worldwide. It won the Oscar for Best Animated Film and was honored by being nominated for Best Picture – the highest accolade – that year. The following year, 2011, Pixar released “Cars 2”, which was panned by critics and disappointed many a Pixar fan. However, the movie was a commercial hit, earning more than $500 million worldwide and even more in merchandising revenue.

Thus, I was slightly worried. What if Brave turned out to be another disappointment? I wanted to see Pixar back on top. And in the end, I got my wish. Brave is another winner for Pixar.
In development since around 2006, Brave was caught up in a few controversies. Its original title was “The Bear and the Bow”, and was being helmed by Disney veteran Brenda Chapman. A few years later though, the story hit a rough patch, and seeing that it was going nowhere, Brenda Chapman was made to exit the film. New director Mark Andrews was brought in, and the title was changed to simply, “Brave”. 

Shooting for her own hand.

“Brave” was the brainchild of Brenda Chapman, who wanted to make a movie about her relationship with her own mother. Thus, Brave tells the story of Merida (voice of Kelly Macdonald), a young Scottish princess, who is an expert at archery. A free spirit whose personality matches her fiery locks, Merida wishes to live her own life at her own pace. Unbeknownst to her, her mother, Queen Elinor (voce of Emma Thompson) wishes to have Merida married off. The Queen arranges for three suitors from neighboring Scottish clans to compete for her daughter’s hand. When Merida finds out, she has a disagreement with her mother and storms off, very upset. Stumbling upon an eccentric witch deep in the forest, Merida asks her for a spell to “change her mother”, and thus, her fate. Sadly, Merida gets more than she bargains for and it is up to her to undo a terrible curse before it is too late. Family relations are tested and true bravery comes to the fore.

Definitely Brave.

First things first. The film is simply gorgeous to look at. Pixar always pushes themselves with every film they do and this is hands down one of their most technically advanced films. Merida’s intricate hair itself is a technical marvel to behold. The Scottish locations are beautifully created, with forest scenes being a standout. The 3D effects are put to good use as well, with this also being one of the best 3D movies I have ever seen.

Brave is, in essence, a feminist story. The film centers on Merida and her mother, with King Fergus (Merida’s dad), Merida’s mischievous triplet brothers, the Lords and their sons all being relegated to supporting roles. In fact, much of the comic relief comes from the male characters. The action scenes, while few and far between, are gripping and very effective. The film relies on magical and mystical elements, which move the story forward.

"Wee devils, more like."

Critics were not very keen to embrace Brave. The movie currently holds a 77% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.com, which while still better than Cars 2’s dismal 38%, is pretty low for a Pixar film. The film was attacked for being a retread of past Disney classics, and most reviews said that it lacked originality. That is true, the movie does feature similar plot points from Disney fairytales, and may not be the most innovative film ever. But here is my retort. If a formula works, why change it? Brave is great as it is, but just because it is a Pixar film does not mean you give it a negative review. Excellence does not happen every single time. And Brave may be far from excellent, but it is definitely a very good film. And besides, didn’t recent films like Tangled follow the same “formula”? Brave isn't even a romantic film! My guess is that had Bravebeen a native Disney film, it would have been met with glowing reviews and accolades. But since this is from Pixar, from whom everyone (me included) has come to expect nothing less than excellence every time, I guess that is the reason Brave is being unfairly bashed. Pixar was very “brave” indeed to make a film like this. It shows their commitment to doing things differently. 

"...It is the one thing we must always be."

Say what you may, I think Brave was one of the best films this year, and easily the best animated film of 2012 (so far!). It is a story of love, friendship and finding yourself. Brave is another great film from Pixar. That said, I look forward to next year’s Pixar outing, Monsters University!

RATING: ★★★★

All American Idol Albums see Sales Drops

As summer blazes on the sales of American Idol album sales continue to drop, not sizzle. Excluding the Season 11 EP sales, there are now only two Idols left in the BillBoard 200 chart, the two you would expect Carrie Underwood with "Blown Away" (13K in sales, #25 with 657K total) and Kelly Clarkson with "Stronger" (7K in sales, #50 with 877K total). One album that is noticeably absent is Scotty McCreery's "Clear As Day" which left the BillBoard 200 for the first time since its release almost 10 months ago, with only 2,000 in sales for the week. Who would have thought the Season 10 winner would have an album remain on the BillBoard 200 chart well past the start of the Season 11 tour? Of course, his total sales of 1.094 million sets the bar high for this year's winner, Phillip Phillips, who does seem to have a very successful single on his hands. I noticed that Adam Lambert's "Trespassing" is not listed in Brian's list this week, but it was barely hanging in the Top 200 last week, so I assume it has dropped out as well. In honor of Scotty's impressive 10 month run, instead of my usual BillBoard 200 chart, I decided to put the total sales chart on top instead.

Next off it is time to generate my graph for the EP sales for Season 11. For the fourth straight week, the sales go from Phillip Phillips (#56, sales of 6K for a total of 48K) to Joshua Ledet (#132, with 3K and a total of 22K) to Skylar Laine (#163 with 3K and a total of 20K), with all three of them on the BillBoard Top 200, and Jessica Sanchez dropping off the chart this week.

Interestingly, this week Hollie is listed as selling 1,000 more units to put her total to 8,000 in total but Jessica is not listed so I am keeping her tally the same as last week (13K). Hopefully that was just a data glitch and her EP has sold at least a thousand copies or so last week.

Interestingly if we look at week #4 from the Season 10 EP sales from last summer we see that Lauren, Haley and James were all around #100 on the chart with sales of 5K, and Scotty was at #26 with sales of 14K (with a whopping total of 86K in 4 weeks). The other three, though, all still had very respectable total sales between 36K and 42K for their first month of sales. I am guessing Interscope may not be as pleased this year with anybody without the initials "PP".