[Movie Review] The Theory of Everything

It wasn't the fact that this movie is life of the great physicist Stephen Hawking nor was the truth that the lead actor has won the Oscar for his splendid performance as the scientist that made me watch this film. It was the poster. The poster made me see this film. The way Jane and Stephen Hawking held hands and the poster caught the movement when they twirled with joy. And it was upside down that made it even attractive. So good... 

Moving onto the movie. 'The Theory of Everything' is the life story of the physicist who has astonished the world with his mind. Directed by James Marsh and adapted from Jane Hawking's memoir "Travelling To Infinity: My Life with Stephen", this movie revolves around Stephen's Cambridge days to the time when he became the world's most renowned scientist of all time despite his motor neuron disease. Eddie Redmayne was not acting at all, he was becoming Stephen Hawking every single minute. There were times when I thought am I seeing a younger Stephen Hawking? No wonder he got the Oscar. Felicity Jones did a fine job of Jane Hawking. Charlie Cox adorned his role as Jonathan quite well. 

As a life story, the movie was intriguing and fast paced but if we look at it just as a movie then it's lacking the point of keeping the viewers glued. There were a few jokes to lighten the plot but the seriousness prevailed throughout. When I said the movie was fast paced, I literally mean it. His life events were depicted so fast that halfway into this movie I thought what the hell are they going to go on with?! It's almost done. But at the end I was satisfied with this movie. After all, I got to know a Brief History of Stephen Hawking's life. Loved the tag line too: His mind changed our world. Her love changed his. 

[Movie Review] The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies

After watching the prequels- 'The Hobbit' and 'The Desolation of Smaug', I had to watch this one. I still cannot get over the fact that all these three movies is based on one small book. How the hell did Peter Jackson managed to produce three movies out of the small book by J R R Tolkien is still a mystery to me. 

This one stars almost the same characters from previous one. Add a couple of doses of Martin Freeman, Richard Armitage, Ian McKellen, Orlando Bloom, Evangeline Lilly, Luke Evans and many other talented actors and you get a great Peter Jackson movie. The story starts off as a continuation to its prequels. This is the battle of five armies for the gold hoarded by the dragon Smaug in the Lonely Mountain. The dwarves with their cousin takes up one side while the Elves want their ancestor's share. Bard the bowman and the people of Lake Town want their promised share. The darkside Azog and army from Gundabad makes up the last two armies. With this the battle of five armies becomes brutal while Bilbo Baggins tries to stop the great war which brings devastation to everyone who values gold more than home. 

Like all of his movies, Peter Jackson has emerged victorious again. The story went in a way which did make sense even if you haven't watched the prequels. There were a few flashbacks and some interesting details if you note carefully. There were times when the viewers are given a continuity of this movie with the Lord of the Rings Trilogy by providing teeny tiny clues. The good thief Bilbo Baggins is the only one who tries to lighten the mood. I couldn't have imagined another Bilbo other than Martin Freeman. Bard the bowman has been well played by Luke Evans. Legolas-Tauriel-Kili triangle poked up here and there. Tauriel wasn't even in the book and Peter Jackson has done a fantastic job of squeezing her into this trilogy. You will not get bored and that's a guarantee. For a one time watch it's a great movie. I am happy that Peter Jackson can finally get a long rest after back to back trilogies. 

[Book Review] Oktober Heat

Doris Dumrauf's "Oktober Heat" is a fascinating mystery novel set in Germany- post Cold War. This one was given to me by the author herself for reviewing and I am truly thankful for that. Before going into more details about the novel, I would like to say about the book's cover. Only one word can describe the cover and that word is A-W-E-S-O-M-E. It is really an awesome cover because the 'music record' is indeed a significant element in this book. I had to say something about the cover because it was so stunning and got along fine with the novel. 

"Oktober Heat" is about Walter Hofmann, a German policeman who encounters a murdered woman which is the starting line for the plot. When Walter comes to know that his best friend Jeff Preston, an American soldier is accused of that murder, he decides to find the real killer and clear his friend's name. In the long run to solve the case, Walter endangers the lives of his friends and family.

"Oktober Heat" is an interesting catch. I loved Walter's character very much. He is an honest policeman who is very bad at getting a date. As any person, Walter also finds himself jealous of his friends and colleagues. When people address his partner as superior, he feels a tinge of jealously but when it really comes to his superiors, he respects them. Walter feels that there are some advice from his chief that he didn't even get from the police academy. Author Doris Dumrauf has done an exemplary job in bringing out the tiny details and facts like the curiosity of a child when he sees a real revolver and the fact that the white borders of picture turns frayed after repetitive use. These small details may not be important but they make a lot more interesting to read. The author has also outlined the difference in life prior to the World War and after it. This is felt when Walter compares the carefree attitude of children with his childhood filled with the dire troubles of war. Addressing people based on their characters like hair colour and looks bring in a different prescriptive and for this I would like to thank the author.

Overall, "Oktober Heat" is a mystery set in the days post Cold War channeling the life of ordinary men, women, children and their obsession with the music of the well renowned singer Elvis Presley. This one was certainly good and was quite fast paced focusing completely on the path of Walter Hoffman who is destined to solve the mystery.