Jamie Bell as Tintin? Ahhhhhhhh!!!

Just returned from college about an hour ago, and I was idly browsing around on the internet, (as usual), when I saw the latest development on the Tintin film being made by Steven Spielberg. I knew that at one time Thomas Sangster was confirmed for the part, but had to drop out when the filming got delayed. And guess who is confirmed to play the role of Tintin in the film adaptation of the Comic Book series? None other than Jamie Bell.
I mean, Jamie Bell, what were they thinking? I did go to see Billy Elliot when it was released in the year 2000 (eight long years ago, when I was eight years old) and do agree that Jamie, aged fourteen then, acted pretty decently there.
I will always remember that film cause right after that mom told me what 'gay' meant (as in Homosexual. Till then I just knew that Gay meant Happy!) But I seriously don't think Jamie is suited for the role. Maybe that's just my view. Maybe I would never be happy, because I am completely opposed to them making a film adaptation of a timeless comic book series. But then again, what does my opinion matter to Steven Spielberg? He'll just go and spoil all the magic of Tintin. Good luck, Spielberg.

Also confirmed as part of the cast Daniel Craig who is going to be playing the villain's role. It would be great if he played the part of Roberto Rastapopoulos.

xo
Magali

I Feel Sick...

Here I was, with my computer, starting up the browsers and getting ready to blog, when I opened Apple Safari, which always opens onto the Apple Home Page (I was too lazy to change it) when on the site I saw the name of an upcoming film, unmistakably a horror one, 'The Last House On The Left'. It got me interested so I keyed in the name in Google Search and found that it was a 1972 Horror Film being remade in 2009.
I was so disgusted by what I read of the original plot. I know that for some people scaring themselves silly or watching someone being disemboweled is considered as entertainment. But why would anybody even bother to watch a film like that? And why would anybody make a film like that either? The very thought of it makes me shudder. We are horrified by Serial Killers like Charles Manson and the Tate-LaBianca murders in 1969. The gruesome and merciless manner in which they were carried out is unmentionable. Yet tell me, why do people keep quiet when such films are released? And worse still, why do people even watch them? Who are the people that make these films? Are they even human?

xo
Magali

Pop Art!!!

Well, I have mentioned before that I have phases where I Love something a lot for some particular amount of time.

My latest craze is none other than Pop Art. It all started when my mom bought some Diamond Jewelery from a particular brand. The box had a sort of lovely Pop Art Image on it.

I loved it and now I love all of Andy Warhol's pop art- It's fresh, it's beautiful, it's crazy!!! I may one day get a pop art pic made of myself with Photoshop!

xo

Magali

Sorry, was just down with the blues. A review of Slumdog Millionaire also!

Sorry for not posting for so many days, it's just that my cell phone got robbed at the Railway station and I just spent the next few days crying and feeling blue, just not believing that someone took it from right under my nose, and that my Mom wouldn't buy me a cellphone as good as that one. I insisted on getting a cheap one now, that was average priced and I lost it just two months after buying it!
But my Mom didn't give me a hard time, she was rather understanding.
I just spent the last few days listening to the Instrumental Saxophone CDs that I bought the other day, I felt that the saxophone is the best instrument ever! It is the most romantic yet melancholy instrument. It can make you feel in love and can make youcry! I discussed this with my friend, and she said her most favourite instrument is the piano. I went for Slumdog Millionaire yesterday (my second time), and I must say that I do agree with Amitabh Bachchan's comment about it just showing the poor side of Mumbai. But it was a good film nonetheless. I don't understand all the hype about Freida Pinto's role, it's hardy anything and any average Mumbai bimbette could play the role, however Dev Patel does deserve a mention as do the younger versions of Salim and Jamal. There were a lot of goofs in the film, I'd just like to highlight an example-
Just after young Jamal and Salim lose their parents and house and are forced to live in a garbage dump, there is a shot of Mumbai's Green Garbage trucks. Those are the new garbage trucks and have been around since two or maximum three years and could not have been there at that time when Salim and Jamal were young.
So overall the film is OK, but not that good. I've seen better.

xo
Magali

Funny Barbie Dolls

When I was little, I loved Barbies. I mean I really really loved Barbies. I knew ever thing there was to know, I had so many Barbies and kept track of every new thing. But I got over it. In the course of my random browsing on the internet, I have come across some really crazy stuff. Here's two really funny Barbies-
Some guy frustrated with all of the terrorism going on created this masterpiece- Suicide Bomber Barbie. It even comes with an automatic gun!

Here's what you get when you cross Barbie with Hip Hop- Gangsta Bitch Barbie! It's hilarious!

But on a more serious note, many parents believe that letting your young children play with Barbie can be damaging for a child's growth. Though I have cited Xena: Warrior Princess and Powerpuff Girls as my earliest feminist inspirations, I don't think that Barbie damaged me in any way. Maybe some little girls would want to have the impossible perfect figure that the doll is depicted to have, but not me. Rather Barbie was also an inspiration because all of the multiple dolls show that a Girl can do just about anything she wants!

xo

Magali

A Blog Quiz I Took

I Took a Personality Quiz about my Blogging style! Those Personality quizzes almost always get it right!

Your Blogging Type is Artistic and Passionate

You see your blog as the ultimate personal expression - and work hard to make it great. One moment you may be working on a new dramatic design for your blog... And the next, you're passionately writing about your pet causes. Your blog is very important - and you're careful about who you share it with.

What do you think about the result? You can check out your blogging type here.

xo
Magali

Your Fortune For Today Is~

There I was, just surfing the interwebs when I came across this & had to listen.

xo

Magali

Bathroom Singer

I finally decide to post about one of my favourite passtimes- bathroom singing. People usually do it cause they like to hear their own voice, but I just do it cause it pisses my mom off- big time. I love to sing those songs with long draggy lines such as Roxanne by The Police, (an all time favorite!!) When You're Gone by Avril Lavigne and Emotions by Destiny's Child. They really get my mom annoyed!

xo

Magali

Supposed Secret Revealed: Tintin is Gay

I was about to check my email on Yahoo.com yesterday when I came across this headline on the front page of the site- 'The secret of Tintin, 80'. The word 'Tintin' itself was enough to make me click on it and so I did. But I was shocked and horrified to see that some crazy British politician, himself a homosexual, was alleging that Tintin was Gay! Here's an excerpt from the article-

'A callow, androgynous blonde-quiffed youth in funny trousers and a scarf moving into the country mansion of his best friend, a middle-aged sailor? A sweet-faced lad devoted to a fluffy white toy terrier, whose other closest pals are an inseparable couple of detectives in bowler hats, and whose only serious female friend is an opera diva...'
'... And you're telling me Tintin isn't gay?' said Matthew Parris, ex-Tory MP.

Read the complete article here (the original page moved so I had to find another link.)

Anyway, I'm not against the word gay, but come on, Tintin was made for kids. Does Matthew Parris try to find sexual elements in everything? Oh come on! I suppose he thinks that Barney the dinosaur is a pedophile! And Asterix & Obelix are probably in a homosexual relationship too I bet! As for the less than flattering depiction of women and the fact that Madame Bianca Catafiore, the only female from among the 'main' characters of the Tintin comics is a chain smoker and pretty unpleasant and irritating, I think I would have to say that Herge himself came from a very different time, (Remember the attitude towards big game hunting and the African natives in 'Tintin in Congo'?) before the outbreak of Feminism and all, so ideas depicted would obviously be different. Some of the contents of the Old Testament of the Bible talk about women in a very disgusting way. (I'd rather not get further into detail about all of that!) Yet, Bible is the most common and most translated book in the world and Christianity is the most followed Religion! I know that religion and comics are two different things, but if we can turn a blind eye to the Bible, why can't we accept things as they are and let them rest??! Mr. Matthew Parris, you are bringing shame to all gays out there! Stop this nonsense now!

I will end this post with the quote of a fan of Tintin-

'Don't sexualise Tintin,' wrote one fan on the Times website. 'Leave him as the asexual hero I have always unconsciously assumed him to be.'

Amen to that.

xo
Magali

Stewie Mania

Till I was in about 8th grade, I was pretty innocent.

If you had asked me what my favorite TV shows were, I would probably tell you Scooby Doo, Powerpuff Girls & Xena: Warrior Princess (the latter two, believe it or not, were major feminist influences for me early on in my life).

Then about in late 7th or early 8th grade (not sure exactly when) I somehow started watching The Simpsons. I was smart but naive, and was pretty scandalized at first because till then I thought that cartoons were for children. Yet, I liked Simpsons.

Then in 10th grade, I somehow downloaded some South Park episodes. At first, I loved them. But then the very generous use of expletives, and the disgusting antics that supposedly 9 year old characters do, started to get on my nerves.

I had been watching family guy ever since I saw an episode of it on the plane on the way to Malaysia for a vacation in the summer between 8th and 9th grade. I had forgotten about it but I suddenly remembered and got my hands on a few episodes. All of the characters were absolutely adorable, especially Stewie Griffin who is undoubtedly my favorite. I love Stewie! His intelligent and maturity far beyond his years (he's one year old) totally delights me. I also love his affected British accent & the fact that he's so sardonic. He's one really intelligent guy surrounded by a family of idiots. He refers to his dad as 'Fat Man' and calls his mom, Lois by her first name. Also, his is intent on committing Matricide (killing Lois!). He's so devious & cute!

xo
Magali

BOO HOO! Tintin

To do this story justice, I have to start right from the beginning.
I don't remember when I first heard of Tintin, but I've known about him ever since I could read, because along with my father's famous Asterix & Axa comic collection, he had one Tintin comic: Land of Black Gold. I've known and loved Tintin, Snowy, Captain Haddock and the Thompson twins. But recently my dad 'remembered' Tintin again and asked mum to order him the entire collection off the internet. Just a few days later, dad left for the ship (he's a merchant mariner just like Captain Haddock) and a few days after that the comics arrived. They were very beautiful and also hard bound. I took to reading them soon.
I am a fast reader and they are comics after all, so I finished reading the entire collection within three days. I had always known the last book, Tintin and Alph-Art had been left incomplete since the creator of Tintin, Herge, died before he completed it. I felt an immense sadness, like when I realised Karen Carpenter died young. My mom says this shouldn't bother me, I cannot worry about my academic performance but I worry about stuff like this. But I feel atleast when something dies, it should be given a decent burial. This has been left incomplete and it's tearing me up. I ask 'WHY?' 'Why did he die before he could complete it?' stuff like this is enough to make me get the blues for a week or two. In the name of art, WHY??? I will now solemnly end this post with the last panel from the incomplete book, Tintin and Alph-Art.
Rest in Peace, Tintin.

xo
Magali

Hi World!

Hi everybody and welcome to this blog. My name is Magali (Mags for short) and I live in the city of Mumbai, India. I'm sixteen right now, I go to college (right now the Christmas holidays are on). I've just started this blog, which I hope to keep for the rest of my life. Let me tell you some more about myself... My parents gifted me a laptop when I passed out from school, I love writing and aspire to be a great blogger, a journalist for the print media and maybe someday even a successful novelist. I am a Feminist, and cannot tolerate any inequality toward women. I often campaign (mostly through my writings) against female foeticide and infanticide which is quite rampant in rural India. I get greatly enthused about new ideas, but lose that enthusiasm quickly. I excel in things that I love, and completely ignore things that I don't. I'm an only child (no siblings).
The title of this happens to derive from one of my favorite songs, Love etc. by Pet Shop Boys.
This blog will be my sounding board for issues of my personal life, my pet peeves, views and discussions on current affairs (did I mention pet peeves?). I like feedback. There will be lots of questions, and I appreciate people taking part in the polls, leaving comments etc. Thanks for reading, I will post regularly so do come back!

Note: This is the first post I ever wrote for this blog, & I have left it largely untouched for posterity's sake.

The few posts you encounter that are older than this have actually been imported in from an older (now defunct) blog.

xo

Magali

Will it one day be my turn?

Yesterday I couldn't blog because I had to attend a cousin's wedding and go for confessions all in one day. The confessions went quickly, but I had multiple comical setbacks in making the preparations to attend the wedding. I may discuss those some other time. The wedding was nice, and I got lots of complements. I was especially peeved by a new tradition that is emerging here at weddings where all the men present make a circle around the bride and take turns dancing with her. My mom was nudging me and telling me that in a few years it would be my turn. I am so utterly disgusted by my parents because they just can't seem to wait till I get married and "am no longer their responsibility." That coupled with this stupid dance thing makes me more and more determined not to get married and even if I do I will only have a civil marriage and that's that! But seriously, I don't know if I'll ever get married.

When we returned it was a quarter to twelve, and then mom and me just spent half an hour talking after we had changed and scrubbed off whatever little make up we used. I spent most of today reading 'Tintin' comics and was deciding whether I liked Captain Haddock or the Thompson twins more. I'm still undecided.
I'm feeling utterly bored right now, and am off to play 'The West.' I just love lazing around doing nothing in particular! I wonder why everyone doesn't enjoy staying home as much as me?

xo

Magali

New Years Shopping!

My mom and me have never been the party-going types, so we spent new year's eve in our residential complex eating dahi-vadas and dosas. But I believe that we have always been the shopping types, so what better way to spend the first day of the new year than to spend it shopping at a mall?

We did some work in the morning and set off to a popular mall nearby in the evening. After I had eating my staple Chicken Maharajah Mac (Indianised version of the Big Mac) at McDonalds, we just decided to browse around at Crossword, a popular bookstore chain.

This outlet in particular was big and had everything from books to movies, music, stationary and even board games.

We were initially just browsing the Hollywood Movies section when, wonder of wonders, I came across Casualties Of War by Brian DePalma (I've always personally felt that Michael J. Fox would've been one of the greatest actors ever if it wasn't for Parkinson's Disease). I was shocked and overjoyed. Even though I myself already have this masterpiece, Indian sellers of Hollywood films usually only stock mainstream hits and not the type of critically acclaimed films that I like. So that made me very happy.

Then we moved on to the Hindi films section and saw that Rock On!! was available on VCD (sadly the DVD didn't seem to be available). Even though we had already seen it in a theatre, we loved it so we bought it. I browsed through all of the extensive and well sorted sections, I was a little upset that there didn't seem to be any H. G. Wells books available.

When I went to the Spirituality and Religion section, I spotted a book called 'God Explained in A Taxi Ride.' by Paul Arden and I'm not sure if it was just the title or the whole cover in itself that initially attracted me. But I browsed through the book and in seconds I knew that I wanted it. I have read more than half of it and I love it! It helped me realise that one doesn't have to 'belong' to any particular religion. It also dispelled one of my worst inner fears and I realised, on the 'Fast-Track to God' Pages, that all of creation cannot be an accident or fluke, God does exist. I felt a strange connection to the thoughts of this writer and also comforted that someone of his age, a grandfather has the exact same thoughts on Religion as me. Ever since I left my religion, I have felt a deep-set sense of restlessness that I sought to put right in many ways, I decided at first that I would find a new fitting religion to join and I seriously considered three-Baha'i, Buddhism and Judaism, but they didn't seem right for me, and ever since then I have been groping in the dark, thinking I may have been happier living 'My Big Fat Catholic Lie' Life. But this book has given me a lot of satisfaction. I would recommend it to anyone who is searching for God, Agnostic or just unsure. For that matter, I would recommend it to just about anyone! A great read in all. Finally we went to dinner at a restaurant near my home and came home and hit the sack, dog tired!

How did you spent the first day of the year 2009?

xo
Magali