Tendulkar vs Messi

You must be wondering what type of comparison is this considering both are different breed of players. But still when these 2 names crop up, people will still wish to listen what someone is saying about these two. Both are lion hearts taking the fight to the opposition irrespective of whoever it is and wherever it is. They strike fear into the opponent even in their own backyard. One has dominated the world for almost 22 years and left no records broken except one or two. The other has just started the period of dominance.

Sachin started of in Pakistan with a bloody nose but to be frank even the great Imran Khan said this boy will change the world of cricket. And literally, he did. The child prodigy simply changed the way cricket is viewed across the world. He became the GOD of Cricket. Leave the common man, even governments come to standstill when this Little Master is in complete control. People even have a saying "Commit your crimes when Sachin is playing because even God is busy watching him them". Such has been his dominance and foray into our lives that in India its almost impossible to imagine cricket without Sachin. Though new players have emerged, still Sachin is Sachin. On field, simply there is no one even close to him, no angers, no regrets. You sledge him and even the commentator won't stop remarking that the bowlers career is almost over. Off the field, he is the perfect gentleman you can find, no controversies, no sensational political statements, charity in the background. As Navjot Singh Sidhu said once "You can bring the PM to the courtroom in India, but you cannot point a finger at Sachin Tendulkar". He has been a class apart on the field conquering every ground there is starting from Perth on one end to the Port of Spain on the other end. People love to watch him irrespective of their nationality. Even sometimes the fielders just watch his strokes and later realize that they have to get him out. There won't be a second Sachin.

Messi started off in a similar fashion to Tendulkar. He was too short to pursue sports but determination brought him to Barca. Started off with rough clatters against Chelsea when Ronaldinho was making merry with the ball. Messi started from there gradually taking up the No 10 jersey finally. Sometimes it seems like he has stuck the ball using fevicol to his boots. He creates magic on the field never bowing down to any challenge. The more you tackle him, the more he comes back to you. Play acting is not his skill. His skill is the soccer ball with which he simply walks into the goal as if there is no one in front of him. Sometimes it resembles as if other players are mortals in front of him. But its still a long way before he can be even conferred the title GOD. But still he is breathtaking in his own aspect. He is like the baby faced assassin whom the opponents fear knowing that they can't stop him no matter what. Off the field, he lives a life far from any controversies.

Both these players have graced their respective sports with utmost respect and they have been well respected in return. They have their critics but they let their skills do the talking. They are embodiment of God's gift, hard work, brilliant execution, silent aggression and above all a never say die attitude.

League of Champions Semi Final First Leg

Oh boy, we had some serious football going on midweek with both the away teams establishing their complete dominance over the opponent. It was a joy to watch as Rooney and Messi both lived up to the No 10 performances expected of them, but in different ways. But all together it was a feast of some real soccer out there.

The first match between Manchester United and Schalke should have been actually billed Man Utd vs Manuel Neuer. Because the first 20 minutes really showed us a glimpse of the modern era reincarnation of Peter Schmeichel. Neuer was simply playing on a different planet altogether. The audacious cross from Rooney in the 3rd minute was met with an inhuman dive from the goalie to keep out a sure goal from Hernandez. That was just the beginning of what was to come. It seemed like the German resilience was a true thing. For the first half, Utd should have been 5-0 up but Neuer had different plans of his own. He kept out every single shot, cross, 1-on-1 thrown on him as if he can do all that in his sleep. But those 45 minutes he may not replicate again but what a performance. United were left scratching their heads and at half time it still read 0-0. Some respite but SAF was not your sit back and wait type manager. The tempo was raised and United were offensive from the word GO in the second half. But history (read first 45 minutes) does not repeat. Neuer was abandoned fighting a lone battle against Rooney and Co. Rooney was playing as if he were no mere mortal, he was everywhere and I would say the reverse pass to pick out Giggsy was simply breathtaking. From here on it was the usual for United , ending up 2-0 victorious on away grounds breaking the long standing German jinx. But it was a match where Rooney showed why is a bulldozer on the field, Neuer showed the German resilience and we got a perfect match.

The second match between Real Madrid and Barcelona was one of the most ill tempered El Classico's in recent history. It was Messi all the way playing silky sublime football as compared to Rooney's determined football. Messi was simply untouchable and the second goal of the night just showcased the gulf of class between him and the defenders on the pitch. The match did have its moments. Pepe getting a straight red, which I think should have been a yellow. The fight at the half time which saw Pinto get a red, Mourinho being banished into the stands. But again Mourinho has not been wrong as he had said earlier, he plays against Barcelona with 10 men and it seemed the referee obliged him. Real Madrid were not intended on playing any football other than physical football and Barcelona took it as a blessing in disguise crying like babies every time they are hit. Come on, you are playing football not some court games where the opponents don't touch each other. Pedro and Busquets in particular need to keep their crying at home. Look at Messi, what may come he still stands. Football wise, this match was boring I would say, tackles flying, cards being brandished (Ramos will miss the second leg) and Barcelona playing their possession football without even going forward. It is beautiful but boring. But yeah Messi did get what he deserved, 2 goals on the night to take an almost book their place at Wembley.

Both matches are poised at surety that its Man Utd vs Barca in the finale. But this is Football, next 90 minutes will decide who it is going to be. Raul will definitely like to feature in another finale while Mourinho would like to repeat what he did with Inter at Camp Nou. Next week decides the Wembley occupants.

Just Go With It but don't know to Where

Lets go back to Maine Pyaar Kyun Kiyaa but a Hollywood version with a lots of swimsuits thrown in along with Jennifer Aniston going around in a two-piece or bikini whatever that was. She is back with the oomph factor which had been missing for quite some time but yeah she does manage to show her skills which made her a household (read hostel-hold) name since Friends.

The movie is a wholesome family entertainer which caters to all types of audience but yeah the teenage audience is for a treat from Brooklyn Decker and Aniston as both strip down to the bare clothing. This is what I am talking about.

The movie has the humour quotient in the right amount. The scenes are spontaneous and not forced upon as is happening in most of the movies now a days. The story rolls of well though at times it seems like a stretch, like the part where Nicole Kidman is being brought into the cast. The dare-bare act did keep me glued to the movie all through out. The ending could well have been better managed. It was well predictable about what would happen. In a nutshell, a doctor pretending to be married, trying to sleep around with as many girls and then thinking that he is in love with one of the many. The movie centers around this very concept of him trying to get the girl with the help of his assistant who happens to be Jennifer. Come-on doctor what were you thinking ???? But finally he goes of with his assistant leaving the hottie on the plane.

Now coming to the acting classes. Adam Sandler does his part with ease with conviction but here is one thought, have we not seen the same role being essayed by him again and again across different movies????? Its mostly predictable in his case. Aniston does appear to be quite lively and natural in her acting and yeah she does a good job being both an innocent assistant cum a sexy fake wife when required of her. Switching over to Brooklyn, girl you seriously need some acting classes, she is the hollywood version of Deepika Padukone, all oomph but no acting. The kids are really a treat to watch, the way they loot the money out of Sandler but yeah the kid girl, Maggie (reminds me of our last resort of fooding when nothing else is there) , does put in an extra effort and sometimes it seems like she is overdoing it. Nicole Kidman, not sure why she was cast in the movie other than being a sidekick to whom, that I don't know.

Overally the movie goes on well and yeah one should at least watch it once. Economically not a movie worth spending 200 bucks at a multiplex. Rather watch it in the comfort of your own house. 3 and half stars will be more than enough for this movie.

For more info go here, Just Go with It

NIKITA Season 1

Hi,

As mentioned earlier, I am back with the review for NIKITA Season 1 (19 episodes so far have been aired). The series captivates the happenings of Nikita after she escaped at the end of La Femme Nikita (1997). It follows her motive to bring down Division, the government agency which made her an assassin. I have always liked espionage series like Alias, 24, Chuck and so it was obvious I was going to watch this. But what caught my imagination was this.

I think this image was enough to make me watch the 19 episodes over 15 hours straining my eye and heating up my ear lobes but not a bit disappointed at all. The starting episode featured Maggie in all her sexy avatar as she had done in NFS Undercover. But here she was more enticing and appealing and to top it all she was performing her own stunts. Very rarely you get to see a sexy lady throwing in some punches and kicks and she reminded me of Sarah of Chuck fame.

Too much of Maggie, coming back to the show, its a thriller based on a clandestine government outfit who activates and cancels an assassin on its own wishes. The plot has a lot of twists, skin show, action and above all the bollywood ishtyle masala to keep you glued to the episode. Somewhere down the line, the plot is predictable but the acting keeps the episodes ticking. The usual love quotient is there but its more like a guilty love. The casting does do justice to their roles except Alex who I thought was doing over-acting. The old swag Percy tries to be his meanest and I would vouch for him on that. The cinematography is quite engrossing with a fast paced camera action which does justice to the series.

Overall the series is good as per me. I will give it a 4 out of 5 rating.

For more information please go to the link given here Nikita (Wikipedia).

The Makshat

Hi Everybody,

This is my first blog and I will be doing what I do best. Giving opinion about what I follow so that you all can see whether you would like to try the same or not. I will be including reviews of starting with my favorite, food (and by food I mean restaurants) will go forward with Movies, games, the long never ending sitcoms and series we watch in our college days and last but not the least places where I travel to. There are many online sites providing the service, the difference being the way an average Joe looks into it irrespective of anything.

If mind wanders around, I will also write about  some of the most happening things all around me but don't expect me to be some very good critic. I will give a economical review mostly (That's what everyone looks up-to now a days).

I will be starting with the review of the series Nikita starring Maggie Q which has managed to garner a good amount of interest from both viewers and audience of the past decade considering that its a remake of a movie and series going by the same name from 1990 and 1997.

Watch this space for the review.