The 30s

It seemed like Saturday was a 30's themed day for me. First I needed to go to some obscure corner of the Upper East side to get some soccer equipment. In the process, as most weekend travel is from Queens these days, I had to go through the circuit - go north before going south and so on... This one time however, I was glad to do it. I got to Continental Avenue station and was waiting for the change to the express F line... and I noticed this really old train chugging into the subway station... and a lot of flashbulbs going off...
Apparently, just for that one day, they were running (brought out of retirement) a vintage train - first used in the 1930s !!! It was marvellous. I loved the experience. It had ceiling fans (those old black ones), it was noisy, it had flickering light bulbs, cushioned seats and black hand painted boards indicating where it was going. Old hand painted signs warning passengers against theft and larceny. And what's more, the different compartments were from different decades - 30s through the 70s - representative of the decades that this train was in service (till it was decomissioned in 1974). And each car was upholstered and decorated exactly like it was in the respective decades... and even had advertisements on the walls represenative of the era.
It was fantastic.

Then I went and watched '42nd Street' the musical on Broadway... and it's a revival of the original script straight from 1933. Gaudy? Yes. But great fun. Been to 3 broadway musicals and loved 'em all so far.

Shaun of the Dead

Really, really funny. You don't at all need to have watched 'Dawn of the dead' to enjoy this one. Easily one of the wittiest movies I've seen recently. And for a change, it is not apologetically british. Just matter-of-fact, in-your-face funny.
Must watch.
Rating: 4.5/5

Mr 3000
Fun... not spectacular.. but funny. Bernie Mac is good... and the supporting cast supports well. Well worth a watch on a rainy saturday afternoon (thats when i watched it - in Boston).
Rating: 3/5

Sky Captain...
Visually great. Capturing what I've always loved - action comics a la Marvel - comes to life. Non-stop action... witty quips and a fast moving storyline. A nosy reporter, a daring pilot and loads of great characters... it's like Indiana Jones saves the world - but with remarkably brilliant eastman color visuals... and early 50's gadgets. I loved it.
Rating: 4.5/5

Magic

For about 10 minutes in the first set, Federer could do no wrong. Sublimely brilliant, he demolished any trace of a chance Hewitt had in the US Open final. Hewitt fought well. And there isnt too much he did wrong in the process. But he couldnt match up to a measly 2 unforced errors from Federer in all of the first set. This against the terrier (hewitt) who had a winning streak of 16 coming into this game. Hewitt hadnt lost a set until this match. He lost three here. Two of them bagels.
Federer was simply displaying remarkable tennis. As close to perfect as I have seen in a while (despite a lapse in the second set that almost let Hewitt in). After Pete, Roger. Maybe better. Sure hope so.
And what's more... I got to watch it from Flushing Meadows Arthur Ashe stadium !! GOt last minute tickets... presumably from someone who was disappointed with the absence of americans in the duel. His loss.... my gain. My pilgrimage has begun. :-)

The Russian Invasion

Women's tennis is definitely seeing a change of guard. All that stands between an all russian final in the US Open is an aging Jennifer Capriati. If Capriati fails to stave off Dementieva's challenge, we are going to see a third succesive Russian champion in a grand slam. And a third different one. In fact, it will be the third succesive all-russian final. And the only common denominator is Dementieva (who lost in the french open final). You want more proof? 5 of the top ten are russians. Only two are americans. Even taking into account the injuries to the belgian duo and the americans, it's a sign of things to come. Most encouraging, in all of the statistics, is the number of russians in the top 20, 50 and 100. It looks like the production line that only the americans were capable of producing. And what's more? The american 'youngsters' (read Williams) are beginning to look like grannies when compared to the teenage brigade from Moscow. And the real youth in american women's tennis seems to be floundering in mediocrity. Is it a transition to look forward to? Not for the commentators (who have a hard time handling regular russian names like Kuznetsova). For everybody else? Bring it on!

To B.E. or not to B.E. that is the question. :D

The BooHoo Sisters

Just once... I'd like to see one of the Williams sisters admit that they played badly... or that they are not perfect....despite being 'proud black americans'. Just once. Especially Venus.
Serena claimed she was 'cheated' out of the match. Ludicrous. Serena... you didn't lose because of a bad call. You lost because you made 57 unforced errors. You lost because ou were a set and a break up and played errant tennis. You lost because you're not quite as good as ou thought. Own up to it... for once... for a change. The french crowd booing last year was not the reason you lost to Henin ... you lost because you choked... and because you couldn't contain emotion. The crowd plays good money to watch you pay... in fact they're the reason you can wear your gaudy outfits... so don't blame a few boos for your emotional frailty. One point given to Karolina Sprem in Wimbledon was not the reason your sister lost in Wimbledon.... so stop calling it a 'conspiracy'.

Enough of your excuses. Just play already... or don't claim greatness. And take your sob stories to someone who cares. No discerning tennis fan does.