بسم الله الرحمن الرحيم
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اللهم صلِ على محمد و على آل بيته الطيبين الطاهرين
السلام عليكم و رحمة الله و بركاته
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بعد نجاح أحدث الافلام الهندية التي ذهبنا إليها .. كان لابد منا أن نبحث عن فلمنا الهندي القادم ..
و كان لنا ما أردنا في فلم أفضل من الفلم السابق .. 
شاروخ خان .. ممثل هندي مشهور ..
من أفضل الممثلين في بوليود .. إذا ما كان أفضلهم .. لديه طاقة تمثيلية رائعة ..
بالإضافة إلى عاطفته الحقيقية نحو دوره و نحو قصة الفلم .. و لهذا فـ هو أفضل ممثل هندي ..

لأنه و بكل بساطة .. يجسد دور المظلوم بجدارة ..
شاهدت في السابق .. فلم أو فلمين له .. و منهما عرفت أن هذا الممثل رائع .. لكن من الفلم الذي سـ نتكلم عنه ..
أثبت لي أمريــــــــن ..

الأمر الأول : أن شاروخ خان .. أفضل ممثل هندي .. بل أكثر من ذلك .. ادائه التمثيلي في الفلم يتخطى بوليود .. و يكسر جدار هوليود ..

الأمر الثاني : أن الأفلام الهندية لديها نظرة ممتازة للواقع .. على عكس الأفلام الأمريكية أو حتى العالمية .. التي تركز على واقع معين و تنسى البقية ..
بل و في بعض المرات .. تلعب بالواقع كما يحلوا لها .. و لهذا نرى العديد من لحظات الخيال في الأفلام الأمريكية ..

فـ بالرغم من شهرة الأفلام الهندية بالبعد عن الواقعية حتى البسيطة منها .. لكن في هذا الفلم .. لعب شاروخ خان و بقية الممثلين بالواقع كما هو موجود لدينا .. و من هذا الأمر .. الفلم رائع جداً ..

لم أرى فلماً هندياً يركز على قضية مهمة و حساسة في نفس الوقت .. بل و أكثر من ذلك .. ركز على قضيتنــــا نحن ..

و هذا أمر مخزي و حزين جداً .. بأن يترجم الهندي قضية العربي المسلم ..
حيث أن الفلم يترجم معاناة المسلمين قبل و بعد 11/9 ..

وكيف كانت التعديات القاسية على المسلمين في أمريكا ..
قالها و بكل ثقة و بدون خـــــــوف .. أنا لست إرهابيـــــــــاً .. هذه الجملة التي يخاف أن ينطقها المسلمون حول العالم ..
فـ نحن لسنا إرهابيــن ..

الإسلام ليس دين الإرهاب .. نحن مسالمين .. نتأقلم مع جميع الأديان .. ليس لنا مشكلة معهم ..

و هذه الرسالة التي كان يجب أن نرسلها للجميع .. لكننا خائفين كالعادة ..
على عكس هذا الفلم الهندي الرائع ..
الذي قالها بكل بساطة .. 

و ما زاد من روعة الفلم ..

هي وضعية شخصية شاروخ خان .. حيث أنه يعاني من إضطراب نفسي محدد .. 
حيث أنه جسد دوره بكل براعة ..
و لا أعتقد أنني سـ أرى ممثل هندي يقوم بهذا الدور مثله .. 
قدم الدور بكل براعة .. و كأنه بالفعل يعاني من هذا المرض ..
و هذه نصيحة لكل ممثل كويتي .. أن يشاهد أداء شاروخ خان .. لكي يتعلم التمثيل على أصوله ..
فـ بدلاً من ما يفعله الممثل الكويتي الذي هو فقط يسميه تمثيلاً .. يجب عليه أن يتعلم من خان ..
الفلم رائع بكل ما تحمله الكلمة من معنى .. قدم لنا شاروخ خان .. مثالاً و صورة واضحة للواقع الهندي/الأمريكي/المسلم ..

و هذا الواقع كنا ننتظره منذ الأزل ..
و هذه ميزة الأفلام الهندية .. لا تكترث بالأمور السخيفة التي تركز عليها الأفلام الأمريكية .. 
لكنها تقدم لنا صورة واقعية ..
و منها تركز على الأخلاق الرائعة و التقاليد الجيدة التي يمتاز بها

المجتمع الهندي ..
و هذا ما نحتاجه في الأفلام .. تقديم صورة واقعية لـ الأخلاق و التقاليد التي يمتاز فيها كل مجتمع ..
فـ هم لا يقدمون صورة خيالية بعيدة عن الخطأ .. لكنهم يركزون على الأمور الجيدة مع السيئة .. !!
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الصراحة الفلم يستحق العلامة الكاملة .. لأنه و بكل بساطة ممتاز ..
10/10
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يا ليت نتعلم من خان .. !!
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تحياتيـــــ
Mad Reds

The Ricky Gervais Show is basically a cartoon. BUT, it’s of a special kind. Simply put, a few years ago, Gervais and his two mates Steve Merchant and Karl Pilkington started uploading podcasts where they would talk about random stuff for half an hour or so. HBO took those podcasts and turned them into a cartoon where an animated version of the three Brits sit around and talk. I know, it doesn’t sound funny at all. But TRUST me! This show is hilarious. (Unless of course you think Comedy is subjective??? No!)

It’s not the sort of show you watch because you want to see a series of comedic events, with a plot forced to merge them together. It’s more of a show you watch over some coffee and tea, and when you have some free time to kill. Basically, it’s not serious, it’s pointless, it’s absolutely ridiculous; and that’s what makes it fantastic. Of course, I can’t write about this show without highlighting Mr. Karl Pilkington, who is a comedy genius without even realizing it, which makes him more of a genius (I think I’m starting to be too liberal with the word “genius”, but you get the point.) He is undoubtedly the star of this show.

Pilot episode airs today, Friday the 19th, but can be seen online on TV.com and HBO (only if you’re in the U.S.)

Catch this show if you want some lighthearted laughs.

Here is the link for the pilot (Again, only for the US)

http://www.tv.com/video/36244/episode-1?o=tv&tag=content_wrap;episode_header

P.S. I might have overrated this show, since I have only watched one episode. But I’d put my money on saying it’ll stay funny for at least a while.

When you have so many things to do and just don’t have the time to do all of those things .. You need a new and easy way .. You need a tool. I just found this tool.

Simple, clean, and easy .. The new WordPress (Blackberry and iPhone) application .. Has it all .. Let’s me post (although only in english) new posts ..

I’m not gonna use it a lot because I don’t post in English a lot .. But when I do .. I will use this wonderfull application. I’m using the Blackberry application and I will give the iPhone app a try later.

We are always looking for new ways to improve our lives .. But with all the technology we have .. It’s just not enough .. That we need a smaller tool.

I’m gona use this tool .. Because I need to post about what I’m thinking about right now ..

And I’m gonna continue using it .. Although my neck is killing me now .. !!!

..
Cheers .. Mad Reds

Oprah was right: Kuwaitis live like a congregation of Paris Hiltons; most of them anyway.

In case you didn’t know, Oprah has ALLEGEDLY said something along the lines of:

“In Kuwait, Egyptians build the houses, the Indians clean the streets, the Filipinos raise their children, the Indonesians cook the food and the Americans handle defense while they just act like Paris Hiltons.”

In general, Kuwaitis have responded negatively to these comments. Blogs are all raising anti Oprah campaigns, and I have already been invited to about 3 different facebook groups all demanding an apology from Oprah.

But to be honest, I don’t see where all this commotion is coming from. The statement is actually quite accurate. Before you start sending the hate mail, let me try to explain.

1-Kuwait is a dependent nation: Kuwait may have an independent government, but the economy, labor force, and consumer products are ALL dependent on other countries. The point is highlighted quite clearly in that quote. However, in fairness Kuwait is a tiny country with limited resources (other than the huge Oil reserves of course). On the other hand, it is easy to see that Kuwait’s economy would be much stronger if there were a stronger national labor force.

2- Kuwait’s Society is very privileged: Except for the part “Filipinos raise their children” (which is not totally inaccurate), I can’t disagree with the fact that the people of Kuwait have learned to rely on others for everyday chores. That is not to say that this is bad. My opinion is: if you can afford a rest, than why not buy it. In theory, the fact that all the small details of life are left to others to handle in Kuwait, Kuwait’s society is left to develop in the important departments. That’s only in theory though.

3- Kuwait is influenced greatly by the West: and so is the rest of the world. I probably sound like every other conservative Kuwaiti, but the youth in Kuwait have become playing dough shaped and molded by the shallow perspective of Western society. This is a generalization, I know. But you can’t blame for thinking that a lot of Kuwaiti girls try to look and act like Paris Hilton, and a lot of Kuwaiti guys try to look like.. well.. Paris Hilton! I don’t mean this literally, of course, and neither does the original quote. I’m just scratching my head trying to figure out why half the people in Marina Mall or the Avenues look like they just came from an Elton John party in West Hollywood. Having said that, I still believe Kuwait’s youth are capable of achieving great success if guided in the right direction.

I seriously doubt that Oprah said those things (she’s not that stupid), but nevertheless, it gave us a chance to reflect on our society, and how the rest of the world perceives us.

So what does everyone else think? Is Kuwait really as described in that quote?

Note: I’m not defending Oprah, I actually resent her, but more on that later.

I don’t get it .. does Turkish Airlines enjoy the rush of adrenaline of wondering whether passengers will be able to make it on time or whether they’d have to schedule an extra flight to get the miserable passengers home? Maybe they’re bored and like watching people freak out. I wonder. They have 80 minutes transit time. A big upgrade from their 45 minutes, which meant you most definitely miss your flight and end up stuck here for an entire day. Not fun. I speak from experience.

The other funny thing is that in an “international” airport such as this, you very rarely find any worker who can speak english! They change the gates every half hour and you have to run around trying to find it and board on time and when you get lost, you stop a security person or whatever and yell “KUWAIT GATE!” (as if saying it louder would make it less confusing for them), and they stare at you like you’ve suddenly turned into a monkey or something and go “euh??” So this once I tried to be smart and say “KUVEYT” (that’s how they pronounce it) and a lightbulb suddenly flashes in their skulls (as if Kuwait and Kuveyt sounds SO different) and they go “aaah!” so here I am panting and hopeful that the dude finally gets it, until he frowns and says “I don’t know”.

Come ON! How can no one in a huge airport know where to find the gates, let alone speak english?! So I’ve been sitting at gate 308 at Istanbul airport for the past 3 hours thinking “wow, I’m reaaally early”, getting all comfy with my books and laptop etc, when suddenly, the screen flashes ‘KUVEYT gate 212 boarding shortly’ -.-

I grab my stuff, and naturally, being a girl and all, I have a lot of stuff. Heavy stuff. I charge for the escalator, only to be approached by an angry looking security guard, trying to ask me in god knows what version of english, where I’m planning to go. Frantically, I tell him the gate has changed and point at the bloody screen. He gets me, bless him, but says “no… gate no change! Screen is not vorking.” Ok Ok, maybe these people aren’t really all that stupid or anything.. I mean, they have all the big shops and its really nice and clean, but honestly, an airport with flights coming in an out on extremely tight schedules and here I am sitting at the wrong gate for 3 hours not knowing that the gate I’m supposed to be at is on the other side of the terminal, and they decide to announce that the gate is somewhere else, after the pilot of the previous flight has announced the transit gates already, and no one gives a care in the world that people are missing?! I guess the only upside is I get on empty flights since no one as crazy as I am would suddenly decide to ditch and go home and so that leaves me as the only Kuwaiti student running around trying to get on an empty airplane.

As I type this, they announce that they flight to cyprus has changed from 104 to 317 (poor Cyprus people) and as expected, a rush of trolleys and distraught passengers rush by to the gate. I wonder why they only change the gates when it’s time for boarding -.-

So anywaay, as I finally make it to the right place and begin putting all my junk into trays, thankful that this nightmare is almost over, I reach the attendant that’s supposed to check my passport with a huge tired smile on my face (just happy that it’s the last step), and she looks at me with a bored expression and asks, “you have visa for Kuveyt?” I stare back at her, thinking SHE must be the monkey, “yea”.

“Vhere?”

“On the front cover!”

“Ok. Enjoy. Hope to see you again vith us”

Unfortunately, she probably will. You’re probably wondering why I’m still so loyal to the Turkish Airlines. Well.. they let me take along 40 kilos of luggage! Any girl will tell you that’s a dream come true. I can’t sit still and therefore I cannot handle long flights, so since the turks offer me the shortest journey, they score points. Aaand.. their food is good. Like.. really good. And I’m the type of person who absolutely abhors airplane food.

Asides from all that, I get bored fast. And with Turkish airlines, I never have to worry about being bored. Never a dull moment with the turks