All the Tremendously Cool Korean Cinema and therefore the Northeast Indians.

 I've a confession to make. I am dependent on Korean movies. So are thousands in Mizoram, Manipur. Well basically the whole of Northeast India. I've heard it is moreso in countries like Myanmar (Burma), Thailand, Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Vietnam, Indonesia, China, Taiwan, Philippines, etc.

It's been time now since I watched my first Korean movie - it had been My Sassy Girl. (Incidentally, My Sassy Girl was the most popular and exportable Korean film in the real history Korean film industry in accordance with Wikipedia. So popular that it outsold The Lord of the Rings and Harry Potter which ran at exactly the same time. Dramacool It sold 4,852,845 tickets!) Which was around two years ago. Right now I've watched scores of them - Windstruck, Sex is Zero (Korean version of American Pie?), My Wife is a Gangster 1, 2 & 3, The Classic, Daisy, A Moment to Remember, Joint Security Area, My Little Bride, A Dirty Carnival, You are my Sunshine, Silmido, etc to name but a few!

I am completely totally hooked!

When a friend first invited me to view My Sassy Girl I was frankly unsure if I'd enjoy it. However the spunky, don't-care-a-damn-tomboy heroine for the reason that movie made me fall in deep love with Korean movies (and soaps even!). It is not particularly surprising in my experience that I fell in deep love with Korean movies considering the fact that I really like French movies. Korean movies have exactly the same treatment of their subjects like this of French movies. I regularly watch TV5 French movies and Arirang TV whenever my cableguy allows me! Of course different genre of movies give you a different perspective on Korean movies. I think comedy is where Korean movies will be the best.

Now the Korean movies and soaps, as I've said, are popular in the Northeastern states of India. Even in New Delhi there's a video library or two where you are able to get Korean movies. You can be sure I am a regular! In a much more serious note, the question is why... why do the northeasterners love Korean movies?? Despite decades of Hindustanization with Bollywood, Hindi lessons and Indian politics are we somewhat desiring HOME!

It is excellent to see one of your (read chinkies?) on the screen after so many decades of it being filled by the Amitabhs and the Khans and the Roshans of Bollywood. Korean dramas are like a breath of fresh air after so much stale Bollywood movies which I seldom watch with the exception of Ram Gopal Verma movies. The intricate plots of twists and turns and a whole lot more urbane emotions are what attracted me to Korean and French movies. Maybe, just might be, race does have a role here. Being racially similar, our habits and cultural nuances are so similar! Their body gestures and facial expressions are so similar to the expressions. The rather alien Punjabi or Bihari nuances of Bollywood deters me from so many good movies!

Korean movies are also technically better than Bollywood movies and may even compete with Hollywood movies. Awards and recognition even yet in the Cannes Film Festival are becoming an annual occurrence for the Korean film industry. Actually Hollywood biggies Dreamworks has paid $2 million (US) for a remake of the 2003 suspense thriller Janghwa, Hongryeon (A Tale of Two Sisters) compare that to $1 million (US) taken care of the right to remake the Japanese movie The Ring.

It is true that we, Northeasterners, love everything that is new to the culture unlike our mainland Indians. We actually welcome change and changed we are to an extent. We effortlessly copy the western type of dressing jeans, T-shirts and et al. That could be another reason for our recent addiction with Korean movies. But somehow I doubt that it is a driving thing like teenage love affair. It offers cultural affinity overtones written throughout it. Bollywood will need to counter this onslaught of Korean movies with increased Chak De characters! It has recently lost much audience to Korean film industry.

Several weeks back whilst having a chit-chat about our lives in New Delhi - the awkward stares, the down right patronising calling of names and the abuses in workplaces - with a pal of mine he remarked,"Are we in the incorrect country?" ;."Will you be happy if you're treated like a guest is likely to country?" asks one of many two Northeast characters in Chak De India. For me it is bearable with assistance from movies like My Sassy Girl and the like from our kin Korean film industry. Laugh your heart out and your investment troubles with this country until, of course, Chak De India has bigger roles for Northeasterners!

Which are the Leading 20 Animated Cartoons of them all? Just what Produced These So excellent?

 Who said cartoons are for the young? The effects and technology that goes into making a top animated movie are nothing short of brilliant! How will you not appreciate that?

The top 20 animated cartoons ever are based on revenue, simply how much they gross. These list has collectively earned an overall total greater than USD200 million - but what is it about animated cartoons that attracts viewers and fills movie theaters? These titles may offer you a hint.

1. Shrek 2
2. Finding Nemo
3. The Lion King
4. Shrek the Third
5. Shrek
6. The Incredibles
7. Monsters, Inc
8. Toy Story 2
9. Cars
10. Aladdin
11. Ratatouille
12. Happy Feet
13. Ice Age: Meltdown
14. Madagascar
15. Toy Story
16. The Simpsons
17. The Polar Express
18. Ice Age
19. Beauty and the Beast
20. Tarzan

Obviously the advent of 3D computer software has brought animated characters to 'life', so to speak. Viewers cannot help but be enthralled at the realistic features, character traits and movements. Teamed with whacky objects that do amazing things, incredible special effects and backgrounds - they're one of many reasons these animated cartoons are so popular.Mangabudy

People also love to laugh and be entertained - animated cartoons are designed to do that, make people laugh and evoke emotions, so a good storyline is essential. Nobody wants to see an animated cartoon movie set around a dramatic storyline. Characters must certanly be fun, whacky, lovable and endearing, which all of these are. Backgrounds are beautifully illustrated and objects move and do silly things, telling their very own story and in the act entertain around the characters do. In addition, it helps to possess a favorite actor because the voice and personality behind the type - someone the audience can identify with and almost without exception all the most truly effective 20 frequently have more than one.

Yet without technology and some brilliant and talented people, this all wouldn't be possible. Bringing a drawing to lifelike proportions and allowing it tell an account is nothing short of miraculous. With the help of sophisticated software packages and teams of highly talented people who possess colossal ideas and fantastic imaginations, animated cartoons as sophisticated even as we see today, wouldn't be possible.

The next time you think a cartoon is for kids only, think again. Treat yourself to an hour or so or two of amazing special effects, a good storyline and all the benefits technology and computers may bring, and give credit where it is definitely due.