A Captivating Day
A Sunday to remember it was. My interests in Films and Sports were binge served. A slick, pacy, edge-of-the-seat Action thriller in the morning and a riveting tennis match for the ages in the evening. No wonder I had a distorted sleep with the happenings of the day playing over and over again in my mind, refusing to die down.
Ethan & Grace
I mentioned in my post on Tom Cruise and his role as Ethan Hunt in the Mission Impossible Series a week ago that I was looking forward to the movie. My wait was over as I ventured to the screening with lots of expectations and truthfully I was not disappointed. Mission Impossible ( MI )- Dead Reckoning Part 1, a shade under 3 hours was an absorbing affair, where Tom Cruise and a brilliant Hayley Atwell ( playing Grace in the film ) fight off a ruthless bad guy Gabriel ( played ever so convincingly by Esai Morales) and his horde, in pursuit of a “key” which could potentially unlock unprecedented power.
Pulsating in Rome
The action was spellbinding. The initial scene in the Arabian desert in a sandstorm was just the beginning. The interesting machinations from Ethan Hunt and his team to outwit his predators at the Abu Dhabi Airport and the introduction of Grace are well-shot sequences and lend credence to the narrative. The car chase filmed in Rome, particularly with the bright yellow-colour small Fiat, was truly edgy with Atwell handcuffed with Tom Cruise. It was an incredible scene.
A Sharp Segment in Venice
Another sequence which held up attention was the hand-to-hand fight in Venice. As Ethan Hunt is laid into a trap, he loses his long-term partner Ilsa ( played by Rebecca Fergusson). Ilsa fights bravely against Gabriel but loses the battle. At the same time, Ethan Hunt trapped in a tight gully somehow escapes after a bitter combat. The scenes again are brilliantly carved out.
Tom Cruise with his Incredible Motorbike Stunt
Daredevilry At It’s Pinnacle
The Action reaches a crescendo of sorts when the plot moves to the Orient Express passing through the Austrian Alps. The notorious Gabriel messing as ever with Ethan Hunt’s plans. The scene of the film, with Ethan Hunt jumping over a cliff in thin air on a bike, gave goosebumps to all watching. There were oohs and aahs in the audience as Ethan Hunt showcased his daredevilry. It was simply jaw-dropping. Tom Cruise had taken a massive risk to get the shot done. The fights atop the Orient Express and the final scene depicting the destruction of the train with its coaches falling over the mountains are out of the ordinary. The Film is a dazzling concoction of art, skill, courage and technology at its best. A must-watch Epic and True Value for money. ‘ Bring on Part Two !! ‘
The Wimbledon Final
The evening was witness to the Gentlemen’s Wimbledon Final played out between the defending Champion Novak Djokovic arguably the greatest tennis player of all time and a young, determined Carlos Alcaraz gunning to dethrone the legend.
Djokovic’s Fortress Pummelled
The first 30 minutes of the match saw Djokovic running away with the first set with Alcaraz all at sea. But then the match turned as the young bloke began to settle down. Djokovic who has defended his fortress with aplomb over the years and had not been beaten at Wimbledon Centre Court for a decade, was under heavy fire. Alcaraz pounding the Champion’s citadel with unrelenting strokeplay. And how much so Djokovic defended, Alcaraz had his nose ahead.
Carlos Alcaraz : The New Wimbledon Champion
Phenomenal Exhibition of Tennis
The quality of tennis was exceptional. It was not just power on display. There was a lot of skill, guile and flamboyance as the Champion and his understudy battled it out. With 16 years in between them, Djokovic the old war horse began to feel the pinch as the game crossed the 4-hour mark. On the other side, Alcaraz with an imperishable reservoir of energy was in no mood to take a step back as he mounted pressure and eventually got through the defences of the seemingly invincible Serb.
An Emotional Novak Djokovic
The Citadel Falls…but Melts Hearts
With just a quarter left to 5 hours, Novak Djokovic missed a return and relinquished his Wimbledon Title to the outstanding talent of Carlos Alcaraz. An Epic of a match witnessed the handing over of the baton to the next generation of Tennis Stars. Emotions ran high on both sides, with Novak Djokovic in particular breaking down on seeing his smiling young son. It was heart melting to say the least.
A Starry Wimbledon
There were a slew of stars in the audience too. From the British and Spanish Monarchy to the glitterati of Hollywood from Brad Pitt, Daniel Craig, Hugh Jackman, Emma Watson to name a few. Former tennis legends too graced the occasion and bore witness to a Sporting History.
What a cracking Sunday it was. What a Feast. I have relived it through this post today.
Read Quick, Read Better @ rizkhan.in
This time Riz has exquisitely given the review of the much awaited movie Mission Impossible describing all the important scenes which were so rivetting…interestingly this was followed by another review …a jaw dropping tennis final of Wimbledon match…which highlighted the new talent Carlos Alcaroz who finally won the trophy.