Video: Dinesh Kamath speaks about film-maker Shyam Benegal's best films

Dinesh Kamath's article on Hollywood movie 'The Bourne Legacy' that was published in Newsband

The Bourne Legacy is an upcoming 2012 American action thriller and the fourth installment in the Bourne film series, which is based on Robert Ludlum's Jason Bourne novels. It is directed by Tony Gilroy, screenwriter of the first three films and is due to be released on August 8, 2012 in India.

The film is very loosely based on The Bourne Legacy, a later Bourne novel written by Eric Van Lustbader, but like the previous three films in the franchise, it has a completely different plot from the source material.

The movie has the following cast: * Jeremy Renner as Aaron Cross/Kenneth Gibson, an agent of Operation Outcome which was described as "Treadstone, [but] without the inconsistency" * Rachel Weisz as Dr. Marta Shearling * Edward Norton as Eric Byer, the film's primary antagonist * Joan Allen, reprising her role as Deputy Director Pamela Landy * David Strathairn, reprising his role as Noah Vosen, the former director of Operation Blackbriar * Albert Finney, reprising his role as Dr. Albert Hirsch, the doctor responsible for the creation of Treadstone * Scott Glenn, reprising his role as Ezra Kramer, Director of the Central Intelligence Agency * Oscar Isaac as Number Three * Donna Murphy as Dita * Stacy Keach as Mark Turso * Zeljko Ivanek as Dr. Donald Foite * Corey Stoll as Vendel * David Asmar as Evan Pines * John Arcilla as The Security Guard * Lou Veloso as The Fisher Man * Matt Damon as Jason Bourne/David Webb (photographs only)

It's been five years since Matt Damon starred in The Bourne Ultimatum. Since then, a lot has changed. Actually, everything's changed. After Damon and director Paul Greengrass decided to take a breather from the series, Universal was left with the thorny problem of how to keep its marquee franchise alive without its biggest marquee names. The solution: Create a new on-the-run CIA agent whose parallel story picks up where 2007's Ultimatum left off.

Enter Jeremy Renner (Mission: Impossible — Ghost Protocol) as Aaron Cross, another covert government-trained assassin. The idea was to stretch the horizon of the whole franchise and leave open the opportunity for Matt to come back when he wanted. With Renner playing an entirely new character, Universal gets the Bourne brand at the box office without the fan mutiny that might have come from casting another actor in Damon's role. Needless to say, the high-profile gig is another big step toward the A list for Renner, who also plays Hawkeye in May's The Avengers. Not that he wouldn't share the spotlight – in fact, he told Matt the he would love to do the next one.'' We've got the title: Bourne and Bourne Again.

Several scenes were shot in the Philippines, mostly in Manila like Binondo, San Andres, Intramuros, Navotas fish port and several locations in the metropolis. There were also some parts of the movie that were shot in Palawan, specifically in the renowned Puerto Princesa Underground River and El Nido. Several subway stations and nearby areas in Gangnam-gu, Seoul, South Korea were used in some scenes.

A theatrical trailer for The Bourne Legacy was released on May 31, 2012 and was shown on screenings of Snow White and the Huntsman and showed substantially more action scenes than the first, and was met with mixed feedback. Collider.com commented that "there are some cool stunts in the trailer", but noted a lack of character development. GeekScholars Movie News gave the preview an average score of "B-" on an A+ to F- scale, saying that while the trailer proves that The Bourne Legacy "is showing signs of life as an actual action movie", they also questioned if the latest installment in the series would add anything new to the story, as the plot points revealed in the preview appeared to mimic the story lines of the previous films in the franchise.

The filmmakers behind The Bourne Legacy tried to reboot the franchise without Matt Damon's Jason Bourne character.

In three successful action-thriller movies, actor Matt Damon played Jason Bourne, a scientifically enhanced assassin who outmaneuvered the government's every effort to kill him. The creators of the billion-dollar trilogy are now attempting a risky survival gambit for the franchise itself, by putting out another Bourne movie in which neither Mr. Damon nor Jason Bourne makes an appearance.

The Bourne Legacy, opening next week, is instead anchored by actor Jeremy Renner. The rugged Oscar-nominated star of The Hurt Locker plays Aaron Cross, a product of a clandestine U.S. project that spawned a handful of genetically modified super-spies.

Against a Hollywood backdrop dominated by big-budget sequels, prequels and reboots, The Bourne Legacy is seeking an "expansion" of the franchise. The filmmakers have proved that the hallmarks of the original movies —ingenious spycraft, thudding hand-to-hand combat, a relative respect for the laws of reality and physics — can carry on without the star who made them famous.

Tony Gilroy, the co-writer and director of The Bourne Legacy, also wrote or co-wrote the first three films in the series.

The filmmakers didn't pull a James Bond-style replacement of Mr. Damon with Mr. Renner. A trailer for the movie shows the new hero in action, but it also includes mentions of Jason Bourne, and shows Mr. Damon's face. The intention was to differentiate the characters while emphasizing continuity.

The franchise has had a turbulent history. The first film, directed by Doug Liman, was a hit in 2002 despite a production plagued by infighting and delays. The director was replaced with Paul Greengrass, who clashed with Mr. Gilroy. After handing in a script for the third movie, 2007's The Bourne Ultimatum, Mr. Gilroy immediately moved on to his own directing project (Michael Clayton). Messrs. Damon and Greengrass completed the film but later walked away from the series, convinced there wasn't a credible way to continue a story that many thought had run its course; author Robert Ludlum wrote only three Bourne novels.

Aaron Cross is a pawn in a wider conspiracy, one that encompasses the black-ops program that produced Jason Bourne. That led to an idea for bridging the two heroes' stories.

Early scenes in the new Bourne Legacy overlap in time with the climax of the previous Bourne Ultimatum, which saw Jason Bourne upending New York City and his identity going public. Now, the chain reaction set off by Mr. Damon's character off-screen is what sends Mr. Renner's into crisis.

The studio expects to make more films with Mr. Renner. There's also a door open for Mr. Damon. In the world depicted in these films, Jason Bourne is still alive.

Thus The Bourne Legacy is a great film to watch. So do watch it when it gets released on 10 August 2012.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Two opinions about education) that was published in Newsband

Two opinions about education

The government should work primarily on quality of education, which is deteriorating day by day. It can only be made possible when norms which are made by the government body are followed strictly. The problem of brain drain should be tackled.

There is one section of people who believe this: “Institutes which are meant merely for profiteering must be closed with immediate effect. Because of such institution, a demarcation is being created among students. Thirdly infrastructure is also a concern for quality of higher education. If we are focusing on higher education it should be inclusive of all classes of society; then only we can say we are building a strong and healthy system of education. Lastly, a healthy management is also required to improve higher education system. It’s sad to see that "Education" which drives the growth and economy of a country is in such sad state of affairs. Ideally the committees are meant to accelerate and improvise decisions; however, nowadays it’s not an exaggeration to say they are the source for delays. It’s unfortunate that the famed education in India is now just a mere Money Making tool. We have this anathema to commercialize education. Even now it is for profit practically. It is really disgusting and pathetic. Diluting standards of higher education causes educational migrations to overseas universities.

So the government should take stringent actions to improve the quality of higher education.”

The same section of people complain: “Education is becoming business day by day. Specially, in engineering colleges there is no quality in studies. After giving the permission to the colleges, the government should check quality of the college, especially lecturers. Nowadays people think that engineering college lecturer is someone who doesn't get any job and so he joins as a lecturer. Also many colleges don't have a proper lab facilities and engineering and medicine and pharmacy colleges take deposits and semester examination fees and lacks of donations.”

The above points are those made by one section of people. But there are supporters of commercialized education. They say: “Running an Educational Institution is an economic activity. It involves men, money and material like any other business activity. It involves balance sheet, capital expenditures and current expenditures. How can this activity be performed without profit motivation if it is to be done by private entities. Running the show is as complex as construction industry. Yet no one says 'construction industry' should be a 'not for profit' industry. An individual should not expect Socialistic expenditure pattern on one side of the scale and Capitalistic income pattern on the other side. Get realistic.”

Now which among the above two sections of the people is right?  

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Clean the system) that was published in Newsband

Clean the system

A mob of men molest a minor schoolgirl, stripping her and beating her by turns in the middle of a busy downtown street. This takes place barely a kilometre from Assam’s State secretariat and in full view of many. This is an indication of deteriorating law and order situation in Guwahati. What has gone so horribly wrong in our society? The sheer savagery of the gang molestation has fuelled outrage across the country even as it has triggered a sense of national shame. The Assam police took a full 30 minutes to arrive at the crime scene. The onlookers passively watched the mortification of the schoolgirl.

We live in a time when crimes against women are growing alarmingly. The data also clearly reveals that over the last couple of decades, the (reported) incidents of rape have increased at a far steeper rate than other serious crimes such as murder and theft.

The plight of this young girl when being mobbed and stripped is very pathetic. Whatever the provocation or whatever cheap thrills this mob of hooligans were seeking, the mindset of such thugs merits medical attention. The performance of the police and the Government in Assam too has been shocking. Unfortunately, after each incident like this against women the issue is hotly debated and then life is back to normal. The outrage after women were attacked by thugs in a pub in Mysore was brushed under the carpet because the mob was playing their Hindutva card.

Treating the issue as something banal will be wrong and finding of some intelligent solution to this major problem is necessary. It is necessary for the government to do something drastic to ensure social security for women.

The ghastly episode is an indicator of the sick mindset of the Indian male-dominated society. Are we really living in the twenty-first century or does our mindset still belong to the medieval era?

In spite of being a predominantly god fearing country and respect for mothers and sisters being instilled in the psyche yet it is most horrendous to see such acts of hooliganism all committed with the secured feeling of getting scot free. The feeling of "Nobody will know" dominates the minds of such misguided persons who take law into their own hands. The political class chooses to look aside so as not to disturb their vote banks. The media too is guilty of promoting programs reflecting superstitious beliefs and propitiating gods on the advice of godmen to atone for assumed sins. We need to develop a scientific temper. The nation needs to do some serious soul searching for a better tomorrow

An outraged nation should look at itself deeper and ponder about the root cause rather than these symptoms. We have long stopped caring about the all-round decay that has set into all parts of the system - whether it is police, law, judiciary, government - you name it. Our system badly needs to be totally cleaned. But who will do the cleaning work? That’s the question!

Dinesh Kamath's article on movie 'Jism 2' that was published in Newsband

Jism 2 is an upcoming Bollywood erotic thriller film directed by Pooja Bhatt. It is the sequel to the 2003 film Jism and marks the debut of Indo-Canadian pornographic actress Sunny Leone in Bollywood. Jism 2 was launched on 1 December 2011, on popular Indian television show Bigg Boss, making the launch a first time ever in the history of Indian Cinema. Mahesh Bhatt compared Jism 2 to Italian romance drama Last Tango In Paris. Jism 2 has been passed with an A-certificate by the Central Board of Film Certification (CBFC).

The film has an interesting plot. A porn star (Sunny Leone) is hired by a dashing intelligence officer (Arunoday Singh) to become a 'Honey-trap' for a dreaded assassin (Randeep Hooda). In doing so, she not only has to confront her bitter-sweet past, but is also forced to make an impossible choice - one that will put her own life in double jeopardy.

The film has Sunny Leone as Izna, Randeep Hooda as Kabir, Arunoday Singh as Ayaan, Imran Zahid, Mohan Agashe and Arif Zakaria.

Producer-director Mahesh Bhatt entered the house of Bigg Boss for a couple of hours to present a contract deal to Sunny to cast her as the lead actress in this sequel of the film Jism. The film is directed by his producer-actress daughter Pooja Bhatt While Leone plays the female lead, the film will have two male protagonists. Pooja Bhatt signed Randeep Hooda and Arunoday Singh as lead actors. Imran Zahid is playing a role of a narcotics sleuth hailing from Delhi, in the film.

About casting Sunny Leone in the film Pooja Bhatt says,"I signed Sunny Leone for the same reason I signed John Abraham in Jism. It was instinct. I broke the perception that models can't act with Jism. Now, I am looking forward to break another perception by signing Sunny Leone, a pornstar in Jism 2." Stating the differences between Jism and Jism 2 she says," Jism was a love story for mature audience, Jism 2 is for mature adult audience. We are looking at raising the bar in every sense - emotionally and sensually. It would be the story of human heart, crime of passion, revenge, betrayal, the same elements that made Jism, with a fresh story.

Filming began on 1 April 2012 in Jaipur. The second schedule of Jism 2 was shot in Goa. The last and final shooting schedule of Jism 2 was shot in Sri Lanka. The sequel will hit the screens on 3 August 2012. It was announced the film will hit 200 theaters in the Andhra Pradesh state in Southeast India in their primary language Telugu.

The film was passed with an A-certificate by the CBFC, says director Pooja Bhatt, who is glad that cuts were only made "upon her discretion." Pooja tweeted, "A-certificate received for Jism 2. August 3 here we come! India just got itself an erotic thriller that truly reflects the times". "Let me also clarify to all my 'well-wishers' that Jism 2 has not been affected in the least by the cuts I made 'upon my own discretion'," added the actress-turned-director.

The music of the film is composed by Arko Pravo Mukherjee, Mithoon (One track Yeh Kasoor), Pakistani band Rushk (One track Darta Hoon) and Abdul Baasith Saeed (One song Hey Walla). The album has 7 tracks.

The film has songs like Abhi Abhi-1 sung by K K, Yeh Kasoor by Sonu Kakkar, Hum toh Haare (Abhi Abhi) by K K, Shreya Ghoshal/Akriti Kakkar;  Darta Hoon (Adhoora) by Rushk, Yeh Jism by Ali Azmat, Maula by Ali Azmat and Hey Walla by Unoosha.

Jism 2 is an interesting film to watch. Do watch it when it gets released on 3 August 2012.

Dinesh Kamath's article on Movie 'Total Recall' that was published in Newsband

Total Recall is an upcoming 2012 American science fiction action film, based on the 1966 short story We Can Remember It for You Wholesale by Philip K. Dick. Unlike the original 1990 film, the plot of this new version lacks a trip to Mars and contains strong political overtones. In addition, the film also blends Western and Eastern influences together, due to the fact that the two nation states, New Shanghai and Euroamerica are battling for political power.

It is directed by Len Wiseman, written by Mark Bomback, James Vanderbilt, and Kurt Wimmer, starring Colin Farrell, Kate Beckinsale, Jessica Biel, Bryan Cranston, John Cho and Bill Nighy.

The film has an interesting plot. In a futuristic political setting of 2084, after being devastated by war, Earth is divided into two superpowers, Euroamerica/Western Hemisphere and New Shanghai/Eastern Hemisphere, who are locked in a battle for supremacy. In this world lives Doug Quaid (Colin Farrell), a factory worker suffering from violent nightmares. Dissatisfied with lowly existence, Quaid visits Rekall, a corporation that provides its clients with implanted artificial memories of the lives they would like to have. McClane (John Cho), a Rekall representative, finds that Quaid has already had his memory erased and demands to know why Quaid has come to Rekall. Armed men shoot and kill McClane and other Rekall employees before Quaid kills them. He returns home to his wife Lori (Kate Beckinsale) who, after trying to kill him, reveals that he really is a secret agent and she is not really his wife. Now he is on the run and he joins forces with a rebel agent named Melina (Jessica Biel) while he tries to unravel the secrets of his own mind while fighting the Euroamerican military led by Vilos Cohaagen (Bryan Cranston).

The film has * Colin Farrell as Douglas "Doug" Quaid/Hauser a simple worker suffering from strange violent dreams; * Kate Beckinsale as Lori Quaid, Quaid's "wife"; * Jessica Biel as Melina, a member of the Resistance;    * Bryan Cranston as Vilos Cohaagen, a powerful and ruthless corporate leader and the film's primary antagonist; * Bokeem Woodbine as Harry, Quaid's best friend; * Bill Nighy as Matthias Lair, a Euromerican rebel leader; *John Cho as Bob McClane, a rep for Rekall who offers Quaid the chance to experience an imagined adventure; * Steve Byers as Henry Reed;   * Bianca Lawson as Elena; * Ethan Hawke; * Kaitlyn Leeb as The Seductive Woman (aka Three-Breasted Woman).  

Total Recall is undoubtedly an interesting film to watch. So do watch it when it gets released on 3 August 2012.

Dinesh Kamath's Editorial (Perfect implementation of RTE Act will make India a super power) that was published in Newsband

Perfect implementation of RTE Act will make India a super power

Education is a stepping stone for success. Children are the ones who will be leading the future of this nation; we cannot risk doing injustice to them. Any school, which cannot take the responsibility of grooming the future of a nation, deserves to be severely criticized. The Government should take actions against the school and take the first step in upholding the RTE.

Most of these so called autonomous educational institutions get benefits of concessional land, tax breaks etc from the government. So, on what basis are these institutions not implementing the RTE act? All kinds of frivolous excuses, legal methods and technical glitches are being utilized to evade RTE act. And when nothing works, some elements of the society show their true color by inhumane treatment to little children. Undoubtedly, this is one more example of hypocrisy, so often observed in our society. Is minting money the only objective of these schools?

A strong political will is required to force these schools to go by government’s policy. Few schools cannot be allowed to sabotage the true development goals of government. What types of citizens are groomed by such schools? Those who show utter contempt for fellow human beings?

Effective Law doesn’t mean just to include it into constitution. One should be aware of one's Fundamental Duty i.e. to abide by law. If everyone will strictly follow their fundamental duty then it will be easy to implement Fundamental right.

There is an urgent need to think about the proper implementation of RTE act because it is a big initiative to finish the status quo mentality. After six decades of freedom this act came into existence and now due to non-cooperation by some people of our society it cannot be totally implemented.

RTE is most welcome step from government. But this kind of initiative would remain ineffective until we, the people of this great nation, do not change our way of thinking. We should respect even a poor child’s right to education.

The American public school system had welded poor illiterate immigrants from around the globe into a powerful and productive nation. India should follow that example. It is ironic that "Socialist" India should abdicate education of her Children to for-profit profiteers - downgrading education to 'Exam coaching'. It is only when every Indian child’s Right To Education is respected we will witness the birth of many more ‘Dhirubhai Ambanis’. Only after that India can become a super power.