With the short essay “Film Appreciation” to herald my entry into the world of movie blogging and reviewing, that I’d posted on the 28th of May, 2008, I believe I started a journey. A journey wherein I saw a host of good and not-so-good movies and provided capsule reviews for nearly everything that I saw; and I can safely say that I’ve been reasonably involved in my venture, if not prolific. Nearly 400 movie reviews in around 2 years – not a bad figure I’d say.
But what made this activity all the more enriching and memorable were the friends and acquaintances that I made over the blogosphere in these 2 years. Though I haven’t personally met most of the people blogrolled at my place, it was our mutual appreciation for the medium and willingness to share our opinion over the internet that got us all acquainted.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank all the bloggers whose blogs I’ve especially loved frequenting, in order to both expand my understanding as well as to participate in debates and discussions, for letting me be part of this wonderful community.
Some names & blogs that instantly come to my mind are: Sam Juliano @ Wonders in the Dark, Srikanth aka Just Another Movie Buff @ The Seventh Art, John Greko @ Twenty Four Frames, Jim Snavely aka Alex DeLarge @ Korovo Thetra, Ed Howard @ Only the Cinema, Iain Stott @ The One-Line Review, Dave Hicks @ Goodfella’s Movie Blog, Alex @ Film Forager, 1 Minute Film Review, Roy Stafford aka Venicelion @ The Case for Global Cinema, ZC @ Precious Bodily Fluids, Stephanie Lundahl aka Norma Desmond @ The Flick Chick, Troy Olson @ Elusive as Robert Denby, Kevin J. Olson @ Hugo Stiglitz Makes Movies, Samuel Wilson @ Mondo 70, Daniel Getahun @ Getafilm, MoviesAndSongs365, Omar Ahmed @ Ellipsis, Doniphon @ The Long Voyage Home, Tristan @ The Library of Babel, Movie Man @ The Dancing Image, Drew McIntosh @ The Blue Vial, Blake @ Bitchin’ Film Reviews, Dan @ Top 10 Films, Sitenoise at the Movies, Dan the Movie Man’s Reviews, My Floating Red Couch, Heather @ Movie Mobsters, Kim Morgan @ Sunset Gun, Ibetolis @ Film for the Soul, Rick Olson @ Coosa Creek Mambo, and so many more (I sincerely apologise if I missed your name). There are also people who graced my blog with their presence, like Maurizo Roca, Jani Laaksonen, Himanshu Rai aka Yayaver, Mahadyuti Adhikary, Arindam Gupta, Bhargav Saika, Little Girl Lost, Nitesh, Cute Priya, and my dear friends Sthito, and Piyasree, among others.
And now that I’ve decided to take my career and in turn life towards a new direction by opting for higher studies, I know my movie watching and reviewing here at Cinemascope will suffer terribly and will get cut down quite drastically. Nonetheless, let me ensure that as long as I’m there, this blog will not die since I’ve invested too much of time, effort and love to let it go without a fight. And I sincerely hope that the friendships and acquaintances made will not get lost either.
I might remain incommunicado for the next week or so, and very infrequent over the next two years or so, but there’s no doubting the fact that… I’ll be back…
31 comments:
Hey man, thanks for the shout out. And good luck with your new time demanding endeavors! I'll be waiting for new posts.
Cheers, Shubajit - really enjoyed your reviews and comments at my place. Best of luck and look forward to your return.
@Blake & Daniel:
Thanks a lot. All the best to you guys too. I too will be looking forward for my return, as & when that's possible. And I'll keep visiting your wonderful blogs as & when time permits.
Shubhajit, thanks for the mentioning about me. It is always pleasure to see a cinephile writing about cinema and providing people unbiased feedback without any monetary benefits. Yours blog has guided me to the best of cinema along 1 years. Best of luck for your higher education initiative. And this digital archive treasure will always be there for new comer to know about great cinema. Just a query, where are you going for higher studies ?
Thanks a lot Yayaver. Yeah, it always feels great if I can introduce one or two good movies to fellow film enthusiasts. As for your query, I'm headed to IIM-Shillong.
We're gonna miss you buddy...
Thanks buddy. Me too :)
Good Luck. Wish you the best Shubhajit. Your return will be glorious!!!.......M.Roca
Thanks a lot for the wishes. I hope so too :)
Shubhajit, best of luck to you on your new ventures, and thanks for all of the contagious passion you've put into this wonderful blog. I'm glad to hear that the blog won't die, even if your posting frequency does suffer. Best wishes pal.
Thanks a lot Drew. Its been a great time these last couple of years that I've been with this blog, and interacting with you all has been contagious for me as well. Thanks again.
Thanks bud! I'm gonna miss you a lot! Thanks for all the great posts, but I will always be waiting for more.
Thanks for saying that. Its been a pleasure. I too will be eagerly waiting for that.
I thank you so much Shubhajit for including me in your group of friends. I have enjoyed the discourse over here and at WitD and a number of other fine places we both frequent. While I can't blame you one iota for curtailing operations here for a far more important venture, I am nonetheless saddened at what will be impossible to fill in the blogosphere. Yes, the site will continue, and I'm sure from time to time, you get brief time windows to update.
We all wish you the very best my friend. You've been quite a superstar here.
Shubhajit, I have enjoyed your blog and your enthusiasm. Thanks for sharing your thoughts here and over at 24frames and Watching the Wheels. I wish you the best in this next phase of your life.
You will be missed.
@Sam:
Thanks a lot for the kind words Sam. Its been a pleasure and honour to have had your friendship, and that's one thing I'll cherish as well as miss whenever I'm away from the blogosphere. And with the number of movies you watch, you've also been a benchmark for me. I'll do try and update something from time to time. Thanks again.
@John:
Thanks a lot John for the wishes and the good words. Its been a pleasure knowing you too. Take care & keep walking.
Good luck with your studies and thanks for linking to my site.
I enjoy visiting your blog and will continue to do so, as there are still many reviews I have yet to read.
You have one of the best international movie review blogs in my opinion, including movies from all over the world. Good job.
http://moviesandsongs365.blogspot.com/
Oh man, sorry to hear your blogging will become less frequent. You are a top dude Shubhajit and good luck with your studies. As far your blog, well, I will certainly be looking in. Thanks for the shout out. But do come back. The blogosphere needs you.
Back from a break and I see this. It's a bit sad to hear this. But it's all for the best. It's been great reading the insightful, and sometimes provocative, reviews at Cinemascope.
I still remember the days at Culturazzi, where we got acquainted. I can't believe it's almost TWO years since that!
My heartfelt wishes for the course you are taking up. I'm sure it'll be hard work, but do keep the posts coming whenever possible
I clearly remember the Film Appreciation essay too (That's why I read Ray's book!). It's been a remarkable journey indeed.
Cheers and all the very best!
Best of luck with your studies Shubhajit! Your reviews are a pleasure to read, so I hope you keep on writing and enjoying cinema whenever you can. Movies are a great way to relax and take a break from studies too. I'll be looking forward to your return or for any new reviews.
Well, I will definitely miss your well-written reviews and wonderful insights into world cinema, but I wish you the best of luck with your studies! Thanks for the shout-out and I'll be sure to keep following whatever articles you are able to write in the future!
Dang, well, schooling is good. (Selfishly I wish you were doing film studies, but oh well.) Go have a ball and don't forget to do an occasional post on arthouse fluff or special effects-driven garbage. Though you tend to review excellent films, even your thoughts on the expendable ones are worth reading. Hope to see you back before too long.
@MoviesAndSongs:
Thanks a lot man for the wishes & the good words. Do keep visiting and let me know your views for the reviews that you read here.
@Omar:
Thanks a lot Omar. I'll certainly try & post something as and when its possible.
@JAFB:
Thanks a lot buddy. Yeah, its been sometime since we got acquainted to each other, and its sure been one wonderful journey these last 2 years. Never knew you found some of my reviews provocative lol. Do keep in touch.
@Jani:
You're right, movies can be great stressbusters apart from providing intellectual & aesthetic pleasure. Thanks for the wishes. Do keep visiting.
@Alex:
Thanks a lot Alex. I'll do try & post stuff from time to time.
@ZC:
Thanks man. Yeah, a course in film studies, or better still, filmmaking, would have been terrific. If only wishes were horses... I'll try & be back before "too long".
Good luck with your endeavors. You've left a lot here to explore (great that you've got 'em alphabetized on the sidebar) to keep us busy while you're off!
Thanks a lot. You might also consider visiting the archive of all the movies I've reviewed here.
Thanks so much for mentioning me.
But the blog must go on. *A completely original quote of mine*
Cheers mate; and best of luck for studies and B-yond! ;)
Thanks a lot buddy. Yes, the blog must go on. And I certainly don't deny the kind of originality, and more than that, brevity, you displayed there :)
Good luck for the future, Shubhajit.
You are one of the friendliest, politest, best writers around.
Thanks a lot Stephen for the wishes & the good words.
Shubhajit, my apologies for a tardy response. It's always a pleasure to read your postings and I've found them to be invaluable in keeping me abreast of contemporary Bengali Cinema. I hope the studying goes well and look forward to your return.
Thanks a lot Roy. Its always a treat to read your intellectually engaging posts too.
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