An absolute ripper - HP7 part one

Movie: Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows (Part1)

Cast: Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, Rupert Grint

Plot:

After the death of Albus Dumbledore, a heartbroken Harry is determined more than ever, to end Voldermort's life. But killing once is not enough, because Lord Voldermort has spilt his soul into 7 pieces and hidden them, they are called Horcruxes. And so, when Harry Potter turns 17 the protective spell on Pivet Drive will wear off and he can no longer be safe from the Dark lord. So the order of the Phoenix come together to transport harry to a safe place. He then goes on a Journey with his dear friends Ron and Hermione in search of these Horcruxes. Trouble is, they have no idea, where they are or how to destroy them. With no one to guide them they travel far and wide in search of Harry's destiny.

A fan's delight:

If you have read the books, then you will absolutely love the movie. If you havn't, then you'll love it anyway as this movie is a treat for the senses. By sticking to the original, they have brought out the characters dilemma and complexities beautifully. Some may complain that the movie was slow, but that very immobility gives the movie a chance to really concentrate on the relationships between the main cast.

The locations were breathtaking with hues of dull grey, green and white to keep us all hooked. The Forest of Dean and the frozen lake are exactly as described in the book, and gives one goosebumps. They have surpassed any expectations anyone had on the technical department, the special effects were near perfect. The idea to recreate the tale of the three brothers in the movie without using actors, was ingenious and added a class to the story. The actors for the most part have done a reasonable job. Rupert Grint was the surprise element here, he proved he actually has some acting chops.

The movie is interlaced with humour, wit and a whole lot of adventure. Director David Yates has recreated the magic and the anticipation, of what will happen next, never lets up till the last scene.

Minor hiccups:

The scene at the Ministry for magic could have been better executed. The actors in these scenes were not convincing and it was a disappointment because, its one of the most exciting scene in the book. Whether it was an attempt at authentic filming or the result shoddy editing, some chase scenes (the one with the snatchers) were very disturbing and was almost painful to watch. In the last scene with Beatrix Lestrange, the exchange of wands must have been given more focus, because it was difficult to discern what went on.

Bottomline: In Ron's words "It's bloody brilliant!!"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_EC2tmFVNNE

As predictable as they come....

MOVIE: THE BACK-UP PLAN

CAST: Jenifer Lopez, Alex O’Loughlin

Plot:

Zoe (J Lo) is tried of waiting for Mr. Right, so she takes matters into her own hands and decides she’s going to have a baby. She takes the non-traditional route to get pregnant, but as luck would have it, she then meets the man of her dreams, Stan (Alex O’Loughlin). This puts her in a precarious position because she’s going out with Stan, while she’s pregnant with another man’s child!! Her Plan B seems to have backfired and she finds herself living her life in reverse. She thought she had it all mapped out, but she’s about to realize you can’t always get what you want.

Scream out loud:

Alan Poul’s (Director) movie saunters along as if all concerned had decided that imagination and flair were either unnecessary or impossible. The story itself is uninspired and that puts you off from the word go. The performances in the movie fall well below average and prove to be a huge disappointment. The screaming women in labour are not a pretty sight and the makers are delusional, if they think that’s funny. The movie keeps throwing one cliché after another and it gets to a point where you think, ‘enough is enough’. And how is that the owner of a pet shop (Zoe) can afford designer clothes??? It’s almost as if logic and humour have taken a holiday. The single mothers group is another unnecessary distraction and makes a root canal seem like a walk in the park. There were scenes in the playground with Anthony Anderson, which truly are the only saving grace in this movie, as it somehow manages to make you laugh. The adorable dog in the ‘wheelchair’ pretty much steals the show, with its wicked charm begging for scraps under the table.

Bottom-line:

This movie is Funny’s very distant cousin, ‘Not Funny’.

date night review

MOVIE : DATE NIGHT

CAST: STEVE CARELL, TINA FEY

Plot:

Phil and Claire Foster (Steve Carell and Tina Fey), a couple who have been married for several years seem to be caught in a rut. So Phil decides to spice things up, by taking his wife to a swanky new restaurant in the city. But the restaurant is full and so they impulsively jump on the opportunity, to steal someone else’s reservation. This leads to a case of mistaken identity and the couple soon find themselves in a lot more trouble than they bargained for. With angry mobsters and dirty cops chasing them, they try to find a way to get out of the huge mess, by getting the flash drive the villains believe they possess. Will they be in one piece at the end of date night? Let’s hope so.

Tickles your funny bone:

This is an action packed Romantic-comedy, so it’s guaranteed that the men will not fall asleep half way through the movie. It’s exhilarating to watch the car chase that features a very sleek silver Audi. Part of the fun resides in seeing how an ordinary couple can outsmart villains while being chased around Manhattan. This movie is not without flaws, as it tends to get a bit chaotic and frantic at times and they could have stayed away from most of the clichés. Steve Carell and Tina Fey prove to us, all is not lost when there is a ordinary script involved and that having talented performers can elevate mediocre material enough, to wring genuine laughs out of it. Their partnership proves to be a lethal combination, for their comic genius will have you laughing out loud almost throughout the movie. The solid supporting cast and cameos add to infectious energy that surrounds the movie. There is some brilliant improvisation at play here, in fact opportunities where they are cut loose and allowed to go really crazy, are some of the best parts of the film.

BottomLine:

This movie is funny, engaging and interesting and certainly worth a watch.

hmmmmm.....
Sometimes in our lives we all have painWe all have sorrow

But if we are wise

We know that there's always tomorrow
Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on
Please swallow your pride

If I have things you need to borrowFor no one can fill those of your needs

That you don't let show
Lean on me, when you're not strong

And I'll be your friend

I'll help you carry on

For it won't be long'Til I'm gonna need

Somebody to lean on
If there is a load you have to bear

That you can't carry

I'm right up the road

I'll share your load

If you just call me
So just call on me brother, when you need a hand

We all need somebody to lean on

I just might have a problem that you'd understand

We all need somebody to lean on
Lean on me when you're not strong

And I'll be your friendI'll help you carry on

For it won't be longTill I'm gonna need Somebody to lean on

Lean on me...


Thank you for letting me lean on you!! happy b'day!! Im grateful for you guys:)

movie review- how to train your dragon

MOVIE: HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON
CAST: JAY BARUCHEL, GERARD BUTLER
This movie is based on a novel by Cressida Cowell and comes from the studio that brought you some of the best animated films like “Shrek,” “Madagascar” and “Kung Fu Panda”. The story revolves around Hiccup (Jay Baruchel), a gangly out-of-place kid in a town full of burly, king-sized Vikings. His father Stoick (Gerard Butler) is naturally disappointed, at not having a son who will follow in his footsteps, as the next best dragon slayer. Amidst all the chaos that surrounds the village, Hiccup befriends one of the most dangerous dragons, Night Fury after saving its life. Hiccup’s world is turned upside down when he encounters a dragon that challenges him and his fellow Vikings to see the world from an entirely different point of view. He uncovers certain secrets about the dragons, which threaten the very existence of his village. With so many lives hanging in the balance, Hiccup must rise to the occasion and find a way to make it all right.

Beauty and the beast:
If you think you’ve seen it all in Harry potter and Avatar, then wait till you see the dragons in action in ‘how to train your dragon’. This movie works on so many levels, I do not know where to begin. All aspects of the movie right from casting. Script, direction, animation and dialogue is spot on! This is a movie that will speak to audiences of all ages and that is something rare and special. This ones a keeper for sure!! This movie will remind you much of Avatar at times as the visual likeness is hard to miss. This movie manages to captivate the audience with the right mix of action, heartfelt emotion, drama and romance. It manages to be unpredictable, believable and exhilarating all at the same time.

Gerard Butler makes a menacing, proud, burly Viking look like a piece of cake. The cute Irish accent is just icing:). Jay Baruchel’s voice brings to life the character of Hiccup and makes him instantly likable. It gave me a jolt to see Snoutlout a character in the movie to bear an uncanny resemblance to Jack Black !! wat was that about??

You have dragons of all shapes and sizes, its so wonderfully creative and colorful you cannot help but be hooked onto to it. The story is based on a strong script and it shows, but it cannot take away from the fact that the performances were as bright as the sun. You could watch this movie 20 times and still want to watch it. It’s nice to see the former adversaries finally make nice, I mean the dragons and the Vikings:D:D. Who would have thought that dragons could be this much fun!! I certainly didn’t. I went in with no expectations, but I came out on the otherside with the smile on my face, because I know this film would have exceeded any expectation anyone would have had. The development of the bond between Hiccup and Toothless is conveyed virtually without dialogue, which suggests that DreamWorks Animation has absorbed a useful lesson from its rivals at Pixar.
Bottomline:
In the words of captain hadoock “Billions of bilious blue blistering barnacles”, what a ride!!!

sports for ALL!!

We talk about equality of sexes almost all the time and there has been a constant battle for woman empowerment, many are fought and some are hard won. The recent passing of legislation to increase the representation of women in parliament was one such hard won battle, that bought to focus the growing desire and necessity to have the fairer sex in the forefront of developement. Nehru said ' A nations progress can be judged by the status of its women'. This made me think, if this is true, what does this say about INDIA? How will we be judged? Definitely, we will be taken more seriously if we were to indeed create some unique opportunities for women.

The movie CHAK DE gave us an insight into how the world looks at women in sports. There are huge problems: be it funding, sponsors or infrastructure, it was clear as day that they are at a serious disadvantage. Some argue that sports is more of a gentleman's game because of the amount of stamina required. But at the end of the day it is a test of endurance and skill. So why is that women in sports are not as popular as the men? Why are they not given a level playing field with the men or the same amount of recognition and support? Why is that people feel that watching men's cricket is a lot more exciting than womens cricket? I would say all this is because of the lack of exposure and awareness or maybe even ignorance on our part. Ask any ardent cricket fan, even a woman 'who the captain of the Women's Indian cricket team is'? They will definitely draw a blank.

Take the IPL for example, Underneath the corporate exploiting the event for marketing gimmicks and many other such agendas, the BCCI insists that at the heart of it, IPL was created to find some fresh talent and give them a once in a lifetime opportunity to play alongside the best. If this is their mission, shouldn't their vision also include women? Why not have one or two women players in the team. They have ceiling limits and rules on almost everything right from the number of international players. Why not give women an opportunity to prove themselves? If we are truly equals this should be no problem. Even tennis has a concept of mixed doubles and this is also a game that's not just about skill but endurance as well. Women are just as talented if not more than men and all they need is someone need to open doors for them and give them a voice. As a developing nation our voice is loud, but as we all know actions speak louder than words. By adding women to the equation you not only intrigue the audience but the anticipation of seeing how well they fair will increase your TRP. It will be a win-win situation for all involved and India will be viewed in a completely different and positive light. The BCCI should seriously consider opening up the IPL to women as well because there is incredible talent there just waiting to be discovered and show the world what they are made of

The IPL with its enormous success should pave way to newer ideas and maintain the spirit of the game in the truest sense.

the bounty hunter - review

MOVIE: THE BOUNTY HUNTER

CAST: Jenifer Aniston, Gerard Butler

The movie is directed by Andy Tennant who is well-known for some truly wonderful movies like Hitch and Sweet Home Alabama. Milo Boyd (Gerard Butler), a down-on-his-luck bounty hunter, gets his dream job when he is assigned to track down his bail-jumping ex-wife, reporter Nicole Hurly (Jenifer Aniston). Milo is hoping to cash in on an easy opportunity, embarrassing his ex-wife seems to be an added bonus. But things get a little complicated when Nicole gives him the slip so she can chase a lead on a murder cover-up. But she seems to have taken a wrong turn with the investigation and things go from bad to worse, when a hit is ordered to shut her up permanently. The exes continually one-up each other - until they find themselves on the run for their lives.

Little high and too low!

One would have high expectations because the cast and crew are known to be some of the best in the business. The only positives that are evident in the movie is Jenifer Aniston’s hot body that will make you want to eat your heart out and Gerard Butlers cute smile. The movie suffers mainly because the script is just pain horrible. There can be no other word to describe this disaster. Frankly, I love Aniston and Butler, but this movie is so wrong on so many levels I do not know where to begin. The wardrobe for Butler was so hideous! Even my fat cousin has better taste in clothes!! The comedy and romance which are essential to a ROM-COM are totally absent. There seems to be no chemistry what so ever between the two lead actors!! It is just a mindless watch I would say, If u wanna just go to the movies and neck then this would be the movie to pick.

Siobhan Fallon Hogan as Teresa the bondsman's secretary, seem to the only one who could muster up a good performance. Overall a bad script, bad acting, bad comedy, no romance, bad action sequences, some clichéd scenes all add up to a truly atrocious movie that is not worth your time,money or energy. Lots of hammy faces, hollow jokes and property damage make this movie a truly regrettable experience.

Bottomline:

Watch it at your own risk. If you blow your brains out afterward atleast I can say ‘I told you so’.

IT's Complicated Movie review

ALL IS FAIR IN LOVE AND WAR!

MOVIE: It’s Complicated

CAST: Meryl Streep, Alec Baldwin, Steve Martin

This Romantic-comedy was written and directed by Nancy Meyers, known for films such as The Holiday, Something’s Gotta Give, and Father of the Bride. The movie revolves around Jane (Meryl Streep) and Jake (Alec Baldwin) who have been divorced for a decade, but have learned to get along. Seems simple enough, but not for long as a steamy night between the two leads to a totally different kind of hangover! Jake is married to a woman half his age and Jane now finds herself being the other woman. Though her conscience plagues her, Jane cannot think past Jake and finds herself with conflicting emotions. But things get even more interesting when Adam (Steve Martin) enters the scene, unwittingly forming a love triangle.

Get high & low:

Jane owns a successful bakery and the onslaught of all the pastries and food is cause for all kinds of cravings. But this movie is not for the faint hearted, as seeing Alec Baldwin without clothes takes some serious courage. The cast with the exception of Lake Bell (Agnes) was well picked, as one feels an instant connection with Jane’s Children and the sense of family comes across. John Krasinski as Hurley leaves a lasting impression with his comic timing. The story is sometimes predictable and the constant giggling will get on your nerves. Steve Martin is not that great but his performance is effective to the say the least.

Age is just a number:

Anyone other than Meryl would have come off as tacky and cheap, but she looks fabulous and her acting almost flawless. And this comes as no surprise, has she ever done a bad movie?? If you’re a fan of 30 Rock, then you’ll definitely love Alec in this one, as he's blossomed into a terrific comic actor, a wickedly self-mocking satyr. Jake and Adam are hooked onto Jane, Who win finally win her over?

Bottomline:

An entertaining and fun ride which gives us a chance to escape into a world where everything is beautiful, even advancing middle age.

tHE BLIND SIDE

MOVIE: THE BLIND SIDE
CAST: Sandra Bullock, Tim Mcgraw, Quinton Aaron, Kathy Bates

The blind side is a true story which has been taken brilliantly by director John Lee Hancock. The story revolves around Micheal Oher a.k.a. Big Mike, a homeless African –American who has a troubled past filled with abuse and abandonment. Lady luck smiles on him and he finds himself admitted into a private school for his athletic potential. But his odd predicament pulls at Leigh Ann Touhy’s (Sandra Bullock) heart strings and so she takes him under her wing.

Highs and lows:
The fact that Leigh Ann’s children seem welcoming to Micheal’s arrival seems a bit unrealistic because even the most well- behaved children will feel a twinge of jealousy and resentment. SJ forms a brotherly bond with Micheal and the formers performance is commendable, as his quirky and endearing nature puts a smile on your face. Sandra Bullock’s Oscar for Best Actor was justly deserved, as she shines in her role as a bossy, pragmatic but loving mother. She tries throughout the movie to keep her emotions at bay and this struggle adds to the allure of her character. Micheal’s stay at the Touhy’s changes their lives and Leigh Ann takes it upon herself to secure his future. The hardships he faces while playing football and how even his teachers try to bring out the best in him are some of the most heart warming moments in the movie.

Refreshing Change:
The underdog theme has never gone wrong with the audience because against our better judgment, we tend to root for them. This movie is not, just another sports-drama. It gives one such a wonderful insight into the characters you cannot help but be inspired and moved by them. Will Micheal succeed?? or will he let his troubled past get the better of him?? Watch and find out!

Bottomline: There are just two reasons why this movie is a must watch
1. Heart – wrenching sports-drama moments
2. Sandra Bullock

global warming ... fancy phrase .. or reality?

Well this term has been coined and thrown around for a long time now. We cannot deny it exists. But somehow we are determined to penalize anyone who bloats these figures. The fact that global warming is anthropogenic cannot be denied. We contribute the most to this phenomenon. To blame innocent cow's of contributing 2% of global warming, I believe is pointless. Infact people might actually start eating more cow's on account of wanting to save the planet and reduce global warming. So what if their gas has catastrophic effects, even if we put all the cow's together that's just 2%. We humans contribute the rest. To make a mockery of the IPCC and its findings, to equate their fudged figures to be a monumental mistake not be taken seriously. i believe is a grave error in judgement. Their image is damaged and their data will not be taken seriously from now on. There will be more doubts, more confusion and no centrally accepted statistic available for presentation. China is happy to align itself with the developing BASIC countries. It does not matter that they have over taken the U.S. as the highest in CO2 emissions. Smart move they say... but at what cost? What will be our fate in the coming years if this carries on?

It is a fact that there won't be any fuel left in 41 years if we continue our present rate of consumption. If a few bloated figures get the countries to co-operate and take action to stop global warming i believe its worth the risk. Many of us don't realize that we contribute to about .00001% of global warming. It seems like an insignificant percentage, but if 5 of us decided to make a conscious effort to reduce wastage of resources that is .00005% less isn't it ?

how many of you

1) switch off your bike or car engines in signals where the clock has more than 20 seconds to go?

2) how many of us refuse plastic bags at the grocery store?

3) How many of us turn off the water while brushing our teeth?

4) How many of us car pool or bike pool?

These are really simple acts that you and I can do everyday. But it seems that even the educated folk are lazy to try it. These are 4 things we can do and it wont cost us much to do it.

Why is that no one believes a single person can make a difference? What happened to 'be the change you want to see'. Will it always remain just a slogan? or will it become more? the ball is in your court......

Anxiety... emotional distress... !!

These emotions might seem familiar to you, if you have written CAT this year. With a flawed education system testing our patience to the limits there is only one other thing that can go wrong. Our results can be completely messed up... Will my scores be good enough... Well i don't care... I just want my results so i can get on with my life!! to wait 3 months for a computerized test result!! ugh!!

the reason we had this exam as a CBT was to minimize labour and make sure the system is not time consuming!!! oh the irony!!!

XAT results came out in 2 weeks and this was a paper pencil test attended by 1 Lakh students this year. Why is that the IIM's have no clue as to when the results will be out? I did not think anxiety could kill a person but if this goes on any longer i think it just might...

This years CAT marred with imperfections and glitches at every stage is by far a students worst nightmare. I really wish we could sue them for emotional distress... but since thats not possible im gonna settle for some good old fashioned ranting :)

well im done i think... will keep u guys posted on the progress if any.... MICAT is next... where i expect i'll have my behind handed to me on a platter...

cheers mate!!

settling?!?!

Many of us have insecurities... we are plagued with them... they follow us almost everywhere. Right this moment i have a million thoughts wrecking havoc in my brain... But how is it that a few errant thoughts can make you feel so small... It should'nt be possible... but it is.. how of us can deal with this kind of situation... how many really?
I for one have not gotten even one call from any decent B-school
who cares if i was crazy enuf to give up a job at world bank and take this up...I say to myself what wer you thinking? But somehow it seems like this will be the end of time as we know it... for me its make or break...
how many of us can pick ourselves up when we fall?
I admit im quite heavy... i need help... to be pulled up... from this miserable well iv fallen into...
I do not want to settle for a univ that is second best... im better than that... im capable of doing well...
but what is the cause for all this frustration... i'll finally get to the point guys...

it's because we have a flawed education system that *!!!
its impractical and absolutely absurd to say that a guy who has got 99.99 is better than a guy who has gotten 99.98!!! i mean come on!! How can you just crush someones dreams based on a few points!! it's absurd....
take me for example!! iv got just 71% in xat... does this mean im not a good student??!!
NO!! infact i'd go as far as to say im better than most of people doing an MBA in a decent institute.
I was born to do this... i have the skill set ... the profile... everything... but that has no relevance what so ever.... u'd think they wud take a page from the movie 3 idiots... But the Indian education system is forever flawed and we as students are not helping... there have been no protests... or crimes of passion!!! I mean someone get the shiv sena to say sumthing on this issue gud or bad !! we really do need the publicity!! because these days its the only thing that counts as newsworthy!! Why is that the ones who really deserve something don't end up getting what they want? Is this the way fate works... cruel twists and turns... unexpected ... unwanted... Why is it that justice and true fairness in the system can never be ensured?... why is it that good candidates miss out because of a conceptually broken system ?? It is infuriating. Scores are essential parameter to judge a students potential... one cannot deny that... but to using that as the only parameter to shortlist... not looking at the profile of worthy candidates... I believe robs the nation of its chance to produce some top notch business minds and entrepreneurs.Why are we still a developing nation... it is because we refuse to correct a flawed system??!!! I'd say absolutely!!

PS: this is me ranting i need this... so lol... im sry for this pointless post... but i needed to vent and this helped...

Sherlock holmes the review!!

Where do I start? Should I talk about the sheer brilliance of Director Guy Ritchie ? Or should I talk about the mind blowing performances of Robert Downey Jr. (Sherlock Holmes) and Jude Law (Watson)? I think there is nothing that Rober Downey Jr. cannot do. He made an absolutely lovable super hero in Iron man and his incredibly funny 'black guy' act in Tropic thunder is unforgettable. But with Sherlock Holmes (SH) he scales new heights and exceeds your expectations, which i might add is quite rare in movies these days. What makes this movie different is that it is not a play by play of the SH portrayed in Sir Authur Conan Doyal's books. He is not just the rude, arrogant, resourceful and brilliant man you see in the books but a whole lot more. The SH in this movie is more physical, witty, endearing, whimsical, adorable and funny. Jude Law as Watson, is supposed to be SH sidekick and he appears to be anything but. His role really stands out due to his exceptional performance and it was exhilarating to watch the dynamic duo of Watson and SH. His relationship with Holmes in this movie is more personal and almost brotherly which is a nice touch by Director Guy Ritchie.

There is never a dull moment in the movie, it starts off with SH pursuing Lord Blackwood the man who is supposed to have murdered five women using black magic. He is then sentenced to death and his last wish is to see the man who put him behind bars. Lord Blackwood then asks Holmes to widen his gaze for the coming events are grave and unstoppable. The events that unfold after Lord Blackwood is hung will shock the viewer and manages to convince us that there is no logical explanation and that it is all the act of black magic. But Holmes is relentless and will not stop till he finds the answer to the mysterious events that are seemingly unsolvable. Rachel Mcadams as Irene is SH achilles heel, but her performance in the movie is adequate for lack of a better word. Her classic looks might make her perfect for the role, but the scope to shine I guess is limited. There are some absolutely rib ticking moments in the movie be it the innuendo by SH when he says " madam im a professional. listen to me, the key to my release lies beneath this pillow" ( you'll know why when you see the movie) or the smart repartee he shares with Watson from time to time. Inspector Lestrade from the police force is subject to a lot of ridicule from SH and rightly so i might add foe he looks like a bumbling idiot next to SH but you cannot help but laugh at RD Jr's sarcastic remarks. I really enjoyed the brotherly bond between Jude Law and RD Jr. in the movie because it is hilarious to see SH get jealous when Watson has a Girlfriend!! SH in this movie is a mad scientist, a nerd at heart so to speak and you will love every minute of his goofiness and it will make you want to clamor for more. Guy Ritchie does not disappoint, he even throws in a boxing match to make to movie all the more interesting. The movie keeps us guessing all the way to the end and manages to keep the doubt on our minds. What can we believe ? Is there no other explanation for this, except that this is a work of Lord Blackwood's Black magic or will SH find order from all the Chaos?

Sudish Kamat in his review for the movie 'Avatar' said " It is hard to find fault with GOD". Im sure he's gonna kick himself when he sees SH because this movie actually deserves such praise. A first- rate action packed movie that provides a near perfect example of how to redress an aging genre franchise for the masses. This movie is a treat for the body and mind, with its Dazzling action sequences, SH keen method of deduction, hilarious moments, amazing screenplay and sheer entertainment. It's a must watch for everyone, So what are you waiting for?