Impossible? I think not- MI 4: Ghost Protocol

Mission accomplished?
Movie: Mission Impossible - 4 Ghost Protocol
Cast: Tom Cruise, Jeremy Renner, Paula Patton, Simon Pegg

PLOT:
After breaking Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise)-the infamous IMF operative out of prison-the team discovers there is some guy a.k.a COBALT trying to get his hands on Russian Nuke launch codes. Ethan and his team then try to break in and steal information on him at the KREMLIN, one the the most secure buildings in Russia. But it doesn't go well and they come back empty handed and the building is bombed. The blame lands squarely on Ethan's team. The IMF is disavowed. With no friends and no IMF back up the rouge team must get their hands on COBALT and the codes before its too late. That takes them from Russia to Dubai to Mumbai, where it all ends. Suicide mission or Mission possible?

Good news first:
The movie has us hooked from the very first scene. The long winding fuse that leads into the opening titles just give you a sense of what you can expect with flashes of scenes to come.

Cruise and his aging body have you wishing you could rewind the clock and go back to MI-2, but the action makes up for that disappointment in spades.

Special agent Jane (Paula Patton) and Benji (Simon Pegg), the comical British technician from the previous installment hack into the Russian Prison security and with Dean Martin music playing in the background, Ethan all but saunters out of that Prison. pffft ..it's like stealing candy from a baby.

Well it's much like watching a Rajinikanth movie really. Cruise gets bonked on the head, has several mild concussions and still manages to walk out without spilling a drop. So get this. If your one of those indi movie freaks. This ain't for you.

After the third installment you think... well we've seen him jump from one building to another, what more can he show us? Director Brad Bird, whose earlier stints in animated hits like Ratatouille and the incredibles could not have possibly prepared him for the adrenaline pumping blockbuster franchise, but somehow finds a way to step it up. And how!

How about Cruise climbing from the 123 rd floor of the Burj Khalifa in Dubai with nothing more than Spidey gloves? It will literally take your breath away.

You're in for a doozy! They break into the KREMLIN, with of course fake ID's and Russian accent.DA it's true, the masks always work. One thing that strikes you here is that the team is not perfect, they make mistakes. Lot's of them. And you'd think equipment failure doesn't happen in high budget secret ops. Oh but it does! And inconveniently when you are over a 100 stories above the ground.

The KREMLIN is blown up and Ethan lands at the hospital, but manages to get out of handcuff the old fashioned way- a paper clip. Ah simplicity, it's refreshing.

But throughout the movie Cruise goes about wrecking beautiful BMW's. It's painful to watch them get smashed.

The car chase scene in the middle of a sand storm, a routine happening in Dubai all but restores your faith in action movies.

While the plot itself was uninspired, the actors, the surprising bursts of humour and the thrilling action sequences make this a flat out popcorn entertainer. So buy a tub and settle down.

Brant (Jeremy Renner) of hurt locker fame really took the cake in terms of performance. So believable and likable. What a trouper.

The bad and the ugly:
Anil Kapoor was for me the biggest disappointment. Having proved his potential in 24, the hugely popular TV series in America, he played a billionaire bimbo, that quite frankly belied his true abilities.

And what's with showing all Telegu sign boards, when your are supposed to be in Mumbai? Bird, I know Americans really don't care. But really, research please. Or you could've just asked Anil Kapoor!And MH comes in front of a bloody license plate.

Oh the details do matter! But I did get a kick out of watching them set the nuke from the Sun Tv office. Symbolic really :) But the Chennai audience did get a kick out of watching Ktv and Sun Tv up on the big screen for just a min.

The climax was shoddy in it's execution and ruined the otherwise perfect build up. The frantic pace toward the end was really its undoing.

But you gotta admit its a visual feast and I only wish I had an IMAX theater here to do it justice.

Bottomline: There's a tub of popcorn with your name on it. Go get it.

Mega MIND BLOWING!

MOVIE REVIEW - MEGAMIND

CAST:TIM FAREEL, TINA FEY, BRAD PITT

Finally a comedy that can bring out a sincere laugh. Not the non-committal witty giggle that girls often tend to do (me included) to brighten an otherwise dull movie or to steal attention (and it's usually the latter.) I'm gonna take a detour from my usual style of writing, so bear with me while I experiment.

What's this movie about? u know the P-L-O-T!

Initially when they do the whole, superman thing -you know the boy being sent from a mysteriously cool planet to earth to fulfill his 'destiny', you think oh-boy this is goona be another crappy movie. But hold your horses cuz this movie is anything but that. It's like having a annoyingly weird friend (you know what i'm talking abt...its ok to admit .. all of us have one).. you have to let it grow on you.

So Megamind (Will Farell) after a painful childhood realises his true calling to be a super villain. He sets out to take over METROCITY and everyone knows, where there is a super villain there is always a drop dead gorgeous super hero (Brad pitt- METROMAN), with muscles rippling everywhere ( and I mean EVERYWHERE **wink wink**)

But his attempts to vanqish the hero always end in disaster, and his numerous stints in jail just fuel his desire to best Metroman. But as fate would have it, one of his "master plans" to get rid of Metroman actually works; he kidnaps Roxanne Ritchi (Tina Fey), a lois lane wannabe and the hero rushes to her rescue only to be defeated by COPPER his one weakness!! But when megamind goes "copper is your weakness , SERIOUSLY?" it's just LOL...it's the modern day kryptonite my friend...wake up!. But i feel it's jus impossible for a hero to be that built, he has got to be doped up on steroids to look like that!!

But soon Megamind reaslises that getting rid of a hero makes life that much more boring, so he decides to spice it up by creating a super hero himself. But there is a twist here, ah-ha! he falls for the lois lane wannabe and all hell breaks loose. So the insanely jealous new and improved super hero (who is in love with lois lane as well) turns into a villan. Now Megamind has no choice but to rise to the occasion, question is can he take on the new guy and live to tell the tale? Well no spoilers here, watch and find out.

the good the bad and the ugly?

Well Megamind's abnormally large head was ugly...but so was Brad pitt's less than stellar performance. I guess expectation is the mother of all disappointments.

TINA FEY- I bow to u..u r the queen of comedy. I was drawn to u like a woman is to a buck naked Jake gyllenhall (click for his pic..)

WILL FARELL- you are a comic genius! The whole man-child effect was just irresistible! you large headed blue freak of nature! wacko! your 'atrocity'es were awesum!(you'll get this wen u see the movie) The perverse reactions and spectacular super villain costumes slayed me!

DAVID CROSS- as minion, was absolutely brilliant in his understated performance

JONAH HILL - the hero turned villian TITAN was really awful. His voice was flat and boring. Simply forgettable! FYI u suck!

The cast really saved this movie from a being a flat out disaster, no doubt. This movie made fun of pretty much every super hero movie cliche. Spidy(jumping from buildings all the time!), superman (back story, beefy super hero...you know the works), batman(invisible super car)...no one was left behind. Hell there was even a lil bit of transformers in there, with the tiny bots bopping about. Once you realise what the movie is trying to do, u'll just keep on laughing. It's impossible not to like this movie. Sure it could've been better. But what was on offer wasn half bad. The animation was good, better than despicable me, the last animation movie I really enjoyed. The direction by Tom McGrath the same guy who did MADAGASKAR (yeah I still like to MOVE IT) was exceptional!

Bottomline : Megamind you deserve the key to the city!

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?

Fear, fear .. the CAT is here!!

Well the day has finally arrived and CAT '2009 is underway. All students no matter what their age have one thing in common - 'FEAR'. The very thought of an exam petrifies us. No matter what we do, its always there, lurking in the shadows waiting to rear its ugly head and wreck havoc. Its immaterial what we do, whether its to adopt a positive attitude or just build confidence in ones abilities 'FEAR' it seems is omnipresent. But why is that some of us let it get the better of us?

Just a week ago I wrote the IIFT exam, its pattern is similar to that of CAT. Even though the paper was doable, time was not on my side. Fear of losing egged me on but it also wrecked my train of thought. I got flustered and eventually messed up big time. What people don't seem to realize is there are very few who can force fear to take a backseat and just perform brilliantly and there are some of us who are not as gifted. The key i think is to adopt a 'there is nothing to lose' attitude, for only then was I able to push fear into a small corner. Exams are stressful and when an exam like CAT is being conducted in a computerized format it presents challenges of its own. This multiplies our fears by a 1000 times at least for we have to expect the unexpected, which is the worst thing for a student.

So i thought of some things that would help students cope with fear and prepare themselves for the inevitable

• I am a born pessimist. Call me a hypocrite, but i do belive that a few positive thoughts are better than a 1000 negative ones when your about to write an exam.
• Don't put yourself down because by doing so not only are you digging your own grave your ready to jump in willingly.
• Don't be alarmed about the number of people taking the test. If you see a lot of people and start to psych yourself out just tell your self "most of them are morons, they don't even know what 'The Katrina' is!!" ( its a hurricane that hit the U.S not just the name of an actress')
• If the night before the exam you have an anxiety attack there are only two surefire solution to it.

a) Cry your heart out and get it out of your system

b) This one has proved most effective : Call your closest friend swear till your mouth hurts. Trust me this actually works plus its a lot of fun.

Frankly I'm scared to death but like I said fear is just a feeling, push it back. Dont give up on yourself no matter what happens. Be determined to pierce through the clouds of oblivion , you know what they say ' Aim for the stars and you'll reach the sky'.

On that note I wish you all the very best!! May CAT '2009 be but a minor speed bump in an otherwise fear free life.

cheers!!!

My all time favourite movies - heartbreak category

I can't for the life of me figure out why i like movies that lead to heartbreak in the end. I guess you could say these movies have captured the essence of reality. We are able to relate to these stories in different ways but somehow it has the same effect, at least on women.

TITANIC:

Nothing on earth can rival the epic spectacle and breathtaking grandeur of Titanic. The winner of 11 academy awards including best picture is one of the most compelling movies ever made. Titanic was called 'the Ship of dreams' and was thought to be unsinkable. But as fate would have it, it is in this ship Jack and Rose meet. Though separated by social class they fall in love but that wasn't the end of their troubles because the ship collides with an iceberg and sinks fast. The drama that unfolds is just so captivating and the music gets me every time. The cinematography is nothing short of brilliant. This movie is a classic that will be celebrated for all of time and it definitely has a place on my list of favorites

P.S. I LOVE YOU :

I know of people who have cried or choked up after seeing P.S. I love you. It is by far one of the most touching and heart warming movies of our age. Sure some would trash it saying its too touchy feely. But when i saw the movie I was able to feel the pain and emotion. I think any movie that is done well enough to move people to tears and makes them feel such strong emotions should feature on my list of favorites and yours. Holly Kennedy is beautiful, smart and married to the love of her life - a passionate, funny, and impetuous Irishman named Gerry. So when Gerry's dies it takes the life out of Holly. Before he died, Gerry wrote Holly a series of letters that will guide her, not only through her grief, but in rediscovering herself. In the weeks and months that follow, more letters from Gerry are delivered in surprising ways, each sending her on a new adventure and each signing off in the same way; P.S. I Love You. The narration and pure energy of the scenes comes across and grabs you. At one point Holly says " I cant breath without him " and i actually wanted to hug her. Call me crazy, but this is one movie that will have a special place in my heart and girls if all guys can be like Gerry ..wow it would be heaven on earth. So catch this movie if you have not seen it already and trust me when i say you wont regret it.

Ships in harbor are safe; but that is not what they are built for.

This is a famous quote by John .A. Shedd. What he's really trying to say is your safe and comfortable where you are and that you need to break out of the shell and explore the world. Ships are not meant to be docked they are meant to travel, explore and marvel.

Ships are limited in a way that humans are not, for they can explore only the sea. But for us the world is at our feet.

You might be wondering why I'm dishing out this kind of stuff... well its because i want you to be inspired to do something... anything that would let people know your not passive.

We as people are not meant to be ordinary. Every human being has something extraordinary to offer to this world, the key is to wake up and realize you could be different. One has to have the hunger and thirst for change. The over growing desire to be surrounded by new things.

Recognise that you are gifted, for you have the ability to learn, the passion to follow your dreams and the determination to achieve greatness. Explore the world around you, find new tastes, places, information. Strive to be different from others in every way possible.

We above all are people. We hope, we dream, we persevere and above all we feel. That my friends is our greatest strength. We feel the passion, the hunger, the thing that drives us to be what we are.

We change, evolve, transform constantly. Twenty years ago the idea of a cell phone was ridiculous but look at us now. Had it not been for the strong desire of few individuals to find better ways to communicate we would not be where we are today. Even though many are being given the benefit of basic education, there is still a vast majority that remain ignorant. These people may actually posses the ability to contribute something significant but their talent lays dormant and useless as they are crippled by ignorance. There are many people from an underprivileged background who have made it in the real world only because they wanted to be something more than just the average Joe. Take for example Mr. Sarath Babu, he was the son of a women who sold idlies for a living. He wanted to be extraordinary and against all odds he found himself entering the Ivy league of Indian schools IIM, Ahemadabad. Even though he received many lucrative offers from MNC's after his graduation he chose a different path. He started his own business and now owns FOOD KING, one of the leaders in the catering business in India. We need people like him to come up, speak up and dare to do the impossible. People like him serve as an inspiration for the rest of us.

The need for change is the only thing that will always be constant in this world.

So remember...

You see, You learn, You change.

REVIEW OF DAN BROWNS THE LOST SYMBOL .....HEADLINES TODAY : DAN BROWN arrested for numbing the mind of a million people.

Let me tell you my friends, ignorance is bliss. This is true in case you are planning to read the 509 page long epic mistake titled 'THE LOST SYMBOL' by DAN BROWN(DB). If you have already read Brown and enjoyed his previous books namely 'Angels and demons, Digital fortress and the Da Vinci code'

, you will probably be horrified by The Lost Symbol. Robert Langdon's third adventure is another fast paced thriller that involves secrets in art, architecture and history. Brown does not break any new ground, but he does provide some good beach reading because you can fall asleep anytime and get a nice tan in the process. Though the book picks up after 20 or so pages, you will find that the book dulls its pace in all the wrong moments. Be it the overly descriptive nature of DB's writing or the unnecessary two page explanation for every word or symbol, you will soon discover that you have wasted your time, energy and money on a lousy book.

Robert's dear friend and mentor Peter Solomon has been kidnapped and to save him he must now decipher the code on the pyramid which would reveal information about 'the Ancient Mysteries'. Soon the CIA are involved and the director insists that solving the pyramid's code is a matter of national security (SHOCK). As you would have guessed by now there has to be a female accompanying Langdon.. what story is complete without a female lead? It's none other than Katherine Solomon , Peter's sister a brilliant scientist whose research proves that the human soul is quantifiable. For some odd reason the villain is threatened by her research. So he does what villains do best, destroys it and tries to kill her. After a narrow escape from death, she unites finally with our FEARLESS HERO (he's claustrophobic wink*wink*). Ironically, this is the unsolved mystery in the book, for one cannot figure out till the end why the villain chose to destroy her research, as it is of no consequence to him.

There are parts in the book that really lack logic. It's baffling, the CIA in the climax concentrate on waiting for the villain to turn up at location for 40 min before calling it quits. When they receive no word from their agent who has accompanied Langdon and Katherin to an unknown location they don't even seem to be the least bit worried. But miraculously after 40 min they seem to care about Langdon and track the GPS on the car. One would think an agency with such power would have more common sense. It reminded me of those tacky Tamil movies where the cops would show up after everything was over!!!! Has the CIA not heard of Multi tasking????

The most excruciating part is, when your willing for the book to end, DB gives you a 3 page explanation on oxygen deprivation tanks and torture techniques. Its astonishingly long so don't be fooled by the font.. just the sheer volume will drive you crazy. Even the solving of the clues is not all that intelligent. The ultimate revelation of what the anticent mysteries is all about falls flat and adds to the agony of reading a disappointing book.

It starts off on a positive note giving the reader hope that this is going to be a thriller like none other. But one soon realizes that what started out as a dream has turned into a perfect nightmare.

Chaos,Anarchy,and Beauty

Clausius and carnot, in the middle of last century, formulated the entropy law, or second law of thermodynamics. Entropy, in essence, was the degree of randomness, or chaos of a system. Chaos that is every increasing and uncontrollable. In theory, the very words you are reading now, is ever increasing chaos.

Scientists found chaos so alluring,so fascinating, that they dedicated an entire class of scientific persuasion is dedicated to studying chaos, also referred to as The Butterfly Effect. We have all heard the old wives tale, how a butterfly flapping its wings can cause a hurricane elsewhere. Choas, it turns out, has distinct order to it. And we have found that, despite all the complexities and randomness of nature and world we live in, there is still beauty to be found in it.Laws we have been taught to accept, Ohm's Law and the kinetic theory of gases are descriptions of a large number of micro events, each of which are random , and none of which is entire predictable. The mathematical theory of probability arose from the need to give randomness a shape.

It is in fact, down to pure random chance, the humans ourselves came into being. The primordial soup, as they say, was made in the perfect kitchen.It is pure random chance that the right ingredients were in the right place, at the right time, in the right amounts, with the right catalyst, and with the right environment. And then came you. Natures' natural selection, a prime example of working chaos, has ensured that it is our species that evolved in the way it did, to bring us here. Take a good look at the mirror, and remark at the beauty of chaos, and its inimitable ways. To this date, scientists employ randomness in Genetic Algorithms to recreate natures' holy chaos.

Humans have been fascinated by chaos to such a degree, that they become enamoured by it. That they revel in being part of the infinte chaos. Dice games, and gambling, all were created to satiate the appetite humans have for randomness. Random number generators are increasingly used by computers for data encryption, selecting random samples from large data sets.

The theory of chaos has always fascinated humans. It appears we are all just 6 year old children, playing with a test tube of unknown chemicals, just to see what turns out.

Anarchists believe that in the absense of a government or ruling body, in the resulting chaos, common sense would prevail, allowing people to come together to form a functional society. They belived that despite all the randomness, there would still be functional order.

Randomness has even been introduced in music, generating arbitrary sounds to imbibe an ambient effect, a genre referred to as post-modern.

A popular cult-comic character, The Joker, an arch nemesis, of Batman, claimed himself to be an agent of chaos. He believed, that there was never really justice in the justice system, and only true fairness was to be found in blind chance, the toss of coin. The plain glee with which the anarchist explained his philosophy found an admirer of choas, in me. And got me to write this article.