Captain America 2011

Captain America released on the Indian Independence Day weekend was irony enough. The story of digitally shrunk Steve Rogers turning into the six packed Captain America should have been a fun watch, instead, after the first half of building up, it turns into a campy, corny almost Captain Vijaykanth type of B movie.

Steve Rogers is the impossibly tiny. asthmatic guy with the proverbial heart of gold, never give up attitude and can take punches all day long. Please remember because they keep irritatingly recurring throughout the movie. He is spotted giving an impassioned speech about joining the army after 4 failed tries by Stanley Tucci's character and immediately drafted into a special programme that ultimately hopes to create super soldiers. Perfect backstory for a villian nowadays, but this is Captain America. He is first used as a PR tool to sell war bonds. Then the heroine tells him he is meant for bigger things so he goes to rescue a group of captive soldiers. Meanwhile Mr. Smith/ V / Elrond /Megatron who is also the Red Skull finds some blue coloured cube that we the audience has no idea about. Then he keeps running from Captain America although he is strong enough to kick  his ass. In between he also tears away his skin and bleeds through his ear.  Then the futuristic weapons and multitude of super soldiers have one glaring weakness. They can never shoot straight. Even Captain Vijaykanth puts in some bullets scraping him. The blah blah and he crashes in the arctic to save the world and wakes up in Voila! 2011.
There is some peggy female with impeccable lipstick too. She is the only woman around and some feminist lines are spewed, but everybody is too busy staring at her curves and siren pout.

I have no clue how it got so many good reviews. At its best, its a backstory for the Avengers movie.

4/10

The Last Airbender - 2010

One hit wonder Manoj N Shyamalan tries and fails so miserably that you are left looking at a movie that reminds you of some expensive, exotic animal that has turned into roadkill. The acting so wooden, the lines so cliched, you can almost say them along with the characters even if you have never seen the movie before. It's an insult to the viewer. The storyline has so much promise  - The fire nation (run by Indians) has taken over the water. earth and air bending nations. Bending involves manipulating the elements and an avatar can manipulate all the elements. All the benders have been massacred by the fire nation when an avatar who was stuck in ice for a 100 years appears. Then the stupidity begins. I sincerely hope that more money is not wasted on sequels. That money would find better use even if it was sunk to the bottom of the ocean where M N Shyamalan cannot ever reach it or even try to make another movie.

2/10

A loyal Character Dancer - Qiu Xiaolong

If you love reading about exotic geographies, lives of people living in different cultures and political scenarios, then you will kind of enjoy the book. If you are looking for a good murder, mystery, plot then don't bother. A lot of the story seems contrived. Inspector Chen - Policeman, Poet, Translator and English speaker; is told by his mentor Party Secretary Li to accompany and host a US Marshall Catherin Rohn, who is obviously pretty and available. She is here to accompany the pregnant wife of Feng who is in the witness protection program, waiting to to testify against the head of a triad. Then there is also a dead body in the Bund which at the end of the book conveniently ties up to the missing woman case. The cultural revolution, the re education of the youth by Mao, all these are beautifully weaved into the plot. But the plot in itself is threadbare, filled with twists that seem too contrived.

4/10

Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara 2011

I didn't want to watch this movie. Hrithik Roshan makes me slightly nauseous. But since Zoya Akhtar had given a decent Luck By chance, I decided to take a chance on this one. It was a fun movie. The usual three protagonists and Ray Ban, Mountain Dew, Canon and of course Spain Tourism. The product placements were obvious, so was the plot and so were the characters. It was like skimming across the lives of three good looking men two of whom had problems that stemmed with having too much money [give me those problems anyday] and the other one had daddy issues. Spain is gorgeous, so is Hrithik and Katrina. Farhan Akhtar is talented and for some weird reason Abhay Deol looks gay. Though he does have guts dancing with the stupendous Hrithik and the above average Farhan. Kalki Koechlin is believable as a rich spoilt girl. The only time the film rises above its good looks is when Farhan Akhtar recites those beautiful lines written by his father. If only he could deliver them without that cutesy lisp and gravelly voice.

5/10

Delhi Belly 2011

Wriiten by Akshat Verma and directed by Abhinay Deo, Delhi Belly is an irreverent look at life. Done and finessed by a number of Hollywood and European films, but new to India. Three protagonists, two women, lots of toilet scenes, one bag of diamonds and ofcourse the sadistic yet funny villain. A few scenes are original, the women are not brainless imps, except the one who is supposed to be a brainless imp and the pace is fun and fast. All in all, a great effort!

7/10

The Coroner's Lunch - Colin Cotterill

I had read one book that was touted as having the charm of an Alexander Mcall book and had burnt my fingers, or rather my brain. [Inspector Ghote Series - I advice a distance of 10 miles from them if possible] So this time I was a little vary.

Colin Cotterill's coroner Dr. Siri was based out of Laos. That sounded promising. Then there was the achingly honest yet funny descriptions of the protagonist's life and the communist state of Lao. No judgements are made. Like MCall Smith, the really bad parts are glossed over, but they are there. The plot is riveting and soon you come to like and even love the reluctant coroner and his staff. It's a whodunit that winds and wheezes with a hint of fantasy and a whiff of otherworldliness while rooted in the very practical and human Dr. I am looking forward to reading the rest of the series.

7/10

I shall wear midnight - Terry Pratchett

I love the discworld series although most of the major plot points are immensely forgettable - though it does not matter in the least. The joy of reading the discworld series is that you read it, you feel good, you chuckle, you grin and sometimes you laugh outright loud and scare whoever is sitting next to you. Terry Pratchett is a treasure and has helped me through many a bad client, grumpy husband, end of mad chaotic day and PMS's. The Unseen University, the witches, trolls, Ankh Morpork, Captain Carrot, the mud river, the magic, the food, the entire world inside his head is so relatable yet so fantastic. I shall wear midnight is my current favourite. It has Tiffany the witch, who is one of my favourite characters. It has the feegles and it has a wedding and funeral together. It doesn't have DEATH, who is another one of my favourites and if you are thoroughly confused by now, read the book, I strongly advice you, and you will be pleasantly confused.

Rendevous with Rama - Arthur C Clarke

Its a classic. What more can I say. Even in the 2011, it takes your breath away. A cylindrical object is seen in the sky and investigations proves its an ET object. The landing on the object and the investigations are detailed so beautifully and the object described with so much imagination and innovation. It's a must read for any sci fi fan. Actually its a must read for anybody with a science background.

9/10

Faces in the water - Ranjit Lal

It has such a promising plot. A family where girls are never born and a well that keeps them healthy. You can spot the connection. Anyways our protagonist Gurmi is sent to the ancestral house where the well is because his house is undergoing renovation. We are introduced to his immensely unlikable family and then later to his immensely likeable ghost/ parallel universe / spirit sisters who live down in the well. It goes reasonably well for a few chapters and then things turn simperingly holier than thou. The murderers are not taught their lesson, but helped by the eldest in the kitchen (this really rankled me) and the youngest with a series of ghostly hugs and kisses. I could readily believe girls living at the bottom of the well, but I couldn't believe that people who murder young babies by throwing them in a well would change in a few weeks. Plus the girls at the bottom of the well would be all light, love and kitchen help. It all ends well with enough sweetness to cause diabetes.
I know children have to be taught to be patient and good and not retaliate, but this book takes it to extremes.
4/10