It’s been a long time

Yes. It has been a long time. I haven’t updated in two weeks. Needless to say, I have been busy. Tests, assignments…one of them (Differential Calculus, in case you are interested) has to be submitted tomorrow and I have about twenty questions left. So, I’ll do myself a favour and make this my shortest post ever.

Good day to you!

P.S. I will not put up the Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows review as yet because a lot of people still haven’t read it due to various reasons, and they don’t want any spoilers. But the most amazing Potter book ever does receive a perfect ten from me.

Review: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix

I have to say this, I am good with my predictions. I saw the movie today, and it does get a 4/10 as I predicted.

My opinion might be biased considering I have read the book and have loved each word that’s written. The movie starts off comparitively well but loses the depth of the original plot as it progresses. There are so many changes that have been made right from little ones like the trio meeting Luna Lovegood on the carriage instead of the train, Luna giving Harry his lesson on Thestrals instead of Hagrid and the way 12 Grimmauld Place appears, to huge ones like Cho betraying the D.A. instead of Marietta and Harry listening to the prophecy in front of all his friends in the Department of Mysteries instead of Dumbledore telling him everything later on. In fact I was really looking forward to watching the scene with Dumbledore.

Also, there is no Quidditch in the movie (unless you count the little flashback from Movie 1).

Ron and Hermione are ever-present but it looked as if their role had shrunk. Ginny and Lupin have been sidelined. St. Mungo’s has not been shown at all.

Imelda Staunton is pretty convincing as Dolores Umbridge. Also I have to say I loved the scene where the Weasley twins leave Hogwarts wreaking havoc all over the place.

Coming to the most ‘anticipated’ part of the movie: The overhyped kiss lingers too long and it’s definitely not as innocent as described in the book. What troubles me is, the people behind the movie have given more screen time to a stupid kiss and a variety of other unimportant scenes instead of focussing on those which are important to the plot as a whole. I could give you the example of the last few chapters of the book specially ‘The Lost Prophecy’.

I agree that reducing a 700+ pages book to a 100 page script is a tough job, but The Lord of the Rings scored, didn’t it?

Anyway, this time next week I’ll have already read the 7th book and you’re going to get a shining review.

Taj makes it to the list

The Taj Mahal has found a place in the ‘coveted’ list of the New Seven Wonders of the world. A great achievement. Believe me, I’m glad, really glad to see it there. This is going to increase the tourism manifold and is definitely going to help our economy.

But what is the significance of the Taj finding a place on this list? UNESCO has detached itself from the entire thing. Just because a random Swiss adventurer wakes up in the morning one fine day and realizes that the seven wonders of the world had been decided by a guy in 200 BC doesn’t mean that this voting process is the most important thing in the world. If what UNESCO says has got no importance at all, then tomorrow why don’t I set up a site inviting people to vote for the 8th wonder of the world and earn a fortune in the process? Innumerable lists can be made in this fashion. Most beautiful cities, best beer…no limits there. And all of these people stand a chance to gain that kind of worldwide popularity and a couple of million hits, if they can match up with the crisp promotion.

And what exactly does a wonder of the world mean? Are they looking for places with intriguing history, or are they mere architecture awards? How can engineering achievements like the Eiffel Tower or Sydney Opera House be put in the same category as the Acropolis or the Colloseum?

I realize that a lot of people may not agree with me. But I’m entitled to my opinion, right?

And what is it with these news channels and SMSs? First it was the Vote For Taj campaign where the voters stood a chance to win iPods, and now it is the congratulate Taj campaign. Really…

My Water Ordeal

I love the rains. I love to venture out when it’s raining cats ‘n’ dogs and get completely drenched. Due to this very reason I almost never carry an umbrella. But it sucks when the only water making you wet does not come from the skies, the overflowing drains too have a huge contribution. It sucks when you have a class to attend and have to sit in that pretty state for more than six hours. It sucks when it causes hell lotta waterlogging and you have to go to your classroom wading in waist dep murky water.

I went through all of this yesterday. I was in the Chembur area of Bombay. My class is in an area known for its waterlogging problems. It wasn’t raining when I boarded the bus. I travel by the State Transport buses. For all the people who don’t live here, these buses are terribly creaky and you fear for your life each time you board them. Even if there is a small bump on the road be prepared to jump about two feet high if you are not holding onto something. These buses become even worse during the monsoon. They leak from the top and you have to hold up your umbrella or hood up those macs even while sitting inside. Needless to say, that is incredibly wierd and uncomfortable.

The bus reached Ok but as soon as I got near my stop it started raining. Within ten minutes the entire area was flooded. I got to class dripping and angry. Angry because these municipal people (BMC) keep promising stuff but they never do it. Only if the drainage system had been tweaked up, the situation wouldn’t be so bad.

So I sat there absolutely wet for close to seven hours. Thankfully the class was pretty interesting and it wasn’t raining when it ended. I reached home in one piece, still wet and incredibly annoyed on having to travel by the same stupid leaking bus again.