False Impression-A Big Letdown

A book written Jeffrey Archer always generates a lot of excitement and expectations.Moreover if it's his first fictional thriller in a long time and the first book after his release from jail the apprehension is even greater.Hence when I recieved the book I was expecting something special.However I,like many,was terribly disappointed after reading it.

The synopsis of the book makes a great reading.But I guess this is like many hindi movies whose trailer is much better than the complete version.

The book was supposedly based on Vincent Van Gogh painting and set in the backdrop of 9/11.Readign this I expected something on the lines of the The Da Vinci Code but sadly it wasn't to be.

The plotline is wafer thin and though the book is 384 pages I knew the ending by page 70 and started counting the pages to the end by 200.This was something completely unexpected.One anticipates great things from someone of Archer's status but sadly he falls terribly short.

Infact I doubt whether this book was really written by Archer himself.An author who produced masterpieces while sitting in jail couldn't possibly have written just weak and pathetic story.But may be Archer just choose a subject not suited to him.I guess he felt that if Dan Brown could produce one of the biggest bestsellers based on Da Vinci's paintings he could do the same with Vincent Van Gogh.Sadly that didn't turn out to be the case.

Now I will desist from telling the story but I suggest that you don't purchase the book and rather borrow it from a library.

But if you are really foolish and are an avid collector of Archer's books then you purchase it here

To conclude Archer comes up with a poor performance in his comeback novel and I would just hope that this is a mere aberration and he will do much better in his next work.

 

Bluffmaster-A Review

I have never ever tried a music review before.But hey there's always first time for everything so here goes.Well the first album I am gonna review is Bluffmaster.It's a movie starring Abhishek Bachchan directed by Rohan Sippy.

These two had earlier done a movie Kuch Na Kaho.But that was 2 years ago when junior Bachchan was still in middle of his string of flops and it's result was no different.

But now Small B is the hottest property in Bollwood.Suddenly girls find him extremely hot.I am confused how could a guy who was in this industry for the past 4 years suddenly seem hot to all the girls out there.Well I think that question can only be answered by the fairer sex.Well I will get back to reviewing the songs.

So the movie has 13 songs.But as with most movies now-a-days it has a combination of original compositions and remixes.It starts with Sabse Bada Rupiya.It has a R&B feel and seems ideal for dancing.I think this song has come in one of Big B's earlier movies.I am not sure but it has a heard it feel.

Next we have Say Na Na.It has Bhangra beats blended with western beats and seems a nice fusion and has a catchy tune.It can be used on the occasion of weedings.The singer has a crisp voice which at times sounds quite childish but it goes well with the song and is hence good.

Next is Tadbeer Se Bigdi Hui Taqdeer(Destiny Mix).Now I am not sure what destiny mix means.But this is a remix of a very very old song with english verses thrown in between and uses a loop music.Nothing new as many movies have such remixes.Anyway it's worth hearing once or twice.

Now comes the first of the two good songs.It's called Right here Right Now.All those who watch Channel V would have seen the making of this song's video.It obviously won't come in the movie but I guess will make nice promo video.It's been composed by the duo Vishal-Shekhar.Nothing original as the beats used are quite common in innumerable rap songs sung by singers like Kanye West,Shaggy,Eminem.But it's something that's first for Indian music and it has been tinkered well for Indian Tastes.It has Small B wielding the microphone and he does a decent job.

Then comes the song innovatively titled 9 parts of desire.I am not sure what's this got to do with the movie.But it has a tune which seems more suited for the several jeans and "protection" ads that we see on tv.But it's just not good for this movie.

Then comes The Gateway Theme.We hear Bonman Irani mouthing some dialogues from the movie for around 20secs and then it's just some nice soft music.Again I am not sure where this will fit in the movie.

Now comes the pick of the lot and which I guess,if properly promoted, has the potential to be the numero uno song of 2005.It's not even a hindi song.It's an arabic one(it atleast sounds arabic).It's tune is extremely catch as with all arabic songs and is perfect for dancing.This song really rocks and is on the line of Woh Lamhe from Zeher.You can purchase the album for this song alone.Again may never come in the movie but it's damn good.

We then have some remixes like Do Aur Do Paanch,Indi Yarn,Right here Right Now(hip hop mix),Neela and few more.Nothing worth mentioning.

On the whole an ok album which seems inspired by innumerable tracks from all the over the world.The film itself seemes inspired by films like Ocean's Eleven.I am sure not more than one or two would feature in the album.But this album is perfect companion for someone going on a long drive.

 

Harry Potter & Goblet of Fire

Exams got over on 19th November and what better way to celebrate it than by watching a movie.And right now the hottest movie at the box office,as all know, is Harry Potter and Goblet of Fire.So off we went,34 of us , to watch Harry Potter 4.

Well I'll make try to make a brief review of the movie.There have been innumerable reviews out there who have called it the best potter movie of all time.Here's my opinion

At the outset I will have to point out that this movie wouldn't be enjoyed by the muggles.By muggles I mean those who haven't read the book yet.They will find it extremely difficult understanding certain sequences.I can vouch for that.I hadn't ready Harry Potter till this september and sitting through each potter movie was hard work.And it won't be different this time as well.One of my friends was a "muggle" and he was constantly pestering me asking me to explain several sequences.

The movie begins with the Dark Lord killing the house keeper of his ancesteral house and we cut right to Harry writhing in pain at the Weasely's house.The final of the Quidditch world cup is cut short to just the introduction of the two teams and then we have the deatheaters rampaging through the settlements at the world cup.The elf has been eliminated but Newell makes a good substitution for it.

Next we move Hogwarts and the arrival of the two teams for the Triwizard tournament.And it is here where I feel Newell has done an excellent job.He has handled the issue of adolescence with great panache and diligence.The sequences between Harry and Ron and those between Ron and Hermione are quite natural and comical .Unlike the earlier movie Ron and Hermione don't have much to do in this movie,other than fighting among themselves and searching for dates.Well the other two female characters disappointed me was Cho Chang.They could have chosen some one much more beautiful.Emma Watson's(Hermione) beauty is mesmerising,captivating and entrancing.Going by the cheers for her introduction scene many must have come only to see her.Moody,Krum and Diggory are good as well,particularly Robert Pattinson(Cedric Diggory).He fits the character to the T.

The tasks have been sandwitched between the romantic liasons and they too are quite soporofic.CGI has been used to its fullest efficieny and the results of its are quite visible.

Finally we come to the legendary climax-The rebirth of Lord Voldermort.Sadly atleast IMHO the sequence could have been even more chilling and bloodcurdling.Ralph Fiennes as Voldermort does well and the the makeup men should be commended for making Voldy look so frightening.Here too a muggle would find it difficult to understand as to what's happening.

The denouement involving Voldermort and Harry Potter has been captured well but needed some explaining as the muggles weren't sure as to why dead people were coming out of the wand.

Finally Harry escapes and manages to reach Hogwarts.As Hermione say "Things have Changed.Haven't They??".They indeed have Hermione.

To conclude Goblet of fire is a big big book.To be precise it is a 636 page book considered by many to be the best among all the 6 books so far.So it must really have been a daunting task for the director to convert it into a 2.5 hours movie and yet retaining the essence of the book.On that front Newell seems to have done a fair job.But what he and the other two directors have
failed to do is to make a movie for everyone and not for the Potter fanatics alone.