It may not deserve all the superlative praise am gonna shower on it, but since I went expecting a movie as pathetic as parts 3, 4 and 5; Harry Potter and the Half Blood Prince swept me off my feet; I was floored! Non book readers loved it and I dont think any fan of the book would critisize it. Mike Newell has made ammends for the pathetic potrayal of Goblet of Fire and not-so-good yet not-so-bad potrayal of Order of the Phoenix. Most importantly, Michael Gambon who has been least impressive so far, showed those who dont read the book who Dumbledore is. People would have really understood why he is tagged to be the greatest wizard and what Dumbledore means to Harry. The Dumbledore we book readers know surfaced in the cave scene. The weakened Dumbledore begging for mercy to Harry and the all powerful, greatest wizard of all time battling hundreds and hundreds of inferi all by himself gave me goosebumps and surely, I was crying! I am sorry for all that I have told about you Michael Gambon!! Alan Rickman, cant imagine anyone else playing Snape at all. What an actor, what a character. Love you Severus! Wonder how one can manage to act just as Rowling would have wanted him to, bloody brilliant. My only complaint would be giving so little screen time for beloved Hagrid. There was an unnecessary scene of burning down The Burrow which wasted considerable amount of time which could have been utilised for Hagrid in some other way. Slughorn was brilliant, Bellatrix was superb and Draco was stupendous. The words "Severus..... Please..." that had such an effect on the readers did not change one bit. I thought, since I already knew Dumbledore was gonna say that, I wouldn't feel a thing, but I felt the exact same feeling that I felt when I read the book. I gasped along with the entire auditorium when Snape uttered "Avada Kedavra" and Dumbledore fell off the tower. Mike Newell can really be proud that he got the reaction he wanted for that scene. I was watching Harry chase Snape with that same numb feeling that I had while reading the book. Watching Harry cry next to Dumbledore and watching Ginny comfort him was heart wrenching. There were audible sobs when everyone raised their wands and the Dark Mark disappeared; and thats Albus Dumbledore - the only one he ever feared! And of course, needless to say; Dan, Rupert and Emma were brilliant too. I particularly liked the scene where Harry consoles a distraught Hermione. Right from the first book I somehow liked the friendship between Harry and Hermione, it always seemed very innocent and loyal.
Tough guy, resilient, a hero!! No big scores for an year, but still no sms jokes about Rahul. Thats him!! Who can hate Rahul Dravid the resilient fighter. Let anyone come, let anyone go, Dravid will still stand tall.
The blog is most definitely not about the WWF or WWE (or whatever they call it these days) superstar who comes dressed(?) in a tribal costume, shakes the ring up and disappears suddenly and re appears at will. This is a post about a man whose abilities to spin the ball has been questioned by many critics, but not even the harshest of critics has dared to question his commitment. You can really see the commitment and hunger for success when someone who is 38 years old, having played 132 matches, who has left nothing to be proved, runs back to take a catch of his own bowling to dismiss a number 10 batsman. You know how committed he is when a player who is synonymous with the term 'determination' says "He does not know what 'give up' means". Add a ten wicket inning in Delhi, a 14 over spell with a bandaged broken jaw at St.John's, 24 wickets in arguably India's most successful tour DownUnder in 2003-04 and apart from all this a determined, resolute, unbeaten century at Kenningston Oval against an English bowling attack that was made to look tame, which handed India a series win in England.
What more can I write about someone whose record stand as an article singing his praise by itself. A 132 test matches with 619 wickets at an average of 29.65; it looks impressive enough without adding the fact that he has 35 five wicket innings and 8 ten wicket matches; and also 1 ten wicket innings, only the second bowler in the history of the game to have achieved it. I am totally at a loss of words and cursing myself for my limited vocabulary and creativity at writing. There is just so much I want to say about this cricketer who never gives up. The bandaged jaw in West Indies will be there in every cricket lover's mind. Kumble just keeps coming back!!
Hope you dont stay away from the game Jumbo.
A post coming far too late. The tour to SL has been downright depressing for me, with every failure my love for Dravid is just increasing exponentially, for some strange reason I am so wild at Sachin and feeling terribly sorry for Dravid and harbour no feelings for Ganguly. For those who dint know, this is how they feature on my list of favourites:
1) Dravid
1.1) Ganguly
2) Kumble
3) Astle
4) Bond
5) Damien Martyn
6) Laxman
7) Tendulkar
I dont know why, but while coming back from work, I FEARED for Dravid's career, started to wonder whether for the first time in his career, he was gonna be DROPPED for a test series. The thought of the team for Australia test series is frightening. I hope to God, he is picked, shows the rock stuff he is made of and retires. This is the first time I am hoping India succeeds because and only because of an individual (I know thats bad). Dravid needs and DESERVES to be worshipped before he leaves the arena. He deserves to be glorified for the unnoticed deeds he has done to Indian cricket in all forms of the game.
He belongs to the rare breed of cricketers who dare to pull or hook and is the master of the flick; please dont disappoint us Dravid, you dont deserve to be KICKED out. :(
There's a widget called 'My Visual DNA' on the right side of this page. Quite interesting, you guys can give it a shot when you have the time. This is just a vetti blog to say why i chose those specific pictures out of the lot. Am not quite convinced by the explanation given by the website :)
1. Art is... I am not someone who is really into paintings and stuff, and I am not really the creative type as the website claims as the reason for choosing this. I just loved the innocence in the art created by the little one.
2. This is how I like to enjoy music... I really do love music. Nothing like good music to raise my spirits. Though you might not find me in such a place listening to music :P, I love listening to it lying down and eyes shut.
3. My Kind of Treat... I've always dreamt of a walk in woods, among chirping birds and rustling leaves.
4. Freedom is... Freaking out with my best pals... Do anything.. anything at all.. nothing can beat that!!
5. Thats gross... I HATE cigarettes. Period.
6. Right now what I would most like to be doing is... Well, am not actually a person who prefers loneliness, but this is what I would have loved to do at a place like that!! If I go to a place like that, it would have to be with my pals.
7. My kind of bedroom... Messy!! :P
8. My kind of holiday... An African animal safari with my friends :) Dream!! :)
9. My kind of excitement... In a cricket or football stadium, cheering for my team, cheering so much that I cant talk the next day!!
10. My favorite type of landscape... The mountains always fascinate me!! Serene spots!! beautiful from below.. even better from above!! :)
11. My kind of drink... No drink has ever done what a cup of hot tea does to me :)
12. The best thing about friends... Most of the things a friend does, anyone can possibly do, but to lend a shoulder to cry on, when u need it most.. well :) the picture really does say a lot!! :)
jus to wake my blog up :P
Got to see 3 movies in the past month. considered as a "movie watching spree" by my standards :P (considering the last movie i saw in a theatre was Evano Oruvan).
Saw Dasavatharam, Hulk-2 and Jaane Tu. Jaane Tu was easily the best of the lot. Did not understand Hulk-2 much as I never saw part 1 and Dasa thoroughly disappointed - let down by Kamal. Hope he more than makes up with Marma Yogi (think thats what its called).
Jaane Tu was a breath of fresh air.. comic relief. Nothing spectacular about the movie but it was a thorough entertainment for 2 hrs and 30 mins. Imran Khan can go a long way. Great looks and nice acting. Genelia has come a long way from her absurd expressions in Sachin, she has done a great job in Jaane Tu and also looks her stunning best (except in the last scene :| :| bad hair do :| :|)
There was nothing impressive in Dasa except the first ten minutes and the acting of Rangarajan Nambi and Balram Naidu. Asin's screeching managed to get me impatient and the movie also bored at times.
Hulk-2, well, proves yet again there's nothing to beat Hollywood when it comes to graphics. Couldn't catch up with much of the movie having missed the first part. Worth a watch though.
Also saw MMKR and Thillu Mullu for the billionth time on CD's sitting at home. They still manage to keep me in splits. Amazing movies, really!!
Then we had a new wimbledon champ crowned. Really happy for Rafa, felt bad for Fedex though. Asia cup was a total disaster, these guys never learn!! One day they chase 315 and they cant chase 270-280 odd on a final!! :| :|
Bunked office on friday and had a 3-day weekend. Great break and thorough relief. Strayed around aimlessly with Dhana on friday, reaching home at midnight :P and went out for a lunch at Eden, Besant Nagar on sunday with colleagues. It was a treat, of course :P. Great lunch, people should try that place, really amazing!!
Nothing much to type out. Waiting for another boring week to start. Saturday is heaven!!
