Book Review - Death On A High Floor

Death On a High Floor by Charles Rosenberg

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


Legal thrillers are my most cherished literary genre. You could blame John Grisham for that since my first real tryst with reading novels (yes I started quite late!) was with his brilliantly awesome books, the earlier, better ones. Not only did his stories whet my appetite for reading more books but also help define the legal thriller genre for me.

When I read the reviews for this particular title, the fact that it was penned by a former attorney and legal consultant to many legal TV dramas instantaneously sealed the deal for me!

The basic plot centers around, well, a death that takes place on the high floors of a reputable Los Angeles based law firm. The death is soon categorized as a murder and the story follows (or rather is narrated by) the senior partner at the law firm who becomes the prime suspect for the said murder.

Although our senior protagonist is a person of interest, there are numerous possible suspects and the narrator's personal investigations and thoughts tend to point the needle on the guilty compass, rather convincingly, to a few of them. Among them are other senior members of the law firm, present and retired as well as the victim's former lover! Throw in a counterfeit (potentially) ancient coin in the middle and the story also has something for fellow Numismatics


The first person narrative was quite refreshing and felt very comfortable (since I've kinda gotten used to that format reading GRRM's A Song Of Ice And Fire Series). That, the author has been a consultant to prime time legal TV dramas is quite evident in the dialogues between the characters in the story. And this is a good thing since it keeps the story quite engaging even when legal jargon is being jutted out in huge blocks.

The plot, environment and characters are, or at least have been penned, in a way that makes them very lucid and realistic further enabling you to truly get absorbed into the story. The author cleverly peppers subtle breadcrumbs for a sleuth-in-training to begin piecing the puzzle together and derive at a conclusion on his own. Fret not, for if you're without a background in investigatory studies because the plot is demystified and you do learn who is the true culprit.

The one tiny complaint that I would have the story would be the slightly late disclosure of the true murderer and the fashion in which the revelation is done. Apart from being slightly improbable it also forces the motive and opportunity of the said murder to be disclosed as an epilogue rather than as part of the actual story. Like I said it's a very tiny complaint because it doesn't really rob you of the satisfaction of the getting closure on the mystery.

I'd recommend this title to folks, who like me, enjoy devouring entertaining albeit slightly movie-style legal dramas. Give it a read!




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Wanderlust: Singapore OR A Noob's Guide To Visiting The Lion City

So this post is pretty much impromptu and totally random in every sense. This one's actually a mail to a friend who was enquiring about tourist hot spots in Singapore for her family (specifically her mom and sister). Although this is by no means a comprehensive guide to the Lion City, it's still a pretty nice primer for folks visiting the little red dot, especially during the holiday season. 

Most of the city is pretty much oriented towards shoppers, so there are ginormous malls in most areas. Although shopping isn't on their agenda, your sister and mom may enjoy just walking around these retail meccas for a while. Most notable ones are Takashiyama (Orchard road), Ion Orchard (Orchard Road), Raffles City (City Hall), Plaza Singapura (Dhoby Ghaut), VivoCity (Harbourfront) and Suntec City Mall (City Hall). And with the holiday season looming around the corner, these malls and shopping districts will be lit up like the 4th of July and will be absolutely picturesque!

If they enjoy taking walks around the city then I'd recommend taking the hop-on hop-off city tours. They offer the flexibility to explore pockets of the city such as Little India, CBD, Matina Bay Sands Hotel & Casino (the casino doesn't compare to the big Vegas ones, but is quite good), Singapore Flyer (similar to the London Eye), Botanical Gardens and Orchard Road. The most prominent (and I think the only one) player is Duck & Hippo. They offer great packages to combine multiple touring options.

The Singapore Zoo and Bird Park are also great destinations for a day trip and offer some great souvenirs to take back. For a unique experience they could possibly  try the Night Safari which is supposed to be quite good.

If they enjoy outdoor activities and wanna enjoy a nice bicycle ride (or skates!) along the shore, then they should check out East Coast Park (or ECP as its called by the locals). They can rent a cycle here and ride along the almost 7.5 km stretch of beach and park along the south eastern portion of the island.

If they can spare an entire day, they can also head to Pulau Ubin, a small island to the north east of Singapore and just a 30 min ferry ride away. Its a relatively under-developed fishing village but has some great cheap seafood options and an amazing bicycle trail that runs along the entire island.

If they'd like a short trek, there are a few options for that as well. Bukit Timah, Mc Rithcie Resevoir and Mt Faber are local trek hotspots. Although don't expect the rustic trekking trails of Maharashtra since all of these are pretty much man-made and have paved roads running through them. In fact, Mt. Faber also has 3-4 hill side fine dining restaurants.

There aren't too many great beaches (well not the kind you find in other SE Asian countries at least!) but a famous touristy beach is the Siloso beach on Sentosa, which another island to the south of mainland Singapore. Apart from the beach, there are also a rotating observation tower, Tiger Tower (so called because it's sponsored by Tiger Beer), The gigantic version of the original Merlion Statue and quite a few other activities and sights. Sentosa has a lot to offer and is a good day's outing. Sentosa is where they will also find Universal Studios which makes a good all-day outing.

I'm not sure if the information I've provided is what you were looking for exactly, but do let me know if you need any specifics and/or some other details or options.

Here are some useful links that may help paint a better picture about all that you've just read

Duck & Hippo Tours - http://www.ducktours.com.sg/ 

Resorts World Sentosa - http://www.rwsentosa.com/

Takashiyama - http://www.takashimaya-sin.com/

Pulau Ubin - http://www.pulauubin.com.sg/

Singapore Zoo - http://www.zoo.com.sg/

Bird Park - http://www.birdpark.com.sg/

NIght Safari - http://www.nightsafari.com.sg/

Singapore Flyer - http://www.singaporeflyer.com/

Christmas at Orchard Road - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaragorn1984/sets/72157625628528094/show/

And here's a link to my flickr set which has pics from the city - http://www.flickr.com/photos/aaragorn1984/sets/72157626694561885/

The pics may give you a better sense of what to expect at the various spots.

Like I said, this isn't an article for the Lonely Planet or Frommer's Travel material, but IMHO it's a pretty decent writeup about what tourists can expect when visiting Singapore.

Why I Like The Robot Over The Fruit.

As an early adopter of the Android platform (I've owned very first Google Branded Phone - the Nexus One) and an avid one at that (Since then I've owned the HTC Desire HD, the HTC Sensation and now the HTC One X), it doesn't take a genius to figure out that I have a thing for the Android platform. But don't get all presumptuous and write me off as a Fandroid and an Apple Hater yet. I also own a Mac Book Pro (The latest iteration before the Retina Display ones kicked in) an iPod Touch and an iPad 2.

With all the Apple products I have in my life, you're probably asking yourselves, Why in God's name is this fella not using an iPhone! Well, it's a personal thing and I'm not here to debate on whether Apple or Android is better. There are plenty of forums and articles bashing either platform, and clearly each side has some great arguments.

I'm here to point out why I personally feel Android has done more good for the smartphone universe than it's elite predecessing counterpart.

Provide an OS platofrm that can be used across varying hardware
The Android OS was designed such that it could be ported to a multitude of hardware devices. You've probably seen numerous phones runing this OS, but did you know that this is also being used across digital cameras, TV Media hubs and even refrigerators! Yea, that's the brilliance of the open source code of Android. Developers and tech enthusiasts have tweaked the source code in ways that let it be conveniently ported from one device to another bringing rich features to all sorts of consumer devices.

Open source allows robust community to provide further customizations and tweaks
If you own an Android phone and are a regular on the various forums, you've probably heard of Cyanogenmod. Like them, there are various other groups that develope and support custom ROMs and other tweaks that can be "flashed" to your android device to give you even more bang for your buck. Stable ROMs have known to provide

• Faster CPU clockspeeds
• Enhanced customization options
• Latest OS updates (really useful if you're using a non nexus device)
• And loads more...

A touch smartphone for every one at different price points
Touch Smartphones owners were an exclusive lot. Well considering that for a long time the iPhone was probably the only true touch smartphone, and was insanely expensive for consumers in countries like India, the number of folks that owned one was very low. With Android, manufacturers were able to create low-cost handsets that could run the OS and provide all (well almost) of the features that a smartphone offers. Look at any major player, HTC, Samsung, LG, Sony and even Motorola and you'll find an exhaustive inventory of budget smartphones running the Android OS.

Deep Integration with Google Services
This one needs no explanation at all. As an Android user, you get a SSO experience across all Google products. And yes, cloud syncing of contacts, calendar and tasks as well as OTA wireless updates of Apps and OS was first introduced by Android as early as 2010.

Despite the numerous features that Android has to offer an a platform, it's sad that most iPhone users refuse to accept the fact that their phone isn't the epitome of class and technology and have this blind hatred for the Android platform and the phones that use them. Most of them haven't even used one in ages and are oblivious to the feature rich platform that is Android.

Refinement alone cannot carry a product forward. After a point, features do become a crucial variable in the equation.

So, well I lied. I mentioned this would not be one of those posts that would not decide which mobile OS platform is better. Unfortunately, it seems that's exactly what this turned out to be! Ah well, the facts are here for you to read and comment. So let me know your thoughts.

Till then, Android #FTW

Bull Street: A Book Review (via goodreads)

Bull Street by David Lender

My rating: 3 of 5 stars


My interest in the financial sector, thanks to my Investment Banker father and Corporate Banker elder brother, was one of the prime reasons for my decision to begin reading this financial thriller. Comparisons to my other favorite author, John Grisham further piqued my interest in this author.

Bull Street is probably best described in one line as Grisham's "The Firm" with a financial backdrop. The story, set in the global financial capital New York, starts a little before the infamous 2008 financial crisis and proceeds to get intertwined with the said crisis.

At the center of the story is an idealistic IB rookie, Richard Blum who aspires to greatness at his newly joined firm. His peers think highly of him, his attractive female colleague is crushing on him and he's living his dream. But things quickly spiral away out of control when an unintended discovery of an insider trading ring by Richard threaten not only ruin his career, but even his own life.

Bull Street has all the elements for a fast paced thriller. Foreign locales, adrenaline pounding action, decent character development and a solid central plot. The only qualm I did have was the under utilization of the financial crisis in the central plot. Although that did not dampen the pace established by the author.

If you like a decent thriller and have a passion (hidden or otherwise) for the financial sector, Bull Street is a definite read.



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Wanderlust: Malacca - The Conclusion

Firstly, my apologies for delaying this post by more than a month. A lot of changes on the personal and professional fronts have had me occupied almost all the time. Hope you guys aren't too disappointed with the end result.

So here it is, the final chapter in the Wanderlust: Malacca series. Gosh, almost seems so theatrical (especially since I JUST watched the final Batman movie). As promised, this post is ALL about the shopping experience the heritage city has to offer. And boy is there a lot to experience.

The city of Malacca has something to offer to every kind of shopper there is. From colossal shopping malls offering the latest in big-retail brands to kitschy momento stalls. You'll probably find tourists in either location!

Instead of bombarding you with words, let me try something new. For this post, I'll let the pictures do the talking (with a little caption help!). So here we go - 

Street side retail stalls like this one are a common sight near almost every historical landmark in the city. Selling from anything from bottled water, caps, tees, umbrellas, postcards, kitchenware and even interior decor items, these shops are clearly targeted at the average tourist and do not disappoint. Although you should be prepared to bargain since most of the prices are not written in stone and are always marked higher than expected.

The colossal structure at the far right, the Mahkota Parade Shopping Center, and the oddly shaped circular one at the center, the Dataran Pahlawan,  are two of the largest (and relatively famous) shopping malls in Malacca. Apart from the regular global apparel brands, you'll find quite a few boutique outlets housing some quite cool casual wear. Be prepared to walk a lot, cause the two malls spread across a pretty large mass of land. And if you do get bogged down by the size, you'll have plenty of options for some delicious grub.

The most prominent and famous shopping destination Malacca has to offer has got to be Jonker Street. The street comes to life over weekends with innumerable stalls setup along the sidewalks. These stalls  have everything from tacky keychains to designer wear. The serpentine dragon is an unmistakable landmark marking the start of Jonker Walk. Be sure to take loads of pictures of this one cause it sure does look great!

The infamous Jonker Walk.

Street food like these candied fruits (they're strawberries dipped in delicious chocolate sauce) are a common sight throughout Jonker Walk. Other options include flavored popsicles, satays, popcorn and even spiral cut potato fires. They make the perfect on-the-go snack whilst you wander around bargain hunting. And  they don't even put a dent in your wallet. Most of the items I mentioned are available for less than 5 Ringgits! So chomp away!

Towards the other end of Jonker Walk is this community stage which is more or less like an open mic where locals and I suspect even tourists can showcase their vocal skills and even shake a leg. And even if you're not standing up on stage, take a break and enjoy the lively performance by the some of the elderly locals here. You're bound to be leaving with a smile on your face.

After all the walking (and shopping) you'll be spoilt for choices when it is time to dine. Hawker stalls are omnipresent and provide delicious meals for a very reasonable price. If you're more comfortable with a roof over your table, then head to one of the many lounges, restaurants and bars.

One of the more upmarket places to shop along Jonker Walk, the Jonker Gallery offers great fashion buys albeit not very cheap when compared to prices elsewhere, but still a decent bargain.

And that folks marks the end to the rather long series of posts in the Wanderlust section for Malacca. Till the next journey ciao!

Gangs Of Wasseypur: Movie Review

I've always felt that Anurag Kashyap is one the very few GOOD hindi movie directors of our generation. Granted, his movies aren't exactly mainstream commercial Bollywood flicks with big stars and exotic locations. But that is the beauty of his flicks. Kashyap doesn't cheat audiences with such superficial elements but instead dishes out entertaining phillums with plots boasting tons of substance and characters that are as complex as you and me. Gangs Of Wasseypur is another feather in the hat of this talented filmmaker, echoing all his usual traits and many more.

At the core GOW is a revenge saga. Manoj Bajpai's character (Sardar Khan) has only one ambition in his life, to ruin the man responsible for his father's death Ramadhir Singh, enacted by Tigmanshu Dhulia. Both execute their characters with brilliance but I'd say that Dhulia does manage to outshine Bajpai (only barely) with his portrayal of an intelligent and resourceful capitalist turned politician. Performances by the entire cast is truly superb as they get the diction, body language and look of their characters with great dexterity. Another actor that deserves special mention is Richa Chadda, who plays Bajpai's wife (one of two) and she is an absolute firecracker! Being a city girl, she's managed to get into the skin of the character with such ease, it is truly awesome!

The basic premise sprawls with many additional characters who are either caught in the cross-fire between these two or are aiding the feud. Despite the high count of characters in the movie, each one is given a substantial screen-time (which is more than justified by almost all of them). The prolonged screen-time was possibly the reason the entire movie stretches over five hours and is being released in two parts. 

The revenge saga spans across three generations (at least the first part does) and as such the narrative delves into the lives of players in each generation for a considerable amount of time, with obvious emphasis being present for Manoj Bajpai's character. With the looting of British goods trains during the pre-independence era to the nationalisation of coal mines in the country to open gang-wars of (near) present day Wasseypur, there is a lot of ground covered in this movie! You'll be best served by paying attention to the narrator as he ties the various timelines and characters together in a single string to make sense of what unfolds on screen, cause if you don't you WILL regret it! 

There are a few (mind you VERY few), plot points that seemed a little thin to me, but not completely implausible, so it didn't affect the overall movement of the story. Despite being tagged as a revenge saga, GOW has a very intelligent and thoughtfully complex story seamlessly weaving multiple subplots into the primary tapestry. The aspects of the on-going family feuds, the political and local atmospheres prevalent in the region, the mafioso killings all complement the central plot quite beautifully.

The music and songs of the movie are very much in sync with the tone of the story, the region and the characters and avoids overtly filmy naach-gaana rituals. And the lyrics of some of the songs are indeed quite interesting such as Teri Keh Ke Loonga and Womaniya. They are unique tunes which warrant a listen at least once. In fact I've also bought the soundtrack from an online music store.

If you are like me and enjoy watching movies with a good story and multi-dimensional characters, GOW is definitely worth your hard earned money. With brilliant performances, a substantial plot and great screenplay, GOW is a definite must watch. I'm already counting down to the concluding part in the series.

A solid **** stars!

Wanderlust Malacca: Part 2

Our second day in the heritage city, started with at a leisurely breakfast at the hotel. A word of caution, since Malacca is a family tourist spot, be prepared to be swamped with noisy children at ALL times at family hotels such as the Holiday Inn.

Old Portuguese Wall

Me taking a pic of the wall!

After the sumptuous breakfast buffet at the hotel, we set out to experience the sights and sounds of Malacca. Our first stop was the remnants of the old Portuguese wall, which isn't really as eye-catching as some other walls, but has it's significance in the history of the city nonetheless. What was noteworthy was the array of canons right across the new street from the remains of the old wall.  We found a number of tourists posing along side these magnificent war-canons and for good reason! Check out the grandeur of these babies!

Another attraction close to the wall and the cannons is the Malacca Ricer WaterMill. When I say attraction, I purely mean for photographic purposes cause you can get some really neat snaps with the watermill as a background.

Our next stop was at the famous Stadthuys. The most prominent structures in this city square are the Melaka church, the administrative building, the fountain and of course the clock tower. If you're a photog like me, you could spend an entire afternoon here and still not be satisfied with the number of shots you would have taken on your camera. This place is THAT awesome!

The Stadthuys

There is also this one supposed war veteran sitting at the base of the clock tower with an array of war memorabilia who let's you take funky pics like this one for  nominal fee of 3 Ringgits. I am not sure how many he'll let you click but I was able to take about 3-4 before it got a little repetitive. The alley ways around the church are lined with shops aimed at the average tourist selling refreshments and memorabilia alike.

Next we made tracks to the other famous church in Malacca, The Church of St. Francis Xavier. Those of you who have been to Goa will instantly recognize that name because there's a church with the same name there as well. It so happens, that the two churches share more than just their names! The church looks absolutely stunning from the outside and is equally eloquent on the inside. We were even fortunate to witness a wedding in progress as we entered the church. 

By this time we were beginning to feel the heat of Malacca and boy was it HOT! And what better way to beat the heat than with a nice delicious cup of ice-cream. So we made a quick pit-stop to savor a local ice-cream favorite, icily. Icicy is quite conveniently located close to the city square and the St. Francis Xavier church. Using fresh fruits, a type of preserved low-fat cream base and quite a funky contraption that melds all of this together, the kind lady at icily concocted a delicious cream frozen dessert for us. The dessert was bursting with natural fruit flavors and it made the ice-cream simply irresistable!

 Before moving onto the next attraction that we went towards, let me share how we got there. So after coming out of the church and grabbing the dessert we decided to blindly explore the back alleys of the Stadthuys. Which turned out to be a bit of a bummer since we ended up in a kinda eerily empty spot of the city with stairs ascending to a crude structure on a hill. And to make matters a lot more interesting, the picture to the left was the view going up. Suffice to say, we were kinda spooked till we reached the top of the hill and discovered this - St. Paul's church.

Turns out we had taken an less frequented route to head uphill, cause the place was swamped with tourists. The church is essentially a ruin but still looks quite majestic. There is no roof but the outer walls and most of the inscriptions are intact, and even some tombstones. Again, you're bound to get some really great snaps for your collection. We sure did!

Descending from St. Paul's hill brings you smack in the middle of a long line of a variety of museums dedicated to philately (pertaining to stamp-collection and other postal for the uninitiated), the ruling political party, one on architecture and also another on the heritage of the city. Before you do walking towards the multitude of museums you'll notice another pretty photogenic landmark called A Famosa (which means in Portuguese), a fortress remnant from the Portuguese era. This structure earns the distinction of being one of the oldest surviving European architectures in Asia.

That's it for this blog post. I know I promised I'd talk about the shopping escapades in Malacca in this post. But the chronicles so far have taken up a LOT of the post space. So the next (and hopefully final!)  part in the series will focus a LOT on the shopping escapades at Jonker and other great places. Till then, happy reading!

Wanderlust Malacca: Part 1

Alright folks, here's yet another blog post in the Wanderlust series. This time, I'm gonna recount the travel experience as it happened. Which basically means, what you're gonna read is pretty much the itinerary of my trip, which should make it a considerably long post. Fret not. To avoid severe boredom to you, the reader, I'm gonna divide the post into parts. This also let's me ruminate and churn out the second post at a later date, so, it's a win-win!

Malacca Cityscape

My most recent trip was to the Malaysian heritage city of Malacca (or Melaka). My wife and I were super excited about the trip for two reasons; one we REALLY needed a holiday and two, we were celebrating our one year wedding anniversary.

Malacca was on my wish-list for quite some time. Being a UNESCO recognized heritage city meant that there were unique sights and sounds to experience. I had of course read up on the city plenty and was quite intrigued with the rich history. The milieu of colonial influences coupled with its almost bohemian culture sounded like the perfect holiday spot for a newly married couple like us!

There are a couple of ways you can reach Malacca, but the most direct and hassle-free one (from Singapore of course) is a bus ride which lasts around 4-5 hours and is usually directly to your hotel in Malacca. 

We departed early Friday morning (8:30 AM) from the Golden Mile Tower (check this correctly since there is also a Golden Mile Complex, although they're pretty close to one another). The journey was quite smooth, including the two immigration stops (one for each end of the border). Although the one at the Singapore end is slightly speedier (and neater!) The border is essentially the Singapore strait which separates the two nations. The connecting bridge (one of two) looks pretty sweet. It'd be a good idea to visit the washrooms while at the immigration stops since some bus services do not have any pit stops until the destination.

Our hotel (Holiday Inn) was at the edge of town (along the Straits). So our bus meandered through the heritage portion of the city, to reach our destination. This gave us an early, albeit brief, glimpse of the beautiful architecture and colors of Malacca. Although I was a little confused by the choice of roads that were taken by the bus driver to reach the destination since the GPS had a more straightforward route to the hotel. Ah well, we weren't in any rush and the road time in different parts of the city was quite cool too.

Menara Taming Sari

Our first stop for the evening was the Menara Taming Sari which offers a 360 Degree Panoramic View of the Historic City. The total duration of the ride is around 7 minutes (2 of which are spent in the ascent and descent). The view offered from this altitude is quite breathtaking. Rest assured you will get some really stunning aerial shots of the city (like the one at the beginning of this post!). Around here you'll also find a number of other touristy activities for the entire family, ranging from mechanical pony rides for the little tykes to back, foot and shoulder massages for the weary ones. 

Maritime Museum

Our next stop was the Maritime museum which is housed in the replica of a portuguese ship (At least I think it's Portuguese!). Another nice place for getting photos clicked of yourself as the captain of the vessel! Although for an entry fee of 3 Ringitts, it's worth the expense even if you simply wanna stroll around the ship and read up on the history. 

By this time, the sun had already set and the evening skies were turning dark. And the city also starts turning a little dim, since there aren't many street-lights (Well not all over at least!) This coupled with the numerous colorfully lit up riverside cafes and hotels on either side of the water body made the Malacca river appear even more picturesque. Walking with your significant other in such an atmosphere was simply delightful! If you're planning to grab a bite and want this view, head to Dutch Harbor Cafe or Harper's Restaurant And Lounge. Both have seating that faces the river in addition to quite delectable menus.

But we skipped the romantic dinner (Don't worry we covered up with a LOTTA other activities!) and headed to the infamous Jonker Walk. But that's gonna be featured in another blog post. 

The Malacca river is quite scenic so if you do get the time, take a river cruise to appreciate the beauty. But we found strolling along the riverside far more romantic and rewarding. So you know, to each his own.The Malacca river divides the heritage city into distinct sections with contrasting architectural styles. While most of the heritage portion lies to the west of the river, the east is dominated by  rows and rows of houses, many with Chinese influences on their styling. 

Dinner was at a cafe close to the hotel in a newly opened late night hot-spot called The Jetty. The place looks deserted during the day, but trust me, once the sun sets, the place is anything but quiet. With a number of restaurants, bars karaoke lounges and even a dessert hut, The Jetty is probably your best bet for some fun in Malacca post dinner time.

So that was pretty much what we did on our first day (well half a day to be fair!) The next post will give a little more about the many sights Malacca has to offer to the shutterbug and the tourist in you and of course the stupendously spectacular shopping experience at Jonker Walk!

Why I wanna wait another few years for the next Avengers Movie!

To say that The Avengers movie was a success would be a gross understatement. The ensemble cast super-hero extravaganza proved to be one of the biggest success stories for the comic-book to silver screen adaptation genre. To the extent that other studios have begun working full steam to replicate the success with their comic book properties

Studio heads at Disney obviously intend to milk this cash cow to the fullest, especially since there is so much more material in the Marvel Universe to fuel another movie. Official news of the sequel has already been confirmed and has fans of the movie and the comic books on an excitement high. But as an avid fan of the Marvel Universe (I have read tonnes of the comics and watched a LOT of the animated series), I am willing to wait for another 3-4 years for the sequel to hit the screens. Here's why...

It's no secret that the first Avengers movie was a carefully planned super-project by the studio heads. Inkling of the movie began with the post credit scene in the first Iron Man movie way back in 2008. This trend of giving away hints continued with each new Marvel Superhero motion picture in the following months; The Incredible Hulk, Iron Man 2, Captain America and most recently Thor. Apart from building up the (absolutely justified) hype, these post credit-scenes and the movies themselves served the important purpose of getting movie audiences familiar with the vast and myriad Marvel universe. Imagine watching (or reading) the final installment in the Harry Potter saga without ANY knowledge of the back-stories of the various characters. You'd walk out of the movie hall with an unmistakable feeling of "What The Eff!". Simply put we need some more super hero movies from the Marvel Universe (backed by Disney of course) to establish some more back-story and get a better insight into the Marvel universe.

If you stuck around (of course you did!) for the post credits scene of The Avengers, you definitely caught a glimpse of the sinister being grinning as the screen switched to black. The being in question is the celestial villain (not always) Thanos who is touted to be the villain in the sequel. Marvel fans will tell you that the most memorable and popular comic book story arc associated with Thanos is The Infinity Gauntlet, which is an epic story on its own. However TIG is one in a series of six story arcs in the Infinity Saga that spans across multiple realities and involves almost every single Marvel Superhero and Villain (and there are a LOT!). And the entire saga takes place AFTER Thanos has been resurrected from his death. There are other story arcs prior to his demise. So you see, movie audiences would need some sort of back story to get a feel of the true nature of the (supposedly) new baddie for the upcoming sequel. 

A rushed sequel would most likely also suffer from the usual shortcomings. Almost always sequels have very little fresh appeal for the audiences and seem almost formulaic in their plot and story. The adage "If it ain't broke why fix it" tends to get used a lot when scripting sequels resulting in half-baked clones of the first movie. The writers for the next Avengers movie should patiently skim through the various story arcs, pertaining to their characters, available in the Marvel universe. This may also require stand-alone movies with hints scattered throughout the flick or a simple post-credits scene. Introducing new characters, minor or major, is always a good move, but they'd need to pick the right mix to ensure they don't affect the familiarity established with the audiences by the first movie and the preceding movie tie-ins.

Also, if the head honchos at Disney are smart, they'll realize the benefit of spacing out their comic book blockbusters. Apart from piquing the audience interest and building a stronger fan-following, the gaps would keep the franchise fresh. Striking the iron while it's hot may not be the best option. The Avengers has garnered very high praise and has cemented its place in the hearts of movie audiences globally ensuring a firm fan-base for a sequel no matter how long the wait.

Having said that, I have to admit I am highly anxious to see how this franchise moves forward on the silver screen as well as how other comic-verses are brought to the big-screen. For now, I'll keep a keen watch for the upcoming sequels and new movies for other superheros in the coming months.

Prometheus: Movie Review OR "Of Greek Gods And Ridley Scott"

When Ridley Scott announced his return to the genre that was pretty much defined by him, SciFi fans world over were beyond delighted. After all, this is the man who gave us two of the most magnificent Science-Fiction masterpieces in the history of cinema, Alien and Blade Runner. And this excitement was further elevated exponentially with the prospect of the new project being a prequel of sorts to one (Alien) of those masterpieces. 

Named after the Greek god who stole fire from the other Gods and gave it to man to make him an equal, Prometheus the movie deals with mankind's quest to search for an answer to the question "Who created us and why?". Prometheus marks Scott's return to Science Fiction after almost three decades. But you couldn't tell that after watching the movie, for the celebrated director STILL knows how to make an engaging SciFi flick.

The thing about Scott's vision in his sci-fi movies is the level of authenticity he manages to showcase. His futuristic universe seems very believable and you start thinking "Gosh this could really happen!". In fact many elements used in Alien and Blade Runner, which were pure science fiction at the time are very much part of the real world today.

The build up to the release has been phenomenal. The promos for the flick started pouring in as early as December last year. Apart from the standard theatrical trailers, the marketing campaign featured many viral videos,a faux TED talk and even a fully functioning Weyland Industries website.However, one of the faults I found with the viral campaigning was that there was way too much information pertaining to the plot given away in the full length trailers. Or maybe I figured it out cause I'm just THAT smart!

In many ways Prometheus serves as a reboot/prequel to the original SciFi horror classic, Alien (NOT Aliens! That's a completely different flick albeit a worthy sequel directed by James Cameron). However you do not necessarily need to have watched the previous movie to understand what's going on (although you'll be glad that you did!) 

In terms of connections and eater eggs with relation to Scott's first foray into the SciFi genre, Alien, the avid fan will have a ball of time spotting them. Right from the title sequence to the Space Jockey, Scott has ensured that the plot of Prometheus is very much set in the same universe as Alien. But he is firm in his assertion that the movie does not directly tie-in into the 1979 classic. And this is quite evident after you've watched the movie and the climax sequences. This is a good thing, since it leaves room for potentially a new set of sequels further exploring the new perspective offered by this storyline. 

The suspense and thrill aspect of the movie are in the same league as the original Alien and one scene in particular is a stunning testament to the true brilliance of Scott as a director and Rapace as an actor. Nightmares are made of stuff like this! Although do not expect the same thrill-a-minute scenes like the other flicks. The shocks are in place at the correct junctures in the movie and are again kept relevant to the plot and seemingly underplayed in the trailers seen thus far.

The story raises many religious and deep philosophical quesitons while offering minimal answers. This, in my view, is a conscious effort by the film maker enabling the audience to formulate their own responses to the queries posed. Although the ones that are presented in the movie are gems in their own right. The conversation between Logan Marshall Green and Micheal Fassbender's characters, after their rather disappointing discovery, was one such revelation. When asked why did human's create androids such as himself, David (Fassbender) receives a rather callous and nonchalant response  from Holloway (Marshall-Green) - "We made you because we could!"

For someone who has always been intrigued at the possibility of an extra-terrestrial hand in the creation of life on earth, the basic premise of this movie appealed to me greatly. Although I was a little disappointed that the true intent or absolute origin of life was not theorized or even hypothesized to the fullest extent. But then like I mentioned, the director has left many questions open for audience interpretation. 

Prometheus offers die-hard fans of the Alien franchise a brand new perspective and a more thought-provoking origin story which stands alone on its own plot and back-story. And which has the possibility of spawning its own set of independent sequels which would make for great viewing. If you like good science-fiction and admire debating and understanding open endings and interpretations, then Prometheus will surely be a feast for your senses.

Here's the latest trailer for you to get all pepped up for the flick.

The Hobbit

The Hobbit by J.R.R. Tolkien

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


I'll be honest. The primary reason for me reading this book was because I'm eagerly awaiting the Peter Jackson feature film adaptation releasing this December. That and of course I was curious about the prequel setting to one of my most adored stories of all time, The Lord of the Rings. Granted that I have only seen the movie and not read the books, but I still find the fantasy world woven by J.R.R Tolkien absolutely magnificent and spell-binding.

So how would I rate this epic tale of how it all started? Firstly, you must realize that comparing The Hobbit with The Lord Of The Rings is nothing short of stupid. The Hobbit was written and conceived before the LOTR series. As such the narrative isn't as expansive or layered as the latter. The Hobbit is a simple story that doesn't require multiple perspectives or parallel timelines to be explained. It is the story of the simple Hobbit Bilbo Baggins' journey with a dozen dwarves (and the wizard Gandalf) on a quest to find and retrieve a collosal amount of treasure stolen and guarded by the infamous dragon, Smaug. The book essentially chronicles this journey from start till end and details the various people, creatures and adventures the group (and Bilbo in particular) encounter.

It's a pretty simple read and flows without any major hiccups or deviations. What stands out is the language used by Tolkien, which adds a flair of mild humor even in situations that deal with life and death. The words paint a very vivid picture of the landscapes the fellowship traverses and bring the story to life in a manner that stands out. Although I did find the battle sequences slightly underplayed. But then, that could be quite intentional considering that the book is aimed at young readers in particular.

I will say this, the section which deals with Gollum will strike a tad extra appealing if you have read (or in my case seen) the Lord Of The Rings, since readers will grin and smirk at the scenes that pan out at that point. But like I mentioned before, don't keep LOTR as the benchmark for content and narrative when reading this book. You'll be disappointed.

As an independent read, this is truly a great book. Simple read with minimal complications in terms of story plot and narrative. Plenty of adventures and perils to keep your interest piqued at various points throughout the story. And a rather feel good ending. A definite must read for anyone who enjoys the genre.



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The King Of All Meals!

Breakfast is undeniably the most important meal of the day. The name says it all! "Break-Fast", cause you're breaking the all-night fast (induced by the night long sleeping activity dummy!). The stomach and body are starved for some fuel to get recharged and get set for the new day.

Science says that breakfast should never be skipped for this very reason. Depriving your body of vital nourishment after a long break is nothing short of folly! Eating a nutrient packed and filling breakfast is the key to a good day ahead.

The debate then arises how rich should this king of all meals be? You're probably wondering, Eh? Well being a Bombay boy (a SoBo one at that) breakfast for me (and most of my pals) has ranged from a simple glass of milk (flavored with Bournvita) and toast to Kellogg's cereals to eggs made to order. Sufficient no? Well apparently not! Most of my friends and relatives from different parts of India beg to differ.

My relatives (well most of them) live in the state of Gujarat, viz. in Vadodara and Ahemdabad. I remember watching my uncles wolf down an entire meal for breakfast. When I say meal, I'm talking about chappati, dal, vegetables, farsaan et al. Mind you, this is the exact same thing I'd probably eat for lunch, so I was kinda surprised when I saw them eat this for breakfast. In their defence, this was probably their crude attempt at brunch since most of them would avoid heavy lunches and opt for a light snack at aorun 1-2 pm.

Up north, breakfast is incomplete without some piping hot paranthas laden with real makkhan (cause the packaged kind just doesn't cut it for them!). And this is usually accompanied with either chole or a similar item. What you have to understand in that the parantha is question is so darn heavy, that one is enough to set you back by around a few hundred calories. Again, in their defence, the weather possibly mandates a breakfast of this clorific stature.

Most people tend to have a different opinion deciding the richness of breakfast. Personally, a heavy breakfast, like those savored by my relatives and friends up north doesn't suit my system. After a heavy meal like that, early in the morning,  I'd probably feel laethargic or worse, nauseous! For brunch, most deifnitley, but for breakfast, ummmm, I'll pass.

In conclusion, breakfast is indeed the king of all meals. However the extent of it's royalty is very much a personal choice. 

Wanderlust - Amritsar

Recently I had the opportunity to visit the city of Amrtisar. Having only read about it in text books in a historical context (read the Jallinawallah Baug Massacre) and otherwise in movies, I was quite excited about the trip to this town-city. And sure enough I was not disappointed with my short trip. Although I was there to attend a wedding (of two of my dearest friends), I did manage to experience the major sights and sounds of the city. Here's my account of the said trip.

With no direct flight out of the domestic airport, the best way to get to this city by flight is to take a connecting one from the nation's capital. Flights out of Delhi to Amritsar are quite frequent and take only around 50 minutes of flying time.

Once you land at the airport, a taxi ride to the main city takes less than thirty minutes. The city itself isn't very huge, so getting from one end to the other would ideally not take a lot of time. But then, traffic is an element you need to factor into your travel plans in any city with a bustling automobile traffic, especially one with loads of two and three wheelers.

Since I was on a tight schedule (set forth by the groom and bride *wink*), the number of sights I could visit were limited. But the wedding couple were kind enough to arrange visits to the following prominent ones - 

The Golden Temple

Perhaps the most fabled and famous landmark in the city of Amritsar is the Golden Temple. Suffice to say, that a trip to this spot was on my checklist. Apart from the spiritual significance that the temple holds, the opportunity to capture the brilliance of this structure through my DSLR and brand new HTC One X was hard to pass up on.

The temple compound is colosal and houses multiple facilities apart from the main temple. These include free filtered drinking water, a library of Sikh religious texts and a free kitchen for all devotees. The main tempe building  I have to admit for someone who isn't too easily impressed with temples, the Golden temple did offer something unique. 

A Panoramic view of the temple complex

The Wagah Border

The other major tourist attraction that tops the charts is the India-Pakistan Wagah Border. More specifically, the border ceremony that takes place every evening at 5:30 pm. The entire objective of the ceremony, in my view, was to one up the Pakistanis with louder and more vehement patriotic chants. I'll admit, i quite enjoyed the whole mexican wavesque manner in which we kept chanting and raising our hands in pride to shout out Bharat Mata Ki Jai (Praise the motherland).

One of the most memorable aspects of the ceremony is the manner in which the leader of the squad (pardon my lack of knowledge of official army terms in these matters) shouted out the orders to his troops. Its a testament to the lung power that these men posses.
Here's a sample -  

But all the cacophony and histrionics and patriotic chants take a backseat when the ceremony comes to a close with the ceremonial flag de-hoisting. It is a sombre moment where both nations  show a sense of camaraderie with a simple salute. 

The flags of the two bordering nations - India and Pakistan as seen from the Indian side of the Wagah Border.

The Food Joints

Of course no trip to the heartland of Punjab can be complete without a visit to one of the many famous dhabas. 

The first stop was at a place aptly called Kulcha Land. The location is very unassuming and so is the ambience. But don't let the simplicity of this place fool you. The food was absolutely delish! I am not joking when I say that there was more butter on the kulcha than there was chole next to it! The Punjabis sure do LOVE their food. But I must admit, the extra fat gives the food that delicious flavor.

Our second (and most delicious) stop was at the famous Kesar Da Dhaba renowned for preparing its food in pure desi ghee (clarified butter). Although our stomachs weren't trained for the pure richness and heaviness of the food, the authentic taste and tantalizing flavors ensured that we gorged on the food till our belts needed unbuckling! I am quite sure we gained a good five pounds after the meal.

The city of Amritsar is an absolutely delightful place to visit and should be on every shutterbug's list of places to visit (Not to mention on every foodie's list as well!) Apart from the various photog opportunities, the small town charm of the city will leave you with a very warm feeling that you will cherish for years to come. 

You can check out these other shots I was able to capture during my short stay in the city  of Amritsar,

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