Review: The Dark Night

Rating: 3.5/5

So when my brother made plan with his office colleagues for this new blockbluster, I forced my colleague, Sachit for a late night movie too. Though wednesday isn't the best day to go for 10 o clock movie, still it didnt turn out to be such a bad idea (i did manage to reach office in nick of time).

The movie starts of with a little weird stuff, the local public trying to copy-(b)at the batman. Not a great idea, as there is only one hero in these comic books. The entrance with the bat-mobile and then jumping on to the hood of the car or what ever that was left of it - Thats an entrance. Now with the big boys, I mean the rich and hunk kind of guys, like the Bruce Wayne we had, it was sad to see him trying to find girl just because the new DEA is taking out the only girl he likes. Okay fine, I will give Mr.Wayne a little benefit of doubt. After all, he has the money, power and the charm to lure any one of them! Right - Mr. Wayne.

Joker!! Ha ha ha!!! --- Lets put a smile on your face --- The guy has left us all with a oscar-winning performance. I loved his acting all along, yeah remember that magic trick - kids, dont try that home. Comparisons are bad, but what Gabbar showed the Bollywood in Sholey, Joker had the same lasting effect. Even as I left the hall (apart from checking the good crowd) the only voice that lasted was of the J' rather than the Bat.

The worst performer will be the girl-friend. And as this is a cape-crusader film, I expected atleast a better character. Not much of a part, so she didnt pay attention while doing it. Good they finished her of, so in the next part just dont bother having her :) Good job director...

Mr. DEA had a sine-curve job. From being the un-masked hero he became the scared,burnt face villan. The special effect or the make up on the face (what ever it was) was shocking, let alive. Especially the eye! Phew...!! Gives the whole hall jitters.

The background beats, the camera-work, the costumes and the gadget work were all fancy and would have taken great effort to put in. Comissioner Gorden was the usual and the trick of killing him and bringing him back was good. The computer geek with his sonar funda was new and affective, though the hostage wrapped as villan and villan wrapped as hostage was old.

Now, my review is kind of all over the place and that is what made me feel was the movie too... What is the point the director is trying to bring out? That rules aint good? Or no, we humans are bound to make mistake yet with a guiding hand of a hero we can act sane. The ending was good and bad at the same time, but then it is just a prespective.

Again, things to look out for in no specific order:

1. Joker (this anyways would have topped any list)

2. Stunts, a big screen movie.

3. Ofcourse the Bat-man and the Burnt face DEA head.

4. Last and not the least, the gadgets. Car, Bike, clothes... All awesome.

Oops & sorry, forgot to add about Alfred, but then his role is always great. Same goes here :)

So until next time... Keep out of trouble and batman's way!

Review: A Prisoner of Birth by Jeffrey Archer

Rating: 4/5

Jeffrey Archer has done it again. Mesmerizing me with his new Novel - A Prisoner of Birth. His books are more of a screenplay where anyone with half-decent imagination can see it all happening like a movie. Especially born in the Age of Harry Potter, LOTR, Eragon and lot of other enchanting magical stories, the imagination of my-kind reaches far.

The books starts off well, especially the finner details of how the brawl takes place between our hero - Danny Auther Cartwright and the bad guys - Craig and etc... Few lose ends were their during the initial trial, like why no forensic test were conducted on Craig for blood, after all the book is written in the age of Discovery Channel and the ultra violet light. Not even a single drop of blood on the path from the pub to Craig's Apartment? I know I am a bit harsh, but a story of how Craig manages to get away from that would have been fun (and would have made the book last for more than a day for me).

Moving on to the prison part, I can say it was neatly done. I like the way JA kept the interest of readers by making good things happen to our hero Danny in prison. No mention of obscenity in prison was also appreciated otherwise mention of gang rape in showers or brawls are quite common in any story with prison. Lose end again was the not-so-enough reason from Leach to kill or attempt to kill Danny in the showers while the football match was on. Could have added another page or two for a fight between Danny & Leach would have spiced the whole issue (yes I am contradicting my earlier point, but here it seems so relevant to me).

The freedom couldnt have been done better. As some might point out, how can two people look so similar and yet have no blood relation, I can assure them that I have met people in my Life where they look so similar (though in my case the person was a girl). The battle between uncle Hugo and nephew was interesting (and little funny...). But I felt the whole idea regarding the collection of stamps and grandfather's will, were only necessary so Danny can have cash in hand to battle against the gang-of-four (no reference to java community people). Interesting part was how the author subtly mention Danny's progress in study only to open later his skills towards Business and how to handle money-matter.

The revenge was disappointing to me. For me the one in NOT A PENNY LESS, NOT A PENNY MORE was far more elegant. I liked the JA in that book rather here. For me it turned out to be a clip from Hindi movie TRISHUL (oldy with Amitabh bachchan). The silver lining here were the supporting cast and crew (the other characters in the novel) - the bank manager, Scottish legal adviser etc etc. Their parts were well written and really gelled the whole story together making a unforgettable experience for the reader. In the end it was a quick kill in the court, where mistakes were done in plenty by the actual offenders.

As I have no knowledge of Law, especially English law, I was left wondering why the judge denied any reference to the previous sentence? This is something I will need to search and learn on my own.

Things to lookout for will be a long list so I will point out very few of them:

1. Friendship between Danny and Nick, with a great supporting role of the Big Al.

2. The amazing way of find the Second will was fake. I for once was unable to guess what will happen next (again showing my knowledge of Law)

3. Scottish Legal adviser: two amazing act, one was in the court room, second the below the belt hit

4. Love between Danny & Beth - it was kept to apt levels and not overdose of romantic flair. Thank God, the author didnt give bail to Danny once in a while, otherwise Beth would have become a kid-vending machine.

5. Last (from my side, though there will be many more) - the title, A Prisoner of Birth. I am not 100% sure I have got the meaning, but still I can say I have a fair idea which is - you pay for your deeds in this life and this life only & hence everyone is A Prisoner of Birth.

There has been places where JA has mentioned Cricket and I like a true Indian, who may not be best in Cricket, but still holds an opinion, I will say - The book was not a master-blaster package of Sehwag or Peterson's swash-buckling shots, but more of a replay of eligant innings from Sachin or Dravid for that matter. I enjoyed the read, hope you do it too...