Potter shouldn't die.

OK...so now I have officially given in to the temptation - I have to write what I feel about the Deathly Hallows! If any of you haven't read the book - then I suggest you stop right here...there be spoilers ahead!

So what do I feel about it? Depressed. Depressed that the darn thing got over so fast. Depressed that the distance between Manchester and London was so short that Rowling could only think up enough material for 7 books. Depressed that I might never read about Harry, Hermoine, Ronald, Albus, Severus, Remus, Sirius, Arthur, Prewett (Mrs. Weasley), Ginevra, Dobby, Luna, Neville, Tom, Draco, Lucius, Kingsley, Alastor "MadEye", Minerva, Dolores, James, Lily, Tonks, Kreacher, Dudley, Petunia, Vernon, Percy, Fred, George, Bill, Charlie, Fleur, Viktor, Rubeus, Bellatrix, Argus, Filius, Cornelius, Seamus, Nearly-headless Nick, Bloody Baron, The Grey Lady, The Fat Friar, Moaning Myrtle...phew. Each character had become my friend - my companions through 7 books and 5 movies (the movies never did them enough justice though).

Ok so how do I really feel about the book? The best since Azkaban. Dark. Deep. Meaningful. Focus on Harry and only Harry. You can see that Rowling breathes Harry (or vice versa). She knows the character inside out and outside in. And you see a part of yourself in Harry's thoughts. The boy who lived - and the boy who went through more in his teenage years than most of us will do in our lifetimes. A boy - very human - very gifted. Like each one of us. A boy who finally saw the purpose of it all (don't know how many of us will be that lucky!). Harry's story will live on long past this book or the movies.

7 books later I have three favorite characters (apart from Harry) - Hermione, Severus Snape & Neville Longbottom...with Snape taking the top honours along with Harry. The Harry-Snape-Dumbledore twist gave the story an entirely new dimension. Snape's story brought a tear to my eye - and was the strongest evidence of love in all 7 books. (If you haven't read no. 7 yet - then you must be wondering what this is all about!) The ending is a little too "Matrix-like" - reminded me of Neo talking to the Oracle at the end of part 3. Voldemort had a fitting end - though I was a bit disappointed at his intelligence. He went down rather tamely I should say.

I know this is a disjointed post - but I am just so full of thoughts about this beautiful story. To summarize - Rowling didn't kill Harry - as we were all dreading and the even better news? She left the story open for sequel! :) I really hope she writes one - if she doesn't then I will. Have already formed some broad outlines for possible plots...:) Will discuss it in future posts.

The iPhone Killer is here? Maybe.

The last two months have seen two high profile mobile phone launches - one of them over-hyped and the other - to Apple's peril - quite under-hyped. I am talking about the iPhone and the Ocean from Helio. While the iPhone has started what could be described as media induced mass hysteria - lots of buyers are falling for the "love at first sight" factor that the iPhone comes bundled with. (Obviously Jobs and his designers read Malcom Gladwell's "blink") The iPhone is beautiful - there is no doubt about it. Large screen, minimalistic sensibilities. It is the phone that does not look like a phone...and I think that's where Apple hit bullseye. So crazed masses walked into stores like hypnotized zombies and paid a lot of money to acquire this futuristic object of their dreams - and decided to ignore the following facts:

1) It is ridiculously overpriced ($499 for 4GB and $599 for 8GB) - and you can only use it over AT&T Cingular.

2) It cannot replace your iPod - max storage is just 8 GB. And the memory cannot be expanded.

3) It does not support Bluetooth's Stereo profile

4) You cannot remove the battery!! (so no spare batteries)

5) It does not support the latest 3G standards - so the web experience is menial for such a device

6) Does not have built in GPS

7) Does not have a physical keyboard or keypad. (It might not seem as such a bad thing - but it is a serious disability for smart phone power users)

....and the list goes on.

Enter Ocean.

This device from Helio - does all of the above and all that the iPhone can do. (except the accelerometer - which allows the iPhone to rotate the desktop to landscape or potrait - depending on how you are holding it.) It has both a keyboard and a keypad. It is not fixed to any network...and costs $295. Check this video review from Zdnet's David Berlind and decided for yourself. http://blogs.zdnet.com/Berlind/?p=587 It might not be a looker like the iPhone - but as they say - "beauty is in function". Maybe it's true.

As for me, I have decided that the Ocean will be my next phone...

Maroon 5 - It won't be soon before long

The second album by the Grammy winning (Best new artist 2005) California quintet - Maroon 5 - debuted #1 on the Billboard charts - hitting platinum in the US in just 3 weeks. It has the highest first week sales in history and it's first single "Makes me wonder" broke the iTunes store record for sales. Did they deserve all this?

Absolutely.
Their catchy blend of 80's pop (Prince/Police/Talking Heads) meets new age alternative - is instant music to the ears. Frontman Adam Levine is greatly influenced by soul/hip-hop and every song is foot tapping starting from the album opener "If I never see your face again", going on to the heavily played "Makes me wonder" and the soon to be classic "Wake up call". The lyrics are all about love and relationships and though less misogynistic than their first multi-platinum "Songs about Jane" album, they do promote a male point of view of the cheating /disgruntled woman.

"Won't go home without you" is a direct tribute to "Every Breath you take" - with the famous bass hook forming the background. It also is a beautiful love song. "Can't Stop" is pure dance-floor energy with a chorus reminscent of the The Rolling Stones. Which then brings the best song of the album. "Goodnight Goodnight" is the kind of song that sets Maroon 5 ahead of the pack. Beautiful lyrics, gentle singing, soulful rhythm and a passionate chorus - paint a picture of heartbreak and acceptance. This is Levine accepting that relationships can break - and no one really is at fault.

The album moves on with a couple of excellent ballads "Not Falling Apart" & "Better that we break" and more foot tappers "Kiwi" & "Back at your door".

It is a great album - which improves with every listening...perfect for long drives when you pop the CD in, tap your fingers on the wheel and think about nothing but the sweet sounds of soulful pop delivered in what is now "Maroon 5" style.

4 stars out of 5.

Live free or Die Hard - A review

In India, the 4th installment of Bruce Willis' career defining movie franchise "Die Hard" was released with the highly original and imaginative title "Die Hard 4". Just makes good marketing sense I guess - as Live free or Die Hard (the US name) wouldn't really resonate with the fan club. And in this case the fan club is huge...with me as the Club Secretary. There are a few scenes in cinematic history which burn a lasting image in one's memory...and for me atleast 5 of those are from Die Hard 1 and 2. Remember the elevator scene in the first one - where he kills the first baddie and sends him down in an elevator with a note "Now I have a gun." Awesome. And John McLaine's celebration of the final insane show of guts which kills the main baddie - "Yippie-Ka-Yay M*****F*****!".

Yes, the baddie in this movie too ends with the above...and if I tell you how - I will be spoiling your fun. And this is what the movie (and the franchise) is all about. Mind-numbing explosions and gut-wrenching action. And the in-destructible and cynical Bruce Willis as unlucky NY cop - John Mclaine. He usually has a sidekick (the venerable Samuel L Jackson doing the honours in Die Hard 3) - and this time around it is a super-hacker-nerd (Justin Long) who inadvertently co-develops a program which was being used to bring all the major systems of America down. The post 9/11 computer terrorism works well - juxtaposing the totally un-Matrix-esque" McLaine trying to figure out what the bad guy was trying to do with all the computer wizardry. This also helps develop the camaraderie between the 50+ war torn veteran and the chip eating Keanu Reaves look alike.

The baddie (Tim Olyphant) is not as menacing as Jeremy Irons in the last installment - but gives enough reason for the Audience to wish for his demise. And the journey to his demise includes McLaine destroying a Helicoptor with a police car, bringing down an entire section of a Freeway and singlehandedly destoying a F-38 fighter jet. Phew.

This is what Summer movies are all about - and as one critic said, "Complaining about its mindless action is like complaining about the sound of the audience chomping popcorn..." Kudos to Willis - who proves that he still has it in him to save the world...


Watch it.