iphone

iPhone

Apple has released the iphone (Reuters, CNET). Amidst all the talk of the phone failing tests with consumers and being too slow, Apple did release at the Macworld event. At $499-$599 but if it does all the things people want it to doe decently well, the phone will be difficult to stop. Cingular is the only service offering it now I believe but others may soon follow suit. This would be a direct challenge for Sony Ericsson to come up trumps with even better phones. Right now I think their elegantly designed phones are way too much value for money, but an apple product is well an apple product. With the continued image management from the folks at Apple, computers would be dropped from their name. Well, they are the gods of image management, so expect some more marketing on these lines.

Overall, I think this would be quite a test for apple. Design is one thing, but offering a robust working phone is another. Apple stock is up, so the market likes it. And the market is never wrong J

Expected results of terror

ULFA(United Liberation Front of Asom) strikes again. This time their targets are primarily Bihari immigrant workers who do small roles in the economy (laborers, milkmen). This is chillingly in line with ULFA’s strategy of exterminating all foreign (yes all Indian except Assamese are considered foreigners) nationals from Assam and ensure that Assamese gets maximum use of the state’s resources. ULFA is liberally supported by Bangladeshi Intelligence ( and hence the refusal of ULFA to persecute immigrants from Bangladesh who now reportedly form a considerable amount of population in several districts of Assam) and ISI. The first time I read something of that sort the usual Pak bashing did come to mind. But the logic is compelling, almost all of ULFA top leadership is in exile of hiding. Their organization is very strong, with disgruntled youth ready to join, but the funding for arms does not require rocket science to understand. What is the ULFA trying to achieve?

Actually what are all the terrorist organizations( I don't know what the list is based on, but just for some understanding) in India looking at. The north-east is definitely divided with calls for separate nations et all ( partially valid, 50 yrs of Indian Independence has not resulted in much for them). But what can they actually achieve:

1) The reorganization of nation states does not happen in times of peace. Unless there is full scale war India will not give up any of its territory. So, who will fight an open war with us? The Chinese? No, for them the chance to become a superpower is more compelling that fighting for minor territory, they can at best provide logistics. Pakistan? They are mad enough, but they would go for a Nuclear war which could prove disastrous for them. Covert action is best for them, to paint India as a muslim-hater for some time atleast. Bangladesh? They could do it, they need land and water (and everything else) for their people. But not very likely. Combined attack? Again would need a significant event for something like that to happen. Maybe a US invasion of Pakistan and everyone would get sucked in.

2) Destabilization of the country: This could serve its purpose, but the result would mean that the people who are disadvantaged would lost out even more because no one would invest in terrorism infested areas because of chance of loss. It's a vicious cycle, no development means that more people for the ‘cause’ which means more misery for people who try to live on. This is very synonymous with the PWG which reportedly does not allow the construction of roads in AP because that would undermine their authority.

Maybe some good can come of it, if the revolution slowly included political movements to force the central govt to be on its toes. But till then, the issue would be just a thorn, and the security forces will be used to quell the challenge. And no security force on the planet is benign and this would mean more misery for the common people. So finally you are left with just hope that such carnages as of this week would not happen.

Larger questions on issue of intra country remain. Will growth in the country living behind many geographies migration to better opportunities is a given, so if native population in growth states fights immigration (as in Mumbai, Bangalore) right now we would need a work permit system for the whole country. Will write on this some more.

Ancient Languagues and More

I was reading yesterday about Khipu, the ancient language of the Incas and a long running theme came into mind. Why is that ancient languages are so difficult to decipher? We can read the human DNA but cannot decipher the coded languages of our ancestors. Albeit most of the languages now have been deciphered using advanced mathematical modeling (Egyptian, Mayan and the last I heard Harappan too). The process of decoding asks a few questions:

1) Why the languages were are so complex in the first place. If we take so long to understand it, then how is it possible that it was a common language that every one understood and spoke?

2) If indeed the problems have arisen only because there is lack of proper documentation, what steps are necessary to ensure that our present day documentation reaches the future generations? I understand that each generation believes its form of communication to be foolproof but the actual experience may be different.

Language apart, most of the ancient civilizations seem to use complex technology ( or simple applications) and then suddenly they disappear. This trend is clearly absorbed. The Incas built Machu Pichu, a modern city on the high mountains and left ostensibly because there wasn't enough water, the Mayans built temples and observatories and left, the Harappans built a whole civilization and then abandoned it. I cannot recall more, but I remember way having read about more cultural groups of people who seemed to love the build the disappear mode. The best part is we cant even figure out why they ran away, forget decoding how and why they built the things they built.

The importance of history as a means of understanding evolution cannot be questioned. If for example our ancestors knew about an impending natural disaster and decided to abandon ship, then such tools would be use to us even now. For all our scientific advancement, some of the largest causes of death and loss of property are natural disasters. Further, if as we assume our ancestors lived in harmony with nature, we could possibly get some clues for incorporating the same in our way of life. Wishful thinking?

Possibly, but the mysteries of the unexplained seem way more interesting that the dull nature of the known.

Kabul Express

Director: Kabir Ali

Cast: John Abraham, Arshad Warsi

A journalist ( John) and his photographer go to find an interview with the deposed taliban.Tthe taliban is hunted, and the remaining few are trying to escape to pakistan, which closes tis borders. Along with a local afghan guide these two go after taliban prisoners to speak to them. An american journalist goes after them in search of a story too.A taliban warrior kidnaps all of them and takes tehm towards pakistan.

Through the journey they realize that the motivations of differnt men are differnt and msot of the people are pawns in a larger game.Some really stunning images through afganistan, good banter between the lead actors, decent background score and good acting from the afgans ensures the pace is held.
Except for a little shallowness in the characters it could have been a great movie.

Good one time watch.

Rating: 7/10

Dhoom 2

Dhoom 2-eye candy.

The plot: A(Roshan) is a master thief who wants to leave his footprints all over the world by carrying out dare devil-minutely planned-and oh so cool type robberies. The task of matching wits with this bloke falls to ACP of police Jai (AB Jr) and his bumbling sidekick Ali(chopra). Along the way Roshan falls for live-the-moment aspiring genius thief Sunehri and Ali gets to say all sorts of things to different versions ( there are twins) of Bipasha("you want to make baby?" for example-he does manage to pull up some witty one liners tho) . There are enough twists and turns and emotions to keep the reels going and the movie ends wiht the indications of Dhoom 3 (SRK as villian ) coming along.

You have to watch the movie for one reason. Roshan, is just stunning. Dancing, scheming, biking, roller skating, playing mind games..the man is cool ( why not him as James Bond), except he doesnt emote well. Aish as Sunehri is good in parts ( why dint anyone think of her in bikinis grooving ot party music before? ) But she does look old. They form a great pair.

Bipasha does what she is good at, flaunt those curves for Chopra(and the rest of us) to gawk at. Some of the stunts are well choreographed and the editing is pretty slick. If this is what mindless movies are all about, we wouldnt mind more

Rating: 7/10

The Prestige

The Prestige

Line 1: Christopher Nolan delivers again.

Rating: 8/10

Cast: Christian Bale, Hugh Ackman, Scarlett Johansson, Michael Caine

Plot: A friendship gone wrong, a rivalry that took them too far, an obsession that destroyed everything.

Two individuals who want to become the greatest magicians are fighting a battle of wits against each other. One is a natural magician and the other is a performer. A tragic event makes them mortal enemies and from then on begins a chase for the greatest trick and the need of each individual to belittle/kill/wound the other. The games they play against each other, destroys the individuals their family, but gives the audience of the magic what it wants. The prestige, the final part of the act when the magician reappears in front of the audience and the moment when people cannot seem to believe what they see and applaud. The story unfolds in 4 different time zones(time is the key player with Nolan) and finally culminates in the finale. All the actors ( except possibly Johansson who is stone faced except in one scene) give excellent performances. The pace of the movie ensures that 'you watch closely' throughout. The editing is taut, and the setting is near perfect. The direction is pure brilliance when you consider the complexities of the plot.

The review does not give the names of characters or the full details as I believe you have to watch this one.

Babel

Babel : The problem of (mis)communication

Cast: Brad Pitt, Cate Blanchett

Direction: Alejandro González Iñárritu

Plot:

Already touted as one of the top picks of this year, the movie is about a biblical fable about humans being unable to build the tower of ‘
Babel ’ because of communication problems between people due to differing languages.

In the modern day Babel, the problem arises when a touring couple Pitt and Blanchett try to battle it out in interior
after kids trying out a weapon shoot the woman. That is the beginning of the complex tale of different families across different continents all that are related in some way to the bullet shot.

There is the tale of the illegal immigrant Mexican caretaker of the couple’s kids, who goes to attend a wedding in , gets into a tangle and loses almost everything that she has.

There is the Japanese father, who sold the gun in
to a guide and who is being questioned in relation to his wife’s suicide. His sex-starved deaf-mute daughter represents the people who are actually mute, while the rest of the movie is about people who can hear and speak but refuse to do either.

There is the Moroccan father who sees his rustic life coming apart after learning about the actions of his kids, but still tries to save them.

There is the Moroccan guide who shares what he has to help the American’s. The cynical tourist group shows how vulnerable western nationals feel in alien societies.

But the most important character in the story is definitely Alejandro and his direction. The movie is an assault on the eyes and you are transported instantly across , US, ,
seamlessly. The nuances of each society are given enough screen space for the viewer to appreciate and hence understand how bad things could go. And the world view of the deaf-mute, her perception of silence in a disc and here silent world in the midst of everything is spectacular.

The shooting blamed on terrorists and you have the judgment pronounced without even the chance of a trial. (The Moroccan officer stands out) The immigration officials refusal to understand the plight of the Mexican woman who has carved out a life for herself is stark while the media’s reaction gives you a chilling idea of what is possible in a world where you do not understand your surroundings.

The acting is good throughout, with the Japanese girl and her father exceptional. Pitt and Blanchett had no option but to look good, but the director has chosen his cast amazingly well. ( You could recall Che from Motorcycle diaries as
Santiago here J) . The characters and some scenes are bit too graphic and sometimes unnecessary (the cut chicken, the peeing-love scene, the naked Japanese girl), but they end up making you appreciate the vibrant nature of the surroundings. A little bit too long at 142 min.

Rating: 7.8/10