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Humouroscope

Humouroscope: 22nd- 29th December

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Aries: Hitting the gym can work wonders for any medical student this week. Can’t say it will help you become a chick magnet but you will get to study the effects of hemorrhoids firsthand! So pump iron for SCIENCE!!!

Taurus: It’s not that everyone is trying to avoid you it’s just that…well would you look at the time? I have got to go; your horoscope will have to wait until next time ok pumpkin?  

Gemini: Ah! Children of Gemini! The tarot cards show really good omen. Unfortunately, your report cards do not. Brace yourself for the most violent of tongue lashings.

Cancer: I understand that raging hormones make this the most difficult period of your life, with your will succumbing to the basest of desires. But for God’s sakes get off Santa’s lap you are not 7 anymore! No, you may not have a Mercedes for Christmas! And yes, the beard is fake!

Leo: If you are depending upon that mistletoe that you meticulously planted above her front door…it’s a bad idea. You never know who might just walk underneath to greet you when you ring the door bell. Consider yourself warned.

Virgo: A new year approaches! This is a chance for a brand new start, a fresh new beginning, an opportunity to turn a new leaf. Although 10 bucks says that your resolutions will not last for more than three weeks.

Libra: Your romantic life will take a new turn these holidays. Your girlfriend will finally appear to be demure and speak to you in her sweetest manner. Don’t be fooled. Aldo has announced a 30% off on those heels she always blabbered on about.

Scorpio: I know that you wish to join the Mafia but I don’t think that earning a couple of parking tickets puts you anywhere in the ‘Gangsta’ list. Sorry kiddo.

Sagittarius: Do you know what Jeffery Archer and your chances of getting into Harvard law have in common? They both make good fiction.

Capricorn: Ever since the polls, a great change has come upon your ‘politically inclined’ friends. There will now be endless discussions of “Dekhna, BJP iss desh ko hila kay raakh dega.” Yet another reason to not want to return to college.

Aquarius: You will have great luck in poker against your Pisces friend today. At the very first hand put all your chips in and win it all. For this friendly advice I will be deducting 20% from your winnings.

Pisces:  You will have great luck in poker against your Aquarius friend today. At the very first hand put all your chips in and win it all. For this friendly advice I will be deducting 20% from your winnings.

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QWERTY

Game Review: Batman Arkham Origins

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The Plot

You are Bruce Wayne, a playboy millionaire by day and a kick ass vigilante known as the Batman by night. But your quest in stopping crime has got the attention of the infamous Black Mask, an underworld boss of the largest organized crime syndicate in Gotham city. Your constant disruption to his plans has forced him to place a bounty of $50 million on your head, for whoever kills you by the end of Christmas Eve (Bad guys have wishes too you know).

But the Batman in Arkham Origins is at its rawest. He is in his second year as the caped crusader and has almost no experience dealing with professional assassins such as Deathstroke, one of the 8 assassins who are after the bounty.

The plot seems rather simple but it is the storytelling that keeps you glued as the story unfolds. It is very engaging to watch Batman trying desperately to save Gotham (and himself) while following his one rule: no killing. It is in Arkham Origins that Batman makes acquaintance with some of the most memorable villains which will pave way to eternal rivalry, including the clown prince of crime – the joker.

Graphics

Using the unreal engine 3, the graphics are a marked improvement since the last instalment, Batman Arkham City. There are a lot of particle and lightning effects that give a very solemn feel to the game. Better yet, it does not require a beast like machine to run the game. A decent graphic card should play the game in medium and low settings and still look good.

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Gameplay

The game is played from a third person perspective, giving a nice view of Batman’s inhuman trapezius. Batman is a fighting game where you dish out ruthless combos and lightning fast counter attacks with the simple click of the appropriate buttons. For all those new to the series: the combat mechanics of the game is divided into two types – the overt combat mode, where you can show off Batman’s martial art skills, and there is the covert predator mode, where you have to use every gadget in Batman’s utility belt to take out armed thugs, stealthily. The veterans will know exactly how it works because…it is exactly the same mechanics as before. There is nothing new in the game combat mechanism which will make you jump up from your seats.

What Arkham Origins does have however is a bigger map. But bigger does not necessarily mean better. You can zip from roof top to roof top for miles and not meet a single soul, except for some occasional goons spawning randomly. The world map also has a fast travel point that you unlock by completing certain side quests. This proves handy as the map is very large.

The new gadgets are nothing very fascinating. The remote claw is useful to slam two targets together, the concussion grenade can prove useful while dealing with a tightly packed mob, the glue bomb is just a generic copy of the Freeze bomb from Arkham City and the shock gloves proves to be some sort of kill switch that can knock out normal goons in an instant and stun shielded ones.

While the combat and gadgets fail to deliver, the detective aspect of the game has seen a major overhaul. Unlike in the previous games Batman can now use his superior technology to virtually reconstruct the crime scene and deduce what might have happened.

Of course, what is a batman without his batcave? A homeless bat! Forgive my attempt on humour, but yes there is a batcave in the game and its fully interactive. You can reach it via the fast travel system in the map and there are quite a number of things you can do. For example you get your special equipments from the workshop. There is also a training arena where you can practise against new foes such as the martial artist, a new addition to the Batman’s enemy roster. These goons are just as good as batman and can counter Batman’s attacks. If not careful these guys can be an utter nuisance and become the reason for numerous game over screens. There is also Bruce Wayne’s loyal family butler, Alfred, who will make occasional sarcastic remarks which will make even the most serious of Batmans out there to crack a smile. Alfred also serves as a moral beacon for Bruce and it’s nice to see the world famous butler get a little more face time.

There is also a competitive multiplayer that requires a lot of players to play to be honest. I have not tried the multiplayer due to my horrendous network so I am not the best to judge this aspect of the game really.

batman-2

Verdict

For newcomers to the Batman series, this game will be a real treat. It has all that a newbie would want in a Batman game: gadgets, villains, stealth and Batman! But for all the battle hardened Veterans, this game provide nothing new. It still is a great game at its own right but it lacks innovation and its uninspired combat system will get very tiring.

The Good: Nice, visually stimulating graphics. Intriguing storytelling. Excellent voice acting. The joker.

The Bad: No departure from the original games. Occasional glitches and navigation issues. Unchallenging boss fights.

Available for: Sony PlayStation 3, Nintendo 3DS, Xbox 360, Nintendo Wii U, PS Vita

By Ambiso Tawsik ([email protected])

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Flicks

Movie Review: 12 Angry Men

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With this review, we believe it is often important to revisit the classics as well!

What happens when you put 12 men in a small, claustrophobic jury room in New York during the hottest day of the year? It makes for an incredibly dramatic movie. ’12 Angry Men’ is a court room drama written by Reginald Rose, who is also the producer alongside Henry Fonda. The movie, under the direction of Sidney Lumet was made on an incredibly tight budget of $340,000 and its release in the year of 1957, although critically acclaimed, proved disastrous in the box office. It was only when it was aired on television that it finally found its audience becoming the classic it is today and deservingly so.

The Plot

12angry

An 18 year old boy is brought to trial for the murder of his father.  All evidence finds him guilty; the jurors are convinced that it is going to be a really short session. But when the votes are called for, they realise that it is never that easy. One man out of all the 12 jurors is not entirely convinced that the boy is guilty. Juror 8 (Henry Fonda) is the only one to vote ‘not guilty’ in the preliminary tally and is the only one holding up a unanimous verdict. This infuriates the other jurors who want to get the session over with as soon as possible and resume their daily life. They try to convince him that he is over complicating the matter but Juror 8 stands firm in his belief that there is a room for a ‘reasonable doubt’.

Although the audience is given no preliminary knowledge of the case but as the story develops they are provided the evidence put in court in the form of third person narratives, as Juror 8 fanatically tries to argue the authenticity of the evidence. He believes that all the evidence is circumstantial and the boy deserves a fair deliberation. He becomes the only one standing between the boy and the electric chair. Human emotions flare as their patience is put to the test and the vilest of human character begins to surface as the discussion draws on. In the heated debate human values are brought to question, abuses exchanged and facts doubted. ’12 Angry Men’ brings to the screen human drama in its rawest state with all its prejudice, stereotypes and malice.

Casts and Characters

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Sidney Lumet’s ’12 Angry men’ depends upon the volatile mix of personalities in the cramped up jury room to deliver a staggering courtroom drama. The jury members have their own way of life, their own personalities, and each one remarkably different from the other. The jury is a mix of common people from different walks of life – an assistant football coach who tries his best as the jury foreman (Martin Balsam), a meek banker (John Fielder) who is often dominated by others, an opinionated and short-tempered businessman (Lee J. Cobb), a rational and analytic man of facts (E.G.Marshall), A paramedic who grew up in a violent slum (Jack Klugman), A tough and respectful house painter (Edward Bins), A salesman (Jack Warden) whose only concern is the baseball tickets burning a hole in his pockets, An architect (Henry Fonda)  who is at first the only dissenting voice in the jury, A wise and observant old man (Joseph Sweeney), A loudmouthed and prejudiced garage owner (Ed Begley), A European-born watchmaker (George Voskovec), A wise cracking advertising executive (Robert Webber).

Each actor does a remarkable job in bringing up their character in the most believable manner. This becomes rather important as the film has a lot of close up shots of the characters. Every emotional outburst seems genuine and every argument carries such tension that can make you root for that one juror or make you pathetically hate the other.

Cinematography

’12 Angry Men’ is no Bollywood movie with enchanting Swiss landscapes where the characters seem to suddenly appear out of nowhere and burst into a song. Instead the movie is grim and almost entirely takes place in a small claustrophobic jury room. But this banal confinement becomes a completely dynamic set piece – when the audience gets one good look at the hot, tiny room with its confined walls, they are more able to empathise with the characters that are desperate to get the session over with. The room grows even hotter when twelve angry men throw their tantrums and their jibes as the walls seem to close in on them. The small room also becomes the silent representation of the jury’s narrow mindedness in the case in hand, a satire of ‘fair trial’.

Verdict

’12 Angry Men’ is a remarkable film. Although it does take time for the movie to develop but the audience will find their patience well rewarded in form of a thoroughly entertaining movie.

 By Ambiso Tawsik ([email protected])

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Bazinga

Bazinga: Rahul baba to appear on Comedy Nights with Kapil

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Disclaimer: Bazinga is DU Beat’s weekly column of almost-believable fake news!

Sighting that all the news channels are more interested in broadcasting God man Asaram Bapu and his son’s “raasleela” rather than Congress’s “bharat nirman” jingles, Congress decided to consult Shah Rukh Khan (after the formidable success of Chennai Express) for their electoral campaign strategies. He advised them that these days “More people watch entertainment channels than news channels.” So it will be advantageous if someone goes to Comedy Nights with Kapil and does the party’s promotion. After much pondering and a heated discussion, the young blood and their star campaigner Rahul Gandhi was chosen who managed to fetch extra marks for his “escape velocity” speech and outscored Digvijay Singh in this campaign race.

Well the episode has been shot and will be aired next week. The details of the show have been kept secret to avoid any interference from opposition. But we have managed to know that hearing about Rahul’s arrival Navjot Singh Siddhu (member of BJP)  left the show and convinced Sunil Grover aka “Guthi” to walk out of the show. Shocked by this news, Congress turned to Digvijay Singh (their “dark knight”) who was happy to play the character of “Guthi” in the show.

We messaged Kapil to know his experience of shooting with the shooting stars of Congress but he refused to comment. So we have to wait and tune in to C.N.W.K. t watch out our (not so) favorite Pappu, performing for us!

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QWERTY

The bane called texting

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Mobile phones came and brought easy communication. Prices were high and it wasn’t everyday technology. Then came the phenomenon of texting alongside ‘message packs’ and life became much more easier. There was still an end to those 1000 messages in the monthly pack. But with the idea of cellular internet based options, came WhatsApp, WeChat, Nimbuzz, Hangouts, Hike, Facebook Messenger… and a gazillion other services. Result- all hell broke loose.

While one friend used WhatsApp, the other was on BBM, and the third on WeChat and the fourth wanted to Hangout. Well, one device had 5 applications just for texting. Weren’t the days of old fashioned SMS better? Allegedly, each app has something ‘new’ to offer. While one shows whether the person has ‘received’ a message, the other shows whether he has ‘seen’ it. The “last seen” feature on WhatsApp has been the breaking stone of several relationships. On the other hand, the ability to send light compressed photos has been a blessing for shopaholics who spread one object of desire like fire amidst friends.

WeChat, a young ‘solution’ to texting helps you discover WeChat users in your vicinity. I do not want random neighbours sending me fraaandshiping messages. As if the self-promotional WhatsApp broadcasts weren’t enough. Several Blackberry users stayed faithful to the brand simply because of BBM, a texting app elitist in nature because to use it you required a BB pin. But the world of fancy interfaces packed in cheap devices pushed Blackberry to make BBM a cross platform app. And now they say WhatsApp might be threatened because of the community like setting of BBM. Well, it sure is fighting competition with things such as the newly launched voice notes.

But isn’t having 5-6 apps simply for texting stretching it a bit too far? QWERTY often wishes the phone would lay silent for some time. Damn you mobile technology.

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St. Stephen's

Seats in St. Stephen’s Residence reduced

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Getting admission in Delhi University is but half a battle won. The subsequent problem looming large is that of lodging. That there is shortage of hostel seats and that the prices of Paying Guest accommodations and private hostels can burn a huge hole in one’s pocket is hardly a hidden fact. In fact, lodging seems to be a perpetual crisis for outstation students especially if one has not been lucky enough to get that precious hostel seat.

In such dire circumstances when the colleges should be accommodating as many students as possible in their hostels, St. Stephen’s College seems to be doing the exact opposite. The college has apparently allocated single rooms to students of second and third years, rooms which are actually supposed to accommodate two students. While the college had this policy for third year students, this year it has also been extended to second years. Quite paradoxically, this has led to a further decrease in the number of students who can avail the residential facilities on the college campus.

We, at DU Beat, spoke to a number of students from the college but apparently none of them consented to be quoted. On the condition of anonymity, a student said, “Living in the Residence is so convenient as opposed to putting up privately in areas around North Campus. My parents can’t afford to shell out too much money and therefore, I am living in a really bad place as I have no alternative. The college has given single rooms to second years also which goes against the demands of the day where the prime focus should be building the additional infrastructure and exploiting the full potential of the existing one.”

Another student on the same condition said, “The hostel issue is the need of the hour in Delhi University. We students are suffering a lot because of this. And then something like this comes up where instead of increasing the number of seats in the Residence, you are actually reducing them. Moreover, with the introduction of the Four-Year Undergraduate Programme, there will be more number of students after three years, and then the condition will be extremely chaotic.”

Vatsal Verma
[email protected]

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Humouroscope

Humouroscope: 4th – 10th August, 2013

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Aries: You will not go through that morning lethargy and inertia ever again now that you will discover the reason behind the same, was your wrong deodorant soap that has a foul and offensive smell.

Taurus: Feel free to keep your mouth shut when you are with friends this week as they won’t take you seriously if you show off your ravishing and stunning intellect.

Gemini: Stick tight and wait because you are likely to meet the man/woman of your dreams who you will find selling Bhelpuri/Sevpuri near your college.

Cancer: Expectantly, you will be able to grab attention in any possible way you can; in the metro, in your college and in the movie theatre too. Bingo!!

Leo: Wearing those same lucky lemon-colored shades will be even luckier, when its cloudy outside and you don’t want yourself to be stuck in the rain.

Virgo: Your favorite attribute in a person, you will find is their ability to tell you how fantastic you are. Plus, the sensation in the gulf of your stomach is going to explode at noon, or sometime afterwards in the week.

Libra: fashion aesthetic to the tail, they are certainly going to make people turn around for just a single glance. Likely to swamp most of their pocket money buying age defying products and jaw dropping attire.

Scorpio: Finally, it’s the time for scorpion freshers to get an insight into what actually they will be doing in their FYUP. Luck seems generous enough.

Sagittarius: Sleep deprivation can affect you negatively today, so ensure you murder all the dogs in your area for a guaranteed good night’s sleep. There’s no harm in taking the day off.

Capricorn: ‘Yes’ will be your lucky word for the whole week. Don’t hesitate using your lucky word even when your date asks you whether you are two timing.

Aquarius: If you think it’s my job to tell you good news, you’re wrong pal. You’re going down. So better rush to the nearest temple and get your prayers done as soon as possible.

Pisces: You will discover that you can wiggle your ears pretty easily, and will actually become quite good at it after a little practice. Seeing your wonderful talent people will actually invite you to their parties.

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Admissions 2013

Seniors speak: College orientations

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Freshers timidly walk into colleges on their orientation days not knowing what to expect. They’re afraid or seniors and do not know anybody. So here is what your seniors from several colleges, experienced during their orientations:

Kirorimal College
“It was in room 18. After our teachers introduced us to the staff officially, had done explaining to us the course structure and had handed out the routine that our seniors came. What we feared to be ragging turned out to be something fun in the end. After the introduction, we were asked to sing. Some were made to dance. Someone rapped something. The highlight was the dance to “Oh La La” where the roles got reversed and the guy played Vidya Balan and the girl Naseeruddin Shah and the spoken essay on “tatti” in shudh Hindi. Though a few of the freshers did look uncomfortable, most took it lightly as it was meant to be like. At the end of the day, our seniors became our friends.” – Pallab Deb

KMC

Gargi College
“First day at college seems like a big fat tangle of emotions. As I entered the quad, I had no idea how the experience would be, but the college orientation gave me a feeling that this is place where I can spend 3 years of my life and emerge as an all rounder. The day was jam-packed with performances by cultural societies like Enliven, Kshitij, etc. Orientation acquaints students with the various facilities available at the campus and the college societies. The college orientation was followed by departmental orientations where students were acquainted with their courses and respective teachers. In other words, one could call it as a halftone of the coming years.” – Shaily Sharma

Shri Ram College of Commerce
“My college orientation isn’t exactly something I recall frequently, but once I do it all comes back to me like a movie. Just a year back on this day I explored my college for the first time and came to know facts which both surprised and scared me. I remember sitting in our not-so-huge auditorium listening intently to everything the teachers had to say, my hands shaky and mind anxious. The fact that I was sitting in that grossly overcrowded hall among thousands of outstanding young students each one better than the other was weirdly reassuring. I knew that my dream has come true when the principal on the podium said that three years from now you’ll be proud of the person you’ve become.” – Aishwarya Chaurasia

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Indraprastha College for Women
“We were asked to assemble in the studio, that’s where the college tour started. Then we were addressed by our principle as to what to expect from this course and college and who are faculty members would be. Later the seniors took over. Each person has to sit on a chair under the spotlight. We had to give our introductions along with the craziest thing that we have done in our life. It was a fun exercise and we all enjoyed a lot.” – Pinakita Gupta

Lady Shri Ram College for Women
As I entered Lady Shri Ram College for the first time, it was the sheer grandeur around it that amazed me. From the lush green lawns to the mighty red building, everything about LSR is inspiring on your orientation day. Walking in to the auditorium was like entering another universe. To be introduced to all major societies, see them perform, listen to teachers and students speak about how the red bricks and the magic they guard accommodate changed their lives is overwhelming. But it’s nothing close to the  how one feels when Dr Gopinath takes over the podium. She’s articulate, inspiring and instils all new students with a sense of confidence. The final tree planting tradition is great way to end an orientation at LSR and makes everyone feel like they’re going to be leaving their mark on the institution forever. – Bani Bains

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There is nothing to be intimidated by, not even the seniors. So enter your respective colleges with your heads held high and expect nothing but great times! All the best freshers, welcome aboard!

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Flicks

The Great Gatsby – Movie Review

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“The Great Gatsby” follows Fitzgerald’s classical work portraying Nick Carraway (Tobey Maguire) as the narrator who leaves the Midwest and comes to New York City in the spring of 1922, an era of loosening morals, glittering jazz, drinking-games and sky-rocketing stocks. Chasing his dream to make it big after Yale, Nick lands next door to a mysterious, large-hearted, party-giving millionaire, Jay Gatsby portrayed by Leonardo DiCaprio, and drives across the bay for dinner at the home of his cousin, Daisy (Carey Mulligan), and her good for nothing, blue-blooded husband, Tom Buchanan (Joel Edgerton). It is thus that Nick is drawn into the captivating world of the super rich, their illusions, love and deceit with lead characters being his own cousin, her husband and his dear friend, Gatsby. As Nick bears witness, within and without of the world he inhabits, he pens a tale of impossible love, incorruptible dreams, treachery, power of the rich and holds a mirror to our own modern times and struggles.

The movie takes you through a bumpy ride of overdone glittering parties and grandiose displays of wealth with Jay-Z music and Lana Del Ray backgrounds. You know the 2013 Great Gatsby hasn’t done justice to the 1925 Great Gatsby, when there is an overuse of the dialogue “Old Sport” and Daisy’s unreal helplessness crosses all bounds. The hopelessly optimistic Gatsby after a while begins to disappoint the modern trended generation and leads to a predictive ending.

For what it is worth, I would rate the movie a 3.5 out 5 for Tobey Maguire pulls the movie to its ending. His narration of witty life-lessons makes you walk out with a thought. The Great Gatsby definitely teaches one how to party, but fails to be a testament to the determination of the human spirit, and the reality of the American Dream.

Sahiba Chawdhary
[email protected] 

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