|
|
|
January 30, 2003
EIGHT DAYS A WEEK
VIDEO
For a pretty scary and disturbing viewing experience, watch The Ring (based on a 1998 Japanese movie). The premise is that there’s a video-tape floating around the Pacific Northwest of the US of A and anyone who watches it dies within 7 days. Is it just an urban legend or is there truth to the myth? Naomi Watts (who was so great in Mull Holland Drive) plays Rachel Keller, a journalist investigating the death of her niece and when she sees the video too she runs a race against time to solve the mystery before her seven days are over. The bizarre imagery that permeates the movie coupled with a sustained sense of dread will keep you glued to the screen and will have you thinking about the movie for days afterwards. There are questions sort of left hanging at the end but The Ring is still as scary a horror movie as I’ve seen in quite some time. —Khusro Mumtaz
OR
Jisim is not the typical Mollywood masala mix. Instead, it belongs to that burgeoning genre — Hollywood-Mollywood-Xerox. Jisim is a photostat of Body Heat, the Lawrence Kasdan directed and Kathleen Turner/William Hurt starring noir thriller made about 20 years ago. However, Jisim has to make do with a much weaker variation on that most memorable scene from the original — where Hurt takes a chair and breaks a bay window to get at Turner who’s driven him over the edge with desire. That’s because Mollywood had just recently lifted that very scene for that other HMX entry, Kasoor (which apart from this scene was directly lifted from The Jagged Edge). The originality factor aside, Jisim is a decently made movie and it won’t hurt you to spend a couple of hours with it. Bipasha Basu does a decent job even though she’s no Kathleen Turner and her real-life beau John Abraham makes a fairly creditable debut as well, certainly showing him to be a much better actor than that other model-turned-actor Arjun Rampal. — KM
WEBSITE
If as a parent you are on a lookout for material that can help your child reach his or her full potential, then log onto
www.familyeducation.com. The site and its content areas serve the learning needs of all those parents who are involved, committed and responsive to their children’s needs. The excellent online tools and other media resources present on this web-based resource will help you to learn strategies to positively affect your children’s education and overall development. It will also provide you with practical guidance on how to get involved with your children’s learning. The site also discusses the role of toys and TV in the development of literacy skills. You will also find grade-specific information about your children’s school experience, free email newsletters, and fun and entertaining family activities. Other than helping you in finding out if your child is on track with his/her reading readiness skills, this site also offers you an opportunity to find out if your four-year-old has the skills he/she’ll need to learn to read. All you need to carry out this screening test is 15 minutes, a quiet room and your child. —Bushra Ahmed-Khurram
ALBUM
Purists were ready to pounce on the soundtrack from the new musical film Chicago, particularly after the excellent ‘96 Broadway revival cast album set such high standards. However, Hollywood acquits itself with a strong rendition of Kander and Ebb’s score. Surprisingly faithful, and unexpectedly well-done, this Chicago has arrangements that are bursting with life while being true to the show’s spirit, and the casting is simply inspired.
Catherine Zeta-Jones is the strongest part of this soundtrack (and the movie), which shouldn’t be a surprise since she got her start doing The pajama game and 42nd Street in London’s West End. Her confident, sultry All that jazz and I can’t do it alone simply stand out. Queen Latifah was a brilliant choice for the role of Matron Mama Morton and her rendition of When you’re good to mama is outstanding. Richard Gere shines on Razzle dazzle, but falters slightly on All I care about. An unusual choice for lead Roxie Hart, Renee Zellweger acts well on screen, but her singing disappoints without the visuals, especially in contrast to Zeta-Jones’ genuine talent. Where the soundtrack is really weak, however, is the overly contrived hip-hop rendition of Cell block tango by Queen Latifah/Lil’ Kim/Macy Gray. Similarly, Anastacia’s Love is a crime was unnecessary added as a “song inspired by the film” in a poor effort to attract younger viewers. — T. U. Dawood
SINGLE
If you only listen to one single this week, make it I’m gonna getcha good by Shania Twain. The stunning Canadian artist is back with a funkier, stronger sound and image on her new album, Up!
This upbeat track is fun, flirty and typical Twain. An obvious choice for leading single, the song expresses a definite female confidence. In true Twain style, she not only knows how to get it, but she’s going to get it good. I’m gonna getcha good radiates the kind of energy that infects a crowd and brings life to a dance floor. Tongue-in-cheek and very playful, the track is effortlessly catchy. The kickin’ chorus sticks in your head: I’m gonna getcha while I got you in sight/I’m gonna getcha if it takes all night. You’re hooked before the Queen of Pop Country even gets to the second verse. The video for the single, however, could definitely have been better. Cowboy boots suit the singer much more than gothic make-up, black leather and a speed skater helmet. —T. U. D
OR
After a less than successful attempt to produce “original songs,” lead single Neeraj Sreedhar and the rest of the five member Swedish band Bombay Vikings are back with what they do best: Hinglish remixes.
Along the lines of the mega club favourites like Kya surat hai, Mona re and Woh chali, their title single Hawa Mein Udati Jaaye, off their new album is sure to be a hit. Hip-hop, fun, and yes, raunchy, this track is a modern take on the memorable 1949 Lata-Shankar-Jaikishan classic. Sreedhar, who started out writing jingles, stamps that catchy style all over Hawa mein udati jaaye.
Still, this admirable new track doesn’t match the infectious vibrancy of 1993’s Kya surat hai. Sreedhar rasps explicit, lewd lyrics that are put in for sheer effect, but don’t have the simple charm of his accented ga-lax-ee in that earlier track.
Sreedhar’s talent for creating English-Hindi remixes of old Hindi film songs has sparked a spree of such music. Check out the club mix of this latest single with Truth Hurts’ Addictive. It’ll keep you glued to the dance floor. — T. U. DADU:
EXHIBITION
Iraqi artist Nuha Al-Radi is exhibiting a collection of recent paintings and sculpture at Chawkandi Art from February 4 to 11. The gallery is located at 105 Marine Point, Block 9, Clifton and can be contacted at 5373582.
|
|
|
|
