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November 4, 2004
Eight days a week
FILM
In Cellular Kim Basinger plays an ordinary housewife who finds herself kidnapped for reasons unknown by mysterious strangers led by Jason Statham (The Transporter). Locked up in an attic she uses her ingenuity to get a smashed telephone set to work by flicking some wires together and manages to get through to the cell phone of slacker Chris Evans, whom she finally convinces of her predicament. From there it’s a wild ride as Basinger and Evans try to outsmart the kidnappers before they can close in on the rest of Basinger’s family. William H. Macy (The Cooler, Fargo) –- one of my favourite actors-– plays an ordinary cop approaching retirement who finds himself dealing the case under unusual circumstances.
While many of the action scenes –– particularly the bits revolving around Evans -— stretch the limits of suspension of disbelief to almost breaking point, I did like the fact that neither Basinger nor Evans nor Macy are presented as action superheroes a la Stallone or Schwarzenegger but rather as ordinary humans caught in exceptional situations who are forced to do heroic things. Cellular is no great shakes as a thriller but it’s made slickly enough to keep you watching while not taxing your brain to any great extent either. So it’s perfect Ramazan fodder especially for the last couple of hours you have to kill just before Iftar. —Khushro Mumtaz
OR
I tend to think that the animated Batman movies have generally put the live-action Batman movies to shame and, yes, I am including the Tim Burton-directed movies in the latter list though I did like Batman Returns quite a bit (Michelle Pfieffer as Catwoman in a tight leather suit and cracking a mean whip can be quite difficult to resist). Both Batman: Mask Of The Phantasm and Batman Beyond: Return Of The Joker were terrific movies that had more action, mystery, thrills and characterization than any of the four live big-screen Batman movies of the 80s and 90s. The animation was of the highest quality as well.
The same holds true for the latest entry in the animated Batman movie list, Batman: Mystery Of The Batwoman.. A mysterious new costumed crime-fighter hits Gotham City but who is this mysterious “Batwoman”? Batman is determined to find out especially since she seems to be willing to cross the line when it comes to killing. As if that wasn’t enough, Batman also has to deal with villains like Penguin and Bane. Mystery Of The Batwoman isn’t quite as good as its animated predecessors but it’s still quite enjoyable and any fan of the Dark Knight should check this animated movie out. It’s not just for kids. —K.M.
CLASSIC FILM
Roman Holiday (1953) introduced Audrey Hepburn to the world and what an introduction it was. Hepburn, at 24, looked every inch the princess she played in her very first movie and was the ultimate personification of delicate beauty and sophisticated elegance. Gregory Peck, with his charisma and dark good looks was the perfect foil as the older, jaded journalist who escorts the runaway princess around the historic city of Rome which in itself becomes a character in the movie. Director William Wyler’s movie is not only one of the classic romances of the screen but also a love letter to Rome.
Roman Holiday went on to be nominated for 10 Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Hepburn walked away with the Best Actress prize while the movie also won Oscars for Costume Design and Best Story. Interestingly, while the story was credited to Ian Hunter the main person behind it was the then blacklisted Dalton Trumbo and the truth came out years later. In Black & White. Available on DVD in Pakistan. —K.M.
SINGLE
It’s hard to believe R&B-Rock quintet Maroon 5 originally started out at defunct quartet Kara’s Flowers. It was only when the boys got exposure to the hip-hop movement and acts like Aaliyah and even great R&B legend Stevie Wonder, did their pure white boy classic rock ‘n roll sound start fusing into something new and unique and blissfully original. A rarely successful cross between Rock and Funk R&B, their debut album Songs About Jane was released in 2002 and is still going strong. Daring rhythms and traditional soul marry over powerhouse guitars and a true rock ‘n roll edge. Layered over this original palette is Levine’s memorable voice narrating the ups and downs of his love life.
The latest and third release of that disc, She Will Be Loved, is finally the first released track about lead singer Adam Levine’s ex-girlfriend, the infamous Jane. The first two singles of the album, the breakthrough guitar-based track Harder to Breathe and its follow-up This Love, were and are the only two songs on the disc not about Jane, but ironically ended up being released first.
She Will Be Loved is a romantic, soulful ballad that illuminates a softer side to the band. Some critics have gone so far as to call it Maroon 5’s Under The Bridge. Perhaps that is too ambitious a comparison, but certainly, this ballad is a touching song of break-up and forgiveness. Levine sings on the chorus: I don’t mind spending everyday/Out on your corner in the pouring rain/Look for the girl with the broken smile/Ask her if she wants to stay awhile/And she will be loved. With such soulful lyrics and an equally touching tune, it’s no surprise that Maroon 5 continues to be loved. —T. U. Dawood
ALBUM
Some of the best dance albums of all time, especially soundtrack albums, are from “dance” movies. Saturday Night Fever, Grease, Dirty Dancing, Flashdance and Footloose immediately spring to mind. However, if you hope the original motion picture soundtrack (OST) from the new Jennifer Lopez – Richard Gere film Shall We Dance? will join that acclaimed list, you will be greatly disappointed.
Aside from a fun soundtrack Let’s Dance by Mya (of Lady Marmalade fame), which is a remake of the David Bowie classic by the same name, this disc is mediocre at best. I Could Have Danced All Night is also a cover, but a far weaker one, and you would be much better off buying the OST of My Fair Lady, which featured the original single than obtaining this Shall We Dance? CD.
The Pussycat Dolls version of Sway has been making some headlines with its sexy groove and the band members’ even sexier looks and moves. The video makes full use of the band members’ feline power, but even that doesn’t make this cover any superior to the original version. Sadly lacking in originality and freshness, this track, like too much of the album, is far from the cat’s meow. —T. U. D
WEBSITE
A medical-related site that is also surfable for the healthy individual, www.earaces.com focuses on ear trouble, one of the most painful aches, a human can go through. This website is created by the Atlantic Coast Ear Specialists, consisting of otologists, audiologists (to find the difference between the two, check out the site) and even a psychologist, as the mind goes a long way in healing the body. In the different sections information aimed for the patient and answers to frequently asked questions are lucidly given. For example, in the audiology section, an easy explanation for the exact procedure of a hearing test is presented involving the tympanogram, an instrument that sounds scary but really isn’t. There are other sections for dizziness, otology and tinnitus, a common ear ailment. Furthermore, there is an interesting section on noise, stating exactly how much is harmful and how to protect oneself from it in daily life. —Sarah Haroon Khan
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