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November 3, 2005
Eight Days a Week
FILM:
The Island is set in the year 2019. Lincoln Echo Six (Ewan McGregor) and Jordan Two Delta (Scarlett Johansson) are residents of an antiseptic, enclosed colony because the Earth's atmosphere has become inhospitable and its air unbreathable. The only place left on the entire planet which is capable of sustaining life is an idyllic island in which some of the lucky citizens of the colony get to go when they win a lottery. Taking care of the residents in the meantime is a doctor (Sean Bean) and his trained staff. It's a sterile and monotonous but safe existence. However, when Lincoln Echo Six starts to have strange dreams/nightmares and begins to question the monotony and sterility, the administrators of the colony start watching him a bit more closely. They also don't like his growing friendship with Jordan Two Delta although the relationship is entirely sexless. There's something strange going on in the colony and when Lincoln Echo Six starts getting an idea what it is (I'm not going to give anything away here but it shouldn't be too hard to guess what's at the bottom of the mystery) he plans an escape.
Director Michael Bay (Armageddon, Bad Boys II, Pearl Harbor) has an interesting premise here which is very relevant to what's going on in the world right now. But he's not actually interested in asking the really tough questions or exploring the ideas he raises. He basically wants to blow stuff up - which is what he does in most of his movies. So the second half of The Island is drastically different from the first, and the movie goes from being a creepy, cautionary science-fiction tale to becoming a fast-moving, special effects laden action-adventure. Unfortunately, neither half of the movie is particularly compelling. There are some interesting bits but there's nothing that we haven't really seen before (though thankfully Bay's highway chase this time around is much better choreographed and exciting than the one he directed in Bad Boys II). The ending, in particular, leaves many things unexplained and is heavy-handed in the extreme. Still, McGregor and (particularly) Johansson are an attractive lead pair (and there are some good in-jokes in the movie about their looks). But that's not enough to really recommend the movie. The cast also includes Steve Buscemi, Michael Clarke Duncan, and Djimon Hounsou.—Khusro Mumtaz
CLASSIC MOVIE:
“In space, no one can hear you scream.” That’s the tag-line for Alien (1979), one of the best science-fiction/horror movies to be ever made. It had a huge influence in terms of both style and substance on both genres and its success spawned three sequels – four if you count the recent Alien Vs. Predator (2004) – and a number of lesser imitations. Set in the far future, the spaceship Nostromo lands on an unknown planet and comes across an alien pod field. But then one of the pods bursts and a strange squid-like creature emerges and the horror begins.
If you’ve never seen any of the Alien movies before, I won’t give any more away. Just let me say that the surprises and plot twists never stop coming and the suspense and terror is palpable. Director Ridley Scott creates an overwhelming sense of claustrophobia as the crew of the Nostromo, led by Captain Dallas (Tom Skerritt) battle for their lives in the confines of their spaceship. The special effects are absolutely fantastic – Swiss artist H.R. Giger did the alien designs and Carlo Rambaldi was in-charge of the visual effects; their efforts winning them an Oscar -- and look not a bit dated even today.
Scott and writer Dan O’Bannon also subtly comment on the nature of huge corporations and the rapacious nature of unfettered capitalism and also upended many genre expectations, with Ripley (Sigourney Weaver), a Nostromo crew member, becoming one of the first female action heroes and an icon for young girls. Weaver went on to become a major star but the rest of the top-notch cast also includes John Hurt, Yaphet Kotto, Veronica Cartwright, Ian Holm and Harry Dean Stanton. Available on DVD.—K.M.
ALBUM:
The Sugababes are back and sweeter than ever! Long after the Spice Girls lost their mirch and All Saints all but disappeared, the much younger and arguably much more talented Sugababes are still around and four albums strong. They survived flop songs, being dropped by their record label and very public internal catfights. They even managed to lose and quite quickly replace a band member without their own Mark Burnett (Rock Star: INXS) reality show. All the while, their music kept getting better and better.
The 'Babes latest CD Taller in More Ways is choc-a-bloc full of phat tracks including the romantic Too Lost in You (only on some Pakistani versions) and the sexy, feisty recent release Push The Button. Too Lost in You is a foolproof track that first made an appearance on the original motion picture soundtrack of the British love story Love Actually and was written by songwriting guru Diane Warren.
Push the Button, which is currently ruling record charts, is a genius track and instant classic. The Abba-esque number has a slow, seductive build-up that grows into a full-blown addiction as soon as trio member Keisha Buchanan enters with the sultry bridge.
Another gem is the groovy Bruised, penned by the Great Cathy Dennis, who also wrote Kylie Minogue's Can't Get You Out of My Heart and Britney Spears' Toxic. Also check out the anthemic It Ain't Easy and the strings-laden ballad 2 Hearts.
Where the girls falter is on the colourless Red Dress, the overambitious Ace Reject and their very poor cover of the Animotion 1985 favourite Obsession.
Despite the few misses buried on the CD, the Sugababes are still the sweetest pop candy around.—T.U. Dawood
VIDEO:
Karam Abbas is a renowned classical singer. He hails from a famous gharana of musicians. Despite the fact that one hardly associates the pop genre with someone like Karam Abbas, it was refreshing, to say the least, to witness him perform all those pop antics in a video. Yes, he has taken a shine to the more popular kind of music and that shouldn't make anyone raise their eyebrows.
Karam has formed a band called Garaj. The group has recently released a single and its video entitled Main Tenu. Director Faraz Farooqui has shot the video in a way that doesn't leave much room for criticism, because aren’t many flashy happenings in the video. No sci-fi or CGI images have been used. There are no shots taken against a green or blue chrome background and no lavish outdoor recordings. The director has just kept it simple.
The three-piece band, Karam Abbas being the lead singer, is performing in a garage-like place, while a young couple is seen entangled in a relationship which appears to get resolved as the song reaches its denouement.
The song is a Punjabi semi-bhangra number. Lyrics are tilting though the composition is rather formulaic. However, it might appeal to many music aficionados.
Having said that, the only signal of caution one likes to send to Garaj is, don't try and tread the territory that belongs to Fuzon. You'll only harm yourself.—PS
TV:
Rock Aid is a concert organized to aid the displaced children affected by the earthquake on October 8. HUM TV is running an extensive campaign for the concert, asking viewers to call in on a 0900 number. Revenues generated will be donated for the rehabilitation of the children. The concert features performances from Aaroh, Mizmaar, Karavan and Mizraab among others. On the first day of Eid on HUM TV at 10pm.—S.R
FUNDRAISER:
Sampurna is organizing a fundraiser, An evening of ghazal, thumri and sarangi” to support earthquake relief work by The Citizens Foundation (TCF). The programme features Pakistan’s ace singer, Mehnaz, along with Dr Shams Junejo and Dr Taimur Khan, and will be held on Saturday, November 12, at The Alliance Francaise, Karachi. For information, call 585 0031/0301-222 6050.
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