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December 15, 2005
Eight Days a Week
FILM
The first three Harry Potter movies have pretty much followed the same pattern as the books for me. I liked the first a lot, thought the second was terrific but felt that the third, while fun and darker (to the benefit of the series), was slightly disjointed. The pattern holds true with the movie adaptation of the fourth book, Harry Potter And The Goblet Of Fire. The book tied with the second as my favourite in the ongoing chronicles of the young magician and its movie version ranks only slightly below the second movie, Harry Potter And The Chamber Of Secrets.
This time around Harry (Daniel Radcliffe) and pals, Ron (Rupert Grint) and Hermione (Emma Watson), not only have to deal with Harry’s participation in the Tri-wizard competition (where champions from three different wizarding schools compete against each other in a series of dangerous trials) as well as the impending return of the evil Lord Voldemort (played with serpentine venom by Ralph Fiennes) but also with something perhaps even more dangerous: the onset of raging hormones. Romantic yearnings rear their head as Harry falls for Cho Chang (Katie Leung) and Ron starts acting grumpy when Hermione gets asked to the school ball by Viktor Krum (Stanislav Ianevski). This is teen magical adventures by way of the O.C. or any other high-school soap opera but no less fun for any of that.
But the series is growing up in other ways, too. It’s getting progressively darker and this time not everyone is lucky enough to walk away safe and sound. Director Mike Newell deftly captures the blacker elements of the story and there are also some top-notch special effects that provide genuine thrills and chills (especially for the younger ones) as Harry confronts various dangers in the course of the movie. The acting is fine, particularly from the trusted group of British veterans who make up the staff of Harry’s school, Hogwarts.
The two new additions to the series, Miranda Richardson (a particular favourite of mine) as tabloid journalist Rita Skeeter and Brendan Gleeson as Mad-Eye Moody, the latest Professor of Defence Against The Dark Arts, are quite wonderful and Michael Gambon is decidedly better this time around as Dumbledore though still hasn’t the made the role enough of his own to make us forget the late Richard Harris’s memorable turns as the Principal of Hogwarts in the first two movies in the franchise.— Khusro Mumtaz
CLASSIC MOVIE
Kaghaz Ke Phool (1959) is Guru Dutt’s flawed masterpiece. The director and his cinematographer V.K. Murthy composed each shot beautifully for India’s first wide-screen movie, shot in cinemascope, and made brilliant use of shadows and light. Two stunning and heartbreaking songs composed by S.D. Burman with haunting lyrics by Kaifi Azmi are an integral part of the movie and capture its themes superbly. “Waqt Ne Kiya Kiya Haseen Sitam” is sung by the director’s wife, Geeta Dutt and “Dekhi Zamanay Ki Yaari” beautifully rendered by Mohammad Rafi (who always sounded best under the great S.D.’s baton, in my opinion).
That said, the movie does suffer from pacing problems, a sometimes cumbersome plot, and unnecessary comedy scenes with Johnny Walker. The diverse acting styles on display also prove to be jarring: Guru Dutt and Waheeda Rehman, who respectively play a big-time director and his acting discovery, intelligently underplay their roles while other actors are overly dramatic. Ultimately, however, this chronicle of a great director’s fall and the fickleness of the film world still packs a powerful punch.
Kaghaz Ke Phool also provided the inspiration for Fuzon’s music video for “Khamaj” that was directed by Saqib Malik. Available on DVD.— K.M
SINGLE
Trio TLC is the all-time biggest selling girl band, having sold more than 33 million albums and giving the world such phenomenal hits as I Ain’t Too Proud to Beg …, What About Your Friends?, Baby,Baby, Baby, Waterfalls, Creep and No Scrubs. When bandmate Lisa “Left-Eye” Lopes died in a car accident in Honduras in April 2002, Rozonda “Chilli” Thomas and Tionne “T-Boz” Watkins seemed to have lost their musical fire and the posthumous release of 3D was unfortunately disappointing.
The original TLC formed in 1991 and now almost 15 years and multiple awards later, Chilli and Left-Eye sought a new member to complete their band. Inspired by Mark Burnett’s Rock Star: INXS, the girls produced R U the Girl as a televised competitive search for that special girl. In the series finale, 20-year-old choreographer O’So Krispie from Atlanta was chosen to join the
band and record TLC’s latest single I Bet.
The sassy new track is quintessential TLC. Discussing an ex-boyfriend for continuing to call at all hours behind his new girlfriend’s back, I Bet has all the independent, feminist attitude and catchy groove of some of their best hits. T-Boz takes the lead berating Boy don’t knock on my door/You know I don’t want you no more/I bet ya boyz don’t know/That you was acting like a fool/Thought you was cool without me/But you can’t do without me.
However, it was the rap segue written and rapped by O’So Krispie that ensured her win. She taunts No I bet ya thinkin of me/Yo gurl is Oso Crispie/Check it,My lifestyle is cool/Yea u thinkin of me/But I ain’t thinkin of u, shoot/Cuz I’m smooth like that/Check tees, pretty face/You’ll remember that/Oh, u chose her, u can’t have this back/So jus remember this picture in my Cadillac.
She elevated the single by adding that new found fame and fortune was one of the reasons the ex-boyfriend kept calling. Her cheeky rap provided the much needed element in the TLC magical triangle. Only time will tell if this new combination will have sufficient alchemy to prolong and build on the TLC legacy, but I Bet is an exciting start.— T. U. Dawood
ALBUM
Neil Diamond returns with what may be his best album in over 30 years. Like many legendary artists, his last few albums have been pedantic and sadly rather forgettable. His new CD 12 Songs, on the other hand, brings to light the best of the singer’s talents with original material. Pairing the icon with legendary producer Rick Rubin –– who is credited with resurrecting Johnny Cash’s career in the nineties –– this album is an intimate, sincere collection of songs that showcase Diamond’s vulnerability, heart and musical skills.
While Diamond attained his success through recording his trademark light love ballads, he proves he has wider talents with the deeper, more intense songs on this album. There is plenty of guitar and keyboards on 12 Songs and everything is written by the legend himself and mostly revolves around the theme of an older gentleman searching for true love.
O, Mary and Hell Yeah are full of acoustic riffs and have a timeless quality about them. I’m On To You speaks of confronting a cheater and What’s It Gonna Be revisits the topic but this time brings a country feel onto the CD.
For his long-time fans, however, Diamond does include two catchy, poppy love songs Delirious Love and We, both of which remind us of his mass appeal. In fact, Delirious Love was rearranged by Brian Wilson and sounds specifically like a Beach Boys track! The diversity on this album is really quite remarkable.
Rubin is considered to be something of a magician in the industry and 12 Songs is evidence that his skills are very much intact. 12 Songs is definitely a diamond of an album. —T. U. D
CONCERT
Sampurna presents, Classical Ensemble, an evening of western and eastern classical music featuring classical guitarist Abbas Premjee who will perform western classical music including works by Bach, Albeniz and Tarrega. Safia Beyg will sing khayal and thumri. The programme is on December 17 at Goethe Institute at 8:30pm. Proceeds from the show will be donated to The Citizens Foundation for earthquake relief work. For details call 5850031/ 0301-2226050.
TV
A TV magazine show known as ‘For Him’ has something for everybody. Shown on TVOne and hosted by designer Sheikh-Amer Hassan, it is directed by Shaqielle Khan. It features exciting segments and is a tribute to all the men who contribute to the country and its economy. On air every Thursday at 7:30pm on TVOne.— A.S.
LAUNCH
Launching of perfume ‘Paris Hilton’ is taking place on 18th December at Shapes Health Club at 6-8pm.
ELECTIONS
Arts Council elections are taking place on December 18. Three panels are participating i.e. Khushbakht panel with Azfar Rizvi and Yawar Mehdi as honorary secretary; Grami panel with Saifur Rehman Grami as vice president and Aneeq Ahmed as honorary secretary; third panel with Aslam Shaikh as vice president and Arif Shafiq as honorary secretary.— A.S.
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