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August 03, 2006
Eight Days a Week
FILM
Superman Returns begins with Superman (Brandon Routh) returning to Earth after an absence of five years. Given that he never even told his girlfriend Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) that he was taking off on a long, dangerous quest it’s no wonder that she’s kind of mad at him even going so far as to write a column called “Does the world really need a Superman?” while her super beau was off-planet. So when Superman shows up again he finds that Lois has moved on ––– right into the arms of another man, Richard White (James Marsden). To make things worse for our hero Lex Luthor (Kevin Spacey) is on the loose again and he has yet another dastardly plan in the works.
Considering that the movie is directed by Bryan Singer (X-Men, X2), no stranger to comic-book superheroes, Superman Returns turns out to be a surprisingly torpid affair. The lead character spends too much time brooding and the movie just has no sense of joy and fun about it. His reasons for not saying goodbye to Lois (“it would hurt too much”) are idiotic (to put it mildly) and really unkind and thoughtless. Certainly not the deeds and words of a hero.
To top it off the movie needed a lot more action. There are a couple of spectacular scenes such as the airplane rescue but the film really needed many more of them. Luthor’s scheme just doesn’t make any sense either. I could probably come up with a much more coherent plot in 15 minutes which also covered the main beats of Singer’s film and which also included more action and a different villain than the same old tired routine of Luthor showing up, kryptonite in hand. How about something like an intergalactic war that necessitated Superman’s sudden leave of absence and which ultimately brings a gang of hi-tech alien marauders to Earth? Sounds much more exciting to me.
It’s not that Singer and company are hacks who do not care for Superman and his history. In fact, they may care too much. Superman Returns takes it cues from the original Superman I and II (starring Christopher Reeve and directed by Richard Donner) and considers itself a sequel to them (rightly ignoring the atrocious Superman III and IV). That’s fine as far as that goes because those two movies still stand the test of time ––– more or less. But Singer’s reverence for the Donner films also restricts his own movie and prevents it from really becoming its own thing. Too many scenes pay homage to scenes from I and II and while Routh does look the part and does a serviceable job (though he doesn’t have that much to say in the movie) he’s really playing Christopher Reeve playing Superman/Clark Kent. However, Singer’s decision to use the John Williams thrilling score from the Reeves series is the right one ––– Williams’ sweeping, evocative music is now so closely tied to the Superman mythos that no other background music would have really worked.
Singer has stated that he wanted to up the emotional ante with the first movie while going all Wrath Of Khan on the second (in a reference to the second movie in the Star Trek franchise) which he promises will have all sorts of action and adventure. Let’s hope he actually gets a chance to make the sequel.— Khusro Mumtaz
OR
The Devil Wears Prada, adapted from Lauren Weisberger’s novel of the same name, is basically Wall Street redux but transported to the world of high fashion journalism from the world of finance. It’s a familiar theme. Small town yokel (Anne Hathaway) comes to the big town and gets taken under the wing of an unscrupulous boss (Meryl Streep). As our heroine gets sucked deeper into her seductive new world will she end up losing her soul along with her boyfriend (Adrian Grenier) and friends? No prizes for guessing the obvious answer.
The movie’s predictability aside the movie does have certain small charms. Hathaway is a likeable presence onscreen. Streep has fun with her character (based on Anna Wintour, the infamous editor of Vogue) and manages to make her slightly more than one-dimensional. Streep also gets to deliver a neat little speech on the sweater which is a small lesson in the pervading presence of fashion (and its economics) in our lives. Stanley Tucci is as watchable as ever in his role as Streep’s assistant and does not stoop to turning his character into a catty queen. There’s also the occasional funny or intelligent throw-away line. However, the bottom line is that there’s nothing really new here.—K.M.
SINGLE
Every once in a while there comes a song that blurs the musical genre lines and gets the industry talking. Crazy by Gnarls Barkely is an uplifting, anthemic track that simply does not tire upon repeat listen. The spot-on beat, the perfect pitch vocals and the souped-down soulful bridge, all make this single a must-have.
The brainchild of two renowned producers – Danger Mouse and Cee-Lo Green – Crazy and the album St. Elsewhere on which it is featured was recorded over a period of three years and as a result of email and postal correspondence.
A combination of gospel, soul, hip-hop and even mainstream pop, Crazy is fueled by an emotional chorus and soaring strings in the background. Green’s voice is haunting on the track and particularly so when he sings, And I hope that you are having the time of your life/well think twice,/that's my only advice.
The song is accompanied by a video that is a pure visual treat. Seemingly a series of Rorschach-like images, a random series of shapes and figures morph onto the screen as if from magical ink.
A runaway smash, Crazy has made history by becoming the United Kingdom’s first number one song based on download sales alone. Its popularity spread globally through downloads taking place as early as six months prior to the single’s official release date.—T. U. Dawood
ALBUM
Producers The Neptunes have been responsible for many of the top hits this past decade. Whether it was the Nelly smash Hot in Heere, Britney Spears sexy number I’m a Slave 4 U, the Justin Timberlake favourite Cry Me A River or Kelis’ tempting Milkshake, this prolific pair has the Midas touch when it comes to record making.
This dynamic duo consists of Pharrell Williams and Chad Hugo, who first met when they were 12 years old. Although they specialise in production for other artists, they released a Neptunes credited album in 2003 titled The Neptunes Present... Clones, which featured songs and remixes by artists on their Star Trak label.
Williams slowly became more and more in the spotlight, highlighted by his work earlier this year with Mariah Carey and Snoop Dogg on their single Say Somethin’, in which he was featured heavily in the video.
Now, the production man has just released his debut solo album titled In My Mind. While this mix-master doesn’t necessary have the best voice or rap technique in the industry, he has very savvy creative chops and as such, the disc is full of highlights. The title track Can I Have It Like That features Gwen Stefani and shows off Willaim’s magic touch. The hip-hop grinding pulse is perfect for the clubs and makes the track an ideal first single. The next slated release is the R&B Angel which featues the artist’s falsetto over a phat piano loop.
The rest of the album is split between hip-hop and R&B songs and features guest appearances by Snoop Dogg (That Girl), Jay-Z (Young Girl/I Really Like You) and Kanye West (Number One).—T. U. D
MUSHAIRA
Babul-Ilm student’s society is holding a third annual international mushaira “Jashn-e-moulud-e-ka’aba” on August 8 at Masjid Darbar-e-Hussaini, Malir Town, Karachi. Moulana Kalb-e-Jawwad Naqvi from India will preside over the mushaira.
FUN FAIR
Slimmers’ Club is organising a two-day spring gala” on August 5-6 at PAF Museum. The theme of the gala is “healthy lifestyle for everyone”.
DANCE CLASSES
Nahid Siddiqui is hosting kathak dance classes at Lahore Chitrkar from August 1 to September 1. Courtesy: www.danka.com.pk
SEMINAR
Pakistan Institute of Corporate Governance (PICG) in collaboration with The Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) is organising a seminar on “Effectiveness of the Audit Committees” on August 5, at ICAP Building, Clifton, Karachi.
MOVIE SCREENING
Mein liebster Feind (My Best Friend) will be screened at the Goethe-Institut, Karachi, today (August 3) at 6pm. This film is the encounter of two possessed. The uncompromising film-maker Werner Herzog meeting the hysteric actor Klaus Kinski.
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