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May 08, 2008
What’s On
Khusro’s pics
Hitman, based on the Eidos video-game, is better than a lot of video-game derived movies but that is not necessarily saying much. The Hitman in question is the product of a programme which picks up orphans, turns them into genetically-enhanced elite assassins that are then hired out to various governments around the world to carry out political assassinations. All the hitmen have shaved heads with barcodes imprinted on their skulls (not quite an inconspicuous disguise for a professional assassin, is it now?), are dressed immaculately in black suits, and have no emotions apart from pride in their work.
But when hitman Agent 47’s latest mission -–– to assassinate the president of Russia –– doesn’t go quite right, he finds himself the target not only of Interpol and the Russian intelligence but also having to take on his shadowy company. Complicating matters further is the presence of a mistress of the Russain president who stirs feelings in Agent 47 that he thought he wasn’t capable of.
The action scenes are done reasonably well (there’s an exciting sword fight in a train, for example), the plot is functional if familiar, and Olga Kurylenko is pleasing eye-candy (and isn’t hesitant in showing off all her talents) but Timothy Olyphant (he played the bad guy in Die Hard 4.0) as Agent 47 just doesn’t have the presence and heft to pull of the silent, brooding, bad-ass bit. See it only if in the mood for some mindless action.
or
My editor asked to me review a movie which would have some resonance for Mother’s Day (this coming Sunday, if you didn’t know already). And I thought that Stardust might fit the bill. Based on Neil Gaiman’s graphic novel (illustrated by the very talented Charles Vess), it’s a charming little fable about a young man, Tristan (Charlie Cox) who sets off on a quest to win the heart of his lady love Victoria (Sienna Miller) by bringing her back a fallen star.But, Tristan, who is the result of a romantic tryst between a normal human and a princess from an enchanted land, also wants to find his long-lost mother who tells him in a message that the fastest way to travel is by candle-light and by thinking of her. Tristan, however, lands smack dab on top of the fallen star – who has taken on the form of a young girl, Yvaine (Claire Danes).
And so begins the journey to make their way back to Tristan’s village of The Wall in time for Tristan to win Victoria. It’s a journey that will have them meet scheming princes all vying to become the king of the enchanted realm, Stormhold, as well as unicorns, cruel witches (the lead witch played by Michelle Pfeiffer having a grand, cackling old time), flying airships manned by Captain Shakespeare (who hides a little secret and is played by Robert DeNiro, who seems to be thoroughly enjoying himself) and his crew, and greedy traders (Ricky Gervaise, always funny) to boot. The journey, in the grand tradition of timeless fables, will also have Tristan finding true love, being re-united with his mother, and discovering his rightful destiny.
Directed by Matthew Vaughn (Layer Cake), Stardust mixes the right amount of charm and whimsy but like the best fairy-tales also has elements of danger and its share of dastardly deeds (including murder). Some of the more adult humour doesn’t quite mix as well but the overall product is still a lot of fun. And it carries all the right messages too – of the importance of love, of family and of being true to oneself. The movie also stars Peter O’Toole, Rupert Everett, Mark Strong and Jason Flemying.— Khusro Mumtaz
kmumtaz1@hotmail.com
single
Sometimes Usher is simply brilliant. Yeah inspired an entire generation to party and U Remind Me brought tears to many eyes. His latest single Love in This Club featuring Young Jeezy is proving to be quite a hit for the talented superstar but is sadly overrated.
In fact, it may just make you fall asleep.
This single neither succeeds as a call to action to find love in a club nor as a successful club track. The background harmonies lack energy or appeal. Usher’s vocals too, seem languid and lifeless.
Even the rap addition by Young Jeezy is weak and ineffective. In fact, it actually detracts from the few better parts of the song.
The lyrics too, are clichéd and not particularly memorable. The artist sings, Lookin’ in your eyes while you walk the other side/And I think that shorty I’ve got a thing for you/Doin’ it on purpose winding and workin’ it/I can tell by the way you lookin’ at me girl. Usher’s voice is as appealing as ever but he could have done a much better job with this number.—T. U. Dawood
Flash back
MacGyver revisited
He is the guy you think of when you are in a fix, when you don’t know how to get out of an impossibe situation and whenever you see a Swiss knife, a duct tape and a paper clip together. He is the one and only MacGyver, the highly intelligent action hero who preferred non-violent conflict resolutions and dominated many hearts during his seven-year stint on TV.Created by Lee David Zlotoff, MacGyver was praised for generating interest in engineering as well as providing entertaining story lines. The title role played by Richard Dean Anderson, a scientist-cum-secret agent loaded with ideas, made the serial fun to watch, since he could do wonders with his resourceful attitude; even more so when the chips were down.
The clever solutions he came up with to seemingly uncontrollable problems were the pivitol attraction of the show, when it was aired in the mid ’80s. He didn’t have gadgets to help him succeed in his escapades but was armed with a quick wit, encyclopaedic knowledge of science and a composed and calculating nature.
Loosely inspired from another ’80s hit, The A-team, where everyday items from rubber bands to car tires were used in the team’s escapades; MacGyver used his head more often than a firearm, avoiding violence at all costs. He didn’t use weapons, was afraid of heights but since he had a degree in physics, he was an expert at making complicated machines out of ordinary things.
Be it a security-locked room, an ant attack or a junkyard, MacGyver always succeeded in escaping, using every day items such as a hairpin or thumb pin for an electric conductor, and a chewing gum for sticking his home-made explosives in the desired places.
Unconquered as a favourite TV series for two decades, the show became such a large part of popular culture that whenever someone tried to find a simple-yet-elegant solution to something, using existing resources, the person was referred to as ‘doing a MacGyver’.
MacGyver helped its lead actor reach stardom and made his Swiss Army knife a symbol for ingenuity. Although all of MacGyver's exploits were based on real scientific principles, they worked because firstly, it was a fifty-minute episode and secondly, lady luck was always on his side.
‘Mac’ enjoyed a cordial relationship with his friend Pete Thornton (Dana Elcar), who was also his boss and Director of Field Operations, at the Phoenix Foundation and responsible for sending MacGyver on missions of national importance around the world. If you missed the show the first time round, you can watch it now on DVD - you will still love it! —Seema Faruqi
Where is Pete Thornton now?
Dana Elcar, who played Pete Thornton, had a glittering film and TV career before his death in 2005 due to complications from pneumonia. He began to develop glaucoma by MacGyver’s penultimate season and the condition was incorporated into the show with ‘Pete’ developing the disease. He also had memorable roles in The Sting and The Nude Bomb, but MacGyver made him a household name, worldwide.—S.F.
Where is MacGyver now?
Richard Dean Anderson who played the role of MacGyver went on to star as Jack O'Neill in another successful TV series ‘Stargate SG-1’. Anderson was made an honorary Brigadier General in 2004 for his role in the series which portrayed the Air Force in a positive light.—S.F.
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