Paranormal Activity

 

English(A)

Cast: Katie Featherston, Micah Sloat

Director: Oren Peli

There are only a few horror flicks that will go down your spine and stay there for a long time and watching ‘Paranomal Activity’, which tells a couple’s date with an unknown force is a thrilling experience.

When Micah starts filming Katie in their house in San Diego they soon find out that there is some dormant force hovering around Katie while they are asleep. At first they seek the help of a psychic who tells them to seek the help of a demonist. But, Micah wants to do it his way. So, he records all the events in their bedroom,  only to anger the supernatural being.
Director Oren Peli’s minimalist film with a few characters emerges as a very strong thriller-horror movie. While most films in the genre employ gore and blood, ‘Paranormal Activity’ brings back the classic style in the likes of ‘The Blair Witch Project’, with sound and simple visual settings.

The filming is done with a hand-held video camera. This brings a sense of reality and it is not until the end that one stops looking for movements in the house. Everything in the setting, how simple they look, has their part to create a fearful atmosphere.

The day scenes are like any normal day. However, the night scenes get real spooky with wide angle shots showing possible playing fields for the force to move around in the couple’s bedroom, their doorway, and part of the hallway.

‘Paranormal Activity’ is as real as it can be. It is difficult to trace the dividing line between reality and fiction. This makes it a rare film which will give you both goosebumps and nightmares!

Review by Robert L Sungte (Decccan Herald)

2012

By Robert L Sungte Src: Deccan Herald

English (U/A)

Cast: John Cusack , Amanda Peet, Chiwetel Ejiofor Director: Roland Emmerich

The year 2012 is doomsyear. With the sun heating up the Earth’s core there are sudden and massive earthquakes and tsunamis around the world. In the meantime, we have few people building the ‘ark’ somewhere in the Tibetan Himalayas to save mankind. As usual, there is the dark side to this project – the berths have been bought by the world’s richest and the VVIPs.

Prior to the catastrophe, somewhere in the United States, we have scientist Adrian Helmsley (Ejiofor) fighting against corruption. But the center of focus soon shifts to Los Angeles-based writer Jackson Curtis (Cusack) who tries to rescue his ex-wife (Peet) and their two kids – to get them to Tibet.

‘2012’ as a disaster film is huge and there are plenty of awesome scenes with refined special effects. When we look at it from the technical angle, there has never been such a splendid disaster movie since ‘Independence Day’.

Leaving aside the preachy dialogue and tons of routine remarks, this film certainly catches the eye with its equally mega-star cast. On the dark side, ‘2012’ lacks the punch to knock up your emotion and intelligence leaving you with no clear idea over the entire concept of doomsday.

However, the film’s strength lies in its massive explosion scenes. They make doomsday look like a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity which one should never miss

Read more reviews from Deccan Herald

Cherly Cole shows the right way

Cherly Cole on the set of X-Factor	Girls Aloud	Walking the ramp

On Sept 21, 2009 Girls Aloud star and X-Factor judge Cheryl Cole insists she’ll never pose nude — because she’s far too classy!

She thinks naked photo shoots are tacky.

“There’s nothing tasteful about some fruit covering your bits!” she said.

“Sometimes a beautiful dress is much more sexy than underwear. Have some class.”

Cole, 25, also admits she isn’t against plastic surgery — but insists she wouldn’t choose to go under the knife as she thinks it’s “sexy” to have imperfections.

“I’ve got nothing against it,” she said. “If someone hasn’t got boobs and having them done is going to make them a happier, more confident person, then go for it.

“I wouldn’t deny it if I had plastic surgery. I wouldn’t just come out with bog boobs and say, ‘No, I haven’t had an operation!’ I think imperfections are sexy anyway, I honestly do.

“If everyone looked perfect with a perfect face and perfect boobs, it wouldn’t be sexy as it’s not real life.”

Shahtrughan Sinha’s new look

For the first time in 36 years, Shatrughan Sinha has shed his moustache in Ram Gopal Verma's upcoming flick 'Rakta Charitra’.

What do you think of his new look? To me, seeing ‘The Tiger of Bihar’ without his trademark moustache is like a looking at a hyena in a sheep’s skin. :) He looked like a kind hearted and charming person, after all these years, especially in the first photo.

'Rakta Charitra’ is said to be a biopic based on the life of the alleged outlaw Paritala Ravi and Shatrughan essays a pivotal role based on superstar-turned-politician N.T. Rama Rao, former Andhra Pradesh chief minister.

Actor Vivek Oberoi plays the lead in the movie and he will sport a moustache unlike in his real life.