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

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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.”

The Rebound

By Robert L Sungte

English (A)

Cast: Catherine Zeta-Jones, Justin Bartha

Director: Bart Freundlich

Catherine Zeta-Jones plays Sandy, a smart 40-year-old mother of two, trying to recover from a broken marriage. Sandy leaves for New York to work in a sports television network. However, her new job forces her to hire a nanny to look after her kids, and she chooses 25-year-old Aram (Bartha) who works as cafe boy near her apartment.

As the film rolls by, we get to know that Aram is also a divorcee who is yet to figure out what he wants to do with his life. Soon, he gets attached to Sandy and the kids. Everything goes smoothly until the unlikely couple calculate their age.

This romcom is more of a romantic film and not much of a comedy. The kids are used to generate crude adult humour. The gags are simply not striking enough to help the audience decide whether they should laugh or just pull a face. Except for Aram’s reluctant parents and the confrontation with Sandy’s ex-husband, there is little to grip the attention. The over simplification of Sandy and Aram’s relationship is simply to bring forth the realisation that they are on the rebound track from their previous breakups. A more risky twist could have been more engaging.

Zeta-Jones stands firmly on her heels but can’t beat herself in her last film ‘No Reservation’. Bartha (of ‘The Hangover’ ) is also not convincing as the young man with noble deeds. Visually, the film is sharp and unknown characters appear just as in the normal day to day life bringing a sense of realness.

‘The Rebound’ is fresh, yet it stinks too quickly to enjoy the flavour.

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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.