Archive for October, 2008
SEE: Big And Plodding: SCORPION KING 2: RISE OF A WARRIOR
SCORPION KING 2: RISE OF A WARRIOR
Directed by Russell Mulcahy
Starring Michael Copon, Karen David, Simon Quarterman, Tom Wu, Andreas Wisniewski, Natalie Becker and Randy Couture
Distributed by Berjaya HVN Sdn Bhd
THE director and producers bravely sallied forth in an effort to make a movie that might do justice to its predecessor. Sadly, they failed. This movie, a sequel of Scorpion King, proves to be a fiasco.
Frankly, the prequel itself, with Dwayne ‘The Rock’ Johnson as the main character, hardly sizzled at the box office, so what exactly can you expect of a movie that is just designed to ride on the coattails of a more glamorous prequel? Not much.
I find the actors rather wooden in their acting, the plot a bit abrupt and unclear.
In one moment, the main character is fighting the king, the next, he is fleeing on a ship in search of a weapon to kill the ruler.
There is even a moment that smacks of Indiana Jones and The Last Crusade where the main character’s dead father’s voice keeps on warning him to trust in his faith.
The visual effects themselves are a bit sloppy. This movie was produced this year, so I wonder why they are using effects which look like they came from a show almost a decade ago.
As for the bonus materials, there are the Gag Reel, Deleted Scenes and The Making of Scorpion King 2 itself. The Gag Reel offers fun and laughter after nearly two hours of boredom with the funny shots.
As for the Deleted Scenes, I think that the movie might have been better off if the producers hadn’t taken them out.
The Making itself is a good watch, and while I appreciate the cast and crew’s effort, I definitely don’t like the result. - SL
Rating: H
New Straits Times
Deepavali Specials
Kanchana Devi stars in musical drama Cahaya Deepavali over TV3 (Monday, 11am).
THERE is a variety of programmes over the terrestrial channels as well as Astro in conjunction with Deepavali on Monday.
Revealed: Diwali will enable viewers to understand the way Deepavali is celebrated in India. Catch it over Discovery Channel (Sunday, 9pm).
Children will have plenty of fun with High School Musical specials over the Disney Channel
A scene from Ramji Londonwaley over TV3 (tomorrow, 2pm), starring Madhavan (centre).
Below are some of the highlights:
To understand the true meaning of the festival, Discovery Channel (Astro Channel 551) screens Revealed: Diwali on Sunday (9pm). The programme takes a look at how Deepavali is celebrated in India.
Meanwhile, TV3’s popular women’s magazine show, Nona (Sunday, 2pm), will feature breathtaking visuals and an interesting presentation, filmed at the Temple of Fine Arts in Brickfields, Kuala Lumpur.
Locally produced variety shows include children’s drama Pathi Sollum Kathaigal (Sunday till Tuesday, 9am) over RTM2, and musical drama Cahaya Deepavali, (Monday, 11am), featuring local celebrity Kanchana Devi.
On Astro Vaanavil (Astro Channel 201), catch Deepavali Payanam (tomorrow, 7.30pm), a sitcom about two youths making their way back to their hometown.
Then catch the Tamil Music Awards Show 2008 (Monday, 8.30pm) to see who will win the coveted awards. Don’t miss appearances by Prabhu Deva, Vismanathan and Ramamoorthi.
Children will get to enjoy the celebration on Disney Channel (Astro Channel 615). Get them on their feet with the gang from East High as they bop to the top in High School Musical - Dance Along (Monday, 12.30pm) and High School Musical 2 - Dance Along (Monday, 3.30pm). The two shows are available in English, Bahasa Malaysia and Hindi!
If movies are your cup of tea, spend your afternoon with Zee (Astro Channel 108) - starting with Dhammal (Monday, 1.30pm). Dhammal looks at the lives of four lazy men who are out to make it big by being at the right place at the right time.
Romance fills the air in Vivaah at 9pm. It is a tale about an orphan who meets the love of her life only to stumble upon obstacles set by the family which adopted her.
Astro Vellithirai (Astro Channel 202) is also airing several movies on Deepavali including Kathavarayan (10.30am), a story about a man who has been recently released from jail and is obsessed with seeking vengeance; and Santhosh Subramaniam (9pm), in which a woman in love discovers that her boyfriend is not who she thought he is.
The movies continue over Astro Kirana (Astro Channel 122) with Aggar (Sunday, 11pm). Aggar is about an affair gone wrong. Khoya Khoya Chand (Monday, 9pm) is about an intense love struggle between a starlet and a director
On TV3, a special film entitled Ramji Londonwaley will air tomorrow at 2pm. Starring Madhavan and Samita Bangargi, it’s about a country bumpkin who wins the hearts of people around him through his kind nature.
New Straits Times
Dengarnya…High School Musical Sentuhan KRU
Oleh Normah Becok
ANGIN kus-kus yang hinggap kat telinga Cik Normah memberitahu yang tak lama lagi KRU Studio besar kemungkinan akan mengarahkan sebuah filem muzikal ala High School Musical. Kalau dah sebut ala filem sebegitu, mestilah pelakon utama yang bakal terbabit di kalangan selebriti muda.
Emmm… dengar-dengarnnya Edry bakal mengarahkan filem itu dan antara nama yang disebut memeriahkan filem itu seperti Dafi, Mila dan Diana Danielle.
Ada antara mereka Cik Normah dengar baru saja ke sesi uji bakat dan ketika itu belum pasti sama ada Mila atau Danielle yang bakal jadi heroin. Heronya mungkin Dafi laa. Wow… Cik Normah memang suka tengok filem High School Musical tambah pula ada hero kacak dengan renungan romantis, Zac Efron. Aduh… gugur jantung Cik Normah tatkala melihat lakonan dan wajahnya.
Kalau jadi, mungkin filem itu akan mulakan penggambaran tahun depan. Amboi, KRU sekarang ni Cik Normah dengar sangat aktif menerbit dan mengarahkan filem. Baguslah, itu satu perkembangan positif. Filem Cicak-Man - Planet Hitam akan ditayangkan pada 11 Disember ini di Malaysia, Brunei dan Singapura serentak. Tak sabar Cik Normah tunggu kemunculan sekuel filem Cicak-Man itu.
Jika benarlah KRU nak arah filem muzikal itu, Cik Normah pasti dengan gandingan muka baru dan popular yang cukup diminati, Insya-Allah ia satu resipi yang positif. Harap-harap boleh meletup. Kalau tambah meletup, boleh tawarkan watak kepada Cik Normah yang sentiasa muda remaja walaupun usia ini tidaklah seremaja Dafi, Mila dan Danielle.
Jadi heroin pun boleh sebab orang kata Cik Normah ni versatil, kira semua watak boleh buat. Berat ke, ringan ke, Insya-Allah akan Cik Normah buat. Kawan Cik Normah bagi tahu, pelakon dan pengarah M Subash pun tawar kat dia watak ala psiko gitu.
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