Friday, November 21, 2008

Movie Review: ‘Twilight’ (2008)

Kristen Stewart and Robert Pattinson in Twilight

Twilight is a film fueled by online fan fervor as fans of Stephenie Meyer’s best-selling teen-vampire franchise took to the Internet to talk about the upcoming film adaptation. The media was late to catch on to the obsession, but once they did Twilight was all anyone could talk about due to the short-term attention boost it brought to any outlet willing to dedicate space to the story. Shopping mall riots, online insanity and crying 14-year-olds denied access to my screening of the film all come with the territory. The only question is: Is it worth it?

Regardless of quality Twi-hards, as the obsessed fan base has come to be known, will enjoy this film no matter what. It’s their favorite characters brought to life on the big screen and that alone is enough for them. Where the film goes wrong they can just fill in the blanks. Will that stop them from recognizing the film really isn’t all that good? I don’t think so, it just won’t matter. Because, the fact is, Twilight is not a good movie. It assumes too many in the audience have read the book of which the film is based, and as a result will leave the uninitiated scratching their heads with boredom. To that effect, it will have the same impact on the people that have read the book but don’t have a crush on the film’s male lead, Robert Pattinson playing Edward Cullen, the embodiment of the perfect man. Edward’s only flaw is that he is a vampire, but if I am reading the metaphor correctly this is actually a good thing because every girl wants an overprotective boyfriend that only wants to suck the life out of you. As long as he is “beautiful” and shimmers in the sun like white diamonds the rest doesn’t matter.

The adjective laden descriptions of Edward are not as heavy handed and sappy as they are in Meyer’s novel, but his early inability to cope with being in the presence of Isabella “Bella” Swan (Kristen Stewart) is downright laughable, just ask the audience I saw the film with as they were laughing nearly 50% of the time as Edward’s face twists and contorts into looks of extreme constipation and clenched fists as Bella enters the room. Long staring matches between villains and friends become old hat and the film dissolves into something of an inside joke that only the truly obsessed seem in on.

Ultimately the story of Bella Swan as she moves from Phoenix, Arizona to the small town of Forks, Washington mirrors the book almost too well as much of Meyer’s writing is dedicated to lust filled longing glances as Bella, the human prey, is drawn to Edward as much as he is drawn to her. Her motives, instead of being filled with lust as they were on the page, now seem to be choices made out of pure stupidity and naiveté. This is where the film relies on the source material far too much as those that have read the story of Edward and Bella already know the relationship’s motivations and will see through the onscreen melodrama, but those unaware folk will be left in the dark.

Pattinson and Stewart aren’t a horrible match in this picture, but both had very hard roles to pull off due to the film’s dedication to the amateurish dialogue lifted from the novel. No one could have pulled off such sappy and mundane discussions, but it does improve as the film moves forward and each become more comfortable as their characters, but only to the point the dialogue becomes a bit more - “real?”

The best performances come from the supporting cast, primarily Bella’s father, Charlie, played by Billy Burke. Charlie, along with a few of Bella’s human friends at school are the only actors with believable roles. None of the actors playing the vampires seem comfortable in their character’s skin, except perhaps, Rachelle Lefevre (one of the baddie vamps) whose role is so limited giving her any kind of credit is really a stretch.

The special effects are extremely weak and have the feeling of a made-for-TV movie and the direction of Catherine Hardwicke (Thirteen) feels as if it is done by a fangirl just as in love with the characters as the target audience. Long tracking shots and 360-degree camera pans focusing on ineffectual scenes of nothingness do zero for an audience just waiting for something to happen. It’s impossible to project the emotional status offered up in Meyer’s novels on film without something to keep the audience watching. Fans of the book may enjoy nearly two hours of Edward gazing, but those unfamiliar with the original story will just be left yawning.

Source: http://www.ropeofsilicon.com/

Monday, November 17, 2008

Intimacy - the Best Stress Buster for Couples

IntimacyResults of a recent study have said that couples who hug and kiss have lower stress hormone levels in their bodies especially if they are married.

The week long Swiss study by researchers from the University of Zurich in Switzerland, of 51 German couples who were mostly married checked the cortisol levels in their saliva. Cortisol, a hormone in the body, also responsible for several stress-related changes in the body, is secreted by the adrenal glands, has been termed “the stress hormone” because high levels of it are secreted during the body’s ‘fight or flight’ response. Small increases in cortisol have positive effects on the body like helping in proper glucose metabolism and regulation of blood pressure. Higher levels of cortisol are seen in the morning with its lowest levels at night.

The study found that the couples who reported having more physical contact either from holding hands, sexual intercourse or just kissing and cuddling had lower levels of cortisol. Even couples who had more work related stress cut down on their cortisol levels by displays of affection and intimacy.

Beate Ditzen of Zurich University, who conducted the research said intimacy seemed to improve the hormone levels by boosting the mood. She stressed that it was not intimacy per se that was needed but couples finding things they could do together that would create positive feelings for each other. The definition of intimacy differs from couple to couple and Dr Ditzen said. "This means that there is no specific behavior that couples should show in everyday life. Rather, all kinds of behavior which couples themselves would consider intimate... might be beneficial,” the expert added.

Source: http://www.topnews.in/healthcare

Tuesday, November 11, 2008

The Hollywood Reporter Announces Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast Celebrating Its 17th Power 100: Women in Entertainment Issue

LOS ANGELES, Nov 10, 2008 (BUSINESS WIRE) -- The Hollywood Reporter today announced its Annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast, celebrating its Power 100: Women in Entertainment issue. The event will take place on Friday, December 5 at the Beverly Hills Hotel. Emmy Award-winning actress Glenn Close will receive the Sherry Lansing Leadership Award, honoring a woman who has been a pioneer in the entertainment industry. She joins past recipients Barbara Walters, Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster.

The special event is held in conjunction with the publication of The Reporter's annual "Power 100: Women in Entertainment" special issue, honoring the top 100 women in the motion picture and television industries. Since its inception 16 years ago, the annual Women in Entertainment Breakfast is again presented and sponsored by Lifetime Networks, which includes Lifetime Television and Lifetime Movie Network, the top two channels for women.

"Glenn Close is a prolific actress who has achieved a great deal of success in every acting arena. She's an Emmy Award winner and multiple Academy Award nominee, a Tony and Golden Globe winner whose accomplishments go far beyond her accolades," said The Hollywood Reporter Editor-in-Chief Elizabeth Guider. "She is a consummate practitioner of the acting craft. With her dedication to the New York independent film community and her long association with the Sundance Institute, the industry doesn't have a more dedicated advocate than Glenn Close."

This year's program will include a much-anticipated Q&A with Sony Pictures Entertainment co-chairman Amy Pascal, Disney Media Networks co-chairman Anne Sweeney and Harpo chairman Oprah Winfrey, moderated by Guider. In addition, Oscar-nominated actress Sigourney Weaver will be a featured speaker.

In addition to Lifetime, this year's breakfast is held in association with Mikimoto. Teleflora is also a participating sponsor.

The event will begin at 8am with a champagne reception sponsored by American Women in Radio & Television, followed by the breakfast program, which will include Lansing's presentation of the Leadership Award to Close, a welcome by Lifetime Networks President & CEO Andrea Wong and remarks by Weaver followed by the Q&A panel. Spanx is the gifting room sponsor.
Source: http://www.marketwatch.com/news

Monday, November 10, 2008

Cop proposes Bipasha in Kashmir


Bipasha Basu is in Kashmir shooting for Rahul Dholakia's Lamhaa but huge crowds and marriage proposals are getting in the way of her work. A unit member from Lamhaa says, "Bipasha is one of the biggest crowd pullers we've ever seen. She's been shooting in strife-torn Srinagar for the last two weeks and wherever she goes sex appeal draws huge crowds."

Local cops and BSF personnel are providing security for the shoot, and accompany the actress and the crew everywhere. On one such occasion, one of the cops covering the shoot got so smitten by Bip's persona that he walked up to her and proposed in front of the cast and crew!"

The source adds that Bipasha was stunned. "Initially, she was flustered. Though Bipasha is used to men getting over-enthusiastic around her; normally, boyfriend John Abraham is around to handle awkward situations. This time, Bipasha had to deal with it herself. After her initial hesitation, she turned to him and politely but very firmly turned down his proposal.
She told the guy that John was in her life and they both loved each other very much." The guy stood there bemused till the unit's security staff took him away.

Bipasha, who is still shooting in Srinagar, says, "The proposal is something silly. I don't really want to talk about it. I am here to work and not to get marriage proposals from cops. I wish they understood that."

Bipasha, who plays a Kashmiri girl in Lamhaa, adds, "Things are still not normal here. The Kash-miris are very sensitive and simple people and I think, because of the state of affairs for years, they take time to trust people. So we have a few problems when we go to shoot but hopefully after Wednesday's press conference, we will get their support and help during the shoot. The film is very real and my director is passionate."

Bipasha had last visited Kashmir when she was six years old but she's enjoying herself all over again. "I'm happy to be here even though it's a very sensitive area because it's such a beautiful place. But you see cops everywhere. Being an actor, it's not easy for me to go anywhere without security but that happens in all cities and Srinagar is not any different. I would like to feel it's normal." Bipasha has a wish for the people of Kashmir. She says, "I wish them peace and prosperity that they deserve. I hope we can film here peacefully."
Source: http://entertainment.oneindia.in/bollywood

Friday, November 7, 2008

Hollywood already in holiday mode

LOS ANGELES (Hollywood Reporter) - Hollywood's year-end boxoffice smorgasbord tends to be equal parts HomeTown Buffet and Four Seasons champagne brunch.

From the animated sequel "Madagascar: Escape 2 Africa," which opens Friday, to the Christmas prestige film "The Curious Case of Benjamin Button," diverse releases crowd the final two months of 2008.

Data service Nielsen EDI defines the holiday season -- one of five on the box office calendar -- as running from the weekend before Thanksgiving through the frame after New Year's, i.e. November 21 to January 4. But three sessions before Turkey Day, distributors are already lining up their most prized releases.

To wit: DreamWorks Animation's "Madagascar" sequel, which is getting a head start now rather than waiting for the holiday.

"It's a movie that feels like it should play strongly all the way through Thanksgiving vacation," says Paramount vice chairman Rob Moore, whose studio distributes DreamWorks Animation releases.

Next Friday boasts what will likely be one of the fourth quarter's biggest releases: the James Bond thriller "Quantum of Solace," from Sony and MGM. The Daniel Craig starrer is considered a lock to play strongly well into December, especially considering its huge U.K. opening, much like Sony's November 2006 Bond opener "Casino Royale."

Two weeks from now, over the November 21 frame, wide openers will include the season's biggest teens-and-tweens title, "Twilight," from newbie distributor Summit. Based on a series of high school vampire novels, the potential franchise-starter could sink its teeth into some serious business if the marketplace matches its prerelease Internet hype.
Source: http://ca.reuters.com/article

Tuesday, November 4, 2008

Barack Obama wins the presidential US election

Barack Obama (D-IL) supporters cheer and embrace each other in Times Square
WASHINGTON, Nov. 4 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Republican presidential candidate John McCain on Tuesday night congratulated his Democratic rival Barack Obama on the latter's projected victory inthe presidential election.

According to ABC News, Obama, a first-term senator from Illinois, is projected to have won 338 electoral votes, far exceeding the 270 minimum votes needed to win the presidency.

In a speech after conceding defeat, McCain urged all Americans to join him in congratulating Obama on his projected victory in the presidential election.

"I pledge to him tonight to do all in my power to help him leadus through the many challenges we face," McCain said before his supporters in Phoenix, Arizona.

McCain's running mate, Governor Sarah Palin, was standing beside him, with tears in her eyes.

With his projected victory, Obama will become the country's 44th president.

Tuesday also marked the end of the longest presidential campaign season in U.S. history -- 21 months.

Source: http://news.xinhuanet.com/


Monday, November 3, 2008

Sex and the Single Kid

So it’s the day before the election that will supposedly sweep away all vestiges of conservatism in American life and what do I find? The Washington Post carries a front-page story about TV contributing to teen pregnancy.

“Teenagers who watch a lot of television featuring flirting, necking, discussion of sex and sex scenes are much more likely than their peers to get pregnant or get a partner pregnant, according to the first study to directly link steamy programming to teen pregnancy.”

The study, published in the journal Pediatrics, followed 700 12- to 17-year-olds for three years. Those who viewed the most sex-drenched TV shows were twice as likely as their peers to impregnate someone or get pregnant themselves

The Post interviewed the usual “experts” for reactions to the research. “We have a highly sexualized culture that glamorizes sex,” said Valerie Huber of the National Abstinence Education Association. Well now, there’s an understatement!

Look no further than the pages of the Washington Post itself. It features an almost-daily ad on Page Two that touts “Sex for Life” and features imagery of a man and woman with come hither looks. She dangles her bra over his shoulder. Recently, the Post saw fit (as did the New York Times and I’m sure many other “family” newspapers) to publish an obituary for that great cultural icon Jerry Gerard, whose contribution to the world was pornography like Deep Throat and The Devil in Miss Jones. I don’t know about you, but I could have let him meet his Maker unheralded. Publishing an obit for a pornographer (remember when that was a dirty word?) is part of the general mainstreaming of pornography. You can order it at most hotels now. And so can your kids if they are in a separate room and you are not very careful. Sometimes the Playboy channel is offered without the necessity to order it by phone. Isn’t that grand for the kids who are in the adjoining room to mom and dad?

This sort of thing is not limited to liberal outlets, of course. We have XM radio in our car. The commercials that run on the Fox News channel seem to be about 50 percent for Viagra and other “performance enhancing” drugs. Aside from explicitly Christian and other religious entertainment (which is overly goody two shoes for my taste), inappropriate sexual content is everywhere — in music and music videos, in magazines (have you been to a supermarket checkout lately?), in video games, in movies, and on television.

Television is our national teacher. American children spend more time in front of the TV screen (an average of four hours daily) than at any other non-school waking activity. The Parents Television Council has reported that in 2005, Desperate Housewives was the most popular broadcast TV show among kids aged 9-12. Bill Cosby is so right: It’s so easy to use sex and profanity to get a laugh. How much more difficult to strive for genuine wit.

So the kids are utterly bombarded from the youngest ages with sexual messages. And with 54 percent of kids having a TV in their bedroom, most parents are clearly not shielding them. The PTC also reports that “46 (percent) of high school students in the United States have had sexual intercourse. Although sex is common, most sexually active teens (say they) wish they had waited longer to have sex, (suggesting) that sex is occurring before youths are prepared for its consequences. One case of an STD is diagnosed for every 4 sexually active teens.”
Source: http://article.nationalreview.com/

Meet Hollywood's hottest mums (+pics)


Demi Moore, Angelina Jolie and Halle Berry are among the Hottest Mums in Hollywood according to a new list, but they've been beaten to the top spot by a surprise entry.

Jolie and Berry - who both gave birth earlier this year - join a host of star beauties in the list compiled by Fox News.com.


It was topped by blonde US TV presenter Kelly Ripa, who has three children with husband Mark Consuelos.

Tomb Raider star Jolie made eleventh place for "her amazing ability to balance being an activist, movie star and mum", while Halle came second as she "just seems to get better with age". Other entrants in the list included country singer Faith Hill in third place and new mother Jessica Alba, who was fourth.

Moore, who has three daughters with ex-husband Bruce Willis, was the oldest mother on the list, with Fox saying the 45-year-old star has "redefined the meaning of hot in your 40s".

Supermodels Cindy Crawford and Heidi Klum made sixth and seventh places respectively, with the rest of the list made up by actress Isla Fisher, who has a daughter Olive with Sacha Baron Cohen, Nicole Richie - who gave birth to daughter Harlow, her first child with Joel Madden, in January - and mother-of-two Gwen Stefani.

Fox News.com Top 11 Hottest Mums in Hollywood:
1. Kelly Ripa

2. Halle Berry

3. Faith Hill

4. Jessica Alba

5. Demi Moore
6. Cindy Crawford

7. Heidi Klum

8. Isla Fisher
9. Nicole Ritchie
10. Gwen Stefani

11. Angelina Jolie

Source: http://www.stuff.co.nz/