Director: Roman Polanski Screenplay: Roman Polanski and Robert Harris, based on the novel by Robert Harris Cast: Ewan McGregor, Pierce Brosnan, Olivia Williams, Kim Cattrall Time: 125min Age Restriction: 13LV

Genre:
Thriller

Summary Review:
The Ghost Writer is a provocative, but slow thriller about political deceit, power struggles and deadly secrets.

Synopsis:
Adam Lang (Pierce Brosnan) is a former British prime minister, who is now living in the USA and who hopes his autobiography will win back the favour and credibility he’s lost since being implicated in certain crimes against humanity.

Unfortunately, the ghost writer for his biography has just died in a tragic accident and a new ghost (Ewan McGegor), has been hired to replace him.

As he delves deeper into the life that he is to write about, however, the ghost writer uncovers a number of suspicious factors that just don’t add up.

The Ghost Writer is a deeply atmospheric film and the first bars of the violin-driven score in the opening sequence grip you by the throat. The film quickly loses momentum, however, and the air of suspense languishes often with the protracted pace at which the story unfolds.

The acting is superb (seeing Kim Cattrall pull off a clipped British accent with that much class makes me wonder if she hasn’t wasted her career away in Sex and the City), the wintery island scenery is spectacular and the story is riveting, but The Ghost Writer should have been shorter and tighter.

There has been allot of dissatisfaction about the official World Cup 2010 anthem called Waka Waka by Shakira ft Freshly ground, the local ZA News team has seen this and though they might bring out their own World Cup anthem.

The ZA News World Cup anthem is called Fee!Faa and is sung by all the ZA News puppets, I love the last part where Julius gives his bastard quote. They also give Kulula a punt who got banned from using the words World Cup in their advertisements.

Check out the ZA News Fee!Faa World Cup Anthem.

Google yesterday at their I/O conference announced with many other new products and technologies, Google TV.

Google TV is Google’s aim to bring web to the TV, but will they succeed? Currently there are numerous other similar products available but it has not really catched on with the consumers.

Google TV is expected to go on sale in the fall of this year, however pricing hasn’t been announced.

Google has partnered with Sony, Intel and Logitech to provide the company with Google TV devices. Sony will manufacture television sets with Google TV capabilities running Intel chips, while Logitech will provide a set top box device with a keyboard and mouse.

The Google TV software will based on the Android Mobile Operating System with Google Chrome for browsing the web.

Google are actually genius, I mean they have this big advertising platform for the web, and with way more TV viewers than web users expanding this advertising platform to TV could mean big revenue increase for them.

I for one would enjoy a great web browsing experience on my TV.

Director: Ridley Scott Screenplay: Brian Helgeland Cast: Russel Crowe, Cate Blanchett, Mark Strong, Oscar Isaac Time: 140min Age Restriction: 13V

Genre:
Adventure/Action

Summary Review:
Robin Hood is a more virile, less magical take on the old legend about liberty and equality through stealing from the rich to give to the poor.

Synopsis:
Let me tell you straight up, if you’re expecting the Robin Hood story of your childhood, you will be disappointed and you won’t enjoy this film. It is a very different take on the old tale of Robin Hood, exploring its origins, borne of the desperate necessity of the English peasantry, rather than the carefree, woodland-folksy fairytale depicted in other films.

But then, if this movie was going to tell exactly the same story as all the others, what would be the point in making it?

Robin Longstride (Russel Crowe) is an archer who’s been at war in King Richard’s 10-year-long Crusade. When the king is killed in battle, his sly and arrogant brother, Prince John (Oscar Isaac) is crowned king. King John promptly levies taxes from all his citizens and promotes his close friend, Sir Godfrey (Mark Strong), sending him off to collect the taxes.

But, unbeknownst to the King, Sir Godfrey is in cahoots with Philip, King of France, to invade and conquer England. Naturally, it falls to Robin to uncover the plot, talk some sense into the noblemen and lead the battle against France.

This version of Robin Hood is more macho than those we’ve seen in the past, with Robin exchanging the traditional tights for manlier chainmail for much of the film. It is fast-paced, entertaining and the cinematography is artfully executed, with breathtaking shots of the English countryside.

Russel Crowe has received some criticism for his wavering accent in the film. As for Lady Marian, a friend and I were debating whether Cate Blanchett is sexy enough to match Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio (who played Marian in 1993′s Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves). Needless to say, we didn’t know director Ridley Scott had changed the role of Lady Marian from delicate damsel in distress to that of a fierce and hard-working widow. Though her costumes prohibit much opportunity for sexiness from any woman, there is some allure in how Cate portrays Marian’s gentle softening toward Robin, from being cold at first, then later warming to his roguish charm.

That much is, after all, still the same in Robin Hood.

I was fortunate to have won two tickets to the Jack Parow CD launch at Barnyard and a CD yesterday, so me and my buddy Dawie set out to the show last night.

All I can say is WOW, what a show. Zander was jamming last night despite being on a drip most of the day, but that did not stop the man from delivering a great show.

The show lasted just over an hour with some of the big names in the South African music industry performing alongside Jack Parow. Jack collaborated with JR, Le-Roy Nel from Foto Na Dans, Die Heuwels Fantasties, Disco and Francoise van coke from Van Coke Kartel to give us one awesome show.

The CD is worth getting and the effort put into it is evident when you start listening to it. I would really urge you to get your hands on one. Some of my favorite songs on the CD at the moment includes “Hier’s hy nou ft Le-Roy Nel”, “I miss” and “Die Vraagstuk remix”.

Just want to thank Jack Parow for the tickets and the CD and JP vd Spuy for his effort last night in organizing everything.

BTW if you haven’t seen Jack Parow’s new music video check it out.

Director: Rodrigo Garcia Screenplay: Rodrigo Garcia Cast: Annette Bening, Naomi Watts, Kerry Washington, Jimmy Smits, Samuel L. Jackson Time: 125min Age Restriction: 16SLV

Genre:
Drama

Summary Review:
Mother & Child is a powerful, but sentimental women’s film about the relationships between mothers and daughters, with memorable performances and haunting stories.

Synopsis:
When Karen (Annette Bening) was fourteen she had a baby and gave it up for adoption. She is now a care nurse, living with her invalid mother and has never married or had other children.

Elizabeth (Naomi Watts) is a successful attorney who has never met her biological mother and seems to have no interest in finding her. Lucy (Kerry Washington) is unable to give her husband a child of their own and is anxious to adopt a baby.

These women have never met, but they are all connected through the same adoption agency and Mother & Child follows the personal journeys that carry them closer towards each other.

Mother & Child has a cast of skilled actors, with Annette Bening and Naomi Watts giving outstanding performances. It is filled with odd characters that will keep you gasping at the inappropriate things they say and do out of sheer awkwardness.

The story and cinematography makes Mother & Child feel like a TV series, but it will shock you into laughter and the women’s stark stories will keep you weepy throughout.

Mother & Child is very much a women’s film and most men will find it emotionally bewildering. If that’s you, go check out Mel Gibson in Edge of Darkness, but if you’re in the mood for a film with deep human insight, Mother & Child is the film for you.

Yes folks, it is finally out. Jack Parow’s second music video Dans Dans Dans featuring Francoise Van Coke has officially been released.

Jack Parow last week leaked a small teaser of the Dans Dans Dans video to the Internet in anticipation to the release of the official music video. Since the release last night at 9PM the video has been getting tremendous views on popular video sharing site YouTube.

Jack Parow’s Dans Dans Dans music video is one of the most expensive music videos ever made in the South Africa music industry and it is just fair seeing as that is how rappers roll.

Here is the Jack Parow ft Francoise van Coke – Dans Dans Dans official music video

So what is your thoughts? I dig the bling vibe in the last part of the music video.

Director: Jon Favreau Screenplay: Justin Theroux Cast: Robert Downey Jr., Gwyneth Paltrow, Mickey Rourke, Scarlett Johansson Time: 124min Age Restriction: 10LV

Genre:
Action

Summary Review:
Iron Man 2 is a sleek sequel that is good fun and continues to set the Iron Man character apart as a one-of-a-kind superhero.

Synopsis:
Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) has revealed himself to be Iron Man. The mystique surrounding the superhero is therefore vanishing fast and Stark is being ordered to hand the Iron Man suit over to the government.

There is also a disgruntled Russian inventor (Mickey Rourke) with a grudge against Stark, who has a few dangerous high-tech toys of his own.

Iron Man 2 is not as long as the original film, which makes the action all the more enjoyable. The special effects and taut humour do not disappoint, with a few cheesy one-liners thrown in for good measure.

Although the plot’s flow is a bit clumsy, Iron Man 2 moves at such a pace that you hardly notice it. All the familiar faces are matched by a host of new characters and Scarlett Johansson is swelteringly hot as the Black Widow.

Iron Man 2 is an expectedly perfect sequel, so don’t miss out on the movie that all your friends are going to be talking about for the next few weeks.

With TopTV about to launch on 1 May 2010 starting from R99 per month, DSTV has responded by introducing DSTV Lite.

Multichoice has announced that it will provide customers with more value and choice by introducing a brand new bouquet called DSTV Lite. There will now be six bouquets available on the DSTV network ranging from R20 per month to the premium package of R529 per month.

DSTV will also be adding additional channels to the lower end bouquets. DStv Select 1 will get 8 additional video channels, to have a total of 34 video channels, 32 radio and 10 DMX music channels. DStv Select 2 will get 6 additional video channels, to have a total of 32 video channels, 32 radio and 10 DMX music channels. DStv Compact will get 4 additional video channels, to have a total of 44 video channels, 32 radio and 10 DMX music channels.

The various options subscribers will now have on DSTV include the following:

• DStv EasyView R20
• DStv Lite R99
• DStv Select 1 R148
• DStv Select 2 R148
• DStv Compact R232
• DStv Premium R529

For a comprehensive channel guide to the various packages check out the DSTV website.

Its clear that Multichoice is feeling the pressure from soon to be launched TopTV, who knows maybe we will soon have affordable premium pay TV in South Africa.

With the arrival of TopTV on 1 May 2010 every South African will now be able to afford premium quality Pay TV.

From as little as R99 per month subscribers will now have access to over 2o channels consisting of local and international programming. TopTV will initially offer four different Pay TV packages namely Variety, Kids and Music, Entertainment and Knowledge and Ultimate Movies.

“The majority of South Africans who can afford to pay between R99 and R249 a month, will have access to world class television entertainment across all genres including News & Knowledge, Movies, Family and Sport, Kids, Music and Cultural programming.” says Vino Govender, CEO of On Digital Media (ODM). Govender adds, “Some of the highlights of these channels include the Top History channel which will bring the history of South Africa to the fore as never before, BBC News, Eurosport News, 6 dedicated 24 hour movie channels, as well as services for the Portuguese and French communities in South Africa.”

TopTV has established partnerships with leading studios around the world, including CBS, Fox, Warner, Discovery and Disney.

TopTV subscribers can look forward to channels such as Zee Cinema, Discovery Travel & Living, Fox Entertainment, Fine Living Network, Current TV, BET, MGM, Showtime, Discovery Science, Silver, Baby TV, Setanta Africa, France24, BBC World, Hi Nolly, Kidsco, Jim Jam, Baby TV, Fuel TV, and Fox FX just to name a few.

TopTV’s set-top boxes and dishes will be available at a introductory price of only R499. The introductory price includes a TopTV decoder (STB), Installation, Smart Card, Power Supply, Male / Female RF Cable, RCA Cable, Remote Control Unit, Batteries and instruction manual. Set-top boxes and dishes will be available through Makro, Pep, Dion, Game, selected Jumbo Cash & Carry stores, CCW, Brown’s, Weirs and House & Home stores.