The new thriller directed by legendary director Martin Scorsese is getting quite mixed reviews by critics. Thus i decided to watch it for myself to see what the fuss is all about.
The movie is a psychological thriller with top notch direction, special effects and superb acting by the whole cast. Fans of Scorsese's previous work would appreciate the direction of the movie as the "highly stylized violence" is present throughout the movie, along with intense suspense and drama. Most of the people who are giving negative comments about the movie are complaning about it not being scary or horror, well it wasn't supposed to be scary, it's a thriller not a horror movie there is a big difference, and I believe critics should know the difference.
The movie follows the story of two U.S Marshalls, who are sent to a remote island to investigate the escape of a murdress. The island hosts a mental institution for the criminally insane, where Leonardo dicaprio's character,(U.S Marshall Ted) detects many conspiracies and secrets during his investigation. Thus begins an exciting game where the viewer is taken through a psychological maze, where the Leonardo's character is trying very hard to blow the lid off this conspiracy and at the same time trying to fight his inner demons. Also he is looking for his wife's murderer who is supposed to be in that mental asylum.
All this mental assylum backdrop reminds me of Alfred Hitchcock's "Spellbound" released in 1945, another great psycological thriller. Although the two movies have totally different plots.
After that the movie keeps throwing twists at the viewer and keeps the viewer at the edge of his seat. Finally the movie ends with a big juicy twist in the plot leaving the viewer astonished, to think about it for next couple of hours. Thus I personally recommend the movie to anyone who likes good thriller moives, not the cheesy thrillers that we normally get to see these days.
By: Mussab Bin Aamir
Monday, April 5, 2010
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Shawshank Redemption.
Shawshank Redemption is a movie based on the novel by Stephen King. The story is very dramatic and is based in a prison. The movie is very well directed and reaches the heart of the audience with its amazing dialogues and scenes.
The film is narrated by Red (Morgan Freeman), an aging Black man who spent most of his life in Shawshank, a new England prison where he was sent after being convicted of murder. Things were rough at first, but Red gradually became 'institutionalized', i.e. the inside became more real to him than the outside world. He gained a reputation as the man who can get you anything, whether it's booze, cigarettes or reefer you're looking for. And then one day arrives a new prisoner who will change his life, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a young and successful banker who was (wrongfully?) convicted of the murder of his wife and lover. Quiet and reserved, Andy becomes the target of the Sodomites, but he has the strength of character to stand up to them. The movie is about how Dufresne refuses to give up even in these horrendous circumstances. He puts his former life talents to use by doing the taxes of the guars, who in return don't treat him too abusively, and he eventually even becomes the warden's personal accountant. Andy also keeps his mind busy by sculpting and polishing rocks, taking care of the prison library and even helping illiterate inmates like Tommy (Gil Bellows) get their high school diploma.
The Shawshank Redemption is definitively not your usual, exploitative prison movie. There are some rough, unsettling moments, and we learn that the warden and his guards can be as crooked as the cons, but the movie is really about the human spirit. It uses the hard, disheartening world of prison to show that even in such an environment, life can bloom. Writer-director Frank Darabont (as hard as it is to believe, this is his debut) balances perfectly this odd contrast of horror and beauty, sin and grace. He crafts some moments of such ironic poetry that it made me cry. Cause more than anything, the film is about hope. About how no matter how bad your situation is, you must stay hopeful and keep dreaming. Or as Andy puts it, "Get busy living or get busy dying." Darabont did an amazing job putting Stephen King's powerful tale on film. The cinematography, the music, the storytelling, it's all perfect. The picture lasts some 140 minutes, but it's always riveting filmmaking. That also has to do with the great cast, led by impeccable performances by Freeman and Robbins. Their friendship through their life sentences is central to the story, so it was important that there would be palpable chemistry between them. They're both tremendously talented actors, and they're able to make us forget about themselves and fully bring these characters to life. You take any moment in the film and it feels just right, that's how good they are. This truly is one of best movies I have ever seen. Not only is it intelligent, moving and fascinating, it also quietly leads to one of the most satisfying payoffs in movie history, and that ending still works for me even though I've seen the film many times. "The Shawshank Redemption" will instantly become a favorite of anyone who watches it.
By: Raza Ali
The film is narrated by Red (Morgan Freeman), an aging Black man who spent most of his life in Shawshank, a new England prison where he was sent after being convicted of murder. Things were rough at first, but Red gradually became 'institutionalized', i.e. the inside became more real to him than the outside world. He gained a reputation as the man who can get you anything, whether it's booze, cigarettes or reefer you're looking for. And then one day arrives a new prisoner who will change his life, Andy Dufresne (Tim Robbins), a young and successful banker who was (wrongfully?) convicted of the murder of his wife and lover. Quiet and reserved, Andy becomes the target of the Sodomites, but he has the strength of character to stand up to them. The movie is about how Dufresne refuses to give up even in these horrendous circumstances. He puts his former life talents to use by doing the taxes of the guars, who in return don't treat him too abusively, and he eventually even becomes the warden's personal accountant. Andy also keeps his mind busy by sculpting and polishing rocks, taking care of the prison library and even helping illiterate inmates like Tommy (Gil Bellows) get their high school diploma.
The Shawshank Redemption is definitively not your usual, exploitative prison movie. There are some rough, unsettling moments, and we learn that the warden and his guards can be as crooked as the cons, but the movie is really about the human spirit. It uses the hard, disheartening world of prison to show that even in such an environment, life can bloom. Writer-director Frank Darabont (as hard as it is to believe, this is his debut) balances perfectly this odd contrast of horror and beauty, sin and grace. He crafts some moments of such ironic poetry that it made me cry. Cause more than anything, the film is about hope. About how no matter how bad your situation is, you must stay hopeful and keep dreaming. Or as Andy puts it, "Get busy living or get busy dying." Darabont did an amazing job putting Stephen King's powerful tale on film. The cinematography, the music, the storytelling, it's all perfect. The picture lasts some 140 minutes, but it's always riveting filmmaking. That also has to do with the great cast, led by impeccable performances by Freeman and Robbins. Their friendship through their life sentences is central to the story, so it was important that there would be palpable chemistry between them. They're both tremendously talented actors, and they're able to make us forget about themselves and fully bring these characters to life. You take any moment in the film and it feels just right, that's how good they are. This truly is one of best movies I have ever seen. Not only is it intelligent, moving and fascinating, it also quietly leads to one of the most satisfying payoffs in movie history, and that ending still works for me even though I've seen the film many times. "The Shawshank Redemption" will instantly become a favorite of anyone who watches it.
By: Raza Ali
WAG THE DOG
Back when they used to make records out of vinyl, there was a thing called a "45," or a single. For maybe a buck, you could buy one song that you heard on the radio and liked, without having to buy the whole album. On the other side of the 45, there was another song, often a throwaway or something that wouldn't sell on its own, called the B-side. Moviemaking has now adopted this policy.
You would think that Wag the Dog would be the Oscar worthy. It's getting all the acclaim, the Oscar nominations, and it will probably be remembered longer than Sphere, but Hollywood doesn't think that way. They spent more money on Sphere, and, by God, it had better do more business.
Anyway, Wag the Dog is a wonderful, very entertaining, and almost unbelievably timely movie. Robert De Niro plays a kind of super-spin doctor who is hired to get the president out of a sexual scandal two weeks before the election; he comes up with a war on Albania. He hires Dustin Hoffman, a movie producer to take care of the TV work, the songs, the graphics, and the war itself. Anne Heche plays De Niro's nervous assistant.
The fact is, even if it hadn't run into scandals and phony wars, Wag the Dog is still a tremendously smart and funny movie. I doubt it will age as well as Network, but it is close to that realm of brilliance. It has a scrappy low-budget feel, as if this were a team of anarchic students looking to raise hell, rather than some of the finest professionals in the business.
I'm all for it. Normally, all we would have is garbage like Sphere. Now, we have a very good movie as a result of the bad movie. I say to Hollywood, let the filmmakers do the low-budget good movies in exchange for the big budget bad ones. We have a choice as to which ones we will pay to see.
By:Taha Sajid
You would think that Wag the Dog would be the Oscar worthy. It's getting all the acclaim, the Oscar nominations, and it will probably be remembered longer than Sphere, but Hollywood doesn't think that way. They spent more money on Sphere, and, by God, it had better do more business.
Anyway, Wag the Dog is a wonderful, very entertaining, and almost unbelievably timely movie. Robert De Niro plays a kind of super-spin doctor who is hired to get the president out of a sexual scandal two weeks before the election; he comes up with a war on Albania. He hires Dustin Hoffman, a movie producer to take care of the TV work, the songs, the graphics, and the war itself. Anne Heche plays De Niro's nervous assistant.
The fact is, even if it hadn't run into scandals and phony wars, Wag the Dog is still a tremendously smart and funny movie. I doubt it will age as well as Network, but it is close to that realm of brilliance. It has a scrappy low-budget feel, as if this were a team of anarchic students looking to raise hell, rather than some of the finest professionals in the business.
I'm all for it. Normally, all we would have is garbage like Sphere. Now, we have a very good movie as a result of the bad movie. I say to Hollywood, let the filmmakers do the low-budget good movies in exchange for the big budget bad ones. We have a choice as to which ones we will pay to see.
By:Taha Sajid
DUCK SOUP (1933)
The film duck soup is Marx Brothers comedy movie written by Bert Kalmar and Harry Ruby. It starred Marx Brothers and also featured Margaret Dumont. The wealthy Mrs. Teasdale (Margaret Dumont) insists that Rufus T. Firefly be appointed leader of the small, bankrupt country of Fredonia before she will continue to provide much-needed financial assistance. According to my observation of the film, the movie is excellent blend of timeless comedy with perfect acting. This movie comprised of good big looking sets with some nice costume designs. The main source of humor in the film is Groucho Marx as Rufus T. Firefly. He never failed with his rapid insults. Sometimes his jokes didn’t even relate directly to the situation at hand, but they were always funny. There are many memorable moments in the film, but my favorite sequence is the mirror scene in which Groucho, Harp and Chico, dressed in the same costume are seen on either side of the looking glass following the other person's movements. The songs about Firefly's administration and Fredonia going to war were highly entertaining. You may think that since it's an older film and that it's black and white, that it wouldn't be very funny, but that is not true. It is just as funny as many of the current comedy films today. Duck Soup is a movie for all looking for a good humor. All the different scenes and situation of the movie makes an all-star comedic reputation. In my opinion, this is a well made comedy film.
By: Hammad Ameer
By: Hammad Ameer
Requiem for a Dream
The story begins in summer. Sara Goldfarb, an elderly widow living alone in her Brighton Beach apartment, spends most of her time watching television. After a phone call announces that she will be invited to be a participant on a game show, she becomes passionate with matching her appearance to a photograph from Harry's (son) graduation. In order to fit into her old red dress she begins taking a treatment of prescription weight-loss pills not knowing what they really were throughout the day. On the other hand her son Harry is a heroin addict. Together with his friend, Tyrone, and his girlfriend, Marion who are also heroin addicts start taking more dozes of the heroine. Their main aim is to open a fashion store for Marion's designs.
Now in the middle Tyrone is caught in the of a drug gang murder and Harry uses the majority of the money they have earned to bail him out of prison Growing more desperate, Marion tells Harry she doesn't know what she is going to do to get the money from her heroine and ends up having sex with him in exchange for the money, causing a confuse relationship. Sara's visits the TV studio and she is put in a mental institution, where she undergoes painful therapy. Harry and Tyrone travel to Florida, where they believe they can start over, but Harry's weakening condition forces them to visit a hospital in South Carolina, where they are arrested. Marion meets with a pimp, who makes her have more sex with him for drugs, each character is falling into a fetal position. In Sara's dream, however, she wins the grand prize that the game show offers and meets Harry there. In her fantasy, Harry is a successful businessman, engaged to Marion. Mother and son hug and say how much they love one another through the cheers of the crowd. Like this the movie ends but drugs really affect lives of many people.
By: Hammad Ameer
Now in the middle Tyrone is caught in the of a drug gang murder and Harry uses the majority of the money they have earned to bail him out of prison Growing more desperate, Marion tells Harry she doesn't know what she is going to do to get the money from her heroine and ends up having sex with him in exchange for the money, causing a confuse relationship. Sara's visits the TV studio and she is put in a mental institution, where she undergoes painful therapy. Harry and Tyrone travel to Florida, where they believe they can start over, but Harry's weakening condition forces them to visit a hospital in South Carolina, where they are arrested. Marion meets with a pimp, who makes her have more sex with him for drugs, each character is falling into a fetal position. In Sara's dream, however, she wins the grand prize that the game show offers and meets Harry there. In her fantasy, Harry is a successful businessman, engaged to Marion. Mother and son hug and say how much they love one another through the cheers of the crowd. Like this the movie ends but drugs really affect lives of many people.
By: Hammad Ameer
Sherlock Holmes (2009)
Sherlock Holmes is a 2009 action mystery movie this movie was directed by Guy Ritchie and produced by Joel Silver, Robert Downey and Jude Law portray Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson, respectively. Holmes investigates a series of murders. The story begins with a conflict on top of Tower Bridge, still under construction.
In 1891, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson chase to prevent the ritual murder of a girl by Lord Blackwood, who has killed five other people similarly. They are able to stop the murder just in time. Three months later, Blackwood is sentenced to death and requests to see Holmes, who visits him in prison. He warns Holmes of three more approaching deaths that will cause great changes to the world. Three days later, Blackwood's tomb is destroyed. Reordan is found dead inside Blackwood's coffin. The leaders, Sir Thomas (James Fox) and Home Secretary Lord Coward (Hans Matheson), ask Holmes to stop Blackwood. Sir Thomas and another senior member of the group are later killed through apparently magical means by Blackwood.
When Holmes learns he is wanted by the police he goes undercover and studies Blackwood's rituals, concluding the next target is British Parliament. Then Sherlock and Dr. John Watson sneak into the sewers beneath Parliament and discover a machine, based on Reordan's experiments, designed to release cyanide into the Parliament chambers. Blackwood and Coward realize their plan has failed. Blackwood manages to get away while Coward is captured.
Holmes gets Adler on top of the incomplete Tower. Holmes tricks him into becoming entangled in the ropes and chains, hanging over while Holmes recounts the technical trickery behind all of Blackwood's supposed magic. A loose beam falls off the bridge supports, causing Blackwood to fall and die by hanging from the chains.
By:Hammad Ameer
In 1891, Sherlock Holmes and Dr. John Watson chase to prevent the ritual murder of a girl by Lord Blackwood, who has killed five other people similarly. They are able to stop the murder just in time. Three months later, Blackwood is sentenced to death and requests to see Holmes, who visits him in prison. He warns Holmes of three more approaching deaths that will cause great changes to the world. Three days later, Blackwood's tomb is destroyed. Reordan is found dead inside Blackwood's coffin. The leaders, Sir Thomas (James Fox) and Home Secretary Lord Coward (Hans Matheson), ask Holmes to stop Blackwood. Sir Thomas and another senior member of the group are later killed through apparently magical means by Blackwood.
When Holmes learns he is wanted by the police he goes undercover and studies Blackwood's rituals, concluding the next target is British Parliament. Then Sherlock and Dr. John Watson sneak into the sewers beneath Parliament and discover a machine, based on Reordan's experiments, designed to release cyanide into the Parliament chambers. Blackwood and Coward realize their plan has failed. Blackwood manages to get away while Coward is captured.
Holmes gets Adler on top of the incomplete Tower. Holmes tricks him into becoming entangled in the ropes and chains, hanging over while Holmes recounts the technical trickery behind all of Blackwood's supposed magic. A loose beam falls off the bridge supports, causing Blackwood to fall and die by hanging from the chains.
By:Hammad Ameer
Green Street Hooligans
Length: 109 min
Distributor: Odd Lot Entertainment
Date of Release: 2005-09-09
Starring: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Marc Warren, Leo Gregory, Henry Goodman, Geoff Bell, Rafe Spall, Kieran Bew, Ross McCall, Francis Pope, Christopher Hehir
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Produced by Deborah Del Prete, Gigi Pritzker
Written by Lexi Alexander, Dougie Brimson
‘Stand Your Ground’ is the message that is conveyed in the movie.
GSH starts off with a fight scene and then moves on to a show the expulsion of a Harvard student who is caught in a fictitious drug scandal. The scenes move on showing Buckman (Eijah Wood) fling overseas to his sister in England.
From here onwards Matt Buckman is taken to a football match with his sister’s in-laws, Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) and this is where Matt is hooked to football and the supporting gang, better known as a firm, Green Street Elites (GSE).
However, no true American would enjoy watching British lads beat up a Harvard yank after a match of what Westerners call “soccer”. GSH, directed by Lexi Alexander, not only brings audiences into the world of competitive UK football, but also poses important arguments over the value of brotherhood and the lengths at which one would go to remain a part of it.
GSH is not only Matt Buckman’s story, but the story of a female director Alexander. She grew up in Germany with a brother who was an active member of a firm. The stories she lived and the tales he told make for the inspiration in this film.
Knowing that the movie is crafted from autobiographic material, makes the characters’ relationships in the film even more real and touching. There is a working balance between the graphic frame-by-frame fight scenes and the dialogue development between the actors onscreen.
This film is about football fanatics that go over the limits, brotherhood and Standing on your ground. I would like all the football fans to watch the movie.
By:
Taha Sajid
Distributor: Odd Lot Entertainment
Date of Release: 2005-09-09
Starring: Elijah Wood, Charlie Hunnam, Claire Forlani, Marc Warren, Leo Gregory, Henry Goodman, Geoff Bell, Rafe Spall, Kieran Bew, Ross McCall, Francis Pope, Christopher Hehir
Directed by Lexi Alexander
Produced by Deborah Del Prete, Gigi Pritzker
Written by Lexi Alexander, Dougie Brimson
‘Stand Your Ground’ is the message that is conveyed in the movie.
GSH starts off with a fight scene and then moves on to a show the expulsion of a Harvard student who is caught in a fictitious drug scandal. The scenes move on showing Buckman (Eijah Wood) fling overseas to his sister in England.
From here onwards Matt Buckman is taken to a football match with his sister’s in-laws, Pete Dunham (Charlie Hunnam) and this is where Matt is hooked to football and the supporting gang, better known as a firm, Green Street Elites (GSE).
However, no true American would enjoy watching British lads beat up a Harvard yank after a match of what Westerners call “soccer”. GSH, directed by Lexi Alexander, not only brings audiences into the world of competitive UK football, but also poses important arguments over the value of brotherhood and the lengths at which one would go to remain a part of it.
GSH is not only Matt Buckman’s story, but the story of a female director Alexander. She grew up in Germany with a brother who was an active member of a firm. The stories she lived and the tales he told make for the inspiration in this film.
Knowing that the movie is crafted from autobiographic material, makes the characters’ relationships in the film even more real and touching. There is a working balance between the graphic frame-by-frame fight scenes and the dialogue development between the actors onscreen.
This film is about football fanatics that go over the limits, brotherhood and Standing on your ground. I would like all the football fans to watch the movie.
By:
Taha Sajid
Slumdog Millionaire
(2008)
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Cast: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Freida Pinto
Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a stunning 20 million rupees on India’s "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of violent encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Freida Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions.
It’s a very original film where they tell the story of his life in flashbacks while he plays the game. It's funny, sad, thrilling, basically a very enjoyable film that deserves numerous Oscar nominations. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, millions of viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.
Eighteen year old Jamal Malik is only one question away from the big prize. However, some, including those associated with the game show, question how someone like Jamal, a self confessed non-genius who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, can be doing so well on the show when others who are brighter, more educated than him have failed. Is Jamal cheating? Is it purely luck that they have asked him the questions to which he knows the answers? Seeing Jamal's life journey to this point ultimately answers these questions. His life journey includes being orphaned at an early age; growing up with an older brother, Salim, who was both his guardian/protector, and having a relationship since childhood with another orphaned child, a girl named Latika. His motivation for being on the show also may provide some answers to his success. Perhaps it was all just written in his destiny.
Jamal Malik is tortured by the policemen in a sector accused of cheating a game show. Jamal, who has no education and works in a call center serving tea, is close to winning twenty million rupees in the show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" hosted by Prem Kumar(Anil Kapoor), giving precise answers to the questions and raising suspicion of fraud. The police inspector shows the videotape and after each question, Jamal tells parts of his childhood with his brother Salim, his crush for Latika and their fight to survive on the streets to justify each correct answer, guided by his common sense and past experience, and prove his innocence. The best part of the movie is the climax when Jamal Malik is about to answer the final question of the game show. One who sees the movie (specially the last scene) gets so much thrilled and involved into the movie as if it is happening in reality. The romantic scenes of Jamal and Latika were portrayed so beautifully which really touches one’s heart. Overall, “Slumdog Millionaire” is brilliant and 1 of the best movie of the year 2008.
By: Mubashir Altaf
Directed by: Danny Boyle
Cast: Dev Patel, Anil Kapoor, Irfan Khan, Freida Pinto
Slumdog Millionaire is the story of Jamal Malik (Dev Patel), an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is about to experience the biggest day of his life. With the whole nation watching, he is just one question away from winning a stunning 20 million rupees on India’s "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" But when the show breaks for the night, police arrest him on suspicion of cheating; how could a street kid know so much? Desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, of violent encounters with local gangs, and of Latika (Freida Pinto), the girl he loved and lost. Each chapter of his story reveals the key to the answer to one of the game show’s questions.
It’s a very original film where they tell the story of his life in flashbacks while he plays the game. It's funny, sad, thrilling, basically a very enjoyable film that deserves numerous Oscar nominations. But one question remains a mystery: what is this young man with no apparent desire for riches really doing on the game show? When the new day dawns and Jamal returns to answer the final question, millions of viewers are about to find out. At the heart of its storytelling lies the question of how anyone comes to know the things they know about life and love.
Eighteen year old Jamal Malik is only one question away from the big prize. However, some, including those associated with the game show, question how someone like Jamal, a self confessed non-genius who grew up in the slums of Mumbai, can be doing so well on the show when others who are brighter, more educated than him have failed. Is Jamal cheating? Is it purely luck that they have asked him the questions to which he knows the answers? Seeing Jamal's life journey to this point ultimately answers these questions. His life journey includes being orphaned at an early age; growing up with an older brother, Salim, who was both his guardian/protector, and having a relationship since childhood with another orphaned child, a girl named Latika. His motivation for being on the show also may provide some answers to his success. Perhaps it was all just written in his destiny.
Jamal Malik is tortured by the policemen in a sector accused of cheating a game show. Jamal, who has no education and works in a call center serving tea, is close to winning twenty million rupees in the show "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" hosted by Prem Kumar(Anil Kapoor), giving precise answers to the questions and raising suspicion of fraud. The police inspector shows the videotape and after each question, Jamal tells parts of his childhood with his brother Salim, his crush for Latika and their fight to survive on the streets to justify each correct answer, guided by his common sense and past experience, and prove his innocence. The best part of the movie is the climax when Jamal Malik is about to answer the final question of the game show. One who sees the movie (specially the last scene) gets so much thrilled and involved into the movie as if it is happening in reality. The romantic scenes of Jamal and Latika were portrayed so beautifully which really touches one’s heart. Overall, “Slumdog Millionaire” is brilliant and 1 of the best movie of the year 2008.
By: Mubashir Altaf
Lahore cinema here to stay or not?
Last year me and my family decided to go to DHA cinema to watch the Movie ” The Dark Knight ” , That was for the first time I were going to DHA cinema as its far away from my home. When I reached the cinema I were really amazed because it was really terrific, truly speaking I were not expecting that kind of terrific place In Lahore at least. Beside luxurious and with a beautiful environment that theater was full of people on that day because of weekend. Everyone was enjoying their stay and of course I enjoyed a lot to.
Other then that, some good quality cinemas includes, cinema in DHA Lahore. Although the ticket prices are high as compare to other conventional entertainments resorts in Lahore, but it’s worth watching a movie at weekends. You will feel the difference.
But the question remains is the rise in cinema viewership only temporary. Already censorship that nearly destroyed the industry has started to rear its ugly head.
Pakistan censor board has banned the latest Bollywood film based on Indo-Pak sportsmanship ‘Lahore’, the director of the film Sanjay Puran Chauhan. Having seen the movie on the net I believe that the film is not a typical Bollywood commercial film nor is it a Pakistan bashing film. It is a very different and balanced movie.
Set against the backdrop of competitive kickboxing, the movie that releases worldwide Friday March 19, shows how two countries torn apart by politics and religion bond in the sports arena. It aims to take a ringside view of India Pakistan relations.
Almost all cinemas such as Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Cinema, Sozo World, Plaza Cinema and Empire Cinema have complained of a lack of Bollywood movies.
Indian films, which have always had a massive following in Pakistan, have recently been screened in theatres in the country. In 2008, Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf lifted a nearly four-decade ban on Indian movies. This was followed by the release of 16 Hindi films.
However this is not the only issue this new decade has not only brought with it new opportunity for the cinema industry to grow but new problems as well. Cinemas halls in Lahore are faring poorly following the terror attack spree on Lahore.
There is also another problem that the cinema industry is fast becoming obsolete. Most people did not want to go to cinemas anymore as they had already watched the film on television. That's exactly why Slumdog Millionaire did not attract as large a crowd as it should have in Pakistan. People had already watched it on television. Another aspect of this problem is piracy. It has also given Pakistani cinemas a tough a tough time. I believe Piracy is a big issue and it must be controlled if the cinema culture is to be truly revived.
By: Danish Ahmed
Other then that, some good quality cinemas includes, cinema in DHA Lahore. Although the ticket prices are high as compare to other conventional entertainments resorts in Lahore, but it’s worth watching a movie at weekends. You will feel the difference.
But the question remains is the rise in cinema viewership only temporary. Already censorship that nearly destroyed the industry has started to rear its ugly head.
Pakistan censor board has banned the latest Bollywood film based on Indo-Pak sportsmanship ‘Lahore’, the director of the film Sanjay Puran Chauhan. Having seen the movie on the net I believe that the film is not a typical Bollywood commercial film nor is it a Pakistan bashing film. It is a very different and balanced movie.
Set against the backdrop of competitive kickboxing, the movie that releases worldwide Friday March 19, shows how two countries torn apart by politics and religion bond in the sports arena. It aims to take a ringside view of India Pakistan relations.
Almost all cinemas such as Defense Housing Authority (DHA) Cinema, Sozo World, Plaza Cinema and Empire Cinema have complained of a lack of Bollywood movies.
Indian films, which have always had a massive following in Pakistan, have recently been screened in theatres in the country. In 2008, Pakistan's former president Pervez Musharraf lifted a nearly four-decade ban on Indian movies. This was followed by the release of 16 Hindi films.
However this is not the only issue this new decade has not only brought with it new opportunity for the cinema industry to grow but new problems as well. Cinemas halls in Lahore are faring poorly following the terror attack spree on Lahore.
There is also another problem that the cinema industry is fast becoming obsolete. Most people did not want to go to cinemas anymore as they had already watched the film on television. That's exactly why Slumdog Millionaire did not attract as large a crowd as it should have in Pakistan. People had already watched it on television. Another aspect of this problem is piracy. It has also given Pakistani cinemas a tough a tough time. I believe Piracy is a big issue and it must be controlled if the cinema culture is to be truly revived.
By: Danish Ahmed
The evolution of short movies
The short form of movies is the most precise and meaningful visual display of your message. Mostly short movies are used to depict some specific problems that exist in the society. Some people find short movies a bit strange and odd as they are usually quite different from that of other normal movies. Usually they target very minor but keen issues that affect our society but are usually not noticed and hence become a silent poison to the society.
In the past few years the art of making short movies has evolved not in our society but throughout the world .as they are more precise and directly affect the very unique and close to heart matters, that is why they have been widely accepted throughout the world. Moreover short movies are moral oriented and are directed in their own style which is usually not seen in the typical movies.
Recently me and my group members came across with a different experience of making a short movie, which was part of our project in an optional video production course, which I found was quite interesting to take. the project considers of all the sections of making a short movies which included pre-production to direction, editing and all the post production work, moreover we as student had to use our own recourses to produce it moreover equipment was being provide to us, so by this way we got a chance to use a Sony HD camera and Apple Mac PC’s for editing in one of the latest professional software. Usually it is thought that making a movie is an easy work especially at this level, just turn on the camera, act in front of it and then copy it to PC using data cable and you are done. But it’s not that simple most of the time is taken by the pre-preproduction work that includes your concept, script, screenplay and the shoot plan. The shooting and the acting is not as difficult work as long as you have done absolutely perfect pre-production work. The art of using camera work is very important. But at this level we had only one camera so we had to take several takes from different angles which was indeed a very hectic and boring work to do. Moreover the advantage we had was the storyline, unique concept and most importantly our technical expertise that we had in the specific field. The movie was music based with the aspect of betrayal and the relationship off the drugs with the music. Having a strong storyline and a different concept was not enough ,after all this work comes the most difficult part which is editing of the movie, and especially when you have to sink your visuals with the sound specially the parts in which you are using musical equipment. That was the most time consuming part which took almost 20 days.
Moreover it is fun making a short movie as long as you are getting reasonable appreciation of your work, and by depicting you’re idea and concept in a perfect way. With the passage of time the industry of short movies has emerged to be very successful and has got reasonable response from the audience. Universities have emerged with specialized degrees in this field. So the future seems to be very bright for prospect people who are interested in this field.
By: Mubashir Altaf
In the past few years the art of making short movies has evolved not in our society but throughout the world .as they are more precise and directly affect the very unique and close to heart matters, that is why they have been widely accepted throughout the world. Moreover short movies are moral oriented and are directed in their own style which is usually not seen in the typical movies.
Recently me and my group members came across with a different experience of making a short movie, which was part of our project in an optional video production course, which I found was quite interesting to take. the project considers of all the sections of making a short movies which included pre-production to direction, editing and all the post production work, moreover we as student had to use our own recourses to produce it moreover equipment was being provide to us, so by this way we got a chance to use a Sony HD camera and Apple Mac PC’s for editing in one of the latest professional software. Usually it is thought that making a movie is an easy work especially at this level, just turn on the camera, act in front of it and then copy it to PC using data cable and you are done. But it’s not that simple most of the time is taken by the pre-preproduction work that includes your concept, script, screenplay and the shoot plan. The shooting and the acting is not as difficult work as long as you have done absolutely perfect pre-production work. The art of using camera work is very important. But at this level we had only one camera so we had to take several takes from different angles which was indeed a very hectic and boring work to do. Moreover the advantage we had was the storyline, unique concept and most importantly our technical expertise that we had in the specific field. The movie was music based with the aspect of betrayal and the relationship off the drugs with the music. Having a strong storyline and a different concept was not enough ,after all this work comes the most difficult part which is editing of the movie, and especially when you have to sink your visuals with the sound specially the parts in which you are using musical equipment. That was the most time consuming part which took almost 20 days.
Moreover it is fun making a short movie as long as you are getting reasonable appreciation of your work, and by depicting you’re idea and concept in a perfect way. With the passage of time the industry of short movies has emerged to be very successful and has got reasonable response from the audience. Universities have emerged with specialized degrees in this field. So the future seems to be very bright for prospect people who are interested in this field.
By: Mubashir Altaf
Movie “My name is Khan” did it deliver?
This post is about the Bollywood film ‘My Name is Khan’ its message and delivery. The movie provides a rare insight in the cultural politics in India which most movies shy away from.
My name is Khan is another movie that fundamentally different from the traditional movies coming out of Bollywood. Recently filmmakers of Bollywood have turned to riskier fare in order to appeal to an international audience. And the most daring and ambitious so far has to be "My Name Is Khan". The film had generated more controversy than any other Indian movie to date even before its release when its star Shah Rukh Khan, made a harmless comment about Pakistanis and cricket.
"My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist". This is a line that is often repeated in the new film directed by Karan Johar, and it is one that needs to be repeated especially in the United States. The main character, a Indian Muslim with a severe case of Asperser’s syndrome first utters these words at the very beginning of the film, as he is being roughly searched at the San Francisco Airport.
The story takes several twists and turns. Khan is misunderstood, arrested by FBI and released. Meets a radical Muslim preacher and reaches a Black dominated town in Georgia, which he returns to after hearing that the Katrina hurricane as ravaged near the end.
By the end of the 2.5hr film Khan journeyed to a poor village in the Georgia and helped save a Black church after a hurricane, which sets up the obligatory happy ending due to an unwritten law of Bollywood movies making it seemed forced. In the end the current President Obama awards Khan for his heroism and says to him, "Your name is Khan and you are not a terrorist!”. Then everyone in the crowd joins hands to sing.
The film of course crushes the most popular post-9/11 prejudices of our times. The case isn’t new. Which is that while most global terrorists may be Muslims - all Muslims aren’t terrorists. And that no religion, including Islam, preaches violence against the innocent.
My Name is Khan is a film made with sincerity and sweat, ambition and conviction. It grapples with the most urgent and fraught issue facing humanity religion. It features a striking performance by Shah Rukh Khan. What were its best points? Its depiction of life, and the lives of Muslims living in the US, was remarkably accurate. Yet despite all this, My Name is Khan never becomes the empowering, inspiring epic it aspires to be. This is mainly because in some places credibility and reality were stretched to the limit.
By: Danish Ahmed
My name is Khan is another movie that fundamentally different from the traditional movies coming out of Bollywood. Recently filmmakers of Bollywood have turned to riskier fare in order to appeal to an international audience. And the most daring and ambitious so far has to be "My Name Is Khan". The film had generated more controversy than any other Indian movie to date even before its release when its star Shah Rukh Khan, made a harmless comment about Pakistanis and cricket.
"My name is Khan, and I am not a terrorist". This is a line that is often repeated in the new film directed by Karan Johar, and it is one that needs to be repeated especially in the United States. The main character, a Indian Muslim with a severe case of Asperser’s syndrome first utters these words at the very beginning of the film, as he is being roughly searched at the San Francisco Airport.
The story takes several twists and turns. Khan is misunderstood, arrested by FBI and released. Meets a radical Muslim preacher and reaches a Black dominated town in Georgia, which he returns to after hearing that the Katrina hurricane as ravaged near the end.
By the end of the 2.5hr film Khan journeyed to a poor village in the Georgia and helped save a Black church after a hurricane, which sets up the obligatory happy ending due to an unwritten law of Bollywood movies making it seemed forced. In the end the current President Obama awards Khan for his heroism and says to him, "Your name is Khan and you are not a terrorist!”. Then everyone in the crowd joins hands to sing.
The film of course crushes the most popular post-9/11 prejudices of our times. The case isn’t new. Which is that while most global terrorists may be Muslims - all Muslims aren’t terrorists. And that no religion, including Islam, preaches violence against the innocent.
My Name is Khan is a film made with sincerity and sweat, ambition and conviction. It grapples with the most urgent and fraught issue facing humanity religion. It features a striking performance by Shah Rukh Khan. What were its best points? Its depiction of life, and the lives of Muslims living in the US, was remarkably accurate. Yet despite all this, My Name is Khan never becomes the empowering, inspiring epic it aspires to be. This is mainly because in some places credibility and reality were stretched to the limit.
By: Danish Ahmed
Tuesday, March 30, 2010
The Kid
Written and Directed by Charlie Chaplin
Photographed by Roland Thothero
Cast
• Charlie Chaplin
• Edna Perviance
• Carl Miller
• Tom Wilson
• Jack Coogan
• Henry Bergman
• Lita Grey
The movie ‘the kid’ is a real classic. I really feel the movie had a really good story followed by some really good direction. The movie starts with a tragedy when an unwed woman leaves her new born baby in a car hoping that her child will be in safe hands. The car was than stolen and the unfortunate child was thrown in the garbage can. Charlie Chaplin in this movie acts as a very poor person who is unable to fulfill even his basic needs, he finds the child in the garbage can and thus he wants to get rid of the child. He tries to but is unable to get rid of him because of a policeman. However he decides to adopt the child when he reads the note attached on the baby’s cloth. After five years the child is now grown up. He helps Charlie to earn money by breaking the windows with rocks and then Charlie Chaplin repairs them. On the other end the mother of the child is now a star and misses her child more than anything. She donates more and more in the hope to find her child some day. The child is taken to the orphanage when the child gets ill and the doctor get to know that the child is not the son of Charlie. Charlie fights with the police to get the child back. The mother than knows about his son through the doctor who shows the note to her which was written by herself when she dropped the child in the car. Charlie takes the child to a motel. The proprietor reads of a reward for the Kid and takes him from a sleeping Charlie to his mother. Charlie after he wakes up is unable to find his child and dreams to be with him. The dream comes true when a policeman wakes him up and takes him to the house of the child’s mother where he meets him.
I feel the movie gives a strong message to all. Chaplin and the child both give remarkable performances in The Kid Making that kind of movie at that time was certainly a great task. With those limited resources and without use of words being spoken, I feel the movie is still very interesting and worth watching for all.
By: Raza Ali
Photographed by Roland Thothero
Cast
• Charlie Chaplin
• Edna Perviance
• Carl Miller
• Tom Wilson
• Jack Coogan
• Henry Bergman
• Lita Grey
The movie ‘the kid’ is a real classic. I really feel the movie had a really good story followed by some really good direction. The movie starts with a tragedy when an unwed woman leaves her new born baby in a car hoping that her child will be in safe hands. The car was than stolen and the unfortunate child was thrown in the garbage can. Charlie Chaplin in this movie acts as a very poor person who is unable to fulfill even his basic needs, he finds the child in the garbage can and thus he wants to get rid of the child. He tries to but is unable to get rid of him because of a policeman. However he decides to adopt the child when he reads the note attached on the baby’s cloth. After five years the child is now grown up. He helps Charlie to earn money by breaking the windows with rocks and then Charlie Chaplin repairs them. On the other end the mother of the child is now a star and misses her child more than anything. She donates more and more in the hope to find her child some day. The child is taken to the orphanage when the child gets ill and the doctor get to know that the child is not the son of Charlie. Charlie fights with the police to get the child back. The mother than knows about his son through the doctor who shows the note to her which was written by herself when she dropped the child in the car. Charlie takes the child to a motel. The proprietor reads of a reward for the Kid and takes him from a sleeping Charlie to his mother. Charlie after he wakes up is unable to find his child and dreams to be with him. The dream comes true when a policeman wakes him up and takes him to the house of the child’s mother where he meets him.
I feel the movie gives a strong message to all. Chaplin and the child both give remarkable performances in The Kid Making that kind of movie at that time was certainly a great task. With those limited resources and without use of words being spoken, I feel the movie is still very interesting and worth watching for all.
By: Raza Ali
DIVING BELL AND THE BUTTERFLY
Starring:
Mathieu Amalric
Emmanuelle Seigner
Marie-Josee Croze
Anne Consigny
Director: Julian Schnabel
The diving bell and the butterfly is a movie that involves you so much that till the very end you feel like involved in the movie. The direction is excellent, the frames and the background are chosen perfectly. A very dull theme has been chosen which goes with the movie story. The story of the movie is very touchy and it makes you feel that you are in it. It is a real story of a very normal person and it shows how life of a human can change in a matter of few minutes.
Not to forget the acting of the lead actor who is acting as a paralyzed person in the movie. His acting is so natural that you really feel that he is paralyzed. The cast is superb, the scenes that show the father and son are very real and show the importance of acceptance of father for son, which is carried down to his own children. The director let's you understand, just a bit, the world from the paralyzed person’s point of view. This film deserves all the praise that it has received in a story which is emotional
It is amazing how the director has shown the story to the viewers. All the cast has acted wonderfully well making it a masterpiece. It is a must watch for all. We should all appreciate the director for delivering this story to the screen. Although I did not understand what they were speaking but only reading the subtitles involved me so much in the movie that I wanted to watch the movie till the very end. The director with the help of all the team has justified the story with excellent video shooting and lighting.
By: Raza Ali
Mathieu Amalric
Emmanuelle Seigner
Marie-Josee Croze
Anne Consigny
Director: Julian Schnabel
The diving bell and the butterfly is a movie that involves you so much that till the very end you feel like involved in the movie. The direction is excellent, the frames and the background are chosen perfectly. A very dull theme has been chosen which goes with the movie story. The story of the movie is very touchy and it makes you feel that you are in it. It is a real story of a very normal person and it shows how life of a human can change in a matter of few minutes.
Not to forget the acting of the lead actor who is acting as a paralyzed person in the movie. His acting is so natural that you really feel that he is paralyzed. The cast is superb, the scenes that show the father and son are very real and show the importance of acceptance of father for son, which is carried down to his own children. The director let's you understand, just a bit, the world from the paralyzed person’s point of view. This film deserves all the praise that it has received in a story which is emotional
It is amazing how the director has shown the story to the viewers. All the cast has acted wonderfully well making it a masterpiece. It is a must watch for all. We should all appreciate the director for delivering this story to the screen. Although I did not understand what they were speaking but only reading the subtitles involved me so much in the movie that I wanted to watch the movie till the very end. The director with the help of all the team has justified the story with excellent video shooting and lighting.
By: Raza Ali
Monday, March 22, 2010
Prison Break
Prison Break is an American serial drama television series created by Paul Scheuring, which premiered on the Fox Broadcasting Company on August 29, 2005. The series revolves around two brothers; one who has been sentenced to death for a crime he did not commit, and the other, a genius, who devises an elaborate plan to help him escape prison. The series is produced by Adelstein-Parouse Productions, in association with Original Television and 20th Century Fox Television. The current executive producers are head writer Scheuring, co-head writer Matt Olmstead, Kevin Hooks, Marty Adelstein, Dawn Parouse, Neal H. Moritz, and Brett Ratner. The series' theme music is composed by Ramin Djawadi, and was nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award in 2006.
Season synopsis
Season 1
The first season follows the rescue of Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), who is on death row for the murder of the vice president’s brother. He insists he’s innocent and only his brother Michael Scofield (Wentsworth Miller) believes him. As an engineer who helped design the prison where Lincoln is being held, Michael takes drastic measures to help his brother. He gets himself arrested and sent to the same prison so that with his knowledge of building the two of them can escape together. However, while inside, Michael discovers a massive conspiracy that is determined to see Lincoln’s sentence carried out. Breaking out will be more difficult than he thought, but still he tried and succeeded and manage to escape.
Season 2
The second season begins eight hours after the escape, focusing mainly on the escapees. Series creator Paul Scheuring describes the second season as "The Fugitive times eight". The fugitives split up and journey to locations across the country with the authorities close behind them as they each pursue their individual goals. Several of the escapees reunite in search of a large cache of money buried long ago by another prisoner. Federal agent Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner) is assigned to track down and capture the eight fugitives, but is revealed to be working for The Company, which wants all eight men dead. When Sara discovers her dead father, Governor Frank Tancredi, she meets with Michael, remaining with him as the brothers try to bring down the current President, a Company member. To ensure the brothers' safety, Sara allows herself to be arrested and faces trial. During the trial, the testimony of former Secret Service agent Paul Kellerman, who used to work for the Company-controlled President, exonerates Lincoln and Sara. Several of the escapees are killed or recaptured, but the brothers make it to Panama. Michael, T-Bag and Mahone are arrested by the Panamanian authorities and are imprisoned at the Penitenciaría Federal de Sona where they find Bellick who had also been arrested.
Season 3
The third season follows both Michael inside Sona and Lincoln on the outside in Panama. Sona is a prison that has been run by the inmates and guarded only from the outside since a riot the year before. Burrows is quickly contacted by the company who have kidnapped his son LJ and Sara Tancredi, the women Scofield loves, and is told tth they want Scofield to break James Whistler out of Sona. The season follows Scofield and Whistler’s trials in formulating an escape plan, as Burrows deals with The Company’s sexy and deadly representative.
Season 4
The fourth season starts with Michael avenging Sara's "death", before learning that Gretchen did not kill her as he thought. Michael also learns the truth about Whistler that he has secretly been working alongside Mahone to take down the Company. Sona has burned down and Sucre, Bellick and T-Bag have escaped during the chaos. After returning to Chicago to look for Sara, Michael is arrested and recruited by Don Self (Michael Rapaport), a Department of Homeland Security agent, to help bring down the Company in exchange for his freedom. Lincoln, who was arrested in Panama is transferred to Chicago, and along with Mahone, Sucre, and Bellick with whom a deal is made. Also joining the group are Sara, who escaped from Gretchen which resulted in Gretchen's own captivity by the Company, and a hacker who was assigned to help them after getting arrested for identity theft. Together, they devise a plan to retrieve Scylla, thought of as the Company's 'little black book', from the Company that will help to destroy them. In the meantime, Wyatt (Cress Williams), an agent from the Company, attempts to track Michael and Lincoln down. When the group eventually succeeds in stealing Scylla, Self betrays them and tries to sell Scylla, but fails. Right before the mid-season break, it is revealed that Michael and Lincoln's mother is still alive and has obtained Scylla.
By : Mubashir Altaf
Season synopsis
Season 1
The first season follows the rescue of Lincoln Burrows (Dominic Purcell), who is on death row for the murder of the vice president’s brother. He insists he’s innocent and only his brother Michael Scofield (Wentsworth Miller) believes him. As an engineer who helped design the prison where Lincoln is being held, Michael takes drastic measures to help his brother. He gets himself arrested and sent to the same prison so that with his knowledge of building the two of them can escape together. However, while inside, Michael discovers a massive conspiracy that is determined to see Lincoln’s sentence carried out. Breaking out will be more difficult than he thought, but still he tried and succeeded and manage to escape.
Season 2
The second season begins eight hours after the escape, focusing mainly on the escapees. Series creator Paul Scheuring describes the second season as "The Fugitive times eight". The fugitives split up and journey to locations across the country with the authorities close behind them as they each pursue their individual goals. Several of the escapees reunite in search of a large cache of money buried long ago by another prisoner. Federal agent Alexander Mahone (William Fichtner) is assigned to track down and capture the eight fugitives, but is revealed to be working for The Company, which wants all eight men dead. When Sara discovers her dead father, Governor Frank Tancredi, she meets with Michael, remaining with him as the brothers try to bring down the current President, a Company member. To ensure the brothers' safety, Sara allows herself to be arrested and faces trial. During the trial, the testimony of former Secret Service agent Paul Kellerman, who used to work for the Company-controlled President, exonerates Lincoln and Sara. Several of the escapees are killed or recaptured, but the brothers make it to Panama. Michael, T-Bag and Mahone are arrested by the Panamanian authorities and are imprisoned at the Penitenciaría Federal de Sona where they find Bellick who had also been arrested.
Season 3
The third season follows both Michael inside Sona and Lincoln on the outside in Panama. Sona is a prison that has been run by the inmates and guarded only from the outside since a riot the year before. Burrows is quickly contacted by the company who have kidnapped his son LJ and Sara Tancredi, the women Scofield loves, and is told tth they want Scofield to break James Whistler out of Sona. The season follows Scofield and Whistler’s trials in formulating an escape plan, as Burrows deals with The Company’s sexy and deadly representative.
Season 4
The fourth season starts with Michael avenging Sara's "death", before learning that Gretchen did not kill her as he thought. Michael also learns the truth about Whistler that he has secretly been working alongside Mahone to take down the Company. Sona has burned down and Sucre, Bellick and T-Bag have escaped during the chaos. After returning to Chicago to look for Sara, Michael is arrested and recruited by Don Self (Michael Rapaport), a Department of Homeland Security agent, to help bring down the Company in exchange for his freedom. Lincoln, who was arrested in Panama is transferred to Chicago, and along with Mahone, Sucre, and Bellick with whom a deal is made. Also joining the group are Sara, who escaped from Gretchen which resulted in Gretchen's own captivity by the Company, and a hacker who was assigned to help them after getting arrested for identity theft. Together, they devise a plan to retrieve Scylla, thought of as the Company's 'little black book', from the Company that will help to destroy them. In the meantime, Wyatt (Cress Williams), an agent from the Company, attempts to track Michael and Lincoln down. When the group eventually succeeds in stealing Scylla, Self betrays them and tries to sell Scylla, but fails. Right before the mid-season break, it is revealed that Michael and Lincoln's mother is still alive and has obtained Scylla.
By : Mubashir Altaf
“Torrents”, are they really that harmful?
For those who are new to the fascinating world of bit torrents, a "torrent" or a "bit torrent" is a type of meta-data that facilitates peer-to-peer file sharing. Torrents have recently faced a lot of criticism due to their relatively unregulated use and the tendency of torrent users to trade illicit data. Many countries such as U.S, U.K and a lot of others have banned the use of torrents and p2p softwares.
I agree with the fact that torrents are harmful and cause millions of dollars in damage to many industries and that mainly entertainment industry falls prey to this damage, but the question is that are torrents really that harmful or do they have a positive side also. I think we should look at the other side of the picture that millions of people are using this technology so it must have some benefit or positive aspects.
A lot of people use torrents only because the product is not available in the market or their country, etc. For example people in Pakistan download movies and softwares because they have no other option as the genuine products are not available in the region. Although pirated cd’s and dvds are available but there is not much variety offered.
Also another benefit of torrents that I noticed is that because of torrents people download movies and music by relatively unknown artists, which they would not risk paying for otherwise. Thus torrents are a good way for upcoming artists to get their work noticed.
All in all torrents do have some benefits that people should appreciate instead of just criticizing them all the time, and this phenomena is now catching on with Hollywood producers who are now planning to market their movies and shows on torrents in the future.
By: Mussab Bin Amer
I agree with the fact that torrents are harmful and cause millions of dollars in damage to many industries and that mainly entertainment industry falls prey to this damage, but the question is that are torrents really that harmful or do they have a positive side also. I think we should look at the other side of the picture that millions of people are using this technology so it must have some benefit or positive aspects.
A lot of people use torrents only because the product is not available in the market or their country, etc. For example people in Pakistan download movies and softwares because they have no other option as the genuine products are not available in the region. Although pirated cd’s and dvds are available but there is not much variety offered.
Also another benefit of torrents that I noticed is that because of torrents people download movies and music by relatively unknown artists, which they would not risk paying for otherwise. Thus torrents are a good way for upcoming artists to get their work noticed.
All in all torrents do have some benefits that people should appreciate instead of just criticizing them all the time, and this phenomena is now catching on with Hollywood producers who are now planning to market their movies and shows on torrents in the future.
By: Mussab Bin Amer
This Is It!
This is it is directed by Kenny Ortega that features the marvelous sound of the one and only who sold an estimated 750 million records worldwide, released thirteen number one singles and scored a double induction into the Rock n Roll Hall of Fame. The film’s earnings are aimed to generate proceeds that will benefit The Michael Jackson Family Trust (for his family and children in need).The cast includes Michael Jackson, Kenny Ortega, Mr. Jackson’s dancers, band, etc
Kenny Ortega presents a compilation of backstage footage, rehearsals, and interviews featuring Michael Jackson’s preparation for his sold-out London tour. In short, it is one last look at the legendary King of Pop performing on stage with his unparalleled musical energy and liveliness.
This film concentrates on a certain period of time MJ’s life. This Is It acutely exhibits Michael Jackson as what the world deemed him: the greatest entertainer on the planet. While the film obviously isn’t a full career retrospective, it features Mr. Jackson at the peak of his artistic brilliance. This small six week window captures Mr. Jackson in such creative involvement (staging, choreography, production design, lighting, story-concepts) while still demonstrating grace, patience, and the essential ability to collaborate. It’s effortless to accept Mr. Jackson as the phenomenon he became when the audience can witness what he demanded from his creative collaborators/environment.
We really receive the gift of Mr. Jackson’s final performances in the film and the audience is spellbound from start to finish. There’s footage of every hit song with impeccable image and sound. The audience begins to understand Michael Jackson as a complete portrait of success.
While Ortega’s objective was ultimately to create a tribute rather than to tell a story, the film could have been used a little more shape. There was no solid arc to the movie other than the progression of rehearsals leading up to the concert dates. Also, the finale was lacking – It would’ve been nice to see the film close with something particularly sentimental to send the audience home with.
Even if you aren’t a die-hard fan, you will appreciate this portrayal of Michael Jackson’s epic presence and artistic mastermind. This record of his life with a series of sob-stories will surely not be a waste your time. This movie is full of excitement, and obviously, great music.
By: Taha Sajid
Kenny Ortega presents a compilation of backstage footage, rehearsals, and interviews featuring Michael Jackson’s preparation for his sold-out London tour. In short, it is one last look at the legendary King of Pop performing on stage with his unparalleled musical energy and liveliness.
This film concentrates on a certain period of time MJ’s life. This Is It acutely exhibits Michael Jackson as what the world deemed him: the greatest entertainer on the planet. While the film obviously isn’t a full career retrospective, it features Mr. Jackson at the peak of his artistic brilliance. This small six week window captures Mr. Jackson in such creative involvement (staging, choreography, production design, lighting, story-concepts) while still demonstrating grace, patience, and the essential ability to collaborate. It’s effortless to accept Mr. Jackson as the phenomenon he became when the audience can witness what he demanded from his creative collaborators/environment.
We really receive the gift of Mr. Jackson’s final performances in the film and the audience is spellbound from start to finish. There’s footage of every hit song with impeccable image and sound. The audience begins to understand Michael Jackson as a complete portrait of success.
While Ortega’s objective was ultimately to create a tribute rather than to tell a story, the film could have been used a little more shape. There was no solid arc to the movie other than the progression of rehearsals leading up to the concert dates. Also, the finale was lacking – It would’ve been nice to see the film close with something particularly sentimental to send the audience home with.
Even if you aren’t a die-hard fan, you will appreciate this portrayal of Michael Jackson’s epic presence and artistic mastermind. This record of his life with a series of sob-stories will surely not be a waste your time. This movie is full of excitement, and obviously, great music.
By: Taha Sajid
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Hollywood vs. Bollywood but were is Lollywood?
Lollywood is the film industry that is situated in Pakistan neighbor to India the country that houses Bollywood. Yet were as the name of Bollywood is fast becoming a household name Lollywood is struggling to be recognized in its own country. Lollywood and Bollywood started around the same time and presented their movies in the similar format yet one has achieved Oscar level awards and worldwide recognition while the other has only shrunk.
As a Pakistani I find it had to portray my county and my people in a positive light especially when the western media's war on Pakistan. I believe that the Pakistani movie industry is essentially our ambassador to the outside world. Yet our movies continue to flop one after the other which begs the question, what are the other film industries doing that makes them so successful?
When we think of the movie capital of the world we think of Hollywood in California or Bollywood in Bombay. When comparing Hollywood to Bollywood there are more differences than similarities. Most people assume that the Hollywood produces more movies a year than anywhere else in the world it’s movies are certainly most well known. However in reality Bollywood produces more than 800 films a year were as the Hollywood produces half as many.
Both film industries produce movies that are structurally different from each other Hollywood movies have a realistic theme even if the movie is sci-fi or fantasy when watching a movie like Lord of the Rings or Avatar we cannot help but feel we are there. Though to be fair the technologically superiority play a major role in the department. Another fact about Hollywood films is that the actors are professionals when they act and show emotions such as crying they make it look quite believable.
Bollywood on the other hand has several movie stars that our generation has grown up seeing such as Shahrukh Khan. All of their actors are unique and each adds their own unique flavor to their movies. Secondly all movies are essentially musicals. Indian movies try to strike a balance their will never be a purely horror movie there are always elements of comedy or romance mixed in. Another thing about them is that they promote family values which is a topic western filmmakers tend to avoid.
I believe that the Pakistani movie industry need above all else is uniqueness. Bollywood proved that to be successful we do not need technology or a high budget. We need only to stop coping Hollywood or Bollywood we need to stand on our own feet and present our unique culture to the world.
Today, Pakistani cinema has all but vanished. In 1985, 1,100 movie houses operated in Pakistan; today, only 120 are in business. Most directors have already given up and the few directors, producers and cinema owners that are still in this business often rely on second jobs to make ends meet.
We are at the bottom of the well and the only way is up. But we can only climb if we have the strength of will to do so. So I would like to encourage all Pakistani that read this article to create a small spark it can be a script, video anything and post on your own blog or on YouTube and perhaps your idea will be the one to turn into a roaring fire and raise Lollywood to the top.
By: Danish Ahmed
As a Pakistani I find it had to portray my county and my people in a positive light especially when the western media's war on Pakistan. I believe that the Pakistani movie industry is essentially our ambassador to the outside world. Yet our movies continue to flop one after the other which begs the question, what are the other film industries doing that makes them so successful?
When we think of the movie capital of the world we think of Hollywood in California or Bollywood in Bombay. When comparing Hollywood to Bollywood there are more differences than similarities. Most people assume that the Hollywood produces more movies a year than anywhere else in the world it’s movies are certainly most well known. However in reality Bollywood produces more than 800 films a year were as the Hollywood produces half as many.
Both film industries produce movies that are structurally different from each other Hollywood movies have a realistic theme even if the movie is sci-fi or fantasy when watching a movie like Lord of the Rings or Avatar we cannot help but feel we are there. Though to be fair the technologically superiority play a major role in the department. Another fact about Hollywood films is that the actors are professionals when they act and show emotions such as crying they make it look quite believable.
Bollywood on the other hand has several movie stars that our generation has grown up seeing such as Shahrukh Khan. All of their actors are unique and each adds their own unique flavor to their movies. Secondly all movies are essentially musicals. Indian movies try to strike a balance their will never be a purely horror movie there are always elements of comedy or romance mixed in. Another thing about them is that they promote family values which is a topic western filmmakers tend to avoid.
I believe that the Pakistani movie industry need above all else is uniqueness. Bollywood proved that to be successful we do not need technology or a high budget. We need only to stop coping Hollywood or Bollywood we need to stand on our own feet and present our unique culture to the world.
Today, Pakistani cinema has all but vanished. In 1985, 1,100 movie houses operated in Pakistan; today, only 120 are in business. Most directors have already given up and the few directors, producers and cinema owners that are still in this business often rely on second jobs to make ends meet.
We are at the bottom of the well and the only way is up. But we can only climb if we have the strength of will to do so. So I would like to encourage all Pakistani that read this article to create a small spark it can be a script, video anything and post on your own blog or on YouTube and perhaps your idea will be the one to turn into a roaring fire and raise Lollywood to the top.
By: Danish Ahmed
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