Sunday, January 9, 2011

[ItzToday.com] 'Paranormal Activity 2' Movie Review

[ItzToday.com] 'Paranormal Activity 2' Movie Review

'Paranormal Activity 2' Movie Review

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 10:10 PM PST

'Paranormal Activity 2' Movie ReviewFilm: 'Paranormal Activity 2'; Director: Tod Williams; Cast: Sprague Grayden, Brian Boland, Katie Featherston, Molly Ephraim; Rating: ***1/2

For those who remember the story of "Paranormal Activity", and not just the chill, would remember that not much explanation was given for the paranormal events in the film. "Paranormal Activity 2", which is a parallel prequel, tries to offer that explanation, which perhaps becomes the failing of the film.

The second part tells the story of Katie's (Katie Featherston) sister Kristi (Sprague Grayden), who is facing a similar kind of unexplainable ghostly activity in her house occupied by her husband Daniel (Brian Boland), step daughter Ali (Molly Ephraim) and infant son. Ali is one of the first ones to personally experience it. But her pleas fall on deaf ears of her father, safe as they feel in the knowledge that the entire house is rigged with cameras.

The daughter meanwhile finds out more and discovers, tackily through research on the internet, that the paranormal activity is because someone in the family had sold his soul to the devil for riches, on the condition that the first born male child in the family would be given to him. Sadly, in almost a century, her step brother was the first male born in the family.

The success of the first part, despite no external sound or effects, was because of one word - anticipation. The film had built up the ante with stillness punctured by gentle unexplainable activities, till the grand finale shook everyone.

This part follows this well and does raise a few chills in the minds of the audience through the steady shots of the house. However, for those who have seen the first, there is nothing new here. Also, the tacky way in which the explanation of the horrors is given leaves a lot to be desired.

Yet, at the root of both the "Blair Witch Project" films and the two "Paranormal Activity" films, are the simplest and the most identifiable of human emotion -- raw fear. It is refreshing to see once again that a film does not rely on cheap gore and blood to scare audiences, boding well for cinema in general.

Filmmakers should thus take a cue from both the series, and pay more emphasis on a good story and their own skills, rather than effects. And if nothing than for that reason alone, "Paranormal Activity 2" is a must watch.

Natalie Portman barely ate during 'Black Swan'

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 10:05 PM PST

Natalie Portman barely ate during ate 'Black Swan'London, Jan 8 (IANS) Actress Natalie Portman says she had an exhausting regime during the shooting of "Black Swan" when she hardly had time to eat.

"It was more difficult than anything I've ever experienced before. I like to go home and be myself but with this one I didn't get the chance. It didn't leave me." thesun.co.uk quoted Portman as saying.

"I was barely eating, I was working 16 hours a day. I was almost method acting without intending to. I do wonder now how people can do this kind of role when they have a family," she added.

The 29-year-old actress Portman lost 9 kg for the role, spent up to eight hours a day in dance rehearsals, and had even dislocated a rib during the shoot.

Shweta Tiwari first woman to win 'Bigg Boss'

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 09:50 PM PST

Shweta Tiwari first woman to win 'Bigg Boss'Lonavala, Jan 8 (IANS) Popular TV actress Shweta Tiwari Saturday walked away with the crown of "Bigg Boss 4" and the prize money of Rs.1 crore at a grand finale here after her dignified and balanced behaviour for 14 weeks in the house. She is the first woman to win the show.

An overwhelmed and emotional Shweta, dressed in a fuschia-coloured sari, burst into tears after seeing her daughter and mother when she came on to the stage.

"I have won because of your love. I am very happy," she said to the audience after being announced the winner.

Earlier three seasons of the show were won by actor Rahul Roy, reality show winner Ashutosh Kaushik and Vindu Dara Singh, respectively.

The actress, once regarded as small screen's favourite bahu (daughter-in-law) after she gained fame with "Kasautii Zindagii Kay", pipped finalists WWE wrestler The Great Khali, actor Ashmit Patel and Dolly Bindra who is infamous for her bizarre behavior, to win the reality show.

Though the decision was based on viewers' votes, Shweta's inmates like Samir Soni, Manoj Tiwari and Aanchal Kumar felt she was most deserving owing to her patience in dealing with the verbal fights with loud mouthed co-participant Dolly, who walked away as the third runner up.

Khali was declared the first runner up and Ashmit the second runner-up.

Celebrity astrologer Bejan Daruwalla, who came on the show, predicted that either Shweta or Dolly will win.

All three runners-up took home a bike each, while actor-model Sameer Soni received a Chevrolet Cruze as a special prize for being the boldest and most stylish participant of this season.

The grand finale saw performances by Sara Khan, Veena Malik, Aanchal Kumar and Manoj Tiwari. The star host, Salman Khan too regaled the audience with his energetic dance.

"Bigg Boss 4" started with 14 contestants, and had two wild card entries in subsequent weeks, with a three-day guest appearance by Hollywood actress Pamela Anderson. The show was quite full of controversies throughout its run, but kept the audience entertained.

Will Salman Khan be the host of 'Bigg Boss 5'?

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 09:46 PM PST

Will Salman Khan be the host of 'Bigg Boss 5'?Lonavala, Jan 8 (IANS) The fifth season of reality show "Bigg Boss" is not even in talks yet, but celebrity astrologer Bejan Daruwalla has already predicted that Bollywood star Salman Khan has a lot of chances to host it.

Age-defying 79-year-old Daruwalla came for the finale of the "Bigg Boss 4", dressed in a red kurta and cream pyjamas. He was in his true spirits as he danced and cracked jokes.

When the show host, Salman asked him who will win the show, Daruwalla said: "I see there is a tough competition between Shweta Tiwari and Dolly Bindra."

Then he laughed and quickly added: "But I can see that you (Salman) will host the next season as well."

One wonders if the prediction turns out to be true, especially because no host has ever been repeated in the past seasons of "Bigg Boss". Actor Arshad Warsi was the first to host the reality show in 2007, followed by "Celebrity Big Brother" winner and actress Shilpa Shetty who hosted the second season in 2008. For the third season in 2009, Bollywood megastar Amitabh Bachchan was roped in.

Shweta Tiwari win 'Bigg Boss 4'

Posted: 08 Jan 2011 10:05 PM PST

Shweta Tiwari wins 'Bigg Boss 4'New Delhi, Jan 8 (IANS) After raising far too many eyebrows along its 14-week run, "Bigg Boss 4" has ended. With over-the-top cat fights, verbal abuse galore, a much publicised wedding, and romance that was often too intimate for viewers' comfort, the season did in a way live up to its promise of being bigger. But was it better?

Colors' "Bigg Boss 4" had newer attractions, a state-of-the-art house, a live wire host in Bollywood star Salman Khan, interesting contestants, including two from Pakistan, and special appearances by film stars.

Season four saw incessant verbal abuses hurled over trivial matters, a sensation caused by the televised wedding of participant, actress Sara Khan with her beau Ali Merchant, and then the government hauling it up for "offending good taste".

It started with 14 contestants, including Mumbai terror attack accused Mohammad Ajmal Kasab's former lawyer Abbas Kazmi; thief-turned-detective Devinder Singh alias Superchor Bunty; actor Ashmit Patel, who was involved in an MMS scandal; former dacoit Seema Parihar and filmmaker Mahesh Bhatt's son Rahul Bhatt, who was friends with terror operative David Headley, accused of scouting targets for Mumbai attack.

There were two contestants from Pakistan - actress and former girlfriend of fast bowler Mohammed Asif, Veena Malik, and cross-dressing diva and television personality Begum Nawazish Ali, apart from Indian TV actresses, Shweta Tiwari and Sara Khan, former MTV "Splitsvilla" contestant Sakshi Pradhan and model Aanchal Kumar, who hardly managed to raise the glamour quotient.

Others who participated in the competition of survival in a secluded house without any communication with the outside world, were Bhojpuri superstar Manoj Tiwari, model-turned-actor Sameer Soni and model Hrishant Goswami, later joined by WWE wrestler, The Great Khali and subsequently by the boisterous Dolly Bindra.

Hollywood bombshell Pamela Anderson was flown in to raise the mercury level as a special guest for three days on the already heated show!

This season courted quite a few controversies and troubles - starting Day 1 with Superchor Bunty's ouster following unruly behaviour in the house. Then followed objections by the Shiv Sena and Maharashtra Navnirman Sena (MNS) against inclusion of Pakistani celebrities on the show.

The entry of The Great Khali, whose humungous size of 7'1 and heavy voice, sent jitters down the spine of other contestants. The atmosphere in the "Bigg Boss 4" house was quite calm, cool and friendly until Dolly Bindra made a wildcard entry, and shook the atmosphere with her loud and overbearing nature.

Abuses, fights and melodrama became a way of life after Dolly and Shweta began to settle personal scores violently. The fights got others like Ashmit, Sameer, Khali, Veena, Sara and Manoj involved too. In fact, Sameer and Dolly were asked to leave the show for their bad behaviour, only to return a few days later.

Where illwill was flourishing between many, romance was also in full bloom with Rahul-Aanchal's silent chemistry, Veena's one-sided attraction for Hrishant as well as Ashmit and Sara's growing closeness there for the public to see.

The Ashmit-Sara angle didn't last long - how could it when her long time beau Ali Merchant entered the show and proposed marriage to her. The two were set to say 'kabool hai' on national TV - but even that was replete with controversy.

The show was in a mess as the Sara-Ali love story took an ugly twist when Sara's family claimed that both Sara and Ali were already married, and a petition was filed in court against them for cheating the public.

Then the information and broadcasting ministry stepped in. The ministry sent a notice to Colors for "offending good taste" and for the use of vulgar language in the show, and even went to the extent of asking it to shift the telecast time after 11 p.m.

Meanwhile, love was brewing elsewhere too - Veena changed loyalties and shifted focus to Ashmit, who willingly reciprocated. The two cosied up under a blanket, kissed and hugged each other often and shared sweet nothings, until Veena had to bid goodbye to the show.

After Sameer's elimination in the 13th week - four candidates remained - the consistent Shweta, loud mouthed Dolly, confused and restless Ashmit and The Great Khali.

But it was Shweta who finally emerged the winner and walked away with the trophy and a cash prize of Rs.1 crore at a befitting, star-studded finale.

All in all, a controversial - yet entertaining season of "Bigg Boss"!
Posted by Suresh at 6:12 PM

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