Star Ya Rockstar

Just another musical show Saturday-Sunday, 8.30 pm, Zee
Judges: Anu Malek, Alisha Chinai
Seriously, when will channels stop ODing on song and dance shows? The latest one is Star Ya Rockstar where primetime movers, out-of-work and over-the-hill actors exercise their vocal chords for the benefit of Anu Malek who still takes his role of a judge very seriously. Accompanying him is the rotund Alisha Chinai who, we still can’t believe, looks the way she does. Cute she is, but her chubby cheeks distract us all the time and we don’t mean that as a compliment.
As for the contestants, there is Sachin Pilgaonkar (who we must hand it to, for still being enthusiastic about his ‘vocal talent’), Chavi Mittal and Manasi Parekh (both are decent on the mike), funnyman Manish Paul who has graduated from Zee’s in-house comedian to a singer, Sumeet Raghavan (who had long back participated in a similar show on Imagine), Ragini Khanna who grins incessantly and is currently enjoying being among the top two singers — people are seriously voting for her when there are other better singers than her and Neha Marda (among others) who is probably tired of the overflowing ghaghras she wears in Balika Vadhu and has traded them with short dresses and sequined gowns!
The show follows the by-now done- to-death format where contestants leave no stone unturned to woo the judges.Malek spouts shayari and Alisha wears a ‘dunno what made me get into this’ expression for a better part of the show and the usual danger- zone-drama. Last but not the least, Mona Singh has meandered from her last show to this one, once again playing the affable host. Just like Malek, she too takes her job very seriously though it is sheer agony for viewers to see her. Verdict: We are sure you will find some other way to kill time.

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Posted in: Don2,Is The Boss Right,Katrina Kaif,Mahaakshay Chakraborty,Mahesh Manjrekar,Mumbai City,Prem Chopra,Reema Kagti,Star Ya Rockstar

Tower Heist

Director: Brett Ratner Cast: Eddie Murphy, Ben Stiller, Casey Affleck.
Rating: ***1/2
'Tower Heist' is an ensemble, and a strong one at that, led by Ben Stiller, Alan Alda, Matthew Broderick, Casey Affleck and Tea Leoni. But Brett Ratner's blast of an action comedy truly brings out the best in Eddie Murphy, something many of us may have forgotten even existed.
Fast-talking, flummoxed and full of false bravado, Murphy gives a performance as a low-level thief that recalls his signature work in the movies that made him a superstar in the mid-1980s -- like '48 Hours' and 'Beverly Hills Cop'. When Murphy's on screen in his classic comic mode, it's hard to focus on anyone or anything else. It's as if we've turned back time and erased all those family-friendly duds and lame laughers that required him to climb into yet another fat suit or talk to even more animals.
'Tower Heist' deflates a bit when Murphy's not around, but for the most part, Ratner's movie is slick and crowd-pleasing -- even more successfully so than his 'Rush Hour' films -- and it couldn't be more relevant in exploring the disparity between the haves and have-nots. Following 'In Time', this is the second week in a row with a new release that plays like 'Robin Hood' for the Occupy Wall Street crowd.
Stiller stars as Josh, the longtime manager of a luxury high-rise in Manhattan; it's actually the Trump International Hotel and Tower at Columbus Circle. When the financial guru who lives in the penthouse is charged with stealing billions from his investors -- including the hardworking tower staff -- Josh comes up with a plan to steal their money back. Alan Alda plays this Bernard Madoff figure with just the right mix of affability and sleaze.
But Josh's accomplices, a posse consisting of residents and employees played by Broderick, Affleck, Michael Pena and Gabourey Sidibe, aren't exactly up to the task. They've never stolen anything in their lives. The fact that the financier Shaw is under house arrest complicates their plan further.
So Josh enlists Murphy's character, Slide, whom he's known since they were kids, to give them some tips. Slide isn't nearly the criminal mastermind he professes himself to be, but these guys don't know that; in one amusing montage, he sends them out to shoplift random items at the mall just to prove they can rip off something.
One of the genius elements of the script -- credited to Ted Griffin ('Ocean's Eleven') and Jeff Nathanson ('Catch Me If You Can') -- is that it actually fleshes these characters out, which makes you care about whether they can pull this thing off. And the vivid childhood memories Josh and Slide have of each other is a running joke that adds to the movie's absurdity; Stiller is solid and hits just the right tone as the righteously indignant anchor at the center of this increasing mayhem.
At the same time, Josh strikes up an unlikely flirtation with the tough-as-nails FBI agent on the case, played by Tea Leoni. She grew up in working-class Queens, like Shaw, and she's disgusted by the flashy swindler he's become. Leoni has one great scene in which her character gets drunk with Stiller's and turns a little too forthcoming; it's a great reminder of what a natural comedienne she is, and it makes you want to see more of her.
The heist itself is, of course, completely ridiculous, but that's part of the point -- and part of the fun. Ratner keeps things moving so fluidly that you'll probably just roll with it. And his film is lighted and shot so beautifully (the work of two-time Oscar-nominated cinematographer Dante Spinotti) and it feels so substantial in terms of production values, you can't help but be drawn in. These feel like actual people doing actual stunts -- especially during the crime itself, which takes place during the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade -- which sadly seems like a rarity in this age of computer-generated extravaganzas. 'Tower Heist', a Universal Pictures release, is rated PG-13 for language and sexual content. Running time: 104 minutes.

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Posted in: Bipasha Basu,Bookies bet on Ash's baby,Director,Kareena Kapoor,Liberty Shoes,Mahaakshay Chakraborty,Mahesh Manjrekar,Tower Heist

Paranormal Activity 3 breaks records at weekend

Horror movie Paranormal Activity 3 jolted awake a sleepy movie box-office with an estimated $80 million in global ticket sales recently. The third installment of the low-budget haunted house movies topped domestic charts with $54 million from U.S. and Canadian theatres, the highest-grossing domestic debut for a horror film and a record for an October release.
The movie added $26 million from international markets over the weekend, distributor Paramount Pictures said. Like the first two films in the series, Paranormal 3 was released just before Halloween and produced on a budget tiny by Hollywood standards. The latest movie, the most expensive of the trio, cost $5 million to make.
The film opened with after-midnight showings and easily beat the studio’s forecast for a domestic debut of around $35 million. The movie is a prequel about two young sisters and their creepy encounters with an invisible presence in their home, all recorded by surveillance cameras.
A largely positive response from critics helped bring in an older-than-25 crowd in addition to the teenagers and young adults who usually flock to horror flicks, said Don Harris, Paramount’s president of domestic distribution.
“This is the best of the series. It was well-reviewed,” Harris said, adding that “people like to be scared in a Hitchcock-ian way. This isn’t a bloody franchise.” The film’s strong performance boosted a sluggish box-office that has limped along sharply below last year for several weekends this fall following a record summer. Robot boxing movie Real Steel, the domestic box-office champ the past two weekends, slipped to second place with $11.3 million at North American (U.S. and Canadian) theaters. The film, starring Hugh Jackman as a father who bonds with his son as they restore a battle-ready robot, has earned $153.3 million globally through its first three weekends of release.
A remake of 1980s dance classic Footloose finished third on the domestic charts with $10.9 million, dropping just 30 percent from its debut weekend and earning a total of $30.9 million to date.
Musketeers struggle
New release The Three Musketeers, a 3D action version of the classic novel about a sword-fighting trio, finished in fourth place with a weaker-than-expected $8.8 million. Critics were not enthused with the film, with just 28 percent giving a positive review on movie website Rotten Tomatoes. Audiences polled by survey firm CinemaScore gave the film a B rating on average.
Overseas, the movie has grossed $64.4 million for a combined global total standing at $73.2 million. Comedy Johnny English Reborn debuted in the North American market at eighth place with a dismal $3.8 million. But the film starring British Mr. Bean actor Rowan Atkinson as a bumbling secret agent has already chalked up success overseas, pulling in $104.5 million in international markets since its release five weeks ago. Fifth place domestically went to George Clooney’s political thriller The Ides Of March, which brought in $4.9 million during its third weekend of release. Clooney has directed, co-written and co-starred in the film about a primary fight between two presidential candidates.

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Posted in: aishwarya rai bachchan,Madame Tussauds,Mahesh Manjrekar,Nawab,Paranormal Activity,pompy Hans,Prem Chopra,saif ali khan,Shahrukh Khan

Bookies bet on Ash's baby

After astrologer, media chasing the Bachchan parivar now bookies come into the picture. It is said that an whopping amount of Rs 150 crore is being bet on the birth date of AB Baby. 11.11.11 is the date on which bookies placed maximum amount. Nov 11 is the hot favorite and maximum money is riding on this particular date. They not only restricted their betting to the date drama but also eyed on the gender.

Confirms a Mumbai-based bookie, "There are a lot of bets being placed on dates between November 9 and 14. The money riding on it is at least 150 crores which may go up in the coming week. November 11 is the hot favourite amongst bookies. The second most speculated date is November 14, which is Children's Day."

Nov 11 is assumed to bring lots of fortune to the baby. Says numerologist Sanjay Jumani, "If the kid is born on 11.11.11, then he/she will be governed by the moon and his birth number would be 2.

Many superstars in Bollywood have their birth number as 2 including Amitabh Bachchan (Oct 11), Shahrukh Khan (Nov 2), Ajay Devgn (April 2), Sanjay Dutt (July 29), Dilip Kumar (Dec 11), Rajesh Khanna (Dec 29) and many more.

Also, with the moon being the planet with the maximum influence on the day, the kid's creative abilities would be much sharper. Many musicians, actors and painters are ruled by the moon. On the flipside, the moon also has side effects, which can make the person very sensitive and moody."

The Bachchan are really frustrated with media, astrologer and now bookies invading their privacy and they truely deserves some privacy.

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Posted in: Bookies bet on Ash's baby,Celebs At Bombay Times 17th Anniversary Bash,Dalip Tahil,Mahaakshay Chakraborty,Mahesh Manjrekar,Pregnency,Pregnent Aishwarya

Saif Ali Khan Declared 10th Nawab of Pataudi

Yesterday 41 year old Bollywood actor Saif Ali Khan was anointed 10th Nawab of Pataudi in an official ceremony at his ancestral home, Ibrahim Palace. The ceremony involved the heads of 52 villages tying a white turban around Saif Ali Khan’s head. His mother and sisters were present at the ceremony, as well as Haryana Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda. Girlfriend Kareena Kapoor couldn’t attend the ceremony, as she was busy shooting for Reema Kagti’s film opposite Aamir Khan in London.
Saif succeeds his father Mansoor Ali Khan, who passed away on September 22^nd, due to a chronic lung infection. Saif accepted the title as a gesture to honour the tradition, but doesn’t want to be addressed as Nawab. The actor prefers his father to be remembered as the Nawab of Pataudi. The title is not recognized by the government anymore.
Saif’s responsibilities now include taking care of his ancestral home, as well as the charity projects of his family.

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Posted in: Imran Khan,Kangna Ranaut,Katrian Kaif,Kim Sharma,Mahesh Manjrekar,Miley Naa Miley Hum,Nawab,Pataudi,Pregnency,Prem Chopra,Ravi Kissen,Sagarika Ghatge,saif ali khan,SOnam Kapoor

Loot Movie Review

Reviewed by Anna.M.M. Vetticad

Release date:	November 4, 2011
Director:	Raj Thakur
Cast:	Govinda, Suneil Shetty, Jaaved Jaaferi, Mahaakshay Chakraborty, Prem Chopra, Dalip Tahil, Ravi Kissen, Mahesh Manjrekar, Mika, Kim Sharma

To fully fathom the bankruptcy of thought & the surfeit of cash in Bollywood these days, watch Loot! The film is about four crooks – Pandit (Govinda), Builder (Suneil Shetty), Akbar (Jaaved Jaaferi) and Wilson (Mahaakshay Chakraborty) – who are sent off to Pattaya to rob a house filled with valuables, but discover when they get there that they are in the home of the dreaded gangster Lala (Mahesh Manjrekar) who, as it turns out, is out to kill the don of Pattaya (Prem Chopra) and is being investigated by an unscrupulous cop (Ravi Kissen) who intends to use the evidence to blackmail Lala. That’s it – the story does not deserve more than one sentence!

Nor does this film deserve a cogent review. But I do have some questions for the team of Loot:
1. Why did anyone bother to make this film?
2. Why is Govinda (the only bright spark in this film) ruining our happy memories of the high points of his career by acting in such utter rubbish? If the industry no longer offers you halfway decent films, isn’t it better to retire or bide your time till something better comes along?
3. Why did this talented actor destroy his own career with his tardiness, his weight gain and what we’re told was extreme unprofessional behaviour although he’s said to be a nice guy? Will we ever again get to see Govinda – one of the funniest guys Hindi filmdom has ever known – in a worthwhile film?
4. Why doesn’t the industry have better films for Jaaved Jaaferi who too can be funny given a good, well-written role?
5. Does Suneil Shetty still think he can act?
6. Does The Artist Formerly Known As Mimoh believe that a change of name to Mahaakshay is more important than voice training?
7. Could someone tell the writer of this film to forget asinine language stereotypes of the sort that assume that Hindus say dhanyavad, Muslims say shukriya and Christians say thank you?
8. Could the director please tell me why his quartet of goons crawled down the railings of a multi-storeyed building’s fire escape instead of running down the steps during one scene?
9. Has anyone on the team of Loot heard of not-so-minor issues such as continuity? Wasn’t any production assistant monitoring the shooting of that scene in which Ravi Kissen is shown wearing one earring but in close-ups that were clearly shot later, he’s wearing two earrings and his hair is shorter?
10. Was there some significance to the scenes involving a doddering old man in a restaurant? Is old age meant to be funny?
11. (This one’s for the reader) Do you know Kim Sharma still acts in films?
12. Rakhi Sawant features in an item song right at the end. Why is her face frozen stiff?
13. And (apologies for repeating myself but I can’t help it) why did anyone bother to make this film?<

Rating (out of five): 1/2 star (only for Govinda)

CBFC Rating: U/A with cuts (The Censor Board banned Mika’s song Mere iss pe and got the words “choos le” beeped out from Rakhi Sawant’s item number Bank loot le)

Running time: 120 Minutes

Language: Hindi

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Posted in: Bollywood,Dalip Tahil,Director,Govinda,Jaaved Jaaferi,Kim Sharma,Mahaakshay Chakraborty,Mahesh Manjrekar,Mika,Prem Chopra,Ravi Kissen,Suneil Shetty