300: Rise of an Empire

 
RELEASE DATE: March 7, 2014
DIRECTOR: Noam Murro
CAST: Sullivan Stapleton, Eva Green, Lena Headey, Rodrigo Santoro, David Wenham, Andrew Tiernan
RUNTIME: 1 hour and 43 mins

As much performance art as movie, ‘300: Rise of an Empire’ unfolds as beautiful, slow-motion machismo. Torsos bared, swords flashing, another 300 rock the leather skirts and loincloths with pounding, passionate music perfectly underscoring this latest round of the ‘beautiful death’ the ancient Greeks were so poetic about.
Though it is hard to replicate the freshness of the first, Rise is almost as visually stunning as 2006’s ‘300’, when Gerard Butler as King Leonidas sacrificed Sparta’s finest abs in a no-win battle against the Persian Xerxes. This time there is more to it than scantly clad men mud wrestling to hone their battle skills. A female demands the right to bear arms. Artemisia (Eva Green) is as fierce and brave as any man.
Zack Snyder, who directed the first, remains a guiding force in Rise. Director Noam Murro continues the arresting design ethos of ‘300’. The freeze-framing of the battle is amped up significantly, allowing much more time for the audience to absorb and appreciate.
Based on another story idea from Miller, Rise picks a different battle that unfolds around the same time as 300’s clash at the Hot Gates. This one is by sea and led by the slightly less buff but more philosophical Sullivan Stapleton, a naval general and part time politician.
Xerxes is technically still the nemesis. The one to watch is Artemisia, and not just because Green gets the best costume but because her character is as tactical a warrior as Themistokles, and she has a grudge to match.
Some of the 300 are back for Rise, most notably Leonidas wife, Queen Gorgo. She is also the film’s narrator.
There is a problem with the script. For all of its hyper realised visuals, ‘Rise of an Empire’ is a very talkie film. There is too much story to narrate. It is not that Headey is not a fine story-teller; the actress is actually quite good at bringing Greek mythology to life. But the film relies on her so much that it is sometimes a shock when a character actually speaks. 
Still, Green is a very magnetic villain, whose fight choreography is incredible. Opposite that force field, Stapleton is not quite as commanding. He is better on his own, with his men, on the high seas.
Those skirmishes are truly a tribute to the power of visual effects. The spectacularly brutal fighting is the film’s main calling card and does not disappoint. - See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/reviews_3.asp#sthash.R4RrrSAJ.dpuf

HIGHWAY

 
RELEASE DATE: February 21, 2014
DIRECTOR: Imtiaz Ali
CAST: Alia Bhatt, Randeep Hooda
RUNTIME: 2 hours and 13 mins

‘Highway’ is a problematic film. Elements in it have great beauty – starting with Anil Mehta’s cinematography. The film was shot and improvised as the cast and crew drove across six states. Mehta’s camera caresses the changing terrain so that audience can taste the bleached salt pans of Rajasthan and the crisp air of Kashmir.
There is AR Rahman’s soulful music and above all, Alia Bhatt’s performance. There are two scenes – one a long monologue – in which she lays bare her soul and becomes utterly broken. It is deeply moving. Her honesty and courage, both as actor and character, is exhilarating.
Writer-director Imtiaz Ali is one of Bollywood’s most original and interesting storytellers. Here he courageously goes off the formulaic star-driven, song-driven path and returns to his favourite genre – the road movie.
Imtiaz gives us a portrait of two damaged souls who, through a journey across north India, help to heal each other. So Veera Tripathi, an affluent Delhi princess who lives in a mansion, ultimately finds peace in the arms of Mahabir Bhatti, a rough criminal. The idea of a victim falling in love with her kidnapper is not new – the Stockholm Syndrome in which the hostage forms an emotional bond with the abuser has often been cinematic fodder, especially in Hollywood.
But here, it is both uncomfortable and unconvincing. Veera becomes relaxed around her kidnappers fairly quickly. After her initial horror, she behaves like a friend, chatting and laughing. The film posits kidnapping as therapy. It narrates that there is nothing terrible in being abducted. Given the horror inherent in the situation, this just feels false and fundamentally wrong.
Imtiaz skillfully creates moments that are at once, tender, funny and fragile. But the problem is that the story in not convincing. And yet, both Veera and Mahabir will stay with the audience. The characters are compelling and intriguing. Randeep is extremely effective as the brutalised and brutal Mahabir. - See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/reviews_1.asp#sthash.BNJxyUeV.dpuf

Cure pimples at home

22 - 28 Mar 2014

The morning is full of possibilities except when you wake up with a giant zit. You can dab on a spot treatment but even that takes about a week to do the job. So it is a good thing that there are some ways to shrink it in the meantime. Use an over-the-counter cream as a spot treatment The hydrocortisone cream contains the same steroids that dermatologists inject into pimples to get rid of them. The more you pile on and the longer you let it sit, the more effective it will be. Dermatologists recommend waiting 15 minutes before rinsing it off. Reach for eye drops This sounds kind of silly but a drop makes pimples less red the same way it does your eyes. It will not make the bump smaller, though. Speed things along with a clay face mask Kaolin clay has been known to draw impurities out of the skin. Use a fresh clay mask as a rinse-off spot treatment. Get a face wash with 2 per cent salicylic acid If you are prone to hormonal zits (which usually occur around the mouth), start using the wash for at least one week in a month and you will be less likely to break out. Do not pop the zit Doing so can damage skin tissue and make your pimple worse. But if you absolutely cannot help yourself, take a hot shower and then very gently press down on the skin surrounding the pimple with a cotton swab (this prevents you from applying too much pressure). Or else just be safe and do not pop it

- See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/beauty_3.asp#sthash.bWrXG7ps.dpuf

Tips to rock bold brows

Tips to rock bold brows

22 - 28 Mar 2014

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Tips to rock bold brows

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Are you ready to flaunt the bold eyebrows like model Cara Delevingne? Her embracing full brows has spawned a trend that has women contemplating their eyebrow brushes. But if you are a little scared about dusting on some pigment for fear of looking perpetually angry at the world, don’t fret. Here are some things to keep in mind while doing up your eyebrows:

Stick to powders, not pencils. While pencils have usually been the mainstay for brows for generations, powders are easier to handle and create a more natural, feathered look. Grab two shades: one that is a shade lighter than your natural colour for daytime and one that is a tone darker for more drama.

Brush powder on your hairs, not your skin. One common mistake women make is that they press on their brushes and pencils too hard, causing pigment to adhere to their skin. This makes brows look clownish and fake. Use a lighter touch to ensure the pigment coats your hairs, not your skin, and always make sure you are brushing in the direction that the hair is growing.

Focus pigment on the outer two-thirds of your brows. If putting powder on your brows makes you look clownish, take note of where you are focusing the pigment. Brushing powder into the inner corners of your eyes causes them to look fake. Instead, focus the powder from the beginning of your arch to the end of your brow. Then, using a brow brush, blend the existing pigment into the inner corner for a more natural look.

Mix your colours. The best way to get a natural look is to blend your colours. Use a darker shade in a thinner line along the centre hairs of your brows. Then blend a lighter shade from the centre of your brows to the ends. This will ensure you will always look natural.

- See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/beauty_2.asp#sthash.Gi26CTZb.dpufbrows

22 - 28 Mar 2014

0  0  0

Tips to rock bold brows

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2

Are you ready to flaunt the bold eyebrows like model Cara Delevingne? Her embracing full brows has spawned a trend that has women contemplating their eyebrow brushes. But if you are a little scared about dusting on some pigment for fear of looking perpetually angry at the world, don’t fret. Here are some things to keep in mind while doing up your eyebrows:

Stick to powders, not pencils. While pencils have usually been the mainstay for brows for generations, powders are easier to handle and create a more natural, feathered look. Grab two shades: one that is a shade lighter than your natural colour for daytime and one that is a tone darker for more drama.

Brush powder on your hairs, not your skin. One common mistake women make is that they press on their brushes and pencils too hard, causing pigment to adhere to their skin. This makes brows look clownish and fake. Use a lighter touch to ensure the pigment coats your hairs, not your skin, and always make sure you are brushing in the direction that the hair is growing.

Focus pigment on the outer two-thirds of your brows. If putting powder on your brows makes you look clownish, take note of where you are focusing the pigment. Brushing powder into the inner corners of your eyes causes them to look fake. Instead, focus the powder from the beginning of your arch to the end of your brow. Then, using a brow brush, blend the existing pigment into the inner corner for a more natural look.

Mix your colours. The best way to get a natural look is to blend your colours. Use a darker shade in a thinner line along the centre hairs of your brows. Then blend a lighter shade from the centre of your brows to the ends. This will ensure you will always look natural.

- See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/beauty_2.asp#sthash.Gi26CTZb.dpuf

Skin saving spa treatments

Going to the spa is a fabulous indulgence but knowing exactly what type of treatment to go for can be tricky. If you are craving a complexion boost, read on to find some tips on how to figure out what kind of facial is best for your skin type… Dry skin A dry skin type needs many different treatments and can be tricky to deal with. It lacks natural lipids or oils making it prone to dehydration, especially in the winter. Because of this lack of water, the skin's natural exfoliating cycle slows down. Facials that include gentle exfoliation (with enzymes) are a great way to take your skin from flaky to fabulous. Dry skin also needs both oil and water to balance it out, so look for facials that include masks that will help products to penetrate the skin. One example is a mask that will harden slightly or rubberise. It may sound a little strange, but any product you put under this type of mask (a serum for instance) will be pushed into the skin as the mask hardens, leaving your skin feeling hydrated and refreshed. Oily skin An oily skin type produces more oil than it needs. This oil is a magnet for debris such as skin cells, make-up and pollution, which can then cause congestion inside the pores. Over time, the congestion becomes hardened, just like plaque on your teeth. To combat complexion congestion, look for facials that include a chemical exfoliant (glycolic acid or salicylic acid). This will penetrate into the pores and melt the congestion. Oily skin also needs extractions to remove any hardened debris within the pores (blackheads), but do not try this at home. Extractions are something your beautician is trained to do safely as part of your facial. Combination skin A combination skin type has both oily and dry areas, so these areas need to be treated separately. Look for a spa facial treatment that offers enzyme, chemical or even microdermabrasion exfoliants, which work very well to boost your glow and create a more balanced complexion. Extractions are also needed (usually in the T-zone) to remove congestion, and a professional treatment mask should be added to replenish lost water and soothe the skin. Mature skin A mature skin type can be challenging. It can be many things – oily/acne prone, dry/dehydrated or a multitude of skin type combinations. Mature skin also slows down (cell production, circulation), so there are many issues to address. Your beautician will first treat the type of skin (oily, dry, combination, normal). Then she will have to focus on the aforementioned slowing process. Look for treatments said to increase circulation and saturate the skin with antioxidants, vitamins, minerals for healthier, younger looking skin.

- See more at: http://magtheweekly.com/22-28mar2014/beauty_1.asp#sthash.xWjj6MCF.dpuf

Material Drama!

Muhabbat Subh Ka Sitara Hai ‘Muhabbat Subh Ka Sitara Hai’ has finally started making sense. All the previous episodes were designed to establish characters. Rumaisa is a ‘seedhi saadhi’ larki who met Nabeel, her prince charming. Nabeel’s family is materialistic to the core, something that was established when Nabeel passed away. Instead of mourning her only son, Nabeel’s mother is busy counting Rumaisa’s money and her jewellery. The rest of the lot is busy fighting with each other for whatever property Nabeel has left behind. The only ones affected by Nabeel’s demise are Rumaisa and Zeeshan. Rumaisa has found herself in deep trouble ever since the demise of Nabeel. First she was kicked out of the house empty handed. And now, to make the matters worse, Hassan is eyeing her for she posseses a big chunk of the family’s wealth. His strategy has been a simple one, he convinced Rumaisa’s aunt to hire a lawyer and get back Rumaisa’s property. At the same time he wishes to marry Rumaisa for reasons that are not hidden from anybody. The poor girl is reduced to doing the dishes and other chores around her khala’s house. On the other hand, Nabeel’s family is battling amongst themselves and has been unable to reach any decision on who will run the business. They surely are an idle lot and want nothing but the perks and privileges associated with handling the family business. Thankfully we do not get to listen to extended dialogues about being a fish or a duck. Rumaisa is miserable and devoid of all stupidity at the moment making the drama a fairly good watch! Pyaaray Afzal ‘Pyaaray Afzal’ has taken yet another turn. Afzal longs for Farah so much so that his love has pushed him back to being the spoiled gambler he was. He sent his parents to Farah’s house only to discover that the lady he dreams of thinks very lowly of him. On top of that, he was publically humiliated by Farah and was left speechless after finding out what she actually thinks of him. The highlight of this drama was how Arifa spat venom after finding out how Farah had treated Afzal. Listening to her speaking to Lubna was like listening to a real life conversation between two enemies. Arifa made it clear that she was not afraid of anyone and would not spare anyone who messed with her family. Arifa is the typical Pakistani protective sister! The case of the curious letters has been solved as well. Arifa’s initial suspicion of those anonymous love letters being sent to her brother by Farah was proven wrong the next moment when Farah revealed that she never sent them in the first place. I put this drama in high esteem for its natural yet impactful dialogues. Kudos to Khalil ur Rehman for penning such a mesmerising script.   - Mera Sultan I still cannot get over the fact that Mihirma Sultan was married off to an old scum like Rustam in ‘Mera Sultan’. They now have a beautiful daughter but it seems like Mihirma has been rid of all happiness and every emotion. Despite her mother’s decision to marry her off regardless of her wishes, Mihirma stands by her at every step. That was the reason she made it clear to all the other women in the Harem that she will be standing guard for her mother and there will be dire consequences for anyone who dares to mess with Hurrem Sultan. Despite her strict warning, Khazeena, Mahidevran and Shah Sultan will look for ways to get rid of Hurrem for good. We have been watching the same happen over and over again and this time will be no exception. It was clear that Rustam keeps a strict watch on Mihirma. He knows his wife doesn’t love him and that is why Malkocho Bali Sahab is such a threat for him. Rustem cannot stand Malkocho near his palace or his wife but somehow Mihirma and Malkocho end up crossing paths. Mahidevran and Shehzade Mustafa are back in Istanbul while the Sultan travels abroad. This will definitely make for an interesting few episodes since we all know that Mahidevran can never sit still. She will surely stir some trouble in the harem to make Hurrem’s life more difficult. This is where Fariha Khatun might be useful. She has been loyal to Hurrem Sultan but she also swore loyalty to Mahidevran and Shehzade Mustafa. I wonder whose side she will be on from now onwards. -

FASHON

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