NEW TV CHANNEL HAS MOVIES FOR AFRICA
The Studio Universal launch at Killarney Mall's Del Forno Cucina with screening of Fast & Furious 5 at the Moosa's Cinecentre in Gauteng was a blast, as is evident by Debbie Yazbek's page picture with Aldrin Naidu as MC flanked by Fast 5 women. The big guns were all there as were the media Malema would love to muzzle. FHM, YOU, TV  With Thinus, Amanda de Lange of Beeld, mmmm, all the usual suspects. And the Studio Universal launch weekend starting Septmeber 30 was pretty awesome too. Friday night saw Fast and Furious, the very first nstallment, opening the  channel on DStv 119. Lekker. The follow up was Miami Vice with the decent looking Colin Farrel and Jamie Fox in the Michael Mann directed flick. 
Bridget Jones: Edge of Reason was a man-yawn but the lady of the house loved the chick flick. (Friday nights will have a comedy theme in future on the channel with the theme of Hollywood at Home.

Saturday saw a really inventive drama A Family Thing with stellar performances from James Earl Jones as the brother to Robert Duvall who wakes up one day to find out his recently deceased birth mother was actually black. A made for TV feel with the scripting but a powerpacked movie with strong acting.

I'm sure there'll be more gems from the channel that promises high octane Hollywood drama from the last decade. 

MALEMA'S MOUTHPIECES

Come Thursday, struggle icon Winnie Mandela and businessman Tokyo Sexwale speak on behalf of Youth League head Julius Malema at his ANC internal disciplinary inquiry. It's great to see democracy in action as differing points of view in the same party are brought to the fore. Malema may have his support among the voiceless of the squatter camps.

He certainly has the ear of the business magnets hanging on BEE coat-tails using the supermouth supremo to line their pockets too. This is a chance for Malema to walk free and then begin the process of clearing his much-muddied name in political and media circles, if indeed he can do so. It's tough when the media loves a demon and  can create one on demand.  

GRANNY CLIFF

The good thing about the end of Idols SA is that fans of the show won't be saddled with that emotional wreck Granny Cliff who cries at a whim or be confrontational just for the sake of it.

TV had been richer since his M-Net talk show demise. Then they brought him back to Idols on the same channel.

SORRY SAFFRON

It started out quite strongly playing to its A-grade audience of Indian origin but Saffron has dumbed down of late.

Programmes are recorded on shoe-string budgets and lack substance.

Perhaps if worked on by serious producers of content, Saffron could get away with it - but I don't think professionals work for peanuts anymore. Case in point: an insert on the 21st commemoration of the Inanda Riots at Stanmore Hall, Grove-End, Phoenix, screened September 30. The show quite shockingly referred to the probably apartheid-inspired incident renting blacks and Africans apart as a "celebration". Pertinent questions like why no black residents/neighbours were invited to the commemorations could have been asked. The presenter was low calibre and spoke at the end of how inspired she was to be part of the event. Quite a lack of impartiality. And quite dull. Sad too Shalendra Bunseelal wears the same clothing week in and week out on his focus on Bolly show. Filmed at Nu Metro cinemas with much shadows cast about; he looks quite dreadful in his red T-shirt and black waistcoat.

SAonSunday challenge for the next episode: try lime green.

BOO-ty & THE ZOO

 

Joburg Zoo enthusiasts Nissia, Asiphe and Andrea with Boo

COP17 dawns on us in Durban this December. One hopes politicians get their act together and make a change for climate change. Not one to wait for the talkers to get their "jaw jaw" on; Malaysia's friendly orangutan Boo of Boo and Me 2 fame on KidsCo channel (DStv 308; TopTV 255) is already spreading the words of "re-use, reduce and recycle" at the Joburg Zoo and Fourways Mall. He makes another appearance at the Joburg Zoo Tuesday, World Animal Day, October 4 .

@theFLICKS

Movie Review: Abduction

Director: John Singleton

Actors: Taylor Lautner, Lilly Collins, Alfred Molina

Running time: 106 minutes

Star Rating: ***

Boyz n Da Hood's John Singleton just about cuts it with Abduction.

The thriller is about the boy next door, Nathan (Taylor Lautner) who becomes a man when he finds out he could have been abducted as a child after seeing a baby photo on the internet.

Singleton has all the right ingredients for a thrilling cinematic experience - CIA operatives looming large; boy kicking government ass; girl Karen (Lilly Collins) who stands by boy; trouble lurking at every corner, etc.

He knots the plot as seamlessly as he can. The rest is formulaic; bubblegum for the soul. Muso Phil Collins' daughter Lilly Collins  plays the love interest while Brit actor Alfred Molina plays Burton the CIA bad guy who could double up as the good guy. Sigourney Weaver plays Nathan's psychiatrist friend Dr Bennet. His guardian angel.

Oh and of course there's beef-cake in the fighting machine of Taylor Lautner. 

There could be something in this Twighlight and Eclipse boy so girls better keep a close eye on him.

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