Movie of the week: New Moon

Vampire romance. With KRISTEN STEWART, Cam Gigandet and ROBERT PATTINSON. Director: Chris Weitz. 13V. Opens 27 November.

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
Poor Bella has barely recovered from the vampires’ love bites when they organise a birthday party where a whole lot of the bloodsuckers are expected. All goes well - until she accidentally cuts her finger and our thirsty friends can’t contain their bloodlust. Will they suck her dry?

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
If you’ve been having feverish dreams of hot vampire bodies and Robert Pattinson’s slightly squint eyes, the return of the pure heroine who dared to fall in love with a vampire will get your blood pressure up. It has everything the first flick had and more, because by now the producers know what it is that makes Twilight fans come back for more - blood dripping from fangs, a shy, pretty girl with hot dreams of her vampire lover and guys who take off their shirts more often than you’ve had hot dinners. The result is while this year’s Twilight fix may not provide much intellectual stimulation it has enough eye candy to get your hormones in a knot.

WAIT FOR DVD?
Never! How would you feel if all your mates are twittering and SMSing about Pattinson’s six-pack and the other guys’ hot bods and you haven’t seen it! It’s this week’s in-movie: a cool ride through a vampire funpark with sexy music, a strong story and a languid, erotic and sultry pace. See it on the silver screen with your sweetheart or someone you have your eye on. He or she may just get interesting, hot ideas.

SIMILAR FILMS
The first flick in the Twilight saga; the Underworld movies.

Mad about Muse

British rockers Muse have released their fifth album, The Resistance, and it’s being hailed as their best offering yet. Here’s more about the band.

The band: Matthew Bellamy (vocalist and guitar and pianist), Christopher Wolstenholme (bassist and backing vocalist) and Dominic Howard (drummer)

The Resistance is the first album the band has self-produced. It was recorded in Italy and mixed by Mark “Spike” Stent, who has done work for bands such as Massive Attack, U2 and Oasis.

Sales for their latest album have surpassed that of their previous one, Black Holes and Revelations. In its debut week in the UK The Resistance sold about 150 000 copies.

Since the release of their debut album a decade ago Muse have sold more than eight million albums worldwide, scooped five MTV Europe Music Awards and headlined concerts around the globe - 95 000 tickets for their most recent UK tour sold out in minutes.

The band formed in 1994 and their original name was Rocket Baby Dolls. Their first gig was a local battle of the bands competition. “After that we started taking ourselves seriously,” Matt says. They left university, quit their jobs and changed their name to Muse.

Between recording and touring they don’t have much down time. “We get so little time at home,” Chris says. “When we do we just of enjoy simple things such as going to the supermarket or taking a walk in the park.”

Adam Lambert recently covered their hit Starlight on his American Idol tour but the band didn’t mind one bit. “I saw a clip of it on YouTube and I thought it was a nice compliment, really. It’s one of the ultimate compliments as a writer and a band, that someone else would want to adopt one of your songs. It was an interesting version,” Matt says.

WIN!
Ten readers will each win a copy of Muse’s latest album, The Resistance, courtesy of Warner Music Gallo Africa. SMS the word RESISTANCE and your name and address to 34923 by 5pm on 10 December. Each SMS costs R2.

Chris Brown will Transform Ya

This wasn’t the best year for CHRIS BROWN - he’s still apologising for beating up ex-girlfriend Rihanna. But it looks as if Breezy is trying hard to reignite his career and fans are looking forward to the release of his third album, Graffiti, this month.

The album’s lead single, I Can Transform Ya, featuring Lil Wayne and Swizz Beatz, is soaring up the charts and was the most downloaded song on iTunes in November.

Chris started working on his latest offering last year and experimented with new sounds. “I wanted to change it up and be different. I want to be like how Prince and Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder were. They can cross over any genre of music.”

The second single, Crawl, “is going to be his big statement in terms of what he’s feeling and what he’s living through right now,” says Joseph Khan, who directed the video that also stars R&B star Cassie.

Fans have given mixed reviews of the CD cover. Chris wears sunglasses and tight-fitting pants with a guitar slung on his shoulder while a mechanical arm spraypaints animated cartoon characters.

Critical tweets have been posted about his new look - especially about the pants - but the singer hit back on the social networking site. “Who cares if my pants r fitted. It’s called fashion. I’m so tired of closed-minded people. I’m 100 per cent comfortable wit my sexuality. I’m a grown man,” Chris wrote.

The jury’s out on whether his album will be a hit and insiders wonder whether sales will take a dip because of the domestic assault incident. Breezy isn’t taking any chances. “If u love me get it twice and if u hate me still get it.”

CD reviews

Album of the month: Rated R by RIHANNA
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Lara Atson
She’s back with a vengeance with her fourth album - her first release since the February altercation with ex Chris Brown. RiRi started working on the album a month after the incident. “A lot of people are saying things like it’s dark but it’s an honest album. You’ll learn a lot about what’s going through my head,” she says. The 13-track album features the Ne-Yo-produced lead single, Russian Roulette, and highlights such as Photographs and Te Amo, a song about another woman falling in love with her. Rihanna shows with her latest offering how she has grown and is taking more risks. A must-have for fans.

94 HITS IN A ROW by Various artists
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
With three CDs of 64 head-bopping tunes this is the definitive summer dance album. Mixed by Vin Deysel of Highveld Stereo and pre-mixed (pop in and play), there’s plenty to listen to - from commercial hits such as Flash Republic’s Twister and Bob Sinclar’s Love Generation to old-school favourites Wamdue Project’s King of My Castle.

WIN!
Ten readers will each win a copy of 94 Hits in a Row. SMS the word HITS, your name, surname and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 10 December. Each SMS costs R2.

DVD of the week: The Hangover

Comedy. 2009. 100 min. With Bradley Cooper, Ed Helms, Justin Bartha and Zach Galifianakis. Director: Todd Phillips. 16LNS.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Willem Moller
Days before his wedding Doug (Bartha), his two best friends, Phil (Cooper) and Stu (Helms), and Doug’s future brother-in-law, Alan (Galifianakis), go to Las Vegas for what they’re sure is going to be the ultimate bachelor’s party. But when they wake up the next morning Doug is missing, there’s a tiger in the bathroom and a baby in the cupboard, and Stu has lost a tooth - and no one can remember anything about the night before. Now Phil, Alan and Stu must figure out what happened and find Doug in time for his wedding.

This very funny, fresh and original movie has been the comedy hit of the year. The clever script is loaded with plot twists you simply don’t see coming and although it plays out like a thriller the laughs come thick and fast. The entire cast shines but Galifianakis as the socially awkward, clumsy Alan is the star. Mike Tyson gets a look-in, the tiger is real and wait till you see what’s in the boot of their car! And make sure you watch the credits at the end.

New Moon madness

Picture: Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart

The Twilight Saga: New Moon - one of the most eagerly awaited movies of the year - is here. Check out these cool film facts.

- New Moon director Chris Weitz also directed the 2008 fantasy adventure The Golden Compass and co-directed hit comedy American Pie.

- Chris initially wanted to replace hunky Taylor Lautner because the part of Jacob Black required a more heavily-built actor but Taylor rose to the challenge and bulked up to keep his role. Thank goodness!

- New Moon took nine months to film and was shot in Canada and Italy.

- Jackson Rathbone (Jasper Cullen) is also a musician and the singer in a band called 100 Monkeys.

- The New Moon soundtrack features songs written for the film by artists such as The Killers, Muse and Death Cab for Cutie. “We wrote and recorded the song, turned it in and hoped the people deemed it worthy,” Death Cab frontman Ben Gibbard says of their tune, Meet Me on the Equinox.

- Brenna Roth (Emily) is known as the set’s practical joker and gave Robert Pattinson a bottle of self tanner and a hairbrush as one of her many jokes!

- The Secret Life of Bees actress Dakota Fanning takes a small, powerful part as Jane, one of the vampire coven known as the Volturi. “Dakota hasn’t ever played a bad person, probably because she’s a very good person. But I think she really had some fun playing the most evil of all the bad guys,” director Chris Weitz says. “Jane’s bad news. Very bad news.”

- Asked what her favourite scene in New Moon is Nikki Reed (Rosalie Hale) says, “Anything Taylor Lautner is in. He’s incredible. And I’m not saying that because he takes his shirt off in every scene. He just makes this film amazing.” Has someone got a crush?

- We’ll have to see about Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart’s rumoured off-screen relationship. But Rob has made it clear what kind of girl he likes and Kristen definitely fits the bill. “I like people who are strong and have a lot of darkness to them,” he says.

Obsessed with New Moon hunk Taylor Lautner

- Taylor (17) put on 13 kg in a year for his role as werewolf Jacob Black in the new Twilight film, New Moon. “I ate six meals a day, a lot of healthy foods and went to the gym for no less than two hours a day,” the heart-throb says. “In a year I went from size small to large T-shirt.”

- The actor has always been a sports junkie and he has played various sports since he was six. “As I got older I started to narrow them down,” he says. He is accomplished in martial arts and has a black belt in karate. He also loves football, baseball, basketball and soccer.

- He worked hard at perfecting the sizzling chemistry with co-star Kristen Stewart (Bella). “Jacob and Bella can tell each other everything so it was important for me and Kristen to become very close,” Taylor says. They ate out a lot and spent time together at their Los Angeles homes.

WIN
Ten readers will each win a New Moon soundtrack album courtesy of Warner Music Gallo Africa. SMS the word NEW and your name and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 3 December. Each SMS costs R2.

Q&A with Ard Matthews

Just Jinjer is back in SA with a new EP release and we caught up with lead singer-songwriter ARD MATTHEWS.

What makes you get out of bed in the morning?
A natural love of life plus the desire to kite-surf and play music.

What’s the best thing about being a rock star?
It’s easier to be yourself and not many people question your actions. It’s always, “Well, what do you expect - he’s a rock star.” Still hasn’t sunk in for me though. We have lived in relative obscurity for the past eight years so it’s quite a trip coming back to a country where you are hailed a rock star. Quite humbling, actually.

Your biggest accomplishment to date?
Taking Just Jinjer to the USA and securing a solid American record deal.

Favourite pastimes?
Kite-surfing, stand-up paddle-surfing, playing Xbox or PS3 and golf.

What do you think of the 2010 soccer World Cup?
It makes me excited about the possibilities of growth we will experience as a nation.

What can’t you do without?
My iPhone.

What kind of music can you live without?
Modern R&B - more like ridiculous and bull****!

What do you drive?
An old Jeep.

What would you do if you were president for one day?
I would increase the police force and eliminate corruption in the force.

What song brightens your day?
Superstition by Stevie Wonder.

What do you still want to achieve?
More worldwide acclaim for our work so that more South African bands can benefit from our efforts.

CD reviews

SKUNK ANANSIE - Smashes and Trashes
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Emma Liwela
The multi-platinum selling British alternative rock band is back and better than ever with a compilation of greatest hits. There are also three fantastic new singles, Because of You, Tear the Place Up and Squander. These tracks have the same heartfelt feeling, melody and energy as their earlier hits.

TOKIO HOTEL - Humanoid
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Alet van Zyl
These Euro rockers are as good in English as in their mother tongue. Humanoid is their third German album and it’s the second translated and recorded in English. You may recognise the album’s first single, Automatic - it received a lot of radio time in SA. The whole album is a great listen - especially the title track, Hey You and Darkside of the Sun.

CLUBLAND CHRONICLES 2009 - Various artists
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
Summer is here and it’s time to get up and dance. And you can do just that with the latest edition in the Clubland series, which features two CDs of 40 tracks plus a bonus DVD of 20 music videos. Highlights include the Freemasons take on Sophie Ellis Bexter’s Heartbreak (Make Me a Dancer), Evacuate the Dancefloor, Day N Nite and Walk the Line.

DVD of the week: Knowing

Sci-fi thriller. 2009. 121 min. With NICOLAS CAGE, Chandler Canterbury and Rose Byrne. Director: Alex Proyas. 13.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Adam Cooke

In 1959 a group of school kids draw pictures of what they think the world will be like in 50 years’ time. The pictures are placed in a time capsule and in 2009 the capsule is opened. A boy, Caleb Koestler, takes one of the pictures home - it’s simply a page covered in numbers scrawled by pale-faced horror child Lucinda 50 years earlier. Caleb’s father is the rather sad single parent astro-physicist John Koestler (Cage), who begins to realise the numbers relate to important dates.

It turns out the freaky Lucinda has predicted most of the world’s major human disasters of the past five decades. Then John realises some dates are still to come, and so begins his desperate attempt to prevent the looming apocalypse.

This film is not one of Cage’s or Proyas’ greatest moments but for a teen who fancies a bit of a scare factor - complete with tall pale guys in trench coats - and some great special effects, including one unforgettable plane crash, it’s worth a watch. Bonus: featurettes.

DVD of the week: Star Trek

Sci-fi. 2009. 122 min. With Chris Pine, Zachary Quinto and Simon Pegg. Director: JJ Abrams. 13PGL.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Pieter van Zyl

You’ll need a giant flat-screen TV and a surround-sound system if you want to get totally sucked into the black hole of action and special effects on offer here. Die-hard Trekkies who’ve followed the TV series since the ’70s may think this movie version is too slick and miss the camp hairstyles and acting but it’s great to finally find out the origins of Captain James T Kirk and Ambassador Spock.

As in the later films in the Star Wars series this movie takes you way back into the main characters’ pasts. It takes some determination to bring yourself to like the young Captain Kirk who tries to sleep with every space creature he can lay his hands on but once you’ve settled in for the long ride on the USS Enterprise it’s two hours of unadulterated fun. One of the original actors who inhabited the ship in the ’60s even makes an appearance and there are enough surprises to keep you glued to your seat. May there be many more sequels!

Bonus: featurette, commentary, gag reel.

Music reviews

SHAKIRA - She Wolf
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
On her third English album Shakira has changed direction from Latino pop to electropop and the new dance sound works well for her. First single She Wolf is burning up the charts and the second single, Did It Again, is an equally vibey follow-up. She teams up with Wyclef Jean on the pop-meets-rap track Shy. Definitely worth a listen.

WIN!
Ten lucky readers will each win a copy of Shakira’s She Wolf. To enter SMS the keyword SHAKIRA and your name and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 26 November. Each SMS costs R2.

BASEMENT JAXX - Scars
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Sulaiman Philip
With the help of Kelis the Jaxx’s newest album starts off with a disorienting, jaw-dropping title track. The gigantic chorus of Raindrops keeps the genius going. The dullest thing on this CD is the Yoko Ono collaboration Day of the Sunflowers. The moments that shine remind us that the Jaxx are the best at what they do, getting you up and dancing.

DVD REVIEW
Celebration: The Video Collection by Madonna
Hot on the heels of Celebration, Madonna’s recently released third greatest hits album, comes the DVD - a must-have for fans. Celebration: The Video Collection comprises two discs with 47 music videos including early classics such as Material Girl, Into the Groove, La Isla Bonita, Vogue and Papa Don’t Preach. Then watch her more recent hits such as Frozen, American Pie, Music, Hung Up, 4 Minutes and Celebration. A great gift for the festive season.

The Jonas Girls

These lucky stars share screen time with the gorgeous Jonas Brothers in the Disney TV series Jonas.

CHELSEA STAUB (21)
Chelsea made a name for herself in the 2003 film Arizona Summer opposite Jesse McCartney and in the 2007 film Bratz: The Movie. But it took a lot of hard work going from acting in TV ads to making it to the movies.

“My first paid television commercial job was for Travelodge. The other girl cast with me happened to be Vanessa Hudgens. What a small world.”

Chelsea plays Stella Malone, the brothers’ designer and friend in the series.

“I adore everything about Stella. I love her name, her zest for life and that she’s strong and stands up for herself. I’m a lot like her, especially when she has her freak-out sessions!”

She says the Jonas Brothers are awesome to work with. “In our downtime we share music, talk about stuff that’s going on in our lives or play football with the crew.” Sounds like fun.

QUICK FACTS
- Her celebrity crush is Jake T Austin (Wizards of Waverly Place). “He reminds me of my first boyfriend!”

- Her favourite books include the Twilight series, Pride and Prejudice and the Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants series.

NICOLE ANDERSON (19)
She’s as close to co-star Chelsea Staub in real life as their characters are in the series. Nicole won a scholarship to a modelling school when she was 13 but modelling proved too limiting so she began auditioning for acting jobs and landed small roles in series such as Unfabulous, Zoey 101, Hannah Montana and iCarly. In 2008 she was chosen to play Macy Misa, an obsessed fan of the Jonas Brothers, in the Jonas series.

She auditioned for the role of Stella but instead got the part of Macy.

“Macy’s such a big goofball. I love playing her because she’s always getting herself in these situations and saying things she probably regrets later. She’s a big ball of fun.”

QUICK FACTS
- She’s a huge fan of the Twilight series. “I’m Team Edward all the way!”

- She hikes to keep fit. “I love sizing up a new, rigorous hiking trail and overcoming it.”

Movie of the week: Zombieland

Black comedy. With JESSE EISENBERG, WOODY HARRELSON and ABIGAIL BRESLIN. Director: Ruben Fleischer. 16LV. Opens 20 November.
Rating: 4/5

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
When the world is taken over by the living dead a shy nerd has to run for his life. He teams up with a crazy cowboy and two cool girls and together they shoot and giggle their way to Bill Murray’s house.

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
Anyone who’s cool enough to think zombies are funnier than Jim Carrey. These flesh-eating nasties who prefer to eat their steak tartare while it’s still alive and the four heroes who blast them to bits will have you in stitches. The film parodies pornographic violence while saying division leads to anarchy and families who stand together can overcome any danger. But actually it’s just a lot of fun, with the funniest death scenes ever. You’ll laugh at the edgy, pitch-black humour but the movie is also a a biting commentary on our greedy consumer society and the sad state of modern morality. And the four main characters will make your heart throb with joy.

WAIT FOR DVD?
No. If the exams have been stressing you out summon up your few remaining nerves, call a few buddies and get to the nearest moviehouse to enjoy this hilarious, cruelly black comedy. See it with friends who’ll get the in-jokes and enjoy Woody Harrelson’s weird beard - your sense of humour will get a workout you won’t believe, guaranteed. It’s the summer’s most unpredictable, tough and brutal comedy.

POPCORN FACT
The late Patrick Swayze was going to be in this movie but had to pull out because of ill health.

Obsessed with La Roux

- Singer Eleanor (Elly) Jackson and synth player, co-writer and producer Ben Langmaid make up UK-based duo La Roux. They met in 2006 through a mutual friend.

- The band’s name originates from Elly’s red hair - roughly translated “roux” is French for “redheaded man”.

- Elly designs her clothes and adores the attention her wacky look attracts. “I was in a pub the other day and two girls followed me into the toilet and said, ‘Are you La Roux?’ I was touched because she said, ‘You make me feel better about being the way I am’. I thought, at least there’s someone out there for girls to look up to who doesn’t have boobs and a tan and high heels.”

- Their debut album, La Roux, took four and a half years to write and record and spawned the hit Bulletproof. They plan to work on a second album next year.

Leading lady of iCarly

She’s the cute, clever star of one of Nickelodeon’s most popular TV shows. Here are some things you may not know about Miranda Cosgrove, the teen hottie behind the role.

The 16-year-old was born Miranda Taylor Cosgrove on 14 May in Los Angeles. She was homeschooled until 2006, when she enrolled in an online school programme. “I spend four hours a day on set and have a teacher there to help me with my school work. I do pretty much all the work my friends do.”

She began appearing in TV ads at three, and at eight got her big break in 2001’s School of Rock opposite funnyman Jack Black. In the same year she landed a minor role as five-year-old Lana Lang in the TV series Smallville. Things started to snowball in 2004 when she landed the role of Megan Parker in the TV series Drake and Josh, then the lead in iCarly. “I had a really great time on Drake and Josh. My friends are always watching old episodes and laugh because I look so little.”

The actress is also a keen singer and hooked up with her former Drake and Josh co-star Drake Bell to sing iCarly’s theme song, Leave It All to Me. She’s working on her debut album and is co-writing all the songs. “They’re mostly love songs and just fun, pop songs about hanging out with your girlfriends.” She also recorded a song called Raining Sunshine which featured in the hit animated flick Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.

Does she relate to her iCarly character? “I’m a little like her. I’m really into my family and friends. But while she always has a plan for when things go wrong, I usually go crazy and a friend comes up with a plan.”

She’s taking her fame in her stride and doesn’t mind the attention one bit. “It’s cool when I go to the mall and kids come up to me and tell me which episodes they like and talk to me about how much they enjoy the show. It’s such a good feeling.”

If she weren’t an actress she’d become a marine biologist. “I definitely want to go to college. I have a few friends and we all want to go to the same college, which would be really fun. I’d love to continue acting but I’d also like to be a marine biologist. I’m really into the sea.”

Music news

DON’T MISS . . .
The Parlotones’ concert! The local rock heroes are set to headline two shows: at GrandWest Arena in Cape Town on 13 November and Coca-Cola Dome in Johannesburg on 14 November. Book tickets at www.powerzone.co. za or Computicket. Tickets cost from R150 to R220.

WIN
Ten readers will each win a signed copy of The Parlotones’ latest album, Stardust Galaxies (see review below). SMS the word STARDUST followed by your name, surname and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 19 November. Each SMS costs R2.

THE PARLOTONES - Stardust Galaxies
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
On their third album SA rock gods The Parlotones prove why they’re masters of the genre. They’ve found their formula and are sticking to it. Push Me to the Floor is an upbeat rock anthem you’ll be hearing for a long time to come, as are Remember When and title track Stardust Galaxies which expertly blends lead singer Kahn Morbee’s voice with that of Freshlyground’s Zolani Mahola.

PARAMORE - Brand New Eyes
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Alet van Zyl
The third album from American rock band Paramore is by far their best. It’s great to hear a rock band with a female lead vocalist that’s this good. Fans will find many gems, especially the energetic first single, Ignorance, as well as The Only Exception and second single Brick by Boring Brick. The slower ballad Misguided Ghosts also stands out. Rock-lovers will adore it.

DIZZEE RASCAL - Tongue n’ Cheek
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Sulaiman Philip
The beats on Dizzee Rascal’s fourth album are raw and unpredictable with a pop feel to them. His voice sounds amazing over electro beats that keep pace with his fast-paced rhyming. The album contains hit singles such as Dance Wiv Me, Holiday and Bonkers. Also listen out for the understated Money, Money. If you have kids around, best you not play Freaky Freaky because it veers towards misogyny.

Ten things about Rihanna’s new album, Rated R

- Set for release on 23 November, this much-hyped album is the fourth studio offering from the Barbados-born singer.

- Rated R was co-produced by big stars including Ne-Yo, Justin Timberlake and Timberland.

- The album’s first single, Russian Roulette, was released in October. The hit track was written by Ne-Yo, who also wrote Rihanna’s Unfaithful and Take a Bow.

- It will be the singer’s first music release since her ex, Chris Brown, beat her the night before the 2009 Grammy Awards.

- In the controversial Russian Roulette Rihanna sings she’s “terrified” and it’s her “turn to go”, referring to the dangerous game the song is named after. At the end of the song you can hear her trembling before a gunshot goes off.

- Many believe the single is symbolic of what happened between her and Chris and that it’s about a woman struggling to get out of a harmful relationship.

- The album is named Rated R because of its controversial and explicit lyrics. “Let’s call it liberated,” Ne-yo says. “Expect an edgier, almost angrier Rihanna. She says some things you’ve never heard her say before.”

- Justin Timberlake says fans can expect her best album yet. “She has the world in the palm of her hand right now. The stuff we’ve come up with in the studio, it’s the next step for her. It’s awesome.”

- The cover for the Russian Roulette single has tongues wagging. It shows the singer topless, wrapped in barbed wire - definitely not for the faint-hearted.

- A cover of the Rated R album has been leaked on the internet. It shows a cartoon-like black and white close up of the singer’s face, with her mohawk hairdo, covering half her face with her hand.

WIN
Ten readers will each win a copy of Rihanna’s latest album, Rated R. SMS the word RIHANNA followed by your name, surname and address to 34923 before 5 pm on 19 November 2009. Each SMS costs R2.

DVD reviews

THE PROPOSAL
Romantic comedy. 2009. 108 min. With Sandra Bullock, Ryan Reynolds and Malin Akerman. Director: Anne Fletcher. 13PGL.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig
Canadian Margaret Tate (Bullock) is an ambitious, mean editor-in-chief at an American publishing company and liked by no one - least of all her subservient assistant, Andrew Paxton (Reynolds). Her world comes crashing down when her work permit expires and she learns she may be deported back to Canada and lose her high-ranking job. Her solution? Marry her poor assistant.

Andrew agrees and they begin dating under the eagle eye of a government agent who’s bent on proving their impending marriage is a fake. But when Margaret is forced to spend the weekend with Andrew’s family, where they continue to live their lie, she forms a bond with these down-to-earth, fun-loving folk.

The plot - two unlikely characters hook up and develop feelings for each other when they least expect it - is nothing new. But the leads’ performances will keep you superglued - you’ll love hating Bullock as the arrogant, stuck-up Margaret and adore the already delicious Reynolds who soars from zero to hero.

ADVENTURELAND
Comedy. 2009. 101 min. With Jesse Eisenberg, Kristen Stewart and Ryan Reynolds. Director: Greg Mottola. 16LD.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Willem Möller
His parents can no longer afford to pay his tuition so geeky student - and virgin - James (Eisenberg) is forced to take a summer job at an amusement park. He falls in with a bunch of co-workers who spend most of their time smoking pot, getting drunk and lusting after one another. James falls for pretty Em (Stewart) but she’s having a secret affair with hunky but married Mike (Reynolds).

Greg Mottola made his name with the classic over-the-top teen comedy Superbad (2007). Adventureland has been marketed as his more-of-the-same follow-up - but that was misleading advertising by the distributors. It’s not the gross-out affair you’d expect but rather a bittersweet coming-of-age tale and while there are funny moments the style is low-key and gentle. Sadly the leads fail to make you care what happens to them and the ending is a bit of a cop-out but it’s an entertaining enough watch.

Game of the week: Wii Sports Resort

Wii. 2009. 3+
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jeremy Petersen
If you’ve ever felt your Wii remote is a tad sluggish the Wii MotionPlus adaptor is the best thing since, well, Wii itself. Sports Resort is the first Wii game to make use of the MotionPlus technology. It has 12 games in which you can test your skills, including table tennis, archery and swordplay. The experience is enhanced by the MotionPlus cover. The remote becomes über-responsive the second you slip on the cover, adding extra thrills to your Wii gaming experience and allowing you to focus on the events you like most.