DVD of the week: Watchmen

Fantasy action. 2009. 155 min. With Malin Akerman, Billy Crudup and Patrick Wilson. Director: Zack Snyder. 16LSV.
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Kim Van Reizig

This flick is as dark, dangerous, intriguing and corny as an adaptation of a comic book should be, and more, as director Zack Snyder (300) breathes life into old pages. The story follows a group of superheroes, the Watchmen, who live in an alternative time zone where America is facing an impending nuclear war.

The movie has all the ingredients for a successful adaptation - mystery, murder, justice, fascinating characters, gore and even a bit of romance. Visually it’s a feast and comic fans will love the fight scenes - the first one is done to Nat King Cole’s Unforgettable, if you can get your head around that.

The soundtrack makes for a unique fit and includes classics from Bob Dylan, Janis Joplin and Jimi Hendrix. It’s close to three hours long but for fans of the genre it won’t be long enough.

Game of the week: Infamous

Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Muneeb Adams
PS3. 2009. 16

When a delivery goes wrong the main character, Cole, develops the ability to generate and manipulate electricity. You embark on various missions to figure out what happened to Cole and why and you must decide whether to be good or bad. Do you fight for your survival or become a protector of the masses?

Your decisions affect your karma, which determines what powers and upgrades you acquire. The game delivers in all aspects and has plenty of replay value. Will you be famous or infamous? The choice is yours.

Five minutes with Nonhle Thema

She has interviewed some of the hottest artists in the world and next month she’ll present the Channel O Music Video Awards for the second time. We caught up with the sexy TV presenter.

- The best thing about working at Channel O: I found out who the real me is. I started to have respect for my talent. It led me to host and be a scriptwriter and producer.

- My biggest dream: to make my mother, actress Cynthia Shange, proud.

- Best interviews: 50 Cent, Rihanna, Keri Hilson, Lady Gaga and Mary J Blige.
I was starstruck when I met Lady Gaga. I was recently on tour with her in South Korea. After 10 minutes I felt as if we had known each other for years.

- My favourite music video: Locally Thembi Seete’s Free is hot. Internationally I’m loving all Lady Gaga videos.

- My favourite pastime: working. I’m lucky enough to have free time. I like to read motivational and spiritual books and hanging out with family and friends.

- My favourite local artists: Skwatta Kamp, Jozi, Jub Jub and Lira.

- The song that brightens my day: Successful by Drake. I start my day with it to get me hyped up and motivated.

- I just can’t do without: my health. Without that I can’t pursue the dreams I have. Also God, my cellphone, DStv and my mom.

- I can’t live without: music. Music heals all wounds and changes hearts.

- I drive: a modest vehicle, a 2009 model three-litre Saab. I’m all about safety rather than status.

CD reviews

MICHAEL BUBLÉ MEETS MADISON SQUARE GARDEN by Michael Bublé
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
There’s no faulting Michael Bublé on his brand of old-school classics. This album, recorded at a Madison Square Garden concert, features 10 of his favourites songs, including Everything and Mr and Mrs Jones. The real highlight is the DVD of live performances, interviews and two extra songs. Fans will love it.

BATTLE FOR THE SUN by Placebo
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Nici de Wet
This is the sixth studio album by the alternative rockers and signals a few changes since their last effort, Meds. The boys have moved to a new record label and have a new drummer; the result is a more radio-friendly, up-tempo album with enough grungy guitars and anguished lyrics from androgynous frontman
Brian Molko to satisfy fans.

LA ROUX by La Roux
Rating: 4/5
Reviewer: Jared Orlin
If you haven’t yet heard of La Roux remember the name; you’re going to hear a lot more of this British electropop duo that burst onto the UK scene with the hit In For the Kill. They’re similar in sound to ’80s band The Human League and have some of Lily Allen’s spunk. But more than anything they remind you of Lady GaGa - with cleaner, less explicit lyrics.

WIN
Ten readers will each win a copy of Michael Bublé Meets Madison Square Garden. To enter SMS the word MICHAEL, your name and address to 34923 by 5 pm on 17 September. Each SMS costs R2.

Demi’s living the dream

She’s the star of upcoming Disney show Sonny with a Chance but that’s not all 16-year-old Demi Lovato is up to. Here’s more on the Camp Rock star.

TELL US ABOUT YOUR NEW SHOW, SONNY WITH A CHANCE
It’s a show about a show. I play Sonny, a girl from Wisconsin who moves to Hollywood to be in her favourite TV show. She’s thrown into a whirlwind and gets to live her dream. It’s funny to watch her try to adapt to the new lifestyle and still stay the same. She’s a great character to play because she’s really quirky and funny. I relate to her a lot because I’m from Texas and I moved to Hollywood and I’m living the fantasy too.

HOW HARD HAS IT BEEN TO MOVE TO HOLLYWOOD?
It’s been awesome. I feel really comfortable in LA now and it has been a smooth transition. It wasn’t at all as scary as I thought it would be. Luckily I moved to a really nice area that reminds me a lot of Texas. It’s quiet and I’m quite near friends such as Selena Gomez and Miley Cyrus.

WHAT’S THE HARDEST PART OF BEING FAMOUS?
The biggest thing is learning to deal with people not accepting you for who you are. A lot of the time people will pick at you and try to find things that aren’t even wrong with you and at the end of the day you are who you are. Not everyone is going to like it but you can’t change yourself just to please people. I’m just doing what I love. I’m getting to live out my dream every single day and no one is going to stop me.

IS BEING FAMOUS ALL PARTIES AND GLAMOUR?
There are definitely nights when I feel as if it’s a fairytale because I’m in a beautiful dress and getting into a cool car and going to a movie premiere. But it’s also challenging and it takes a lot of hard work and sacrifices.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WORK BEHIND THE CAMERA ONE DAY?
It’s a goal of mine to direct one day. A lot of the time when I’m doing projects like Sonny with a Chance or Camp Rock I’m secretly wishing I could be behind the camera. Maybe I can try directing episodes of Sonny. That would be an awesome start!

Movie of the week: Up

Animation. Voices: Edward Asner, Christopher Plummer and Delray Lindo. Directors: Pete Docter, Bob Peterson. PG. Opens 11 September.
Rating: 5/5
Reviewer: Leon van Nierop

WHAT’S IT ABOUT?
A sad old man never got the chance to travel the world with his beloved wife. After she dies he ties thousands of balloons to his house and floats off to exotic destinations. But there’s an unwelcome guest in his home.

WHO WILL ENJOY IT?
Anyone who loves life but regrets never making their dreams come true. This movie is almost too good to be true; it simply never puts a foot - or a balloon - wrong. Everyone from grandpa to your little brother will cheer when the house takes off and groan when it’s hit by a thunder storm. It’s possibly the best animated movie ever - not only does it teach life lessons without getting preachy, it celebrates the joy of life and inspires viewers by making them believe it’s never too late to leave your comfort zone. Be daring, never mind how old you are - life is there for the taking! But you must be brave enough to tackle it bare-fisted, be prepared to take the knocks and be able to laugh about it.

WAIT FOR DVD?
No. And see it in 3D - with so many 3D theatres opening up there’s no reason to miss out on this experience of a lifetime. To float above the world with a grumpy old man and his witty, naughty guest who always has something to say makes Up worth paying extra to see in 3D. Take off to the skies with these characters - and see what happens when they reach their destination. A joyful, uplifting movie that sets a new standard in animation. Unmissable.

POPCORN FACT
Scientists calculated a house would need 12,7 million balloons to lift off. For this movie the animators created 20 622 - yes, someone counted them!

Game of the week: Transformers

TRANSFORMERS: REVENGE OF THE FALLEN
PS3. 2009.
Rating: 3/5
Reviewer: Anwar Karbary
Videogames based on movies often aren’t great but Transformers isn’t too bad. Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen is a huge improvement on the first instalment. In single-player mode you can play as Autobots or Decepticons. You can also choose a different character, each with unique weapons and abilities, for various missions. The graphics are decent and transforming your characters to planes or cars is pretty cool.