Gateway Studios

It is rightly said that Bollywood is a religion in our country. People live and die for movies. The fan following for a particular star is so fierce that individuals even eat and drink in a particular style. Hero, heroines have a huge impact on the lives of normal people right from how they live, talk to what they wear.

No doubt magazines with the buzz on Bollywood are high on sale. There is gossip and drama in newspapers, TV, radio….everywhere and boy does it sell. Indians want to know what their stars are doing and wearing. Now known and publicized as Page 3 events termed as those Bollywood gatherings that are captured and mostly put up on the page 3 of newspapers. But the terms is so generalised now that any Bollywood gathering, published or not published is known as a page 3 event.

These events include premiers of movies that are held at leading multiplexes. This is one place where you get to see not only the stars of the movie but also the friends and families of the stars. For instance the Woodstock premiere that happened at Fame cinemas was attended not only by the Kher family as it was the debut film of their son Sikander Kher but also by the entire Bachchan family that was sensational for the media who came in droves to capitalise on their presence. Many other leading film fraternity members also came in making it one Bollywood event to remember.

Launch of a new couture segment, books, departmental stores or restaurants are also other reasons for Bollywood stars to turn up and bring in the buzz. Besides bollywood stars cricket team members, fashion designers and socialists make up a complete Page 3 event buzzing with what’s new and what’s not for the media to get some dope and download on to their newspaper supplements.

By: Jennie Gandhi

About the Author:

Website content

“Thirteen Days” is a thrilling account of the Cuban Missile Crisis. Although this is a dramatisation of a real-life events, if what is portrayed in this film is not how it really went down, then it sure feels like it is when you watch it. The research and detail that went in to this film is impeccable, with many of the top level discussions portrayed here between President Kennedy and his advisers taken word for word where practicable from historic audio tapes of the real events. The actors portraying the Kennedys, Bruce Greenwood and Steven Culp, may not look much like their historic characters but they feel like them, giving you a sense that you are watching a real part of history. Perhaps what makes this whole episode compelling is the politics and dramas behind the scenes, the tensions between different groups who are calling for war while Kennedy is stalling to ensure they don’t bring on a nuclear holocaust. Director Roger Donaldson does a magnificent job of eliciting the tension in the situation, brought on all the more by the fact that this all really happened, and it doesn’t matter that we know the ending already.

The most thrilling aspects to this film lie in the interplay between Kennedy and his advisers. Kennedy is perhaps one of the few people in the room who truly realises that if he orders any kind of military action that it will lead to a nuclear war, and by extension, the end of the world as we know it. Many of his military advisers don’t share this opinion, believing that cooler heads will prevail and that ultimately US power will win out. His advisers start to question his motives, “is he weak?”. What’s even better is that Kennedy it appears was not caving in to their demands, making him obviously not weak. There is a lot of political analysis as well based on theories from previous wars where everyone thought they knew exactly what they needed to do to win but they didn’t take in to account how technology and the world had changed to such a point that made all of those presumptions invalid. Much of these interplays between the characters in question hint at a larger theme or Kennedy rubbing the Establishment up the wrong way, and in this case, “Thirteen Days” draws a nice parallel with Oliver Stone’s JFK in showing how Kennedy was not endearing himself to the Establishment with his policies of change.

Kevin Costner plays Kenny O’Donnell, special assistant to the President. He works behind the scenes, helping the President wherever he can, even if it’s just someone to talk to. Costner is okay in this film, although he does seem to carry one look on his face throughout the entire film. Bruce Greenwood is excellent as President Kennedy – he’s got the voice and even the body language and mannerisms down-pat to the point where you think you’re watching the real thing. Likewise for Steven Culp who probably looks a little more like the real Bobby Kennedy.

Perhaps the only point worth mentioning here is that it would have been nice to see what was going on in the USSR, at their top levels of government, to further flesh out an understanding of how both sides dealt with the crisis. This was probably impossible, not just from a narrative standpoint, but also from an evidence stand point, whether or not there was as much official material to work from. Having said that however, there’s something quite thrilling about having one side (in this case the US) not knowing what’s happening on the other side of the curtain. From a film perspective it drives up the tension and gives more weight to every decision Kennedy has to make in adverting World War 3.

An excellent, riveting film that will give you a fascinating insight in to one of the most chilling episodes in our history where we faced the possibility of nuclear holocaust.

By: Alex Demattia

About the Author:

Create a video blog…instantly.

The Amityville Horror. You’ve heard of it as a movie or maybe a true story. You might even have heard it mentioned in an Eminem song. However you first heard about it, you heard the real truth. Amityville is a real town in New York, Suffolk County to be precise. The town was settled back in the 1600′s, but it wouldn’t be until the 1970′s that it’d rise to national prominence due to a tragic real crime committed at the famous address 112 Ocean Avenue.

On the night in November of 1974, Ronald DeFeo Jr killed 6 of his own family members in what would come to be known as the Amityville murders. That’s the true Amityville horror, but the story continues after that. George Lutz and his wife (along with their three children) moved into that house on Ocean Ave the following December. Kathy Lutz found the place creepy right away and 28 days later (interesting?) the family moved from that residence claiming they’d experienced traumatic paranormal events.

Now, enter the author Jay Anson. He wrote not only the book 666, but also the novel titled ‘The Amityville Horror‘ based on the events that the Lutz family went through though it is up for debate how close he stuck to the original real story. That book (published in 1977), in turn, became used to base a movie that would bear its same title in 1979. The movie terrified audiences worldwide with James Brolin, Margot Kidder and Rod Steiger all giving creepy performances that only added to the already scary story of the Amityville horror house.

Does the Amityville house exist today in real life? It certainly does, though it’s been renovated these days and the address has been changed. Many people came to see the site of the DeFeo murders and the place where demon possession was supposed to have taken place. Obviously, the home owners needed their privacy so they took steps to get that back.

I hope I’ve helped clear up any misunderstandings about the awful events surrounding the Amityville house. While the movies are terrific (a new version was made in 2005), the real stories are nothing to smile about.

Copyright 2008 Wolfgang Nibori

By: Wolf Nibori

About the Author:

Create a video blog…instantly.

Kenny is an Australian produced movie starring little known actor, Shane Jacobson. It is a quirky movie centering around the character of Kenny Smyth, an overweight divorced father of one. He works for a company called “Splashdown” delivering portable toilets to all sorts of events including the Melbourne Cup.

To say that there is a lot of toilet humor in this move would be an understatement. It is a scatalogical tale like no other. Every septic challenge is met head on by Kenny, who has a surprisingly positive outlook on life given his occupation and the fact that his father, in the movie, is an obnoxious character who does little but project his negative personality on all and sundry.

Eventually, as the movie meanders along, Kenny finds himself at the Mecca of waste management, the “International Pumper and Cleaner Expo” in Nashville Tennessee. Here Kenny strikes up several friendships with an attractive air-hostess and a Japanese businessman, the latter with a surprising consequence.

Kenny chugs along without reaching any truly great heights. It is filmed in the style of a roving documentary. Every joke about poo is told through the speech impedimented Kenny who comes across as a very likeable character.

At just under two hours the movie is about one quarter too long. It could have been more punchy if it were edited to a crisper 90 minutes. There were several scenes that added little including the camping scene with Kenny, his pony-tailed brother and their father. The wandering expo scenes and Melbourne Cup scenes were also too long.

In all, Kenny was an amusing movie of average merit. My score… 5 out of 10. Others seem to rate it higher but I was expecting more considering the rave reviews that much of the media and others had given it.

By: Gary Simpson

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

“Presumed Innocent” is a refreshing change of pace for Harrison Ford who we have become accustomed to seeing in big-budget action adventure films. Here he gets to extend himself in a serious adult drama that has a lot of twists and turns, nothing or no one is as it seems including Ford himself, and a fascinating court room drama which leaves you at the end wondering if justice was actually done or not. Director Alan J Pakula has crafted a gripping film, perhaps not in a fast-paced sense, but in a thought-provoking mystery sense as he takes us through a story filled with intrigue, great characters and deception.

Harrison Ford plays Rusty Sabich, one of the leading prosecutor’s in the District Attorney’s office. Told in flashback, we discover he’s obsessed with young hot shot lawyer Caroline Polhemus (Greta Scacchi) and his sexual relationship with her. Caroline by contrast is a cunning manipulator who uses sex to further advance her career. One night she ends up murdered, and Rusty is accused of the crime and put on trial. All of his friends in the DA’s office turn against him, and he finds himself enlisting the help of a former foe, Defence Attorney Sandy Stern (Raul Julia). As they delve deeper in to the events surrounding Caroline’s death, they all discover a web of political intrigue in the DA’s office and those seeking to usurp its power.

What works so well in this story is that we’re not really sure that Rusty is innocent. I guess they picked the title well! In some instances, Rusty’s fate is almost secondary to the wider story of the way all these characters are playing games with each other, particularly the incoming DA’s who have swept to power over former lead DA, Raymond Horgan (Brian Dennehy). Horgan himself turns against Rusty when it’s clear who his new bosses are and lets Rusty get thrown to the wolves. Raul Julia as Stern is great, playing the character from an outside perspective and seeks to bring all of this to light, even pointing to corruption all the way up to the judge presiding over Rusty’s trial played well by Paul Winfield.

This film is thrilling, but it is a courtroom drama. The thrills and the intrigue come from the dialogue and the complicated character interactions so if that’s not your thing you’ll probably think I’m on another planet calling this a thriller. However, some times you don’t need things jumping out at you for it to be thrilling and “Presumed Innocent” works wonders in this regard. The courtroom scenes are probably the best scenes in the film, especially on certain occasions as we see Stern take apart most of the DA’s witnesses and in the process destroying the DA’s case against Rusty.

Perhaps the only downside is the ending where the real killer is revealed. Given how much mystery and intrigue and broader events pertaining to the actual murder fuel the entire story, it would have been better if the film hadn’t actually revealed the identity of the killer, instead leaving it up to the audience to figure it out. But being a Hollywood film there has to be some definitive resolution and we get one. It’s not really satisfying and seems tacked on; the killer explains their motivation very clearly and succinctly, in direct contrast to the rest of the film which is quite tricky in revealing the facts. A disappointment to be sure, but it’s only a minor one and doesn’t detract too much from the overall film.

This is a very good film that will keep you fascinated right up until the end to find out who did it!

By: Alex Demattia

About the Author:

Caffeinated Content

Here is the list of Bollywood movies releasing in 2009. Akshay Kumar has quite a good line up of films in 2009 while Shahrukh Khan, Aamir Khan and Hrithik Roshan have a film each, apart from their special appearances in three films. Among the actresses, the three Ks-Kangana Ranaut, Kareena Kapoor and Katrina Kaif look set to have a good year.

* Victory: Victory starring Harman Baweja, is one of the most expensive movies of 2009. The story is about a boy from a small time village in Rajasthan who fulfills his father’s long cherished dream of being an acclaimed cricketer at the national level. There are cameo appearances by many international cricketers as well. Anupam Kher and Amrita Rao costar in Victory.

* Acid Factory: Acid Factory, a Sanjay Gupta film has an elaborate start cast of Dia Mirza, Irrfan Khan, Fardeen Khan, Manoj Bajpai, Aftab Shivdasani and Danny Denzongpa. Acid Factory is about a group of people, whose sense of past has been erased from their memory. It is a high octane thriller, making the bad and evil relish-able. Dia Mirza plays a bad woman for the first time. The music of Acid Factory has been give by many music directors, including Sandeep Chowta, Anand Raj Anand, Mika Singh. The director of Acid Factory is Suparn Verma.

* Raaz-The Mystery Continues: Director Mohit Suri attempts to show in this sequel to Raaz, that no one is good or bad totally; every one has their own demons to fight. Raaz-The Mystery Continues is a story of three people. Emraan Hashmi an artist, visualizes and prophecies the brutal death of Kangana Ranaut. Kangana’s beau (reel and real life) Adhyayan is determined to save her at any cost. The movie under Mukesh Bhatt’s Vishesh Films releases on January 23, 2009.

* Chandni Chowk to China: Director Nikhil Advani is back with a prized Akshay Kumar starrer-Chandni Chowk to China. The story is such that Akshay Kumar works at a roadside foodstall in Chandni Chowk, cutting vegetables and dreaming of a better life. He consults astrologers, tarot readers and the lot, believing in everything but himself. His redeeming moment comes when two strangers from China claim that he(Akshay) is a reincarnation of a war hero and takes him to China. Akshay moves along with Ranvir Shourey in a bid to realize his brave past. Along the way he meets Deepika Padukone and they set off in a series of adventures.

* Billu Barber: If Aamir Khan adapted a movie Ghajini from the south last year, Shahrukh Khan does a similar thing this. Billu Barber produced by Shahrukh Khan is loosely based on the friendship between Kishen and Sudama and also borrows from the Malayalam superhit Kuselan. Shahrukh Khan plays himself in the movie(call it an extended special appearance) while Irrfan Khan, who is the protagonist plays a small town barber. Whatever the fate of the film, one thing is for sure: you will blown away by the performances of two of the best actors of Bollywood.

* Delhi 6: The best director of 2006 Rakesh Om Prakash Mehra produces and directs this film. It is an autobiographic take on his growing days in Delhi. The film should be the trump card for actress Sonam Kapoor. It also stars Abhishek Bachchan. There is a huge expectation from the director who started a revolution with Rang De Basanti.

* Delhi Belly: Imran Khan who had played two distinct roles in hit Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na and flop Kidnap, comes back in a frothy comedy, to be made by the best producer in Bollywood, yep you guessed it right, Aamir Khan. There is buzz that Delhi Belly is an adult comedy with ‘strong language’ and sexual innuendos. The movie Delhi Belly is being marketed as an adult copy, appealing to a niche audience and international market. The film is directed by Abhinav Deo.

* New York: Kabir Khan who surprised us pleasantly with “Kabul Express” comes back in 2009 with a taut thriller called ‘New York’ . New York stares Katrina Kaif, Neil Nitin Mukesh and John Abraham who has stripped himself to the buff(rejoice girls!) for a particular sequence of the film. New York is a contemporary story of three friends whose lives are scarred events beyond their control.

* Luck by Chance: The man of multiple talents Farhan Akhtar stars in what could be one of the finest Bollywood movie release to 2009.The star studded release include Hrithik Roshan, Rishi Kapoor, Konkona Sen Sharma, Dimple Kapadia, Isha Sherwani, Juhi Chawla and Sanjay Kapoor. Luck By Chance is a take on the aspiring actor with stars in his eyes, who wants to get a foothold in the Bollywood industry. It is a movie about how much of an impact does luck play in Bollywood.

* 8 x 10: This will be Akshay Kumar’s first ‘non-filmi’ movie if one can use this term. In a relatively low budget film directed by the ever dependable Nagesh Kukoonoor and produced by Percept, it will portray Akshay Kumar as a man who can look into the past of dead people by touching objects that belonged to them. Inspired lightly by ‘Sixth Sense,’ this film is a must watch.

* Alibaug; Directed by Sanjay Gupta, it has a bevy of actors: Sunjay Dutt, Sanjay Suri, Diya Mirza, ROhit Roy and Maushmi Makhija. The story deals with nine youths who have just graduated from college and are looking at the real world that awaits them.

* Alladin : Alladin is an interpretation of Arabian Nights. It stars Riteish Deshmukh as Alladin and Amitabh Bachan as the genie. Expect a lot of special effects in this funny tale. Sanjay Dutt also stars in the film as a villain called Ringmaster, directed by Sujoy Ghosh.

* Ajab Prem ki Ghajab Kahani: Raj Kumar Santoshi, one of the prolific directors of Bollywood, attempts to bring the magic of Andaaz Apna Apna once again with a comic caper cum love story, Ajab Prem Ki Ghazab Kahani. The movie has a simple story of Ranbir Kapoor who moves around in his life, aimlessly. He keeps on fooling around till he meets Katrina Kaif and falls in love with her. After that the fun and madness begins.

* * Aashayein: Aashayein directed by Nagesh Kukunoor stars Ayesha Takia and John Abraham. John Abraham plays a compulsive gambler suddenly discovers that he is a victim of terminal illness, and that he has only 90 days to live. He is admitted to a hospital where he discover love, companionship and the beautiful meaning of life.

* Kambhakkt Ishq: One of the most talked about movies, Kambhaqt Ishq has beeen in news since 2008. Kambakth Ishq has cameo roles from major Hollywood stars including Sylvester Stallone and Denise Richards. The film stars Akshay Kumar and Kareena Kapoor. Akshay Kumar who plays stuntman, will be back in his action avatar, doing dare devil stunts. The movie also stars Aftab Shivdasani, Amrita Arora and is directed by debutant Sabir Khan. Kambakth Ishq is produced by Sajid Nadiadwala.

* London Dreams: London Dreams, one of the most expensive movies of 2009 stars Salman Khan, Ajay Devgan and Asin. London Dreams is a story about two pop stars Salman Khan and Ajay Devgan who fall in love with a South Indian girl, Asin.

* Rensil D’ Silva’s next: Rensil D’Silva who was Rang De Basanti’s screenplay writer become director with this film. It is a thriller with global terrorism in the background. The movie stars Saif Ali Khan, Vivek Oberoi and Kareena Kapoor. Karan Johar is the producer.

* Hissss: Hissss is synoymous with Mallika Sherwat. Hollywood collaborates with Bollywood to produce Hissss. Mallika plays a snake who is on the way to seek vengeance. An American visitor steps into the jungles of India and kills the female snake’s mate which makes her seek revenge. Expect a lot of special effects in this flick. Apparently Mallika Sherwat who is dressed in a painfully heavy snake costume(she couldnt even go to the loo for 10 hours flat while shooting for this film) has no dialogue to mouth in the film.

* De Dhana Dhan: Priyadarshan is back with his style of comedy with De Dana Dhan. The movie stars the current hot onscreen pair-Katrina Kaif and Akshay Kumar. Suniel Shetty and Paresh Rawal also star in the film, hopefully to recreate the Hera-Pheri magic, 9 years ago. De Dana Dhan is a story of two broke guys who are in search of big money, to prove a point to their girlfriends. The movie also stars Sameera Reddy and Neha Dhupia.

* What’s Your Rashee: Director Ashutosh Gowariker tries a love story with What’s Your Rashee? starring lovers Priyanka Chopra and Harman Baweja. The movie is an adaptation of a Gujarati novel by Shri Madhu called Kimbali Ravenswood. The romantic movie is a story about how Harman Baweja has just ten days to win over the love of his life, Priyanka Chopra.

* Kaminay: One of the most prolific directors, Vishal Bharadwaj comes back with a bang in Kaminay, starring Shahid Kapur, Priyanka Chopra and Amol Gupte(the creative director of Taare Zameen Par). Easily one of the awaited films of 2009, you will see Shahid Kapur in a double role here. The look of Shahid is going to be totally different for Kaminay and it is reportedly kept under the wraps. The movie is supposed to be a comedy with a difference.

* Imtiaz Ali’s next film: Imtiaz Ali, who had given the saccharine sweet Jab We Met, two years ago, comes up with a romantic intense tale, which stars Deepika Padukone and Saif Ali Khan. Though the story is kept under wraps, it will be a true-blue love story of 2009.

* Wake Up Sid: Call it unconventional romantic pairing, but we have Konkona Sen Sharma and Ranbir Kapoor starring in Wake Up Sid, directed by debutant Ayaan Mukherjee. It is a Karan Johar production. Will be interesting to see how people from two different genres, Konkona and Ranbir do with this one.

* It’s My Life: The sweetheart of Jaane Tu Ya Jaane Na(2008) pairs up with Harman Baweja in the movie Its My Life. The movie is directed by the director with the superhit track record, Anees Bazmee.

* Wanted-Dead or Alive: Starring the muscular Salman Khan and the voluptuous Ayesha Takia, Wanted-Dead or Alive should be the first big hit of the most under rated performer of Bollywood, Ms. Takia. Prabhudeva’s first Bollywood directorial venture is a remake of his Tamil-Telugu blockbuster Pokiri. The pairing of the two beautiful actors is wonderful and the chemistry is going to sizzle the screen.

* Blue: Blue, one of the most expensive film of Bollywood ever(budget more than Rs.100 crores), has Sanjay Dutt, Akshay Kumar, Suniel Shetty, Lara Dutta and Zayed Khan in lead roles. The action film is shot in Bahamas and is written by American writers Joshua Lurie and Bryan M. Sullivan. The movie has a lot of underwater scenes and dare devil stunts by Akshay Kumar. A.R.Rahman has given music for the film. Australian singer Kylie Minogue has been reportedly paid 1.5 million dollars to sing for Rahman, Antony D’Souza is to direct the film.

For more exciting Bollywood movie releases of 2009, please refer to my blog.

By: Arunraj V.S.

About the Author:

movie events

Mel Gibson’s epic — “The Passion of The Christ” — ended with Jesus’ Resurrection. Three significant Holy Events occurred during the forty years following Gibson’s screenplay. Almost nobody has heard of those Glorious Events. Indeed, a “mini-series” would be required to adequately describe that period following The Crucifixion.

Gibson’s objective was only to demonstrate dramatically and graphically, Jesus’ suffering. The film withheld “sanitizing” the violence, brutality and merciless behavior of the Roman soldiers at their grisly task. Gibson’s goal was to show it ugly, as it really was!

Nevertheless, those subsequent Events were equally dramatic, important and Glorifying of Jesus, as well as God, The Father. These Events have been shielded, ignored, misunderstood, overlooked or otherwise withheld from all but a handful of diligent, principally Jewish scholars. In my knowledge, almost no Christian scholars have even tried to learn of these Glorious and inspiring Events.

The Three Events are:

1st – The First “Event” actually was a series of Temple miracles that ceased completely during those forty years after The Crucifixion. Several Temple “miracles” had begun to appear during tenure of a certain highly respected Jewish High Priest, Simeon the Just (4th century B.C.E.). These encouraging miracles appeared during worship at Jerusalem’s Holy Temple. However, after Simeon’s time, these “signs” were not as “reliable” as with Simeon. Sometimes they showed and sometimes not. When they did appear, that was taken as a “good omen” for Israel. After The Crucifixion, they were to appear never again.

2nd – Departure of the Glory of God, (Divine Presence or Shekhinah), the “Pillar of fire and Pillar of Cloud” from the Temple. This was that same “burning bush” who first spoke to Moses, then later led the people to the Promised Land and who dwelled in the Holy of Holies of the Tabernacle and eventually the Temple. The Rabbis (Tamud and Midrash) report that after leaving the Holy of Holies just before Passover, He sat on the roof of the Temple until Shavuoth (Pentecost). The Rabbis further record that Shekhinah then returned back into the Temple, just for one last “tearful” farewell to His Holy House. He then proceeded to “the mountain that is on the east side of The City” – The Mount of Olives. Historians Flavius Josephus and Eusebius also report this Event. Josephus reports the exact year, month, date and hour of Shekhinah’s initial departure. The Event is prophesied and described as a “vision” in Ezekiel Chapters 10 and11.

3rd – This 3rd Event began about 3