All Good Things

When I first heard that Ryan Gosling pulls Kirsten Dunst out of a room by her hair, I was intrigued. It is nothing against Kirsten- it just sounded unusual. Then with a little investigating, I found out that the movie was All Good Things, which is based on the real-life mystery of a missing woman. It sounded like it might be a good, dark mystery/thriller/drama type of movie. So I went to the local Blockbuster, rented it on Blu-ray and was quite pleased with my choice.
David Marks (Ryan Gosling) is the oldest son of wealthy proprietor Sanford Marks (Frank Langella), who owns real estate in the New York area, and has some shifty business relations. Sanford wants David to eventually take over the family business, but David isn't interested. At his father's request, David goes to check on an apartment complex and that is where he meets Katie McCarthy (Kirsten Dunst).
They marry, move to Vermont, and open an all-natural supply store. On a visit to the shop, Sanford guilt-trips David into moving back to the city and working for him, claiming that Katie should be offered a better sort of life. David agrees to his father's suggestion, but then his behavior starts to change. Katie hears him talking furiously to himself. He starts to have violent outbursts. She is concerned and discovers that when David was a child, he saw his mother jump to her death.
When Katie gets pregnant, David forces her to have an abortion. On the way to the clinic, David abandons her to take care of some business at his father's request. After this, Katie and David start to drift apart. She moves into their country house and he stays in the city. She goes to medical school and he moves up the corporate ladder. Katie eventually asks for a divorce, but David won't let that happen- he still loves her. So she must find a way to convince her husband to give her a divorce. She is aware that her father-in-law's business practice is not on the up and up and chooses to use that information to blackmail the family into letting her go. It doesn't go as she had planned. Shortly after, Katie goes missing. Then the movie starts to get crazy, but crazy in a good and captivating way.
After watching the film, I couldn't resist the urge to search the internet for more details. There is some speculation about exactly what happened because Katie has never been found. One of the extras on the Blu-ray is interviews with the victim's family and their insight into the events. It is kind of interesting, but it is a shorter synopsis of what happens in the film. The movie is a little slow in the beginning, but once Katie disappears it just becomes a rollercoaster of insanity and dementedness. I was left feeling dumbstruck and astounded even with the speculation aside. It is a little creepy to think that this guy is still out there,

Movie Review: Action Replayy - Where's the Action?

It's time that popular Hindi cinema otherwise referred to as 'Bollywood' to seriously start thinking about a simple yet irreplaceable ingredient called 'script' while making a film. Action Replayy has just about everything that is needed to make a film and yet it falls flat on its face.
Action Replayy Story
There is precious little to the plot- witness to the never ending spats between his parents Kishen (Akshay Kumar) and Mala (Aishwarya Rai-Bachchan), Bunty (Aditya Roy Kapoor) decides not to marry his sweetheart Tanya (Sudeepa Singh) ever. When she gets her madcap scientist of an uncle, Anthony Gonsalves (Randhir Kapoor) to drill some sense into him, Bunty ends up stealing the professor's time machine to go back to the 1970's to make sure that his parents aren't forced into marriage but fall in love and marry. Back in the 1970's he ensures that his idiotically simpleton 'Kitchen Kumar' father transforms into the man Mala wants to fall in love with.
There are a lot of things that go wrong in Vipul Amrutlal Shah's Action Replayy but the biggest culprit is the half-baked screenplay. More than the times; it's the cinema of 1970's that forms the backbone for Action Replayy and even that isn't exploited to the fullest. Once Bunty goes back in time a lot of the scenes, shots and sequences are repeated to the extent of boring the life out of the viewer. Kishen and Mala are modeled on two dimensional cardboard cutouts that according to writers Suresh Nair and Aatish Kapadia are just the stuff yesteryears are made of. While Kishen says things like 'a motherless childhood has made him into the bumpkin that he is', Mala's tough exterior is her defense mechanism to make up for the absence of a father figure and everyone says something similarly inane in rewind mode. The mainstay of the film is Kishen's transformation which sweeps Mala off her feet and even that is revealed as soon as the film starts in the Jor Ka Jhatka song much before Bunty even gets the idea of time traveling.
Even with a string of big duds behind him there is no denying that Akshay Kumar can take the simplest lines and deliver then with such gusto that they become funny. But that trait is good enough to carve a sequence or two or at best a trailer, which is also about to change post the Tees Maar Khan promo which accompanies Action Replayy, but to expect a whole film to work on the basis of his charisma is now hoping for too much.
Akshay Kumar is an accidental comedy star and while he can still make something out of nothing this characteristic suits a Johnny Lever more than him. Rai Bachchan looks like a million bucks but she too runs out of expressions halfway through the film. Ranvijay Singh as the evil Kundan, who can sing in two voices, gets a meaty role and mostly looks the part but Roy Kapoor is a let down. He's too keen to emote, keeps smiling for reasons unknown and seems too happy to be a part of the film that strangely "re-introduces" him; remember he had debuted in Shah's disastrous London Dreams? Neha Dhupia's Mona could have had some more lines or at least a semblance of a definition and Om Puri (Kishen's father Rai Bahadur) as well as Kirron Kher (Mala's mother Bholi Devi) are relegated to saying the same lines with the same expressions over and over again.
Final Words on Action Replayy
With sequences repeating themselves and nonsensical scenes that don't really impact the storyline, Action Replayy's first half is a test of your patience. The '70's flavor is also limited- Pritam's music sounds nothing like the era, the costumes switch three decades without any warning. The film gets a little better in parts once Kishen transforms into a stud but that is very late in the day!
Action Replayy Cast: Asshay Kumar, Aishwarya Rai Bachchan, Ranvijay Singh, Neha Dhupia, Aditya Roy Kapoor, Kirron Kher and Om Puri

Jazz Rap - The Exceptional Hip Hop Rap Sub-Genre

The blend of the 'yesterday-style' with the 'today-trends' is called Jazz. Jazz-rap is hence, a fusion of the early hip hop African-American music and the present-day prominent musical formats.
The word 'Jazz', which was earlier also written as "Jass", was first reportedly used for music in Chicago, in 1915. This musical style originated in the early 20th century as a confluence of African-American tradition and the European musical traditions. The form has always evolved and incorporated the 'present'. Jazz rap is specifically a hip-hop sub-genre which has evolved through the late 1980s and early 1990s. The music is influenced by hip-hop rap beats while the lyrics are sung out in a rap-style. The distinguishing factor here is the type of content in this sub-genre and the musical instruments used.
The lyrics are often Afro-centric; laying emphasis on the importance of African people. They themes also follow political consciousness, historical awareness, intellectual thoughts, conscious rap and the general positivity. One can understand, hence, why this genre isn't a popular choice or a favorite among many. It talks of reality and the reality that affects all of us. People choose to turn a blind eye to the "ill" of our society because it is a simpler path to take. Jazz-rap on the other hand, makes the bold attempt to lurch forward and uplift the set-up in which we live. One of the most renowned South-African groups which laid the foundation for this kind of rapping and influenced hip hop music greatly was the "Last poets".
They emerged from the Black Nationalist thread of the civil rights moments in the late 1960s and went on to make music which understood social commitment. Among other artists and groups who played a poignant role in the emergence of the genre is Louis Amstrong with his 1925 rap song - "Heebie Jeebies", Gill Scott-Heron, and the Watts Prophets. They initiated the use of jazzy tracks. Following the innovative trends, came the band "Cargo" with the single "Jazz Rap" from the album with the same title; and thus went down as the first recorded jazz-rap-single. The genre had arrived.
Talking about the instruments, the musical style is distinguished by the use of the trumpet, trombone, clarinet, piano, electric-guitar, electric-bass, drums and turntables. These are a few common instruments basically used for the typical jazz-instrumentation.
The jazzy auditory themes are the real flavor of the music. The lyrics and the rhythm make this form stand a part. For a music lover, with an intellectual aptitude and a hunger for good music this is where we stop.

Experimental and Independent Live Music in Manchester, UK

Manchester, UK was dubbed Mad-chester in the 1990's at the peak of the indie and rave scene that was encapsulated by a particular haircut, baggy trousers and the Hacienda club. Although Manchester is still in touch with that legacy and such haircuts can still be spotted, it actually offers a lot more variety of live music. White boy bands, sometimes with a female lead singer may still be prevalent statistically but there is so much more going on too for the more experimentally minded music listeners and gig- goers looking for creative music and independent music that may be a bit different.
Experimental, independent and creative music can be found in the more elite venues as well as the smaller under the radar spots. High class venues such as Bridgewater Hall and Lowry Theatre host all sorts of contemporary classical and independent pop acts. And it does not always have to cost an arm and a leg. The Bridgwater Hall have free lunchtime concerts in their foyer which still has better acoustics than many venues in the city. And at RNCM (Royal Northern College of Music) you can often find a free concert by students experimenting beyond their more traditional repertoire.
Of course the Apollo has some great bands and artists stopping by on their national tours such as the experimental and popular female solo artist Bjork, and Bristolian trip-hop bands Massive Attack and Portishead. And even at the Opera House Antony and the Johnson's have played while female solo artist Joanna Newsom delivered a sublime performance at the Palace Theatre. The newly refurbished Band on the Wall provides gigs in Manchester playing host to many more international acts too such as Fela Kuti and Kid Creole and the Coconuts while also being home to a regular monthly night by local Mancunian wonky funk maestro Mr Scruff. With it's brand new sound system and lush new grand piano, the sound quality feels fresh and new too.
More modest venues include the sadly now closing Green Room which has been a hub of experimental theatre, and spoken word for over 20 years in the city. Apart from that we have Kraak Gallery and the Coffee Pot putting on interesting events, performances and gigs in Manchester's Northern Quarter. And Fuel Bar and Cafe in Withington often has local talents making independent music as well as touring independent acts. The monthly improvisation night called "The Noise Upstairs" is experimental music in action with an open mic approach to musical improvisational performance by some of those present. Night and Day cafe, more reknown for gigs in Manchester, sometimes have a more experimental band or artist passing through too.
Like any large city, there are many gems to be discovered by just exploring and asking people for recommendations when you are in town. I hope some of these suggestions may be of use.

Emma's Free Virtual Slot Machines

Virtual slot machines are gaming machines that offer you the luxury of playing slot machine games from the convenience of your home. They also allow you social interaction with like-minded players. Emma's free slots.com offers you over 100 free slots.
There is a host of online casinos available today. They require the players to first download their free slots and then try a hand at the same. Emma's free slots.com on the other hand is different and unique. Why? Because it offers the below-mentioned features.
Free Online Slots
Yes, unlike other online casino sites, Emma's free slots.com offers you a free trial of over 100 free slots. This is especially very interesting for the beginners or amateurs who have no idea about online games. A fun way to learn without being at the risk of losing some money!
The slots are hosted by the best casinos online, so there is no compromise on the graphics and the speed of access. Even slot the player chooses starts with 50,000 credits, enough to help you sustain for hours. What's more, every time you return to the site, the credits are renewed!
Apart from this, live slot tournaments can also be a profitable way of earning with fun. Probably, if you are slot machine enthusiast, you know it better than me. If you manage an entry, the site is an easy way to perfect your slot tournament skills.
No Downloading Required
Emma's free slots.com requires no downloading. Although many websites promise you "no downloading" but only a few live up to the promise! At Emma's all you have to do is to click a button, choose through the list of more than 100 slot titles and you are on.
With 100 free virtual ones, there are plenty of options to choose from. Carnaval, Pub Fruity, What on Earth are the slot machines that offer you a platform for social dialog apart from the fun and thrill of gaming on a slot machine.
The idea is getting together the gaming enthusiasts and offering them a platform for social interaction on a topic of interest, here virtual slot machines. As the gathering is of the like-minded people from different corners of the world, gaming perspectives that emerge and transfer among gaming enthusiasts are endless.
At Emma's, apart from Carnaval and other slot machines mentioned earlier, you may also like to try your skills at Arabian Nights, beetle Frenzy, Crusade of Fortune, Devil's delight, Diamond Dogs, among others. The list is long and engrossing.
Once you sharpen your skills on free ones, it's time to move on to some real slot machines. Emma's directs you to just the right casinos in the United States. Add to it the online free scratch cards that are quite popular these days and a priceless way to give the real gaming a start.

Popular Television Star Celeste Thorson

A popular actress is quick becoming a rising name in America, Celeste Thorson, is a television star has conquered her fears on camera and off. Her international fan base has been building and is catapulting her into celebrity status. Known for leading a team of female adventure seekers in her show Destination X, she filmed the first season in prestigious locations like the Hawaii, Oahu and Kauai. The former art student rose to stardom performing perilous stunts like sky diving from 14,000 feet and dangling from cliffs while mountain climbing. During the second season she drove raced cars and flew in fighter jets throughout Southern California. Her popularity skyrocketed when her show was syndicated to over 60 countries around the world. Thorson became a beloved figure in Asia where she won the Star Award and starred in popular billboard campaigns.
Celeste Thorson was born on July 23, 1984 in Orange County, California to a United States Marine father and Fine Artist mother. She was an only child. Being on stage thrilled her as a child, however, she moved quite frequently. Celeste studied classical art at the internationally acclaimed Instituto Allende in San Miguel de Allende during her travels in Mexico. Her theatrical ambitions continued into her teens when she was discovered by Cuttingham Escott Slevin Dougherty Talent Agency in Los Angeles.
Her  boasts action and comedy. agents steered her to auditioning for television and she landed a role on the hit comedy series How I Met Your Mother. She played in scenes with Neil Patrick Harris and was seen again by millions of viewers worldwide. She starred in films like Room Nine, Satin, Still Breathing, and The Billy Armstrong Situation. Her magazine covers, commercials, film and television appearances have made her a favorite face for fashion designers and famous name brands. Her jetset globetrotting lifestyle as an actress and model have taken her to photoshoots and sets in Italy, Paris, Mexico, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Holland, and the USA. Celeste is a notorious activist and frequently uses the media to speak her mind about different causes.

Best Clubs for Lap Dancing

Almost every man enjoys going to a night club. Some men will go to great lengths just to experience a lap dancing club. That is why a man needs to do research on several lap dancing clubs beforehand to ensure that he gets his money's worth. Some clubs are better than others in terms of the women and the overall reputation of the nightclub. Doing research online will ensure that a man has the time of his life when he goes to the club.
The women is what most men are going to see when they go to clubs that feature lap dancing. Before deciding on a lap dancing club to go to, a man needs to find out what type of women that they have there. A man should take note of the beauty of the women because some clubs do allow unattractive women to work and dance there. That may ruin the experience for many men. A man should also look at the skill of the women and how long they have been dancing. This will ensure the man that he will get the dance of his life.
Another thing to look at when deciding on a club to attend is the overall reputation. The first thing that a man needs to take note of is the safety. Some very eccentric things sometimes occur at these types of clubs so that is very important. A man needs to pay careful attention to where the club is located and the crimes that have occurred at that particular club. Another thing to look at regarding reputation of the club is the overall customer satisfaction rate. A high customer satisfaction ensures the man that going there will be worth blowing his pay check.
Being able to visit lap dancing clubs is a fantasy for most men. That is why it is important for them to do extensive online research on many nightclubs before making a final decision. Why not make it worthwhile?

The Important Things to Know About Pilot Season in Los Angeles

Pilot season in Los Angeles is the time when networks start working on the new television series that they are pitching for the fall. At this time casting calls go out and actors have a great chance of getting a job on a pilot which could end up being picked up by a network. Many stars got their start on a television series and this is an amazing opportunity for actors.
Pilot season is between January and April. Actors from all over flock to LA to try their hand at getting cast in one of the new shows. New television series have launched the careers of many actors, such as Jennifer Aniston, George Clooney and Robin Williams. They all had parts in television and now are all big Hollywood movie stars.
If you are an actor looking to make it big, then you should consider heading to LA for pilot season. You don't have to live in LA all the time to take advantage of this time. You can come to LA only for pilot season and leave once it is over or - if you are lucky - you will get a part and end up relocating here. However, before you give up everything and rush to LA, there are some things you should be aware of when it comes to pilot season.
There is a lot of competition during this time of year. You will be spending a lot of time waiting to get face time with those who make the decisions. Even if you do get to actually meet a casting director, you probably will only have a couple minutes to showcase your talents. You have to be prepared and be at your best. You have one shot and if you don't do well then you may leave broken-hearted.
You may not get the chance to just walk in off the street to try out for a part. You may need an agent. You may have to attend events and try to get asked to try out. You may even need to have name recognition amongst the producers and directors. This means a lot of work beforehand getting prepared. Don't just show up in LA without having a plan, an agent or a resume if you want the best chance at success.
You should come to pilot season ready. Find an agent well in advance and start setting up appointments before pilot season. Get your head shots done and have them in a professional portfolio. Find out any information you can about auditions before going so you know what they are looking for and are ready to provide it.
Pilot season is crazy. There is no doubt about that. You will be facing crowds of people who are trying out for the same parts that you want. You have to be ready. Start in August to get prepared. Go into pilot season with confidence. Think about all the possibilities. What happens during this time could shape your career. You could land a part in a series that goes on to become popular and launch an amazing career.

Things to Do This New Year to Make You a Better Person

With Christmas feeling like it was a life time ago already it's time to start looking forward to the future and establishing how we're going to improve ourselves in the new year of 2011. There are many simple and easy ways to improve our health, mind set and how we look after the planet. I've written this article to help inform you of a few simple things you can do to help the planet. I hope you find the following article informative and useful.
We all from time to time eat an unhealthy diet so it's fundamental to constantly think about what we should be eating. Don't forget that eating some unhealthy foods isn't a bad thing you've just got to eat them in moderation. Ordering your food online or organising what you'll eat throughout the week will enable you to eat healthier and not eat so many bad products.
Have you considered how much you should be drinking? The majority of people do not drink enough throughout the day but this can seriously damage your body. You'll often not appreciate how much it's damaged your body until your old and by which point it's too late. I'd recommend measuring out the water you need to drink at the start of the day and make sure you drink it.
If you wish to help the environment have you consider getting cash for mobiles with mobile phone recycling? Recycling will enable you to get cash for mobile phones which helps your bank balance and help you to save the environment.

Everything There Is to Know About The Djembe Drum

I've decided to write a comprehensive article on the djembe drum since it is becoming very popular in western cultures and most people haven't heard about it yet.
Played with bare hands, the Djembe drum is a traditional African drum covered in skin. The unique sound of this drum is achieved with very little effort because the Djembe is built with one concept in mind...maximum results with minimum efforts.
Usually with a single Djembe drum you can create entire songs and rhythm patterns. When you strike the skin with your palm near the drum's center, a bass note is produced. The slap sound or tone can be achieved by striking near the rim.
There are entire techniques, routines and notes to learn. In western cultures, you can easily learn to play such a drum by finding a Djembe master who teaches to a small group of people or who offers private lessons. What the master won't be able to teach you is how to actually create rhythms...he or she will only show you the basics. You'll learn how to create different notes and sounds, but you'll need to use your creativity and imagination to play a song at the Djembe.
The construction of Djembes evolved over time. In this time and age you can even create your own Djembe drum, but I advise you to buy it since it will save you lots of time and effort. Lenge tree was used to carve traditional African drums. This tree didn't have only great acoustic qualities but it also had a sacred, spiritual meaning to African people. Now, the Djembe is manufactured with steel hoops, rubber tires, nylon rope and other similar industrial materials. Also, the animal skin used as a drumhead can make a very big difference in the sound quality. Goat skin is most commonly used, but I've seen a Dejmbe drums with zebra, antelope or even deer skin. While the basic materials have changed, the sound created by the Djembe drums remained the same or even improved.
A little known fact about the Djembe drum is that it needs similar tuning to a guitar. The tuning will be made by the manufacturer and can be adjusted afterward.
If you're interested in playing a Djembe drum, it's best if you do some online research and find more about the subject. In this article I've covered the basics of the Djembe. You can find free samples of Djembe drum rhythms and you can even learn to play this drum on your own, just by listening to some demos.

How To Use Ableton For The Best Results

So it's been decided that a career in the music business is the best choice for a person and now it's simply up to making some choices about what to work on first and where to head to next. When it comes to this decision process it may be wise to look into how to use Ableton, and what they can do for the talent that's involved.
Why Choose Ableton
Before learning how to use Ableton, it may be wise to decide that it's the best choice to consider. When it comes to getting ahead with music, whether it's being a DJ, mixing rhythms and beats, or composing entire songs these classes are the best learning opportunity. They offer the ease of eliminating travel and letting a student learn from the comfort of their home or room, and combine it with quality, professional wisdom. Getting this kind of knowledge without having to travel and have new paths to choose from in the industry can be a ticket to a great career.
It Starts With Some Searches
How to use Ableton is surprising simple. It can be as easy as searching through the curriculum and deciding where the music is headed to next, or what skill needs to be learned quickest to get the business going. From there it's simple to choose to register and get started with the class or courses that are needed to get the talent to the next level. The best thing about these classes, next to the unsurpassed knowledge and insights that will get passed to the students, is the ease with which a person can register and get started. It's as simple as filling out some information, making sure all the right programs are available and picking he best class to get going.
Variety Can Be The Best Opportunity
When it comes to getting involved with any area of music, it can often be said that learning from many ends of the spectrum can garner a great foundation. At Ableton this can be made possible. There are curricula already set up and designed to get an artist working in a certain direction, or there are the choices of picking classes one at a time to design the concept for the individual student. This kind of variety makes it possible for the school to help many different people from many different paths, that aren't all headed in the same direction.
Start With A Tour
Start opening doors for the music world and your talent by taking an online tour. Check out all the different options and plans they have available and search through the many course descriptions. Getting an idea of what they offer will help a person get an idea of what they may wish to learn next. These kinds of chances can really help develop something that may be just getting done for fun or pure pleasure into a way to make a living and further into a great career. Simply check them out and it's easy to see how to use Ableton.

Raima Sen Hot Photos

Raima Dev Varma well known as Raima Sen was born on November 11, 1979 in Mumbai, India. Her parents are Bharat Dev Varma and the Actress Moon Moon Sen. Both Raima and her sister Riya using their mother's surname onscreen. Raima Sen movie debut was Vinay Shukla's Godmother in the year 1999. She was seen in Bengali movies like Buddhadev Dasgupta's Swapner Din and Nishijapon. Raima sen and Riya Sen both are very sexy actress. Watch more hot photos of them in the upcoming days.

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