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Lara
Croft blazes Again The first "Tomb
Raider" movie was a massive blockbuster at $47.7 million in
the opening weekend, the biggest opening ever for a film with a
female star. The film went on to gross nearly $300 million worldwide.
Now, with "Lara Croft Tomb Raider: The Cradle of Life,"
the bar is set even higher for the brave female adventurer, and
the thrilling quest she is on is one audiences will never forget. Even before
the movie open up Angelina Jolie in an interview with newspapers
US told what she expected out of the new Tomb Raider movie and of
Lara Croft. She said "
I wanted to make sure that this [movie] was better than the first
one. I wanted to make sure that this one was different, and there
were lots of specific things I wanted changed-like her body, like
her fashion-most important I wanted her to have depth of character.
I wanted her to be challenged. I wanted her to make decisions and
show what her character-what she's made of. Down to the
little things and yeah, I had certain ideas…the way she would
or would not approach something or deal with somebody." As if concomitant
to her wishes the movie opens up with a scene to bolster the advancement
Jolie required. Croft is featured astride a Jet Ski, executing motorized
flips over the Aegean like a hyperactive dolphin. Dressed in
a chic black bikini sexed up to kill no matter what, she quickly
changes into a silver wet suit that makes her look an action hero
of the futuristic world. Coupled with a pair of strapping Greek
lads, she pops into the water to go hunting for sunken treasure.
This time the
British Government needs her help and strangely she also opts to
be with a partner. The MI 6 consults her on the possible threat
to mankind by the foremost designers of Biological weapons Dr. Jonathan
Reiss played by Ciaran Hinds. In the opening
sequence of the movie Croft finds an orb in a submerged Luna temple
built by Alexander the great two thousand years ago. But mercenaries
working for Reiss snatch it away from her. The adventure, Lara tumbles
on with the aid of Terry Sheriden played by Gerard Butler takes
her to exotic places as Hong Kong, Kenya, Tanzania, Greece and the
Great Wall of China. Demonstrating her physical prowess and revealing
her courage as never before, Lara proves that she will stop at nothing
in her search for an infamous site known as "The Cradle of
Life" especially when it means she could save the world from
the most unspeakable evil ever known The Orb she
found would lead any one to the site where the mythic Pandora's
Box is hidden lastly by Alexander the great and once opened it can
unleash a biological weapon in the form of a plague that can ravage
the whole Earth. She has to stop Reiss from achieving this. The new adventure
more different from the original gaming world created by Jan De
Bont the cinema whiz from Netherlands recently famous for his work
on Speed, but a director with a lengthy and successful career. His
creations include the Lethal Weapon 3, Basic Instinct and the Hunt
for the Red October, has a life of its own. The movie is
in a way an symbol of feminist ideology with Jolie's real life love
for adventure and travelling combined with the Croftian synthesis
the movie exercises an irresistible tug not just on the adolescent
male imagination but the 12-year-old female imagination as well. She may wear a bikini worthy of a Bond girl, yet Lara is also tough, resourceful, wildly rich, stunningly beautiful and fiercely independent. 'Sudu
Kaluwara': Good start for Sudath Sudath Rohana,
the now famous teledrama director achieved his success through this
medium and this trend. He has that rare talent to select a theme
for a teledrama, which has popular appeal where success is almost
assured even before launching its production. His highly successful
works, for example, 'Avidu Andura', 'Niranandaya' and 'Bedde Gedara'
stand testimony to his capability and artistic talent. A common theme
for a successful teledrama or a film that can win the hearts of
our people is, quite naturally, the village based society or the
rural society and the trials and tribulations of the people in eking
out a living with meagre means available to them. This is not only
true of the Sinhalese but certainly true of the Bengalis as well
with whom we have many cultural affinities. Films such as "Aparajito",
"Apu Sansar" etc. directed by Satyajit Rai, based on this
theme have found much success among the Bengalis and also among
the Sinhalese. Most in our
society are rural-based. Even those who have found residence in
the urban sector have their roots in the village and the appreciation
of the rural life, despite the difficulties, kindles a sense of
nostalgia in many a heart. This is one of the reasons, I attribute,
for the continued success of teledramas directed by Sudath Rohana. I believe,
it is for this reason that Sudath selected the rural life of an
earlier era as the theme for his first film, "Sudu Kaluwara"
- 'The Intruders". It is quite natural that, his film has been
a success. The film is based on the novel "Ulugedara Arachchila"
by N.T. Karunatilaka, well known novelist, first published in 1978. Some of us,
who like to feel puritanical at least at times would like to depict
the rural life as flawless but the realities are much further from
this. Much have been written about the intrigue, dishonesty, lust
etc, of the rural folk, especially those people such as headmen
(Arachchi) and other elites in the village who dominate the lives
of simple rural people. Sudath Rohana's
imaginative and artistic abilities in presenting the realities of
rural life of a by-gone era in his maiden film, 'Sudu Kaluwara'
is truly admirable. Having set the appropriate background for the
story, he drives enthusiasm by focusing on the colonial intruders
and the domination of the village and village folk by the foreigners
by their deceitful ways including the promulgation of the Waste
Lands Ordinance in mid-nineteenth century, a ruse adopted to deprive
the people of their traditional lands. With a theme
thus focused, there will be no one in the audience, for sure, who
will dissociate himself/herself from the sentiments depicted in
Sudath Rohana's cinematic creation, 'Sudu Kaluwara'. This theme
binds the viewer with the film in the most sympathetic manner, creating
almost a feeling of love and pity for the country. Having set
the stage for an absorbing cinematic creation, Sudath knew that
the successful completion of the film will depend on the actors
and actresses who play their characteristic roles. By his decision
to line up nearly a dozen well-known, much loved, extremely talented
actors and actresses, together with a few talented and promising
young artistes to play the characters, he has managed to keep the
audience spell-bound throughout all sequences of the film. Harold de Niese,
who plays the role of the intruder, the foreigner (Wilson) though
not popularly known, has won the accolade of everyone for his unique
depiction of the Britisher who is, of course, not the apple of the
eye of the audience. Harold de Niese,
plays a fitting role in this film with all the attributes of a colonial
master. Commenting
on the roles played by the set of superb actors and actresses may
seem almost superfluous. This team comprising Sanath Gunatilaka
(Seemon), Jayalath Manoratne (Podi Nilame), Buddadasa Vithanarachchi
(Maddu), W. Jayasiri (Arachchila), Palitha Silva (Dingiri Banda),
Hemasiri Liyanage (Suddana), Indrajith Nawinna (Appuhamy), Bandula
Vithanage (The Buddhist monk), Geetha Kanthi Jayakodi (Lamee), Ratna
Lalani Jayakodi (Margarette) and others have added excellence to
Sudath Rohan's production. Indeed, these actors and actresses do
not act the specific role in the story, they assume the role and
live. It is for such
superb abilities that they have become house-hold names in almost
every home through the length and breadth of this country. Sudath's entry
into the film world with his creation, 'Sudu Kaluwara', can be considered
as a landmark in his career. This film has given a new experience
to the audience in this country. He has been successful in producing
a film with outstanding cinematic value. It is certainly a commendable
beginning in Sudath's career as a film director. Sly
returns with 'D-TOX' Sylvester Stalone
returns to the screen after a three-year absence (excepting his
voice work in Antz) with this tense and violent psychological crime
thriller. FBI agent Jake Malloy (Stallone) has been traumatized
by an especially vicious murder. No longer able
to perform his job, Malloy is referred to a clinic for members of
the law enforcement community, run by doctors Hank (Tom Berenger)
and Doc (Kris Kristofferson). Jake begins receiving therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder, but crime follows him inside the clinic, a serial killer has invaded the facility and is killing off the patients one by one, in increasingly gruesome ways. Soon Jake must set aside his fears and track down the murderer, before he becomes the next victim. D-Tox (which, in production, was publicized under the titles Detox and The Outpost) was released on video as Eye See You - Mark Deming. 'Romeo
& Juliet' at Russian Centre This production
of a ballet based on Shakespeare's "Romeo & Juliet"
stars Rudolf Nureyev as Romeo, Carla Fracci as Juliet and Dame Margot
Fonteyn as Lady Capulet. The immortal
story of tragic, youthful love has been produced by Paticia Foy
and directed by Rudolf Nureyev. The production is a feast for the
eye and ear with strong appeal to balletomanes and those who appreciate
beauty alike. For further
details please contact the Co-ordinator between 9.00 - 3.00 pm on
Weekdays on 685429/685440. |
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