Music News: Paramore - Monster

Music News: Meet The Rescu

The Rescu is a 3-piece rock band based in Cape Town, South Africa. Bandmembers include Mike Vaughan - lead vocals and bass; Brendyn “Rusti” Rossouw - drums and vocals; and Gray Lowndes - guitars.

The band has been crafting and performing the songs that make up their debut, self-titled album for the last 18 months. Regular trips to an empty house in a small town, not far from the mother city helped to produce the 10 tracks that make up the album. 

These song-writing getaways, coupled with countless rehearsal sessions back home was a fruitful pre-production stage for The Rescu to find their sound and capture it.  

The band drew their inspiration for the songs from various elements and life experiences. Their genuine and heartfelt love for South Africa and its people inspired many of the tracks. The band name expresses their desire for something relevant, something needed, something out of the ordinary; something that happens to be in the right place at the right time.

To date, The Rescu have performed with some of the biggest names on the SA music circuit, sharing the stage with Just Jinjer, Foto na Dans, The Dirty Skirts and Prime Circle.  

The Rescu will be launching their album on 31 August at Grand West Casino’s “Hanover Street.”  The music video for the first single, I did it for you, will also be screened on the night.

The album will be available in music stores nationwide by the end of August.

Check out the band at www.therescu.com and on Facebook.

Music News: New Album for Natasha Bedingfield

Natasha Bedingfield’s third album, Strip me away, sees her baring her soul as never before.

“I’ve been doing this for several years now, so there’s more confidence,” she says. “I don’t feel I have to hide who I am any more, or apologise for it.”

 A lot has happened for Bedingfield over the past few years, much of it in the USA , where her second album, Pocket full of Sunshine, continued the massive success of her debut, Unwritten. 

All of the songs on Strip me away were written by Bedingfield, working with old friends like Steve Kipner, Andrew Frampton and Wayne Wilkins (whose other credits include Cheryl Cole, P!nk, Christina Aguilera).

She’s also worked with Swedish pop writer/ producer Kleerup (Lady Gaga), and with Eg White (Adele, Duffy, James Morrison), who co-wrote Recover, a meditation on pain and its aftermath which has already been adopted by Cancer Research UK as a theme song.

Read more at www.natashabedingfield.com.

Music News: Behind the scenes of Pitbull and Marc Anthony's new music video

Music News: New sounds from The Dirty Skirts

Saturday, 23 July, sees The Dirty Skirts launch their much anticipated new album, Lost in the fall, at Zula Bar in Cape Town. The album was recorded at Heritage Studios in Cape Town, produced by Neal Snyman, mastered at Sterling Sound Studios in New York and released through 2 Feet, an imprint of Sheer Sound cc.

The first single from the album, Strike The Match, was released earlier this year and was playlisted on radio stations nationwide. It reached the Top 10 on Highveld and KFM’s Homebrew charts, as well as entered 5FM’s Top 40 and the music video reached number 1 on the MK Music Video Charts.

Lost in the fall launches:

  

23 July / Zula Bar / Cape Town / 21h00 / R50

29 July / Town Hall / Johannesburg / 21h00 / R50

30 July / Arcade Empire / Pretoria / 21h00 / R50

27 August / Unit 11 / Durban / 21h00 / R50

THE DIRTY SKIRTS will be featured in the latest issue of People Magazine and issue 373 of Heat magazine. They will also perform live on Studio 1 on 28 July as well as be on Jon Savage’s Rock Show, and live on the Fresh Drive on 29 July.

The Dirty Skirts Website: http://www.thedirtyskirts.com/

The Dirty Skirts on Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/thedirtyskirts

The Dirty Skirts on Twitter: http://twitter.com/thedirtyskirts

Music News: Sinead, by Within Temptation

Movie News: The Dark Knight Rises Trailer

Music News: Laurie Levine releases Six Winters

Laurie Levine's third album, Six Winters, has just been released. Laurie's blend of American roots music and the ‘Nu-Folk’ sound has earned her critical acclaim and a growing audience.She has twice been nominated for a SAMA (South African Music Award) in the Adult Contemporary category and she has just returned from the Grahamstown Arts Festival with a Standard Bank Silver Ovation Award for her performances there.

  

Dan Roberts, who worked with Laurie on her previous album, found a balance between a contemporary sound and Laurie`s love of folk music. Dan speaks about the way they found the ‘voice’ of the album: “Laurie arrived with a selection of songs that had taken her writing to a new level, more exposed and lyrically the strongest set I've heard from her so far. There's a lot of pain there, but extraordinary beauty too. Laurie had also been listening to some old sounds, early dust bowl depression era and such, but at the same time we both love contemporary electronica, so we settled on what can be best described as a 'the future is yesterday' approach. We put together a string ensemble: violin, cello, mandolin, banjo, baritone guitar, junk shop autoharps, accordion and piano and threw that into the ring with, what is known in the trade as 'retro electronica beats' - added some real percussion and ended up with a kind of Appalachian - loop station approach. There's a pulse there, but a delicacy too. I'm really happy with where we ended up and I hope it gets the airing it deserves."

The songs on Six Winters were created in a deeply personal space and the album was written over the length of a year. Laurie comments on the writing process: “A lot of the songs came to me in pieces that were put together and completed over a period of time. A song is only finished when it is ready and often it takes you by the hand and leads you to its completion. The process is mysterious and hard to grasp, but you have to let the song speak its truth." 

Laurie will introduce the album at official CD Launches in Durban, Cape Town, Pretoria and Johannesburg:

Durban: Friday 12 August: Bluestockings, Kloof (Media and Public)

Cape Town: Friday 19 August: Gatta Patat, Cape Diamond Hotel (Public Launch)

Pretoria: Friday 9 September: Pandora Arthouse (Media and Public)

Johannesburg: Thursday 22 September: The Alexander Theatre, Braamfontein (Media and Public)

Also check out www.laurielevine.co.za and http://www.facebook.com/pages/Laurie-Levine/10349244047 .

Music News: New from Prodigy!

Sheer Sound and Shelter Music have released the first feature length live concert of The Prodigy’s sold out show from their Warrior’s Dance Festival at the Milton Keynes Bowl, on CD + DVD.

Portraying their biggest show to date from their sold out festival at the Milton Keynes Bowl, it includes their biggest tunes – Omen, Firestarter, Breathe, Warrior’s Dance and more.

The release will be a chance for fans to see brand new and re-worked footage of the band, including films taken on the road during their Invaders Must Die world tour – see the group in Brazil, Japan, America and of course select performances taken from their explosive tours in the UK and Europe.

Movie News: Take That song to feature in new movie

Take That

Take That and Constantin Film/Impact Pictures jointly announced that the new single from the group, When We Were Young, will be the theme song of the upcoming feature film The Three Musketeers, Constantin Film/Impact Pictures’ highly anticipated 3D action-adventure.

Gary Barlow, Howard Donald, Jason Orange, Mark Owen and Robbie Williams were inspired to write the ballad after a private screening of the film in Los Angeles with the film’s director, Paul W.S. Anderson.

When asked about the new single, Gary said: “The film is visually so rich and beautiful that our main challenge was to then match it musically. We’ve returned to guitars, real pianos and a conventional song structure to achieve this. We also thought that the Musketeers reminded us of ourselves.” The Three Musketeers boasts an impressive international cast, starring Logan Lerman, Milla Jovovich, Matthew Macfadyen, Ray Stevenson, Luke Evans, Mads Mikkelsen, Gabriella Wilde, James Corden, Juno Temple, Freddie Fox with Orlando Bloom and Christoph Waltz. Nu Metro Films releases The Three Musketeers in October 2011 in 3D.

Check out the cool trailer:

Music News: New album for Evanescence

Evanescence will be releasing a new album soon!

Wind-up Records confirmed the label will release a new album from Evanescence on 10 October. The band has also announced the return of guitar player Troy Mclawhorn.

Following a three year sabbatical, the band returned to the studio on April 11 to begin recording their third studio album. 

With what some call a meteoric rise to the top, Fallen brought the Little Rock, Arkansas band to global success with more than 17 million records in the hands of fans worldwide, two top 10 singles, My Immortal and Bring Me To Life and two Grammy Awards in 2003.

The Open Door was recorded in Los Angeles at The Record Plant in early 2006 and mixed at the venerable Ocean Way Studios in March 2006 and marked the return of long-time friend and producer Dave Fortman. The Open Door was certified double platinum in the United States and has sold more than five million copies worldwide.  

Music News: Die Heuwels Fantasties performing at Huisgenoot Skouspel

Die Heuwels Fantasies. Photo: Antonie Robertson

Die Heuwels Fantasties will be performing at Huisgenoot Skouspel at Sun City on  8, 9, 15 and 16 October. The group is honoured to appear on this line-up.  Hunter Kenney sums up the group’s excitement by saying: “It feels like a dream!  We can’t wait.”

Die Heuwels Fantasties will also perform at SkouspelPlus at GrandWest Casino in Cape Town on 17 March 2012.

Tickets are available at www.computicket.com. 

See Die Heuwels Fantasties live at:

14 July – MK Sessies, Blerkas, Bloemfontein.
31 July – Old Mutual Music In The Gardens, Pretoria Botanical Gardens
3 August - Hoërskool Diamantveld, Kimberley
15 August – Hoërskool Lichtenburg
20 August – Hoërskool Vereeniging, Barnyard Theatre, Vereeniging
27 August – Hoërskool Malherbe, Port Elizabeth
17 September – Wanderers, Hart Van Windhoek, Namibië
23 September – Cool Runnings, Fourways, Vrede Fest
24 September – Hatfield Square, Pretoria, Vrede Fest
8, 9, 15 and 16 October – Skouspel, Sun City
21 October – Pendoring Awards
4 November – Parys Adventure Festival, Parys

TV News: Check out The Universe on History Channel (DStv Channel 254)

It's time for a new look at a very old universe. In its mysteries, we are finding the secrets of our past and the key to our future. This is a history of how we know what we do about space.

Fifty years have flown by since man first ventured into outer space, but the heavens are only now yielding their greatest secrets. Robotic rovers give us eyes on the red rock of Mars. NASA probes slam into comets at hyper speed. Deep space telescopes capture violent images of the birth of stars and their collapse into black holes.

All of these have significantly changed the way we look at ourselves. As our own planet churns with the effects of global warming, it's natural to look into the heavens and wonder about the rest of the real estate. Is there anywhere else out there that that can support life? Or, is there truly no place like home?

Each episode will examine how the discoveries were made and the fascinating stories of the scientists and explorers who dared to venture into the uncharted territory of the universe.

Mars: Mars: The New Evidence (Thursday 14 July @ 20:30)

Experts investigate whether water once flowed on Mars and examine the planet's seasonal plumes of methane that could indicate there is life below its surface.

Music News: Haal Asem Kwagga Tour

Van Coke Kartel, winner of the MK Best Live Act 2010 and Best Afrikaans Rock Album SAMA 2010, joins forces with the South African radio chart topper and winner of Best English Rock Album SAMA 2009, Zebra & Giraffe, to bring you a dynamic combination of English and Afrikaans rock that promises to be one of the best live experiences in South African music.

Van Coke Kartel are known for their awesome rock shows and Zebra & Giraffe for their eclectic sound. Both are known for their great live shows. These two extremes in the local music industry are gearing up to bring a show to your home town that can not be missed.

Tour dates and details:

Date: 30 July 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel, Zebra & Giraffe and DJ Sideshow
Venue: Assembly, 61 Harrington Street, Cape Town
Cover: R70 at the door on the night of the event
Pre Sold tickets: R60 via http://www.webtickets.co.za/assembly
Contact & info: Pierre Coetzee: +27 21 465 7286, +27 82 555 7789, pierre@theassembly.co.za
Time: Doors open @ 21h00

Date: 13 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Aandklas, 43a Bird Street, Stellenbosch
Cover: R50
Contact: Marcus Oosthuizen: +27 21 8833545, marcus@aandklas.com
Time: Doors open at 18h00

Date: 16 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Kalahari Teater, Redefine Boulevard (Old Game), York Street, George
Cover: R70
Contact: Dietlof Henn / 0448745000 / 0711371893
Time: doors open 18h00 / show starts 20h00

Date: 17 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: The Union, Steve Biko Building, Prince Alfred Street, Grahamstown
Cover: R50
Contact: Shane - 079 476 8898 | shaneyellow@gmail.com
Time: Doors Open 19h30

Tour Date: 18 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Detroit Motor Spirit, Corner of Albany Road and Frederick Street, Port Elizabeth
Cover: R50
Contact: Shaakir Ebrahim / info@detroitsa.co.za / 0848277849 / 0415823777
Time: Doors open 19h00

Date: 19 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel & Zebra & Giraffe.
Venue: Cool Runnings Fourways, Johannesburg
Address: Shop 30, Riverbend Junction, 1 Riverbend Road, Bloubosrand, Fourways
Cover: R50
Contact: 011 704 0987 | luke@stage-management.co.za
Time: Doors open 19h00

Date 20 August 2011
Line up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra & Giraffe. Acoustic show.
Venue: Ridgeback, Centurion
Address: C/O Jean Ave and South Street.
Cover charge: R20 - general and R50 VIP & Stage area
Contact: 076 722 1115 /vickeyryan@gmail.com
Doors open at 18h00

Date: 24 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Memphis, 12 Esselen St, Die Bult, Potchefstroom
Cover: R40
Contact: Fabio / 0834444101 / memphisrock@live.co.za
Time: Doors open 18h00

Date: 25 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel and Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Mystic Boer, 84 Kellner Street, Bloemfontein
Cover: R50
Contact: Theuns / mysticboer.events@gmail.com / 051 4302206
Time: Doors open 19h00

Date: 26 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel & Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Town Hall, 66 Carr Street, Newtown, Johannesburg
Cover: R60 Contact: Gert - 082 332 5772 | gert@thetownhall.co.za
Time: Doors open 20h00

Date: 27 August 2011
Line-up: Van Coke Kartel & Zebra&Giraffe
Venue: Arcade Empire, Cnr Hans Strydom and N4, Pretoria
Cover: R60
Contact: Robert Peirera / 0720206120 / robert@iloveptown.co.za
Time: Doors open 19h00

Updates on Haal Asem Kwagga Tour on:

http://www.zebraandgiraffe.co.za
http://www.facebook.com/pages/Zebra-Giraffe/7527326422
http://www.twitter.com/zebraandgiraffe
http://www.youtube.com/ZebraAndGiraffe
http://www.vancokekartel.co.za
http://www.facebook.com/vancokekartel
http://www.twitter.com/vancokekartel

Band Blog: http:// www.vancokekartel.co.za/dftwr
Hashtag on Twitter: #haalasemkwagga.

Music News: Chatting to Ross from Prime Circle

Prime Circle

By Clarissa du Plessis

We chatted to Ross Learmonth, lead singer, guitarist and songwriter for local rockband Prime Circle about the band's winning formula.

What would you say is the secret of Prime Circle’s continuing success?
We have always put our songs first; when things become about ego they can fall apart very quickly, so we always try to do what's best for the song, not the player. We also have always been a touring band and spend most of our time on the road. I think these factors as well as our love for playing music together have made the band the success it is today.

Looking back, what has been the most difficult hurdle the band has had to overcome?
We have had a few, from dealing with band members leaving to the repercussions of signing bad deals in our younger days. It’s hard to say which is worse, every day is a new challenge and you just hope you make the right decision because in the end it's you that has to live with it.

And the most daring?
The most daring I think has been our overseas endeavors, going somewhere that nobody knows you and starting at the bottom again. And even though it can get really hard at times, the adventure is always worth it. Also seeing someone new singing along to the songs is an amazing feeling.

What can we expect from the band in the next couple of months?
We are celebrating for the next few months... building up to our ten year anniversary tour. It feels like just the other day that we started and now we have been together for ten years. We will be recording a live acoustic DVD with a lot of old footage of us throughout the years, sort of a storyteller showing people where we came from and also of us playing songs from all of the albums. Very exciting for us.

Is there a new album on the horizon?
Always, until we can't lift our fingers to play anymore… We are looking at bringing out a new album maybe next year. We always take our time so that we can bring out the best music possible for ourselves. Maybe we might even put something new on the anniversary album coming out later this year, you never know…

Check out Prime Circle at www.primecircle.co.za .

Music News: Elvis Blue on tour

Elvis Blue

By Clarissa du Plessis

Idols star Elvis Blue will from 10 July be touring in Cape Town. Elvis chatted to Reaction Entertainment about his music and plans for the future.

You will be embarking on a tour of the Western Cape soon. Did you ever imagine a year ago that you would be touring the province as a super-successful recording artist?

LOL... Not really.I am definitely not complaining though... I have always believed in my abilities and I have always had great hope, but I also know life doesn't always work out the way you hope. I am extremely happy that I have the opportunity to tour the most beautiful part of our country.

Which gig are you looking forward to the most?

Each gig is different... I look forward to them all.

What has the post-Idols experience been like the past couple of months?

Every person who has the opportunity to do what he love is very fortunate.I have been given this opportunity and I am vey thankful for it. The last few months have been a great adventure. 

Your self-titled album has from the start done well in the local music scene. When can we expect the next Elvis Blue album, and how would you envision the next record?

I am writing profusely and we have started pre-production on the album. I hope that we could release the new album in the first part of next year. At this stage the focus is on promoting the third single Save me we have also shot a video for this song. We are also working hard on organizing live performances countrywide.

Check out Elvis at these gigs: 

Event: Elvis Blue Live in Hermanus – 10 July

Venue: Gecko Bar, Site 24A New Harbour, Hermanus

Ticket Prices: R 60

Doors open at 18:30

Event: Elvis Blue Live in Worcester – 11 July

Venue: The Damas Theatre, Worcester

Ticket Prices: Visit www.damas.co.za for ticket prices and starting times.

Event: Elvis Blue Live in Durbanville – 12 July

Venue: Die Boer Teater,

Chenoweth Street

6, Durbanville

Ticket Prices: R 120

For more information call Elsa at 021 979 1911

Event: Elvis Blue Live in Tulbach – 13 July

Venue: The Saronsberg Theatre in Tulbach

Ticket Prices: R 120

For more information call Cliff at 023 230 1782

Event: Elvis Blue Live in Paarl – 14 July

Venue: Ou Meul Teater,

Meul Street

, Paarl

Ticket Prices: For more information and starting times, call Vicky on 083 564 0056

Event: Elvis Blue Live at the George Cheese Festival – 31 July

Venue: The George Cheese Festival, Mead, George

Ticket Prices: R56 per adults, R30 for children under 13.

Gates open early till late

TV News: Former Stig visits SA

Ben Collins

Ben Collins, formally known as The Stig in the hugely successful Top Gear, will travel to Johannesburg, Durban and Cape Town from 5 to 16 July to host three exclusive launches of the new greener tech heavy Audi A6.

Collins comes to South Africa just after finishing stunt driving on the 23^rd Bond movie in Poland; his second appearance in a Bond film having previously driven the stunts in Quantum of Solace.  Along with stunt driving Collins has raced successfully in almost every class imaginable, from Formula 3 and Le Mans to American Stock Car Racing. As the Stig, Ben Collins was the benchmark of speed against which all other drivers set themselves, and the man that everyone from Nigel Mansell to Jenson Button tried and failed to beat.

Collins has put every known supercar to the test, racing the world’s greatest cars but from the anonymity of his white helmet he taught some of the world’s most famous stars – from Tom Cruise to Cameron Diaz - how to lay down a fast racing lap, managed to catch a parachutist in his moving car and coached a blind man how to take on a chicane.

Music News: Kylie extends her South African tour with one more show

 

Kylie Minogue

 

Pop icon Kylie Minogue recently announced that she will be extending the South African leg of her Aphrodite Live 2011 World Tour with one more performance in Johannesburg on 10 July at the Sun City Superbowl in Johannesburg. The Aphrodite Live 2011 Tour was essentially 76 days around the world for Kylie, and her globetrotting will come to an end in South Africa in the Mother City on 14 July. For more on Kylie Minogue, visit www.kylie.com or www.twitter.com/kylieminogue.

Movie News: Celludroid Film Festival from 5 to 14 July

Neve Campbell is Sidney in Scream.

The CELLUDROID Film Festival will again feature a cool line-up of science fiction, animation and fantasy movies.

In addition to a wide range of exciting movies, this year will feature special visiting guest director Richard Stanley (with his movies, documentaries, short films and new book), include a graphic novel launch and more.

There will be theatrical pre-release screenings and for the first time sci-fi, animation and fantasy short film collections will be part of the movie line-up. The venue is the Labia Theatre on Orange Street, Cape Town, and the event will run from 5 to 14 July. 

A special premiere pre-release screening of Wes Craven's fourth installment of the popular Scream series will kick off the festival on 5 July.  

Tickets for the festival are R30 each and bookings can be made at 021 424 5927.

Also check out www.CELLUDROID.net .

TV News: Popular vampire classic The Lost Boys on Sony Max

Some of the cast members of The Lost Boys.

The Lost Boys is one of the films that made vampires sexy and bloodsucking hip long before the current Twilight and True Blood obsession began.

It also launched the second wave of 1980s Brat Packers on the world – including Kiefer Sutherland (24, Phone Booth), Jason Patric (Speed 2: Cruise Control, My Sister’s Keeper), the late Corey Haim (Licence to Drive, Silver Bullet) and Corey Feldman (Stand By Me, Gremlins).

In this comedy-horror, Oscar winner Dianne Wiest (Bullets over Broadway, Hannah and Her Sisters) stars as a mother who moves with her two sons to a small coastal town in California that has been plagued by bikers and mysterious deaths. They get drawn into the sinister, tempting, rock ’n roll world of vampires... and nothing will ever be the same again!

Don’t miss this darkly entertaining fantasy flick that won a Young Artist Award for Feldman, and took home a Saturn Award for best horror movie.

Check it out Monday at 21:00 on Sony Max (channel 126 on DStv).

Music News: Fuzigish performing at Tings 'n Times next week

Local band Fuzigish will be performing at Tings 'n Times on 9 July and there will all kinds of specials on the night

The Setlist album will be on sale for R100 and there will also be limited edition Setlist USB sticks which features all five albums as well as artwork, demos and more for sale.

Cover charge for the evening will be R40.

Music News: Chromium releases new version of My Perfection

Chromium has released a new version of My Perfection.

Local band Chromium has released a new version of My Perfection featuring singer Babette Labuschagne.

In a recent press release the band stated that it is completely different of what Chromium usually does, but having three studio albums under their belt as well as having branched out to a new acoustic route to perform in clubs that would usually shy away from the band, it was time to experiment a little and try reach new fans and friends, by showing them that Chromium has a beautiful "quieter" side. 

The download is online for a limited time only.

Download "My Perfection Featuring Babette Labuschagne":  http://www.mediafire.com/?3ain99nb4srzblg

TV News: Top Billing chats to Terry Pheto

Jeannie D on the red carpet.

Top Billing joins the CBS cast and crew as they welcome Terry Pheto into her acting role at their multi-award winning show The Bold and the Beautiful.

Terry will play a world renowned South African surgeon. “I’ve been watching Top Billing since I was a little girl,” says the star of the Oscar winning film Tsotsi.

Jeannie D asked for some acting advice and Terry happily shared some ‘end scene’ acting tips. “You must always remember the ten seconds stare at the end of the acting scene,” comically says Terry.

Jeannie also walked on the red carpet of the 2011 Daytime Emmy Awards®. The ceremony was hosted at the Las Vegas Hilton.

Remember to check out this episode on 5 July at 19:30 on SABC3.

TV News: Deadliest Warrior on Sony Max

Check out Deadliest Warrior next week on Sony Max.

Would zombies beat vampires in a hypothetical fight to the death? What about Vikings versus samurais?

Well, check out Deadliest Warrior from Tuesday 5 July at 21:00 on Sony Max (channel 126 on DStv) for more.

Through CGI re-enactments and using 21^st century scientific deductions and expert opinion, this documentary series examines which historical and modern warriors would prove most lethal should they meet on the battlefield.

Each episode will pit two of civilisation’s most feared warriors against each other, examining in depth aspects such as weapons, armour, strategy, skills and even diet, and culminating in an epic computer-generated dramatisation of a battle.

Deadliest Warrior is narrated by Drew Skye, and is hosted by biomedical scientist Geoff Desmoulin, medical consultant Dr Armand Dorian and simulations programmer Max Geiger.

Movie News: Captain America trailer

Movie Review: Green Lantern worth the watch

Ryan Reynolds is Hal Jordan in Green Lantern.

By Clarissa du Plessis

Green Lantern 3D (Directed by Martin Campbell). With Ryan Reynolds, Blake Lively, Peter Sarsgaard, Mark Strong, Tim Robbins.

If you are a big fan of comic book movie adaptations such as Spider-Man or Superman, you know that in some cases these adaptations will include a thin to moderate layer of cheese.

Luckily Green Lantern’s movie adaptation takes it easy on the cheesy-ness (think extra thin cheese) and delivers a good comic-to-movie offering.

Ryan Reynolds portrays Hal Jordan, a test pilot with a big chip on his shoulder. His father died in an airplane accident right before his eyes when he was a kid and as an adult he is still haunted by the memory.

After messing up a huge contract opportunity for his childhood friend Carol (Lively), Hal heads to his family for a birthday party, but gets whisked away afterwards – in a green forcefield bubble.

Hal ends up next to a harbour where a spacecraft has crashed. He finds a badly injured alien and even though he manages to drag him to shore, it is obvious that the alien is not going to live. Said alien then gives a green ring to Hal, telling him that the ring chose him.

Hal soon discovers that this magical ring chose him to become part of the Green Lantern Corps, a group of beings tasked with protecting the universe with the aid of the magic powers of their rings.

And there is a really ugly piece of evil heading closer to earth...

Green Lantern is a pretty cool movie with impressive special effects, a sleek design and interesting characters, and hopefully the rumoured sequel will happen (the hidden scene in the credits creates an expectation for this).

Green Lantern might not be the best superhero movie you have ever seen, but it could just come close.