MOVIE REVIEW: UNSTOPPABLE!!!

THURSDAY, 18th November @ 20th century Nairobi.

Its another non-stop action movie from Tonny Scott and Denzel "the ladies love" Washington which features new face Chris Pine and Rosario Dawson.

Tonny Scott manages to pull out another Train movie after doing " The Taking of Pelham 123". Seems the director has a love-thing with Trains or wanted to finish something he hadn't quite achieved with Pelham 123. Well, from the result I guess you could say He achieved it. One word : Action! Action! Action!.

Will Colson (Pine) plays a rookie Train conductor on day 1 with driver Frank Barnes (Denzel) who is a 28 year veteran conductor about to loose his job in three weeks. The Irony of their lives plays out at the beginning when new meets old. Apparently, the company is cutting back on the old guards to hire new, cheaper staff.

On the whole, the Movie maintains the action tone and keeps you glued to the edge of your seat for 1 hour and 35 minutes. It delves into the corporate arrogance of management who often disregard real-time feedback from juniors at their own peril. Colson & Frank disregard orders from above to race an engine backwards to try and stop a 'runaway' train racing at 70 miles per hour by slowing it from behind.

THE GOOD
Director Tonny Scott does a thumbs up job in whipping up the action from the get go! The scenes of a live train chasing across towns is thrilling. Good thing he didn't do camera tricks with the train. the numerous stunts on a train as it ploughs through rail has you cringing in fear especially the double train pass bys at intersections. Takes a breathe out of you. whoa!!

He also tries to infuse the dilemma workers in real-life situations face while taking orders from bosses behind mahogany desks. The edit is also A class with cuts from real danger on the rail tracks to the boardroom.

THE NOT SO GOOD
The story board is really rushed into the action and the viewer doen't get to interact with the developing characters just glimpses into their lives- past and present. dialogue is reduced to answer backs highly spiked to keep up with the movie's pace. It does have some good laughs though thanks to the larger than life persona of Denzel.

The story reaches and all time climax to end with the usual family is re-united after a gory incident.

Overall, its a great piece and will make your value for money stick. Its a 7 out of 10.

Check out our site and get plugged into the latest movies!!!
www.sms3707.com/id=mov.html

MEET & GREET @ VERANDAH

NAIROBI, Wednesday November 17th. 

Its another day, another meet & greet, 4 more people on probation. The same dab and drab sensations for another week to occupy Nairobi's revelers.

Its safe to say that after coming weekend's eviction; the serious singing can begin and it is probably realistic then to start placing your bets...

This week, I won't bore you with the usual drama at meet & greet but I'll take a swipe at predicting the outcome of this season's TPF- all based on hearsay, rumour, conjecture, fans cheers and jeers plus the usual groupies' fire side chats.

GAELLE: Sorry sis but this saturday is the end of the show for you. It would look bad on the faculty if they pulled another save. C'mon!! everyone else is not blind.

AMILEENA: Pretty popular although the ATT could take a back seat. Vocals are superb but I don't see her making the final 4.

GABIRO: Judge Ian pulled quite a punch with the "weak one" comments although the brother will follow her week after next

STEVEN: The dude can cause quite a stir especially with the ladies but probably won't make final 4 cause Tusker needs new markets like Tz so Msechu should sail in of course.

So there you have it...According to unreliable sources, my final four are MSECHU, PALEKI, RACHEL AND DAVIES... And of course PALEKI takes it home plus the show owners bag a new market.

What do you think?

www.sms3707.com

photos on facebook: 
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=34256&id=100001035252005&l=24a49ae5db

TPF'S MEET & GREET @ SAN VALENCIA

Yesterday was a Wednesday like any other except for the rains in Nairobi ( a welcome blessing) and the temptation to sneak out early from works (not a typo error) and  head home before the heavens opened.

Yet there was the clock; which hadn't struck 5 yet plus there was the TPF quartet on probation this week who were in town to ask for votes- the usual weekly routine to try and connect audiences with the show. I should say; our politicians could emulate these guys: go out every week to touch base with their voters....blah blah blah ( hey snap back to reality-not gonna happen).

From the outset, let me write that this will be a happy blog about the TPF show.Having wrote that; i wouldn't be fair if I didn't slightly mention the controversies bleeping every now and then on the net about the show. First there was the issue about the new stylist who was doing a below par job but has since upped her game. Then there was hue and cry about the show being too choreographed and lately that the show's policy was discriminating against perceived 'fat people' (mark my words perceived) after Leah's eviction last week.

Phew! that aside, yesterday's meet and greet was way better than the earlier ones after some improvements here and there. The 3G's from Rwanda (Gabiro, Gaga and Gaelle) and Aneth from Bongo were looking like stars- fashion speaking. Their stylist must have taken feedback with a light touch.

Another plus is that unlike last week's meet & greet, the music (read:play back tracks) was available and the singers were in sync like a hummed up orchestra.The MC this time round interacted better with the crowd which loved it all the way. The theme of the show is a showcasing of the African spirit and perhaps that's where we can draw some positives.

It is a melting pot of the pop sub-culture in the larger East Africa region (coz of Southern Sudan) and what other way of celebrating the East Africa Community and our Africanness. It somehow helps all appreciate other people's culture and diversity.

The crowd I sense loves this bunch and the other bunch back at the Academy because it resonates with the desire for each young person to become something and seeing ordinary people developing their talent to its peak is such a reward. The yells and screams literally turn to votes during the week.

To join a fellow blogger, i would really love to see the 'board of directors' release the 'audited votes' report for the votes tally they get just for confidence purposes. And judging from the screams jana, my money is on Lady gaga.

 more photos here
sms 3707 for all upcoming events
www.sms3707.com

SEPETUKA 3: ALAINE LIVE AND IN PERSON!!!!

The cast reads of who is who in the entertainment scene now. Alaine from Jamaica, our very own Wyre the Love child and STL.

I have to give 'mad props' to the Homeboyz crew who gave a party like no other to the memory of fans and awe of critics alike. Believe me, these guys should just be given all the major events to do in the Country.

Before i fall into the trap of 'not being objective',let me try and paint the picture of the nite. Its past 7pm (although the event has not officially started) the fans are slowly trickling into the Carnivore and the security is ambitious if not overzealous. Credit goes to both Carni and homeboyz- Id checks and pat downs are the norm now and the crowd barriers are at least 15 metres before the pay points which are about 10.

Add to that, there is a No re-entry rule. Once you pay the 700 bob (mwananchi wa kawaida) and enter, if you leave, you are gone for good- not unless you want to pay another 700 bob to re-enter. Are you confused? me too, or at least I was for the first few minutes.

This arrangement is there for controlling crowds and all I can say is at least someone is learning from their mistakes....Its past 8 and the event has not yet started and the crowds mill around the entrance of the sepetuka dome. Suspense is building as revellers come out to the dome and back to the bar area since the gates haven't been opened.

It probably has something to do with the lights, sound, stage, visuals being in-sync. The ma-fans are however kept 'busy' with music as the wait continues. At this point, let me point out a huge discovery: all parties start after 9.30 regardless of what they put up on the flier.

The wait is worth it after the gates are finally opened and wow! the lights, stage, sound, visual projections....big thumbs up to Homeboyz. They went all out to throw one-heaven of a party.

DJ Hassan takes to the wheels and boy! Can he work-up a crowd. Before the crowd could recover from the sensations galore, they were up in 7th heaven musically-speaking and blam! the nite was on to a great start. Tune after tune were released from the watted speakers as the eager dancehall and reggae fans kept trickling minute after minute in their hundreds.

Some time after 1 am, the star of the show steps up to stage and delivered to the awe of all. Fans sang along to all of Alaine's great hits including 'Rise in Love' and my personal favourite off the 'Changes ridim'- me could'a never make it.

Alaine did justice to her fans on her first ever trip to Africa plus she learnt a few swahili word (nawapenda sana blah blah something like that).But for pulling off a well choreographed event, our kudos go to the Maboyz wa Mike Rabar.

Need  upcoming events?   check out www.sms3707.com

or follow your favourite venue by sending an sms to 3707  e.g. Follow carnivore (only kshs 5)

 

TUSKER PROJECT FAME: MEET & GREET @ CLUB BETTY'Z

Club betty'z on Kimathi street was a bee-hive of activity last evening when the TPF gang on probation this week descended on the place for a meet & greet event to touch base with their fans and oh yes! ask for votes.

To start with, they were late. Or maybe its just me who looks at the clock in this morbid town (time-speaking) and men! the place was jam-packed to the roof-top literally with every table filled with college groupies seeking a few screams, autographs and those beloved pics for the facebook page to show off back in class.

The music was totally good as the DJ was on point save for the few interjections by the zealous MC who kept ranting: " you can catch up with the updates weekly on Citizen Tv and Live shows during the weekend" just to buy time and keep the eager fans assured that the 4 girls are actually on the way coming.

As the wait extended....aaah!  there goes the power. Thanks to your ever realiable power people and the room is turned into a dark evening lit by fire flies (mobile phones) as the groupies wait with baited breathe and chant a few popular slogans "haki yetu".

For a moment, I thought this is a genius idea. Maybe the organisers wanted to fool everyone with a black-out and then switch on the lights and pop! the contestants appear on stage.....Oh well, i guess i watched too much kiini macho. The ten minutes seem an enduring whole hour without here or there and as swiftly as the power went, it came back.

Back to the event, as if on cue, they appear: Paleki (Sudan), Gaelle and Gaga (Rwanda) and Leah from Tanzania accompanied by burly, really burly bouncers. The place grows wild with screams and cheers to the amazement of the contestants. Safe to say the stylist is taking some notes from all the internet chatter (hue & cry).

Now, the Mc goes through the routine of introducing each contestant to get the applause of the house. This one is rather a tough nut to crack- the crowd seems to love them all but my money is on Gaga to be saved by the audience.

When they step up to individually sing, the play back tracks were unavailable- someone forgot something. And the cat and mouse games begin: rushing upstairs to the DJ and down again to the MC. I thought these were limited to the high-school drama fest and symposiums. Anyway, the tracks for these probationers were unavailable but the girls really saved face with tuned vocals. Each person went on to 'Acapella' their own choice of song and I tell you, the house loved it. You cannot find these kinds of performers anywhere but right here on TPF.

Then, from here on, the tradition begins: meet & greet and of course vote for me, my number is TUSKER.......

SEEN THIS? AUTOMATED CREDIT TOP UP

Its a world of ideas and the bold ones keep unleashing them day after day.

Like this new thing I stumbled upon on the ground floor of Ambank house, University way. An automated credit top-up machine thanks to the ever innovative people at PESA POINT.

Its another first from Pesapoint, the guys who brought you an ATM for different banks and MPESA withdrawals from an ATM. Today is day 2 of the machine and Mr. Tendwa (one of the technicians helping out) says he's optimistic if yesterday's feedback is anything to go buy.

Just in case you are wondering how it works, its simple: pretty much like your typical vending machine where you choose which candy you want and put coins or notes - except in this case the 'candy' is the network you are on; safaricom, zain, orange, yu and telkom. And vouwala!! there's your credit top up out in a jiffy.

And yes be reminded, its another first from Pesapoint.

ITS OFFICIAL: ALCOHOL IS THE MOST HARMFUL DRUG!!!!!

According to a UK study by experts from  Independent Scientific Committee on Drugs commissioned by  Centre for Crime and Justice Studies, ALCOHOL is the most harmful out of 20 drugs on a research.

And to set the tone for this blog, Alcohol got 72 points out of 100 to get the top honors due to its effect on others around the people who consume it. Seems strange to categorize socially acceptable alcohol with illegal-send you to jail Heroine and crack cocaine, which came in second and third respectively.

Somebody wake me up coz i must have missed the memo which legalized Alcohol which by the way was 17 points ahead of heroine and 18 points ahead of crack cocaine. It gets better, Alcohol got the overwhelming ratings due to the physical, psychological and social problems it causes...

However, Hon. Mututho seems to think he can mint the money out of this one by imposing hefty start-up capital and licenses to the chang'aa brewers. And oh yes! impose a quality control bureaucracy KEBS typo to make sure as you stumble out of the chang'aa din, you can see the 'mtaro' before you jump. All that and still expect mama pima to still charge a measly 10 bob for one swallow of the boiling concoction. It only happens in Kenya.

Can you imagine that a while back you would have strolled down your favorite supermarket and had Alcohol (code name for the most harmful drug) next to your milk and bread? and the kids rant "Mom!! how come we have never had this one for breakfast"

I guess we all know;especially about the 'social and psychological' riders that come with this one but i guess its just the special feeling that is associated with stepping into a popular joint and every one is yelling "chafua meza".I mean lets give them the credit, where would all the Kenyans go to on a weekend. we have to fill the dins and have everyone wondering if the motor-show rooms have moved!!!

It is comforting to know you would rather have Heroine or Crack cocaine and pass on the most harmful drug out of the 20 researched on here and here

 Those research guys didn't have to do it there; they would have come here and taken a stroll around Murang'a or Nyeri for that matter and psychoanalysed  the areas and conclusively realised Alcohol is a real danger.

Matter of fact, In Mukurweini, a primary school was closed down coz of lack of children.Word has it the men have negated their conjugal duties for beloved bottle. So dire is the situation that a local councillor is dishing out 500bob per new baby.

Never mind we can still celebrate every weekend with pomp and colour as we evict another contestant as we swallow to our favourite brand which by the way has all the air time for the next two months due to a 'reality show' (who's reality); where by the way all the faculty are Christians just doing their thing for upcoming talent.

OK. Let me not spoil your lunch. I rest my case!!!

MULEMBE NIGHT!!!!! EEH ABALUHYA BANJE!!

Mukhang'ala... na na na mukhangala...

These are the words that keep playing through and through in my mind as I leave Carni. Safe to say I don't know what they mean but my Abaluhya brothers and sisters seem to break a sweat and smile as they follow the tune; so am sort of in a safe crowd.

These cultural themed nites are here to stay if the crowds that showed up for these one are anything to go by. By around 8:30pm the sea of humanity was growing and the traffic on Lang'ata road into Carni was akin to a political rally in the Rainbow Alliance days.........

Snap back to present day and the entertainers reads of who is who in the luhya circles. As one blogger would say, they need to really space out these cultural nites so as to retain the crowds and avoid the monotony of your everyday kapuka concert......savour the moments.......ingokho....obusuma........na busaa

For those of you still scratching your heads...chicken, ugali and busaa (chakula kinywaji which gives you that legendary pot-belly). And yes these were in plenty too here plus all those leafy compliments of managu, mrenda...etc etc...

Touted to be Wetangula's eviction party, Mulembe nite didn't lack the high profile candidates: papa shirandula: he of the citizen Tv ,together with Njoro and Mheshimiwa Eugene wamalwa of Fort Kenya (Ford Kenya- no pun intended) and yeah bwana wetang'ula decided to pass on this opportunity to tell the crowd 'I will be back faster than you can say I am innocent'.

I really think these nites should be patented to include a mixed-grill version of 'kenya-nite'.All tribes included....probably it would take a month of galore and food. Oh yes, still can't get that tune out

oh mukhangala......na na na  mukhangala...can someone pliz tell me what it means!!!!

For all upcoming events at your favourite venue, just sms 3707 with the keyword FOLLOW e.g follow carnivore.

www.sms3707.com