Showing posts with label fabulous fusion cuisine on a shoestring. Show all posts
Showing posts with label fabulous fusion cuisine on a shoestring. Show all posts

Friday, August 3, 2012

Movie Review: Sunny Leone alone can’t turn it on in Jism 2

Movie Review: Sunny Leone alone can’t turn it on in Jism 2

 

Movie Review: Sunny Leone alone can’t turn it on in Jism 2 

There is a palpable buzz around Jism 2 given it stars a porn star in a leading role — Indo-Canadian Sunny Leone, a possible first in a film industry that is extremely male-star-driven and is just warming up to married actresses in leading parts of late.
Sunny of course, is not only an international porn star, but she is a married girl with, in her own words, bisexual leanings. And Google will tell you everything about her, inside-out quite literally. Mahesh Bhatt who has written the film and his daughter Pooja who has directed it, need to be lauded for signing Sunny and breaking the archaic rules Bollywood swears by. Just for that, I’d say Bollywood is making progressive strides in the real world, never mind its regressive plot lines in half the films that release all year round!

The excitement around Jism 2 is just that much more amongst men, as was proved by the women-men ratio at the theatre I watched the film in this morning – it was a full house with the men outnumbering the female audience at the screening.
Sunny Leone makes for an arresting and stunning opening sequence in the film — the whole porn star vibe consuming the length and breadth of the screen. She introduces herself as Izna, a porn star, in a voice dubbed to sound like her, but fails to match her spanking hot body and lacks the sexy drawl that would accompany a seductress. Izna goes on to ignite sexual warfare among men just by being her sexual self — Kabir Wilson (Randeep Hooda) a honest ex cop turned assassin on the loose in Galle, Sri Lanka and Ayaan Thakur (Arunoday Singh) an Indian Intelligence Officer.
It is unclear when Izna turned into a porn star – before she met Kabir or after. The film does not depict her filming any such pornographic activity though. Her sexual dalliance with Ayaan confuses the plot further as to whether she just enjoys casual sex with strangers in plush hotel rooms after a hard day’s work faking it for the porn cameras or she’s a hooker on the side.
The entire premise of the film is terribly loose — just showcasing a Penthouse Pet’s acting talent – it is as weak as the French kissing and simulated love-making sequences in the film. Every seductive scene is shot in a picturesque and artistic manner, but leaves you wanting nothing! And that, for a film titled Jism 2, starring a porn star, does not bode well! Katrina Kaif gyrating crazily on the item number, Chikni Chameli in Agneepath, is far sexier to watch than Izna wearing red lingerie, riding a fully clothed Kabir. Of course by Indian Censor board standards, Jism 2 has “bold” scenes, but by the audience standards, they are weak and tepid and fail to seduce. The plot line is so dated that you miss the villainy of Ajit and his loin and Mona moll acts.
The refined Urdu dialogues are verbose and are in sharp contrast to the modern aspects of the film, the porn star vocation of the heroine being the main one. Some of them hit home run though like “Har jism ki expiry date hoti hai” and “Jo aadmi ye sochta hai ki woh kal khush hoga, woh kabhi khush nahi ho sakta”. But this one “Jo aadmi apne mulk se wafadari nahin kar saka woh is jism ka wafadar hai” is a hoot. It makes no sense and warrants laughter, laced with sarcasm, at best.
The edit is a bit jumpy too and in some scenes the characters, namely between Ayaan and Guru (Arif Zakaria) from the Intelligence team and between Ayaan and Izna, go into hysterical screams and shouts for no apparent reason. The characters are not well-etched out and their graphs move at whim and fancy. There are many questions left unanswered in a screenplay that rides on the sexual presence of a famous porn star, but that’s simply not entertainment. The music though, is melodious.
Sunny Leone has a striking screen presence and a natural comfort with the camera, but only till she’s strutting her stuff and doing her thing. The minute she has to act — read express joy, anger and anguish or any such everyday human emotion, she is no actress. There are no dance routines in the film either so her dancing capabilities did not shine this time round. The film does justice to her endearing charm on screen, but it does not expose her real talents —and I am not talking about acting here because that simply is not her forte. But at least she tried and made a film in Bollywood and that’s not easy.
Randeep Hooda is fantastic in his role as the crazy patriot of the country and passionate lover of Izna. He tackles the part well, despite knowing the plot line was terribly askew. Arunoday Singh is easy on the eyes, but his sudden shrieks and volatile enactments in some scenes are jarring.
Jism 2 does not seduce you into its world at all and that is not Sunny Leone’s fault or the fact that she is no great actress, for she has already seduced the world at large.

 

Thursday, August 2, 2012

The Economic Times Politics/Nation NewsStock Quote Home News Markets IPO Personal Finance Tech Jobs Opinion Features Environment Blogs ET NOW News By Industry News By Company Economy Politics/Nation International Business Emerging Businesses NRI You are here: ET Home » News » Politics/Nation 2 Aug, 2012, 08.04PM IST, PTI Indian Against Corruption: Team Anna to to call off fast tomorrow, pitches for a political alternative


Indian Against Corruption: Team Anna to to call off fast tomorrow, pitches for a political alternative

NEW DELHI: Team Anna on Thursday blinked in the battle of attrition with the government by announcing plans to end the indefinite fast Friday evening as it pitched for an alternative to the current political system.
Indian Against Corruption: Team Anna to to call off fast tomorrow, pitches for a political alternative

Anna Hazare's announcement on calling off the agitation demanding Lokpal Bill at 5pm tomorrow came on a day when a group of eminent personalities, including jurist V R Krishna Iyer and former Army Chief Gen V K Singh, appealed for an end to the fast as the health of Arvind Kejriwal and two others deteriorated.

"We will end the fast tomorrow at 5pm," Hazare said at the end of an address in which he enunciated the civil society's approach to forming a political alternative.

The end to the fast also comes in the wake of the government's steadfast attitude in not engaging with Hazare and his team, a year after both sides were involved in drafting a law and Parliament adopting a "sense of House" resolution on passage of Lokpal Bill.

On the earlier occasions in April and August last year, the government appeared to have come under pressure from Hazare's protests which drew huge crowds in the capital and elsewhere.

The protest fast has been marked by low turnout, contradictory statements and levelling of wild charges against government and its functionaries. While Hazare refused to attack Pranab Mukherjee after he became President, his team members continued to level allegations against him.

Talking about providing an alternative to the current system, Hazare ruled out launching or joining a political party but asked people to come out with ideas on how the alternative can be provided.

"It is time for us to think of an alternative. We want a political alternative. But I will not launch or join a party. People should decide who should be given tickets and how to achieve that alternative system," he said.

Questions still remained as to what Team Anna would do regarding the political alternative and whether they would launch a party themselves. 

Monday, July 30, 2012

Friendship Day: what it is about

New Delhi: Friendship Day celebrations are held on different dates in different countries of the world. The first World Friendship Day was proposed on 30 July 1958 in Paraguay. On 27 April, 2011, the General Assembly of the United Nations declared 30 July as official International Friendship Day. However, in India, Friendship Day is celebrated on the first Sunday of August. 



Friendship Day was originally proposed by Joyce Hall, the founder of Hallmark cards in 1919, intended to be the first Sunday of August and a day when people celebrated their friendships by sending cards. The first Sunday in August was chosen as the centre of the largest lull between holiday celebrations but it faced consumer resistance, given that it was rather too obviously a commercial gimmick to promote greetings cards

Friendship Day: what it is about

Monday, August 29, 2011

Funky, fabulous fusion cuisine on a shoestring

(CBS News) Want incredible fusion cuisine?
Then chef Jason Santos is your go-to guy.

He's owner and executive chef of Blue Inc., in Boston, where he serves up funky, but fabulous Asian, French and American ffare.

Jason's dazzling food has been called "Julia Child meets Willy Wonka," due to his creative and eclectic cooking style.

But he's probably best known for being runner-up in season 7 of "Hell's Kitchen," on Fox.

Jason accepted our "Chef on a Shoestring" challenge, and so sought to make a great late summer three-course dinner for four on our budget of only $40.

Our "Shoestring" chefs are also automatically entered into our "How Low Can You Go?" competition, in which the one with the lowest ingredients cost is invited back to make our end-of-year holiday feast.

Enjoy all our "Early Show" recipes!

MENU

Mini Lobster Tacos
Fried Chicken Sandwiches
Root beer and Toasted Marshmallow Milkshake
FOOD FACTS

Creme Fraîche: This matured, thickened cream has a slightly tangy, nutty flavor and velvety rich texture. The thickness of crème fraiche can range from that of commercial sour cream to almost as solid as room-temperature margarine. In France, where creme fraiche is a specialty, the cream is unpasteurized and therefore contains the bacteria necessary to thicken it naturally. Creme fraiche is the ideal addition for sauces or soups because it can be boiled without curdling. It's delicious spooned over fresh fruit or other desserts such as warm cobblers or puddings. Source: Epicurious.com

Buttermilk: Buttermilk of times past was the liquid left after butter was churned. Today it is made commercially by adding special bacteria to nonfat or lowfat milk, giving it a slightly thickened texture and tangy flavor. Some manufacturers add flecks of butter to give it an authentic look. Source: Epicurious.com

Old Bay seasoning: The seasoning mix includes mustard, paprika, celery seed, bay leaf, both black and red pepper, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, nutmeg, cardamom, salt, mace and ginger.[2] It is regionally popular, specifically in Southern States and parts of the Gulf Coast. Due to the strong presence of the United States Navy in Maryland and Virginia, it is a common fixture in galleys on-board Navy ships. It is chiefly used to season crab and shrimp. Source: Wikipedia.com

Root Beer Syrup: Made by fermenting a blend of sugar and yeast with various roots, herbs and barks such as SARSAPARILLA, SASSAFRAS, wild cherry, WINTERGREEN and GINGER, can be found at specialty food stores. Source: Epicurious.com

RECIPES

Mini Lobster Tacos with Mango Salsa

Tacos:

1/2 cup creme fraiche
2 teaspoons mild chile powder
1 canned chipotle, minced
1 teaspoon paprika
1 tablespoon lime juice
1/2 -3/4 pounds fresh lobster meat
8 small white corn taco shells
Combine the creme fraiche, chile powder, chipotle, paprika, lime juice then season with salt. Add the lobster meat, diced mango to the crème fraiche and gently fold to combine. Divide the lobster mixture among the taco shells and top with shredded lettuce & mango salsa (ingredients below).

Mango Salsa:

1 mango, small diced
1/2 cucumber, small diced
2 tablespoon red onion, small diced
2 tablespoons lime juice
Salt and pepper to taste
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