X-Factor USA Review

This just in from one of our readers, Confidence. @cKonfidence on Twitter. Enjoy ! ^_^
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The Judges 

Yes! The fall TV season has started, and Simon Cowell’s highly anticipated ‘X-Factor’ (USA) has returned to our TV screens bigger and better... well, just bigger.

Simon Cowell

The British media mogul and talent show judge successfully launched the originally UK based show in America last year, but the ratings did not live up to his (quite ridiculous) expectations.
So this year, he got rid of the old (yes you- PAULA ABDUL!) and landed two new big and current names to the panel: Demi Lovato, and the legendary Britney spears.

Demi Lovato & Britney Spears

 These two have a lot in common…Now I know what you might be thinking…..self-harm, crazy outbursts, rehab (not to forget Britney’s head shaving) but no, that’s not it. They are both ex-Disney girls who have successfully evolved into adult pop-princesses (Yes demi is an adult! :p)

Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato (who is currently at No 1 on the billboard charts with ‘Give your Heart a Break’) seemed to steal the spotlight. To be honest, the constant bickering between her and Simon was more entertaining than Brit’s weird cringes and her shallow-seeming one liners. But not to hate on Britney, I was impressed by her technique as a judge.

L.A (Reid)

Not forgetting L.A (Reid), he was straight to the point and sleek as always, but we would much rather listen to Simon’s hilarious comparison of a hopeful with Dracula?!

Simon thought the addition of more star power will boost ratings- and sadly after Wednesday and Thursday’s premiere, it did not! (It even lost out to rival show-NBC’s ‘The Voice’). However, TV experts are predicting that the ratings would pick up as the season progresses.
On the other hand, after watching the premiere on Fox…I would say it was worth the buzz. Demi and Britney have received good reviews by TV critics for their roles as judges.

       This second season is looking very promising and entertaining; all thanks to the drama backstage, and the addition of young Hollywood (did I mention Nick Jonas and Justin Bieber will be joining the show at judges’ houses?!)
The X-factor will continue to air this season on Fox in America, and on other networks around the world. Will you be tuning in?

Review : D'banj and the lack of talent thereof

If he had auditioned for Project Fame or West African Idol, D’banj would have lost and his performance used as a skit for the TV commercial. Imagine him as he was several years ago: dressed like Fela but with a mouth organ rather than a saxophone and the famous Don Jazzy singing ‘Tongolo’ while Charlie Boy laughs hysterically or that so-called Ghanian singer saying ‘it’s not werking for me!’ with a shake of the head.

I saw D’banj perform years ago at Ife and it was obvious he had barely enough talent to be a success but I failed to see the connection he forged with the highly critical Ife students by stepping on to the stage blowing the school anthem on his mouth-organ. What D’banj lacks in talent, he makes up in diligence and study. D’banj never jokes with his appearance and considers himself a brand only the way P-Square do. Despite singing about the ‘koko’, ‘tongolo’ and black mambas, D’banj has never impregnated anyone neither does he show his face at every club. From his dressing to his abs and everything else about him, D’banj focuses 100% on making sure his fans enjoy every track he blesses, every concert he performs at without disappointing his corporate sponsors.

Is D’banj finished in Nigeria’s music industry or does he have more to offer? As someone who wrote him off many years ago, I can boldly say D’banj still has stuff to offer. He got it wrong with his single ‘Oyato’ though. The only problem with that song as I see it was the timing. This was his first post-Don Jazzy track and he obviously wasn’t thinking of the fans but some imaginary enemies. The song isn’t worse than ‘Olohun Maje’ or any of his other hits but it was more of the same stuff every other artiste ruling the airwaves now is dropping where we expected a definite statement that without Don Jazzy, he is still the kokomaster.

He should know that there are too many young boys out there singing what he introduced: untalented entertainment… Reminisce, Wizkid, Davido, Iyanya… you know the others.

What they don’t have though is the army of critics and fans that D’banj does, waiting for him to stun us into believing he can still stun us…then we’ll be stunned. D’banj is a brand already though, whether he creates any music henceforth or not. What the critics should not forget is that every album he has dropped has been a hit…a record he shares in pop, only with Psquare. What his fans should not forget is that he no longer has Don Jazzy.

Bien voir demain.
 - Culled From YNaija 
   Written By : Demola Rewaju 

Movie Review: Expendables 2

 

The big bad boys are back, with their guns nonetheless. And this time, they have a personal grudge to settle. Sylvester Stallone, Bruce Willis, Chuck Norris, Van Damme, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, all in one movie, grrrrrrrr! Make no mistake, this movie is just as bloodthirsty as the first.

Expendables 2 is only slightly better than its prequel. This movie is exactly what one expects, excessively engaging action and good laughs. Some good one-liners but some you don't even understand.

The old action heroes engage in over played shoot outs, make lame wisecracks and say catchphrases referring to their iconic roles. Guess if a certain someone says 'I'll be back'.

The plot is weak and the effects over edited, but you'll have fun watching it anyway.

'Total Recall: Movie Review

I had high hopes for this flick as I really enjoyed the 1990 original on DVD.



Where did it all go wrong? Quaid (Farrell) just runs and runs and surmounts every obstacle thrown in his way.

However, the action is nothing new and viewers would have seen all the running, explosions, bullets ricocheting and close-combat fights in other flicks.

The flick does pause for a brief moment to ruminate on Quaid's desire to find out about his past, while the rebel leader tells him that the heart wants to live in the present. What new age mumbo jumbo is this?

Another problem with the flick is the casting of Farrell. In the original, Arnie looked really confused by what was happening around him and viewers would have empathized with his predicament.

Farrell, on the other hand, just seems to be going through the motion.

The movie's atmosphere is also nothing new. The teeming crowds amid the rain come from 'Blade Runner' and 'Fifth Element'. The car-chase scene comes from 'Minority Report' and 'Fifth Element'.

The idea about robot cops getting ready for an invasion comes from 'I, Robot', and the look of the robots also comes this flick.

The one good thing about this flick is Kate Beckinsale, the director's wife, who plays Quaid's wife. She's not one person viewers will want to mess with in a dark alley. She exudes arrogance and strength, and a certain amount of sexual appeal and sultriness. Go see 'Total Recall' only if you are okay with paying for a snoozefest.