The picture of a definitive rock icon is never complete without the picture of an axe-like guitar adorning his body. Such is the appeal of the guitar that it created a whole generation of rock- and metal-crazy underground artists and fans. Every time I go to the Dhanmondi lake for an adda with my friend or at any special event or party, I simply take my guitar and the entire evening will spin around that one instrument. Chat for hours about who's the top guitarist on the world, Satriani or Vai or which band has the greatest guitar solo amongst the underground albums. The discussion never ends, interrupted frequently by the occasional “Amar Pothchola” or “Pori” sung out in chorus aided by melodious strumming of harmonious guitar chords. The beauty of the instrument is that, one can just begin to play a song with just a few chords, so there's no real need to be a master of the instrument, just be slave to the music.
To most wannabe guitar players, the initial challenge is to acquire a guitar to fulfill their dreams to be rock idols of the future. Music is still considered a hobby of the privileged upper middle or upper class kids due to the cost of musical instruments. It is also difficult to get just the right sounding instrument. I know that my first acoustic guitar, which I still possess and play at times, was perhaps one of the worst models that money could buy. And I paid a hefty amount too. But the sweet feeling of playing it the first time shadowed all my ill feelings at perhaps being cheated out of my guts.
In case you didn't know, guitar comes in two styles, the Hawaiian and the Spanish guitar. The main use of Hawaiian is in instrumentals and is played by keeping it horizontally on the lap. The axe of your choice is the Spanish guitar. All guitars are of two types really, the acoustic guitar and the electric guitar. Let us look at the variety of acoustic guitars at our disposal.
The main buyers' market for acoustic guitars is in the corner of science laboratory, adjacent to the police box. There are a number of guitar shops, the most popular being Melody. They carry a wide variety of acoustic and electric guitars. These shops keep acoustic guitars made in Bangladesh, imported from India, Korea and Singapore. The made-in-Bangladesh models suffer from bad workmanship and this is apparent from its lackluster finishing. Unless you are severely cash strapped, I'd say leave these out. The price ranges from Tk 1000 to Tk. 2000. But beware though, they seem to possess the same logo and similar name like that of its Indian counterpart (Givsome, Gibsum etc.) Then there are the Indian guitars, the most popular, and yet much cheaper than the Korean or Singapore guitars. The two most popular brands are Signature and Givson. There isn't much difference between the two models, but the Signature model is a bit pricier due to its better finishing. Some say that the Signature modes sound better too. Usually you get two varieties of guitar models in both these brands, the Jumbo and the Crown. As you can say from the name, the Jumbo is bigger and gives a better acoustic range, and it's the most popular variety. The crown is flatter and it is better for soloing. In addition there are international but more expensive brands such as Ibanez, TGM, Yamaha etc. But if you are just beginning to learn, its better to pick up a less expensive Indian model.
Let's go about the pricing of these guitars. The Indian Signature, Givson (and Greyson) costs around 3,500 to 4,500. Add 500 to 1000 extra of you want electric pickup for these. The Ibanez guitars cost around 7,500 to 12,500 bucks. The TGM's cost starting from 16,500. In addition the brand Yamaha guitars (available in Yamaha showrooms only) costs starting from 12,000.
Lets us get around to the electric guitars now. These are definitely much more expensive, ranging from 15,000 bucks to even about 1 lakh taka, depending on the brand and the model. Usually more expensive models imported upon request and pre-shipment payment. You can get absolutely any brand here, Ibanez RG series, S series, JEM series (endorsed by Steve Vai), JS series (endorsed by Joe Satriani). You can also get the Fender Stratocaster American models, BC Rich axes and many more. As you can see, these branded models will cost you anything from Tk. 40,000 to Tk, 100,000. The lesser models like the RG 100, to 450 are readily available in Melody and World Music (in Bashundhara City).
Of course an electric guitar by itself is quite useless; you need an amp and a processor to get sounding like your favourite rockstar. Various processors such as Zoom, Digitech RP, POD etc are available readily from stock. For beginners, the ZOOM 505 II or 507 are the best and they cost a modest Tk.4000 and up. Amps come in various models and size, the cheapest and the most popular is the Indian Stranger Cube 20 and it costs around 3000 bucks. In Melody there is a special package offer of an electric guitar, amp, processor, belt and cable bundled up for a modest 20,000 bucks.
You must also remember to buy some extra essentials. Guitar plectrums cost about 50 each, belt around 200 to 500. Extra stings cost 150 (Indian) and 300 (Ibanez). Cables cost depends on the length but they cost starting from 150.
So there you go, everything you need to know about buying you first guitar and starting the long road to become a world famous rock and roll hero starts today. One advice though: practice, practice and more practice.
After waiting for years, another Bond Movie is upon us. This is the 21st franchisee of the series and we hope the best so far. The latest movie, named Casino Royale was actually the first bond novel by Ian Fleming, the creator of James Bond. This is not the exactly first rendition of the classic Bond novel. But the previous being a rather comical outtake on the theme, this is the first time Casino Royale is getting the serious movie treatment it requires.
The forefront of every Bond movie is its over-the-top daring action sequences, the beautiful women and the thrilling drama that moves from one exotic location of the world to another. But before the release of Casino Royale, in fact even before the script was finalized, the franchisee was plagued by bad publicity and criticism. Particularly regarding the casting of a brand new Bond, one Daniel Craig.
After doing four movies and gaining world recognition as the best Bond ever to have taken the license to kill, Pierce Brosnan finally quit the role. Although there are rumours as to if he willingly left the role or the producers didn't want him back for the 21st sequel. However with a number of able and performing candidates willing to take on the challenge, naming a relatively unknown Craig to the role created a huge outburst from fans. Before Craig, fans and producers had considered leading movie figures such as Ian McGregor (Obi-Wan Kenobi in Star Wars), Klive Owen (Closer and King Arthur), Orlando Bloom (Lord of the Rings trilogy) and even British Pop Sensation Robbie Williams. The lantern finally went to Daniel Craig whose previous film appearances included mundane art films like The Mother, Silvia, Infamous etc.
But the producers of the series weren't looking for star power of mere quality. They wanted a new James Bond who would be both intense and romantic. According to Director Martin Campbell, in an interview answering to questions regarding casting he answered “Craig had such screen presence as a Bond, we couldn't look at anyone else for the role. Being a good actor he had both the intensity and magic presence which we wanted to be in the new Bond”. And so we have a Bond which is beyond the stereotypical image of what James Bond should be. One of the main reason for wanting a new Bond with new image and screen personality was perhaps because Casino Royale is not another run of the mill action script Bond. It is based on the original story spun by the series creator Ian Fleming. Casino Royale is the story of how Bond came to be. It tells the story of Bond before he became the man with the License to Kill. Also the director didn't focus much on gadgets and technology, but on the raw action sequences. It tells a story of a much more “human” Bond who falls in love and has feelings. The action sequences are all acted out without the use of much CG and uses real stuntmen in death defying action.
Personally, when I first heard of Daniel Craig as the new bond, I was much disappointed. I would have liked someone like Hugh Jackman (X-men) in the high-octane role of Bond. Not only me, but according to most fans, Daniel Craig was the perhaps the worst choice for the role. But as soon as the trailors were splashed across the television monitors, I cried out with excitement. Not only does this new Bond look good, but he means business. Already many critics have hailed him as being closer than any other actors (Roger Moore, Timothy Dalton or Pierce Brosnan) to the original Bond dreamt by Ian Fleming. He is also billed to be the best Bond since Sean Connery. If Craig turns out to be anything close to Connery, I would easily eat my words and put him up on my all time Bond mantle.
Of course no Bond movie is complete without the mention of the Bond Girl. Ever since Halley Berry did Jinx in Die Another Day, Bond girls have become more than just fulfill the romantic pursuits of Bond in the movie. Casino Royale's Bond girl is another relatively unknown French actress Eva Greene. I have seen her previously in Kingdom of Heaven, but the role was more of a cameo rather than lead actress.
All in all, Casino Royale promises to be the years biggest Box Office Breaker and it couldn't have been better for the producer and directors. Critics all waiting to eat their words just at the sight of the promos and with an original Ian Fleming script, we offer Daniel Craig the best of wishes.
Boog - Martin Lawrence
Elliot - Ashton Kutcher
Shaw - Gary Sinise
Beth - Debra Messing
McSquizzy - Billy Connolly
Bobbie - Georgia Engel
Reilly -Jon Favreau
Giselle - Jane Krakowski
"Open Season" is the first feature from Sony Pictures Animation. It's like the season for animation flicks with so many cropping up almost every week. It's all good though for those of us who enjoy the furry antics.
This is yet another back-to-nature comedy. This time the character is a hip and happening big, fuzzy domesticated grizzly bear, Boog (Lawrence). Guess domesticating them makes them all docile and non-carnivorous.
Boog has been sent back to the wilderness for the misdemeanour of getting drunk and trashing a convenience store. So who sent him away? OF course, his loving and regretful surrogate human "mama," forest ranger Beth (Debra Messing).
It's a rather scary change for Boog who has so far led a lazy dream life in Beth's town, Timberline, as a show-biz bear. His exile from the town isn't without a corny and annoying sidekick that is a fast talking, one-horned mule deer. Having such sidekicks who are generally a bad influence is a bit of a prerequisite. But what fun would life be if there was no one to get you into trouble? Elliot (Kutcher) one such mule who keeps leading Boog astray for the entire movie.
They continue through the movie roaming and squabbling until they chance upon a bunch of hunters. That's when the whole flicks takes a rapid turn into an animals-vs-hunters tale. All the sweet and not so sweet cuddly creatures band together and fight back the wave of humans that descend on them every year like locusts
The platoon consists of an unlikely grouping between a ferocious squirrels-general, skunks, deer, beavers with chainsaws and one wacky duck.
Among the obnoxious (because we root for the critters) humans is Shaw (Gary Sinise) who is a maniac with a collection of mounted animal heads. And behind every annoying man is a irritatingly bossy woman and in this case it is Shaw's wife Bobbie.
Verdict:
Technically, this movie is amazing to look at. But then again making great looking animation is more of an accepted rule than a achievement. It is a lot of fun but the script can sometimes end up wandering all over the place.
The chemistry works very well albeit a little haphazardly. One moment it is a buddy movie with two unlikely characters and the next it becomes a revolution of the wild. Of course, the sidekick's part would have been better played by someone with wacky verbal skills like Chris Rock, Eddie Murphy or Jack Black. Kutcher does the job well but not quite as annoying as the character demands.
Martin Lawrence excels at his stuff though giving his character a lot of 'character'. The movie may not be all that different form the herd but it does get the laughs and end of the day, that's what matters.
