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Step Up (2006) was arguably one of the most popular chic-flicks that was produced in 2006. Its highly anticipated sequel, Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) released early this year, was welcomed warmly by the public and soared to the top of the box office after it opened. Step Up 2’s plot is not directly related to that of its prequel but is actually a spin-off from the storyline of the first.

The second episode focuses on Andie, the ‘little sister’ of the Tyler Gage, the male lead in Step Up. In the original Step Up, the only real screen time we saw of little Andie was when Tyler was giving some pointers to Andie on street dancing in a basketball court. In Step Up 2, Andie is all grown up, with a mean and rebellious streak. She is a problem teen to her guardian, participating in illegal activities with a street gang called ‘410′. When Andie’s guardian found out that she was involved in a public disturbance case on a train, she decided to send Andie to Texas to start afresh. This is where Tyler Gage makes a cameo appearance - he returns and helps convince Sarah (Andie’s guardian) to let her stay, on the condition that she enrolls in the famed, elite Maryland School of Arts (MSA).

As Andie immerses herself into MSA life, albeit reluctantly at first, she meets and makes new friends like the nerdy-looking Moose Alexander and the charming poster-boy Chase Collins. As MSA and her new friends take up more and more of her time, she finds herself drifting from her 410 family. Eventually, she gets expelled by their possessive leader Tuck. She was devastated as she would be outcast by her friends and she would not be able to take part in the renowned street dancing competition known as ‘The Streets’. At this point, Chase suggested starting their own dance crew to compete in the streets. Initially skeptical, Andie eventually warms up to the idea after consolidating a crew of eight talented MSA schoolmates.

However, their participation in The Streets earns them the wrath of the influential 410 and in retaliation, the 410 wrecks a pristine dance studio in MSA. Andie is subsequently expelled from MSA for her participation in illicit activities while the entire school is warned. On the night of The Streets, her crew members, led by Chase and Moose, decided to risk everything they had at MSA to compete at The Streets.

One word sums up the entire storyline for this movie: predictable. Being predictable, means the plot is essentially typical and boring. The progression of the plot is largely unidirectional. It was obvious, by the way the story unfolded, that Andie would break away from the 410 and form her own crew. The finale was also not difficult to figure out and it was extremely cheesy, to say the very least. It seemed absurd to me how a volatile and hostile crowd at The Streets could warm up to and even cheer for Andie after a short 20 second speech.

Having said that, nobody watches Step Up 2 for the plot anyway. It definitely will not be winning any awards for originality or creativity, but you will be awed by how entertaining this film is. Who cares about the non-existent plot when you got dance moves like these? If you thought the dancing in Step Up was impressive, think again. Step Up 2 is all about crew-dancing, so you will teams of up to 8 people dancing in unison - break dancing in all its glory. I conclude that the almost-10-minutes-long finale dance scene is the best dance scene I have ever seen. It is the kind of dancing that will start an urge in you to start taking up break dancing lessons.

Another aspect of the show that I really appreciated was the soundtrack. Including songs like the wildly popular ‘Low’ by Flo-Rida, the soundtrack is absolutely groovy and exciting. Step Up 2: The Streets (2008) was a real visual and audio feast for me, and for me, this is one of the best ‘watch-and-forget’ shows in recent years.

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(PRODUCT)RED is an initiative started by singer Bono (from popular band U2) and Bobby Shriver to raise both awareness as well as funds for Debt AIDS Trade in Africa (DATA) to combat proliferating diseases like AIDS, malaria and tuberculosis. It has now become an established brand with partners like Apple, Gap, Motorola and numerous others.

The crux of this whole (PRODUCT)RED idea is for partner companies like Apple and Motorola to design and manufacture their own products, but in a bright crimson shade, thus RED. These products would be manufactured but in controlled quantities, instantly producing items of limited edition. These RED products are unique and are designed to appeal to the masses as something out of the ordinary. These products are then marketed extensively, with emphasis on helping fight AIDS in Africa, and are usually sold at a higher retail price than the same products not of RED origin. A certain percentage of revenue earned from selling these products would be returned to DATA to fund the AIDS campaign in Africa. The first country identified to receive benefits from (PRODUCT)RED is Rwanda.

Thus far, some RED products include the American Express RED Card, the iPod Nano RED and the Motorola RAZR RED. Some of these products are especially popular with consumers as the red hue gives these products a refreshingly new dimension. Also, many perceive the notion of owning something from (PRODUCT)RED as cool and chic, and it counts as doing a good deed as they would be helping the needy in Africa.

However, many people (inclusive of this author) have questioned the efficacy of the (PRODUCT)RED campaign. Sure enough, it has generated enormous volumes of hype and publicity, but is this publicity about the products being launched or for the beneficiaries of this campaign in Africa? Also I personally question the sincerity of partner companies. Is this partnership built purely on altruistic ideals or is there a profit-driven agenda? I believe that they have gained much monetary as well as intangible benefits from (PRODUCT)RED (massive publicity). Although a share of profits are donated, RED products are usually priced much higher than their non-RED counterparts (close to 30% more for the iPod Nano RED).

Despite its various shortcomings, it is impossible and unfair to ignore the level of awareness (PRODUCT)RED has brought about. Beneath the sensationalism, I feel more people now do recognize the plight of Africans. Moreover, I personally applaud the efforts of Bono in advancing the (PRODUCT)RED cause. He has traveled all over Africa, experiencing the suffering of the needy. He funds many events from his own pocket and urges his fans to help in any way they can.

On a lighter note, (PRODUCT)RED has created its own trend and created a following. (PRODUCT)RED is a must-have for the fashion-conscious youths of the generation. For the more pragmatic (let’s not use ‘old-fashioned’ shall we?), (PRODUCT)RED is a waste of hard-earned cash and entirely superfluous. I would feel better donating directly to the Red Cross Society.

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The current market is not short of attractive and stylish-looking keyboards. Brands like Razer, Everglide and Aevoe Moshi have their own good-looking keyboards equipped with various functions. However, Logitech’s latest multimedia keyboard is the undisputed pinnacle of multimedia technology crafted into a functional yet stunningly elegant keyboard - Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

First impressions matter a lot to me and judging by first impressions alone, the diNovo Edge trumps all competition. Crafted from a single slab of Plexiglass and then mounted on a sleek aluminum frame, it has truly breathtaking design. It sports a very attractive glossy black finish on the keyboard main pane and also a sleek aluminum palm support. Beware though; the glossy panel attracts more fingerprint smudges than you ever thought possible. The Edge is only 11mm thick but is sturdy, considering how delicate it looks. Also, instead of the conventional number pad on the right, Logitech replaced it with a circular ‘TouchDisc’. It functions basically in a similar fashion to laptop touchpads, with the striking difference being that it is circular. Although this may seem strange, the TouchDisc is rather friendly to use, not for just moving your cursor, but also to scroll documents.

This keyboard has an edge (pun intended) over rival keyboards as it is one of the rare rechargeable wireless keyboards. The diNovo Edge is a Bluetooth-operated keyboard, with a range of a good 30 metres. Installation is a breeze - just plug in the USB Bluetooth receiver into your PC and you can start typing. The rechargeable stand of the Edge is also crafted to be an ornament. During charging, it holds up the Edge vertically a la an exhibition display. A solid 2 hours of charging can allow the Edge to function for more than a month on moderate usage.

Each of the keys has up to 10 million keystrokes and the each individual is equipped with Logitech’s PerfectStroke technology. Typing on the Edge requires getting used to though, due to the ultra slim profile, the keys do not travel by much when depressed. It was also disorientating initially to be typing on such a low ascent. This is not that much of a hindrance compared to the TouchDisc and other touchpad functions. The sensitivity of the TouchDisc and touch-sensitive volume control is diametrically opposite to that of the Razer Lycosa’s. While there were many complaints about the Lycosa’s touch panel being hypersensitive, I anticipate the equal amount of complaints about the diNovo Edge’s touch panel being too insensitive. One would assume that the TouchDisc would do away with the need for a mouse, however, the TouchDisc was overwhelmingly cumbersome to use. Just to move the cursor from one end of the screen to the other required 3 full brushes across the diameter of the TouchDisc. The concept of this touch panel on the diNovo Edge is indeed creative and innovative, but it is a downright annoyance to use.

The other significant reason why the diNovo Edge is not as popular in real life than in concept is the extravagant cost. With a US$200 price tag (or thereabouts), it is a greatly prohibitive price for the average user. Furthermore, for such a price, I would have expected Logitech to further refine their touch-sensitive interface. Also, I felt that the inclusion of backlight illumination for the keys would have boosted its reputation as an all-rounded multimedia keyboard exponentially. For regular typists, you would do better off with a lower-end Logitech keyboard. For gamers, a keyboard from the Razer family would be much more practical; besides, I would not want to subconsciously pound away at my delicate Edge keys during intense gameplay.

For the fashion savvy, who wish to use this in the study as well as the living room, US$200 would be a reasonable price for a flashy and decently functional keyboard. Just remember, do yourself a favour and buy yourself a Logitech Bluetooth mouse along with the Logitech diNovo Edge Bluetooth Wireless Keyboard.

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The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe is the film adaptation of C. S. Lewis’ fantasy novel and was released in 2005 after years of production. The story tells of a group of four children stumbling into a magical world called Narnia and become embroiled in its power struggle between factions of good and evil. This was well-received at the box office, managing to attain significant success and is the first of ‘The Chronicles of Narnia’ films. The second episode of the saga, titled ‘Prince Caspian’, was released recently to mixed reviews.

The story revolves around the English quartet of Peter, Susan, Edmund and Lucy Pevensie and their adventures in Narnia. Set during the Second World War, the four children were sent to the countryside to stay with Professor Kirke to take refuge from the German Blitz assailing London. One day, Lucy accidentally stumbles upon the mysterious world of Narnia while hiding in a wardrobe. She meets Mr Tumnus, a faun, who shelters her from the harsh winter and goes on to tell her about Narnia. Narnia was under the rule of the oppressive White Witch, bringing about an eternal winter. She is sent back to England through the wardrobe, however, she was met with disbelief when she tried to tell her siblings about Narnia.

Edmund eventually chances upon this world with Lucy. He meets the White Witch, who offered to appoint him King of Narnia if he cooperated in surrendering his siblings to her. Not long after, all four siblings stumble into Narnia. They soon learn of Aslan, the creator of Narnia, and his plan to rid Narnia of the White Witch and banish the winter. Edmund sneaked off to see the White Witch but soon realizes his mistake. After reconciliation with his siblings at Aslan’s encampment, the White Witch demanded that Edmund be surrendered. Aslan nobly offered his life in exchange for Edmund’s and was savagely struck down by the White Witch. However, he is magically resurrected and joins Peter and the other children to fight against the White Witch’s army. In the ensuing battle, Aslan and Peter managed to overpower the Witch and Aslan knocked her over a cliff, killing her in the process.

After her demise, the long winter in Narnia ended and the Pevensie children are crowned as Kings and Queens of Narnia. They remained in Narnia for a long period of time, before one day, they stumbled upon the wardrobe again. They slipped through the portal, only to realize that hardly any time has passed in their own world as if it was a dream. Yet, only the four of them know that what happened was real and they await the next chance that they will be able to return to Narnia.

My first impression was that this was a ‘kiddy movie’ – a fantasy movie laden with special effects to wow kids. Much to my surprise, I found this film genuinely enjoyable. It was the good old story of a ragtag bunch of oppressed citizens who rally together to fight for their freedom. In this case, the oppressed citizens include half-man and half-horse centaurs and talking beavers. This does not lend much to the credibility of this being a blockbuster, but this comes close to establishing itself as an epic fantasy.

The special effects were glorious to behold. Aslan the Lion was perfectly sculpted by CGI while arcane sorcery and magics of the Witch were crafted to bewildering effect. This was an infallible storyline, insured by the success and popularity of the novels. I am glad that the movie did not flop like some text-to-film adaptations in recent times. I believe the children actors had not much experience acting in movies, but they did credibly well. Georgie Henley deserved exceptional mention for her role as the lovable and inquisitive Lucy, portraying the youngest Pevensie as being sensible beyond her years but having that headstrong attitude when challenged.

The Chronicles of Narnia: The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe (2005) would be a perfect family movie, filled with actions for the adults and enough of talking animals to mesmerize the young.

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Plantronics is a California-based electronics hardware company that is renowned for its electronic communication headsets, known for their dexterity and portability. You might not have heard of Plantronics, but the famous words “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind” said by Neil Armstrong were transmitted through a Plantronics headset. Plantronics equipped the first astronaut to land on the moon with their advanced lightweight headset. As such, it would not be unreasonable to expect quality sound and performance from its Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset.

When I first got the Plantronics Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset, I had high hopes for it, since Plantronics is a global market leader in audio peripheral. The looks itself certainly did not disappoint. The Gamecom 1 has a sleek metallic and matte finishing, with large ear cups surrounded by generous rubber padding. It is equipped with a very basic volume control that allows adjusting of volume and a simplistic bass control. Although nothing as refined as a Razer or Logitech product, this headset is still pleasing to the eye. Also, wearing the headset is rather comfortable, with an adjustable double head strap.

The most immediate feature about the Gamecom 1 you will realize after donning one is how remarkably lightweight it is. After using the Razer Barracuda for some time, this headset felt almost weightless. It fits snugly and provides satisfactory noise-reducing capabilities from the background. Due to it being so lightweight, it is very comfortable to wear. Sometimes, during gaming, I do not even recall that I am actually wearing a headset. The headset features a microphone that is fully extended. I actually prefer this over shorter versions of microphones found in other headsets, as I do want that reassuring feel that the mic is directly in front of my mouth so I would not have to yell unnecessarily.

For a headset that costs only about US$20, the Gamecom 1 produces a surprisingly good quality of sound. Under normal usage conditions, sounds are clear and crisp and I was pleasantly surprised to note that there was not much discernible difference in quality with expensive headsets like the Barracuda (a good US$100 more). However, unlike the multiple drivers present in the Barracuda, the Gamecom 1 sounds distorted and scratchy at high levels of volume. Furthermore, the bass sounds weak and lacks the resounding quality that a good bass should possess. The microphone, though, transmits clearly and audible, much thanks to the noise-cancellation feature as well. Do note though, that the microphone has known compatibility issues with games like Battlefield 2. Installation is a breeze; it’s simply plug-and-play via one USB port. The Gamecom 1 however, is not compatible with most sound cards as it is considered a plug-and-play headset.

For a price of S$20, this counts as one of the best in the market of budget gaming/music headsets. Sound quality is sufficient for light gaming and music that is not bass-intensive. However, this headset is not high on versatility and should be used solely for light gaming/music purposes. Do not bother trying to watch an action movie with the Plantronics Gamecom 1 Gaming Headset.

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