Hail Caesar!

Salads have always been the primary bastion of the dieter. Though if you’ve never had to diet (you lucky so and so!) chances are your idea of a salad is limited to a bunch of leaves scattered around vegetables amid a sea of bland taste. Well, you would be wrong. Salads can be exciting, tasty and nutritious, and all at once too.

One such case is the Caesar salad. Contrary to what you might think the salad wasn’t named after the Roman emperor. In fact, it was named after Caesar Cardini, an Italian-born chef living in California. According to legend, Cardini devised the recipe for the salad on a busy July the Fourth in the 1920s when he threw together some leftover ingredients from his depleted stocks to serve his hungry customers. The light but delicious salad caught the fancy of some film stars and soon became a celebrity in its own right. Since then the recipe for the salad has travelled around the world and has seen countless incarnations — but the salad remains as regal as ever in its taste and presentation.

A freshly served Caesar salad is a refreshing meal; light yet filling at the same time. The main ingredients include romaine lettuce, crushed garlic, raw or coddled, i.e. very lightly cooked egg yolks, Parmesan cheese and freshly prepared croutons.

This is then seasoned with lemon juice, olive oil, salt and often Worcestershire sauce. If one wishes to avoid the salt, they can sprinkle extra lemon juice — blood pressure patients should particularly take note here. The lime brings out the taste of the romaine lettuce; combine that with garlic and Parmesan cheese and you’ve got an exciting blend going. If you dislike lime and can’t use salt, then vinegar is the next best thing for you. The mix between the cheese and vinegar makes for a particularly interesting flavour, though some might call it an acquired taste.

One of the best things about Caesar salad is that it allows great flexibility — in fact you can do just about anything with it. If there is no romaine lettuce, substitute with any lettce you have on hand. Similarly, if you’re avoiding the salt and adding more lime, then you’re better off using Romano cheese rather than Parmesan. It’ll give you a slightly saltish tinge without having to use salt.

If your palate craves spice you can drizzle some hot sauce over the salad or add some sliced green chillies to the mix. For seasoning you can use ground pepper. If you’re not too concerned about your weight you can add mayonnaise as a dressing to give it a rich, creamy flavour.

For vegetarians this is definitely one of the best meals out there, but you meat lovers shouldn’t worry, because Caesar salad is also served with strips of chicken, beef, mutton and even fish such as ground up anchovies or even boiled shrimp. For those of you who think of salad as limp and soggy, the croutons provide a crunchy texture and will have you munching for more.

Caesar salad for lunch keeps you feeling alert and active through your workday; for dinner it’s the ideal meal for weight watchers. So, though it isn’t named for the famed Roman emperor, Caesar Salad will make even a commoner feel like royalty because it can be anything you want it to be.

The Hangover

Two days before Doug Billings (Justin Bartha) is about to get married, his friends take him to Las Vegas for one last get together. Or so they think. After awaking from a drunken and drugged stupor, Phil (Bradley Cooper), Stu (Ed Helms) and Alan (Zach Galifianakis), discover that their friend—Doug—is nowhere to be found.

As the three friends wake up, they have subtle clues as to where the groom may be and just exactly what might have happened. Stu is missing a tooth, Phil has a hospital bracelet and Alan discovers a baby in their hotel room—not to forget the wild tiger locked in their bathroom and to top it all off, their hotel room is a disaster area. What follows is a hilarious adventure across Las Vegas to try and find the Groom and to return him safely home to get married.

Directed by Todd Phillips (who also directed "Old School," "Road Trip") grabs attention right from the get-go with an edgy-funny beginning which leads into the story itself, which is set entirely in flashback. The script borders on the almost crudeness but ingeniously deters from going overboard with its comedy. Written by Jon Lucas and Scott Moore provide one ludicrous moment after another as the groomsmen frantically scramble to retrace their steps so they can reconnect with the misplaced (or, quite possibly, waylaid) groom.

Piece by sordid piece, the night starts coming back to them: the hospital, the police station, the wedding chapel, and, in keeping with its theme of overindulgence, much more. Some bits are better than others, but one of the best comes when former heavyweight champ Mike Tyson enters the picture, his right hook still deadly and his version of Phil Collins' "In the Air Tonight" already a YouTube classic.

Another highlight of the movie is the soundtrack. The music provides its own narrative score, whether an oldie such as "It's Now or Never" that has that born-in-Vegas feel, or Kanye West whose song plays as Vegas' neon skyline unfolds in front of us.

Their humour-filled journey brings them in contact with, among others, Taser-wielding cops, angry Asian gamblers, a perky dancer (Heather Graham) with newly forged ties to Stu, and a surprise cameo by former heavyweight boxer Mike Tyson (played, in a bold stroke of casting, by Tyson himself).

The Hangover is truly a “buddy” movie, intended to be watched and enjoyed with friends. Perhaps one of the best comedies of this year so far.

Terminator: Sarah Connor Chronicles Season One

Image by Nick Slide via FlickrAn often overlooked aspect of the Terminator franchise is the fact that the story is about a mother and her son. It deals with the mother's determination, against all odds, to save her son's life.



Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles tells the story of Sarah Connor (Lena Headey) as she desperately tries to save the life of her son and the savior of humanity's future, John Connor (Thomas Dekker). Series creator Josh Friedman saw over 300 actresses for the role. He described character was someone "who embodied that spirit and who was believable in that role and not just some dolled up, Hollywood, actressy thing." Headey, an English actress, was known for her tough roles (she also starred in the film 300) and was excited about the part. What Terminator series would be complete without a terminator cyborg not on the side of the humans? Summer Glau portrays a terminator model sent back in time by Conner himself to protect him and his mother. Glau is no stranger to action or science fiction, having previously starred in the TV show Firefly and its movie, Serenity.

The first season opens shortly after the events of the second movie, Sarah and her son John are now living a relatively peaceful life with new identities. But all that peace is shattered as they are discovered by yet another Terminator from the future. Here's when Cameron (Summer Glau) steps in to save the day. Most of season one deals with Sarah, John and Cameron trying to find and destroy the computer which will eventually become Skynet. And it all ends in a season cliffhanger, when it seems that the computer is lost and Cameron apparently destroyed.

Season one, comprised of nine episodes (cut short by the writer's strike), is now out to buy.

The Unit

Developed by writers/producers David Mamet (Wag The Dog) and Shaun Ryan (The Shield) based upon Eric Haney's book about the Delta Force, The Unit is an action adventure TV series, charged with explosions, terrorists plots and even a sprinkle of family drama and crises.

Heavily inspired by and based around the growing supposed war against terrorism, The Unit juxtaposes the lives of the team members of the Special Forces on their dangerous missions against the lives of their loved ones back home. The format of the show isn’t driven just by stunts, explosions and terror plots, but also by real human drama and everyday life. This show is as much about family as it is about camaraderie.

At times though, certain storylines fall into the stereotype category, something seen more of in the earlier seasons than the later ones. For example, there were more Arabic speaking terrorists than any other in the first two seasons.

Dennis Haysbert (24, Major League movie series) plays the commanding officer of the Unit’s Alpha team, and his role on the show commands every scene. Haysbert is undeniably the Hannibal Smith (of the A-Team fame) of the team; charming yet determined, his character, Sergeant Major Jonas Blane thrusts a newcomer to the team into the fray of a terrorist hijacking without blinking an eye.

Scott Foley plays newcomer Sergeant First Class, Bob Brown, whose lifelong ambition has finally brought him to the infamous Unit. His first day on the job is not only a total hands-on experience but a matter of life and death. While he adjusts to the bullets that are being shot at him, his wife Kim (Audrey Marie Anderson) adjusts to being a wife of a member of the Unit. And that’s where the real drama of the series kicks in. Granted it’s not as audacious as Desperate Housewives but this is about real people in real situations.

The Unit is an action adventure drama now available on DVD.

Battlestar Galactica (2004)

Image via WikipediaOriginally developed by producer / writer extraordinaire Glen A Larson in 1978 (as an answer to Star Wars), Battlestar Galactica, a science fiction TV show, was revived in 2003 by ex-Star Trek producer and writer, Ronald D Moore.

First broadcast as a mini-series which sets up the series that follows, the show’s main premise is still the same. The Cylons were a robotic race created by man; they rebelled and after a hiatus of many years, they have returned and they wish to extract their revenge on humanity.

The show is a science fiction metaphor for the war on terror with the terrorists being the Cylons who have sleeper cells and even look like humans. Issues like civil liberties, the fundamental right of human beings and the pros and cons of democracy are touched upon; there’s even an episode dedicated to the ethics of torture.

The show stars Edward James Olmos (from TV’s Miami Vice) as Commander Odama who has been thrust with the responsibility of leading the last survivors of human civilisation to a lost refuge known as Earth. The characters of Boomer (Grace Park) and Starbuck (Katee Sackhoff) were re-imagined as female roles for the new series, something the producers deliberately decided on doing. That’s probably what also sets BSG apart from other science fiction dramas, the presence of a spectrum of strong female characters.

Mary McDonnell (President Laura Roslin), Katee Sackhoff (Captain Kara ‘Starbuck’ Thrace), Tricia Helfer (Number Six) and Grace Park (Lt. Sharon 'Boomer' Valerii) all play diverse characters with diverse goals, but each is determined, strong-willed and driven by her own ambitions. Whether it’s Roslin’s Presidency, Starbuck’s career, Boomer’s inner demons or the maliciousness of Number six, BSG proves that science fiction isn’t about stereotypes.

The first season of Battlestar Galactica, along with the mini-series is now available in box set.

(Originally published in the July 24th, 2008 edition of The Review)

House MD - The Elementary Medical Doctor

Image via Wikipedia

Dr Gregory House (Hugh Laurie) believes that everyone lies. That’s because he lies, has been lied to and has seen people lie to each other. With so many lies going around him, it’s no wonder that he has such a pessimistic, bleak view of life and no bedside manner to speak of.



For three seasons now, House MD has captivated audiences and reinvented the medical drama, a genre previously perfected by ER and the infamous M*A*S*H series. But House MD brings an element of mystery and detective work to the medical genre along with sharp, witty and thought provoking dialogue.

The premise of the series is a medical mystery drama and what better inspiration than Sherlock Holmes. Creator David Shore modelled House on Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous English detective. Certain mannerisms like drug addiction and a friendly sidekick crossed through verbatim in the adaptation. An irony unto itself, however, since Doyle based Holmes on his associate Dr Bell, whose specialty was diagnosis.

Through the seasons, both House as a character and Laurie as an actor have progressed considerably. Laurie brings a wry, sarcastic touch and at times a sense of anger to his character. Known for his small British comedy roles, the actor fooled producer Bryan Singer, with a deadpan audition, into believing that he was an American.

Joining him, are Lisa Edelstein as Dr Cuddy, House’s boss and the punch line for many of his jokes. Omar Epps portrays Dr Eric Foreman, a headstrong doctor, who always gets in House’s way, because Foreman sees House as more of a nuisance than a genius. But time and events have made Foreman make peace with both the nuisance and the genius. Jennifer Morrison’s character, Dr Allison Cameron, starts off as a near-romantic interest to House but quickly pulls back. Dr Robert Chase, Jesse Spencer, is an ambiguous character: at times he’s tried his best to get House in trouble, but at other times, he’s probably the only ally he has.

Robert Sean Leonard portrays House’s polar opposite, Dr James Wilson, the Watson to his Holmes. Leonard’s astuteness for stating the obvious to House is what keeps the doctor detective at bay and in check. But through all the show’s seasons, we see even Wilson starting to see House as a burden.

Three seasons of House MD are now available. Each season has bonus material, including commentary and behind the scenes features.

(This review appeared in the 26th June, 2008, edition of The Review)

Ugly Betty

Image via WikipediaImagine if Cinderella was a girl who worked in the office of a publishing magazine, forever waiting for her fairy godmother and her chance to meet prince charming.

That may be the gist of Ugly Betty, but its true beauty lies beneath its surface. Starring newcomer America Ferrera (from the The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) as the title character Betty Suárez, the show sets itself apart from other shows by displaying an extremely broad sense of humour. But this is more of a dramedy than it is comedy, as Betty soon realises that she is in a difficult and testing world, being surrounded by chic, self-declared style gurus.

She may not live up to their standards of beauty, but as a person she may be the fairest in the land. This fact is discovered by her boss, editor-in-chief of MODE Magazine, Daniel Meade (played by Eric Mabius) who initially dismissed Betty as a nobody. But soon he begins to see her worth and decides to keep her around anyways. But not everyone takes a liking to Betty so easily, as is the case of receptionist and prankster Amanda Sommers (Becki Newton) and Marc St. James (Michael Urie), who try their best to humiliate Betty every chance they get.

The show is not an original, in fact it is adapted from a popular Columbian TV show, called “Yo soy Betty, la fea (I Am Betty, The Ugly One)”. The show has also been adapted as an Indian soap, “Jassi Jaisi Koi Nahin” which also saw some success with our audiences.

Whatever the version, Ugly Betty is comedy show with an acute sense of humour laced with drama that will surely touch everyone’s hearts. Season one and two are now out on DVD but currently only the first season is available with special features.

(This review was published in the 12th June, 2008, edition of Dawn, The Review)

How I Met Your Mother

Ted Mosby (Josh Radnor) decides to tell his children exactly how he met their mother –– but that’s for sometime in the future. What follows (in the present) are anecdotes of Ted, his friends, Marshall Eriksen (Jason Segel), Robin Scherbatsky (Cobie Smulders), Barney Stinson (Neil Patrick Harris) and Lily Aldrin (Alyson Hannigan) in hilarious situations.



Ted Mosby, portrayed by Radnor, is an all round nice guy and he seems to be set for life. However, a romance between two of his friends, Marshall and Lily, sparks his own interest in finding a significant other. His friend Barney tells him that he "thinks too much" but agrees to help him “suit up” for romance. Barney is one character that steals the show every time. Like the proverbial Joey from Friends or Jack from Will and Grace Barney cracks you up every time with one of his catchphrases: “Suit up!” or “Legendary!”

His friends Marshall and Lily often act as Ted's guardian angels; in the early episodes the two of them have some quirky moments themselves, but ultimately their stories become repetitive and their characters extremely dull. And then there’s Robin who plays Ted’s primary romantic interest ––- unfortunately she thinks of him only as a platonic friend. Through the span of the show their relationship see-saws between romance and heart break, which some viewers might find a bit tiresome after a while.

How I met your mother isn’t one of the best comedy shows we’ve seen; it’s not as witty and intelligent as Arrested Development or as genuinely funny as Seinfield, but at its heart it’s a show that isn’t meant to be taken seriously. At times it tickles your funny bone and at times it tugs at your heartstrings, overall it’s a show you may not get hooked on but will enjoy watching from time to time. Seasons one and two are now available. — Khaver Siddiqi

(Originally published in the April 24th, 2008 edition of the Review)

Brothers and Sisters: The First Season

Tolstoy’s famous quote, from the novel Anna Karenina, “Happy families are all alike; every unhappy family is unhappy in its own way,” is the first thing that comes to mind after watching ABC’s family drama, Brothers and Sisters.

This drama follows the lives of the Walker family which is left completely shattered after the death of William Walker (Tom Skerritt), the head of the clan. Spiralling from his death are dark family secrets that start to seep out and threaten the intimacy of the family and raise questions regarding the character of Walker, too.

Academy Award winner Sally Field portrays Nora Walker, mother to the Walker siblings and widow of William. She discovers that her husband had fathered an illegitimate child, a daughter, as the result of an affair. Through the course of this season, she tries her best to come to terms with a legacy of the William she never knew. It was for this role that Field won an Emmy for Lead Actress.

The rest of the ensemble cast is made up of established stars. Rachel Griffiths, Calista Flockhart, Balthazar Getty, Matthew Rhys, Dave Annable, and Emily VanCamp, portray the distinct and unique Walker siblings. Each sibling comes to terms with their father’s death and the discovery of his dark secrets, one of them being VanCamp’s character, the step-sibling from an affair their father had.

Brothers and Sisters is a drama that was anticipated for its star-studded cast more than its story. But now that the first season is over, it is the witty and graceful storyline woven through each member of the Walker clan that has captivated the TV viewing audience. The first season, filled with special features, is now available.

(Originally published in the March 27, 2008 edition of The Review)