Having attracted stars of the calibre of Adrien Brody and Sarah Polley, there was always a good chance that Splice would be a cut above the usual horror fare, and so it proves in this tribute to Frankenstein and B-movies such as The Fly. Brody and Polley play the apparently happily married couple Clive and Elsa who work together and play together, but have yet to produce any children. While some couples would get a pet dog to fill this vacuum, the genetic scientists have an altogether more horror-movie-savvy idea after they hit on a formula to make a creature by mixing animal and human DNA. This breaks all the moral and ethical codes of the institution that employs them and so they work in secret and have to use their own DNA to create the new being. It sounds all too familiar, but that is precisely the point, as director Vincenzo Natali sets the scene as a typical B-movie schlock horror, but with better special effects. Brody is extremely good as a geek and nails the part perfectly. Polley also performs well in the fragile Little-Miss-Dependable role that she has made her own over the past few years. So with the clichés coming thick and fast, the challenge for the director is to subvert them so that this is not simply a by-numbers affair. Natali achieves this goal, but it's a qualified success as familiarity with the genre and this story breeds not only a monster, but also contempt. The adage that you should be careful what you wish for comes true when the couple create Dren (Delphine Chaneac), a mutant girl who grows as fast as a beanstalk and does all sorts of clever little tricks such as breathing under water and flying. Of course, Dren doesn't realise that she's supposed to be a secret and when the institution gets wind that strange things are afoot the couple decide to hide Dren at their home. The escape is in keeping with the whole tone - suitably silly - as is the couple's house, which looks as though it has been borrowed from any horror film. It's in the middle of woods, has a barn full of cobwebs and a house that creaks. It couldn't be more secluded if it was on the moon. At first the couple adore their creation, treating her like the child they never had, but then Dren discovers emotions such as jealousy and rage, and decides it's papa she wants to be with. Brody reciprocates and Polley is the woman scorned. The influence of Spider director David Cronenberg on the action is heavy both in style and content. Natali has rightly decided that you can't go far wrong if you imitate one of the masters of horror, and the dialogue comes packed with witty one-liners. Despite the conventional plot it's always fun, even when the action gets increasingly absurd. The French newcomer Chaneac is perfect as the mutant, who looks like a cross between Sigourney Weaver's Ripley in Alien and Jeff Goldblum in The Fly.
How to protect yourself when air quality drops
Install an air filter in your home.
Close your windows and turn on the AC.
Shower or bath after being outside.
Wear a face mask.
Stay indoors when conditions are particularly poor.
If driving, turn your engine off when stationary.
Tips for newlyweds to better manage finances
All couples are unique and have to create a financial blueprint that is most suitable for their relationship, says Vijay Valecha, chief investment officer at Century Financial. He offers his top five tips for couples to better manage their finances.
Discuss your assets and debts: When married, it’s important to understand each other’s personal financial situation. It’s necessary to know upfront what each party brings to the table, as debts and assets affect spending habits and joint loan qualifications. Discussing all aspects of their finances as a couple prevents anyone from being blindsided later.
Decide on the financial/saving goals: Spouses should independently list their top goals and share their lists with one another to shape a joint plan. Writing down clear goals will help them determine how much to save each month, how much to put aside for short-term goals, and how they will reach their long-term financial goals.
Set a budget: A budget can keep the couple be mindful of their income and expenses. With a monthly budget, couples will know exactly how much they can spend in a category each month, how much they have to work with and what spending areas need to be evaluated.
Decide who manages what: When it comes to handling finances, it’s a good idea to decide who manages what. For example, one person might take on the day-to-day bills, while the other tackles long-term investments and retirement plans.
Money date nights: Talking about money should be a healthy, ongoing conversation and couples should not wait for something to go wrong. They should set time aside every month to talk about future financial decisions and see the progress they’ve made together towards accomplishing their goals.
Off-roading in the UAE: How to checklist
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Jigra
Starring: Alia Bhatt, Vedang Raina, Manoj Pahwa, Harsh Singh
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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The specs
Engine: 2.0-litre 4-cyl turbo
Power: 201hp at 5,200rpm
Torque: 320Nm at 1,750-4,000rpm
Transmission: 6-speed auto
Fuel consumption: 8.7L/100km
Price: Dh133,900
On sale: now
If you go
The flights
Emirates flies from Dubai to Funchal via Lisbon, with a connecting flight with Air Portugal. Economy class returns cost from Dh3,845 return including taxes.
The trip
The WalkMe app can be downloaded from the usual sources. If you don’t fancy doing the trip yourself, then Explore offers an eight-day levada trails tour from Dh3,050, not including flights.
The hotel
There isn’t another hotel anywhere in Madeira that matches the history and luxury of the Belmond Reid's Palace in Funchal. Doubles from Dh1,400 per night including taxes.
Our legal advisor
Rasmi Ragy is a senior counsel at Charles Russell Speechlys, a law firm headquartered in London with offices in Europe, the Middle East and Hong Kong.
Experience: Prosecutor in Egypt with more than 40 years experience across the GCC.
Education: Ain Shams University, Egypt, in 1978.
The years Ramadan fell in May
The specs
Engine: 1.5-litre turbo
Power: 181hp
Torque: 230Nm
Transmission: 6-speed automatic
Starting price: Dh79,000
On sale: Now
COMPANY%20PROFILE%20
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Joker: Folie a Deux
Starring: Joaquin Phoenix, Lady Gaga, Brendan Gleeson
Director: Todd Phillips
Rating: 2/5
Moon Music
Artist: Coldplay
Label: Parlophone/Atlantic
Number of tracks: 10
Rating: 3/5
Conservative MPs who have publicly revealed sending letters of no confidence
- Steve Baker
- Peter Bone
- Ben Bradley
- Andrew Bridgen
- Maria Caulfield
- Simon Clarke
- Philip Davies
- Nadine Dorries
- James Duddridge
- Mark Francois
- Chris Green
- Adam Holloway
- Andrea Jenkyns
- Anne-Marie Morris
- Sheryll Murray
- Jacob Rees-Mogg
- Laurence Robertson
- Lee Rowley
- Henry Smith
- Martin Vickers
- John Whittingdale
COMPANY%20PROFILE
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Company%20profile
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How to donate
Send “thenational” to the following numbers or call the hotline on: 0502955999
2289 – Dh10
2252 – Dh 50
6025 – Dh20
6027 – Dh 100
6026 – Dh 200
How tumultuous protests grew
- A fuel tax protest by French drivers appealed to wider anti-government sentiment
- Unlike previous French demonstrations there was no trade union or organised movement involved
- Demonstrators responded to online petitions and flooded squares to block traffic
- At its height there were almost 300,000 on the streets in support
- Named after the high visibility jackets that drivers must keep in cars
- Clashes soon turned violent as thousands fought with police at cordons
- An estimated two dozen people lost eyes and many others were admitted to hospital
Dubai World Cup factbox
Most wins by a trainer: Godolphin’s Saeed bin Suroor(9)
Most wins by a jockey: Jerry Bailey(4)
Most wins by an owner: Godolphin(9)
Most wins by a horse: Godolphin’s Thunder Snow(2)
How to register as a donor
1) Organ donors can register on the Hayat app, run by the Ministry of Health and Prevention
2) There are about 11,000 patients in the country in need of organ transplants
3) People must be over 21. Emiratis and residents can register.
4) The campaign uses the hashtag #donate_hope
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Mercedes V250 Avantgarde specs
Engine: 2.0-litre in-line four-cylinder turbo
Gearbox: 7-speed automatic
Power: 211hp at 5,500rpm
Torque: 350Nm
Fuel economy, combined: 6.0 l/100 km
Price: Dh235,000
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Padmaavat
Director: Sanjay Leela Bhansali
Starring: Ranveer Singh, Deepika Padukone, Shahid Kapoor, Jim Sarbh
3.5/5