I Am Number Four
Director: DJ Caruso
Starring: Alex Pettyfer, Timothy Olyphant and Dianna Agron
Commercially avaricious and intellectually inane, there is nonetheless enough storytelling muscle in the (big breath!) would-be romantic sci-fi teen franchise I Am Number Four (think Twilight, but with handsome aliens instead of handsome vampires) to pull the viewer through to the extremely open ending. Here, as the closing credits roll, and as we face five more movies in a full series of six, the ready-made franchise announces its intention to tell the ongoing story of some supernaturally gifted aliens with model looks and quirky powers (they can generate force-fields, they can disappear) who are trapped on earth and being hunted by a fierce über-race of space fascists called The Mogadorians. Thus, as we open I Am Number Four we learn that three out of the remaining nine aliens have already been killed, and that the eponymous Four (Pettyfer - Brad Pitt looks with mahogany-style acting ability) is next. The movie then follows Number Four's attempt to hide in the tiny Ohio town of Paradise, to blend in at the local high school and to use his superpowers only when saving the life of his new girlfriend Sarah (Agron). Naturally the Mogadorians, who are essentially giant clod-footed humanoids in trench-coats (like Battlefield Earth rejects), soon track down our heroes and the stage is set for a noisy effects-filled school-smashing finale that clearly comes courtesy of the producer Michael Bay (Transformers). Despite all the talk - specifically from Four and Sarah - about romantic love and everlasting affection, there is little heart here. But just enough dazzle to distract.
For screening information, visit www.grandcinemas.com, www.cineroyal.ae, www.cinestarcinemas.com, www.reelcinemas.ae
Spain drain
CONVICTED
Lionel Messi Found guilty in 2016 of of using companies in Belize, Britain, Switzerland and Uruguay to avoid paying €4.1m in taxes on income earned from image rights. Sentenced to 21 months in jail and fined more than €2m. But prison sentence has since been replaced by another fine of €252,000.
Javier Mascherano Accepted one-year suspended sentence in January 2016 for tax fraud after found guilty of failing to pay €1.5m in taxes for 2011 and 2012. Unlike Messi he avoided trial by admitting to tax evasion.
Angel di Maria Argentina and Paris Saint-Germain star Angel di Maria was fined and given a 16-month prison sentence for tax fraud during his time at Real Madrid. But he is unlikely to go to prison as is normal in Spain for first offences for non-violent crimes carrying sentence of less than two years.
SUSPECTED
Cristiano Ronaldo Real Madrid's star striker, accused of evading €14.7m in taxes, appears in court on Monday. Portuguese star faces four charges of fraud through offshore companies.
Jose Mourinho Manchester United manager accused of evading €3.3m in tax in 2011 and 2012, during time in charge at Real Madrid. But Gestifute, which represents him, says he has already settled matter with Spanish tax authorities.
Samuel Eto'o In November 2016, Spanish prosecutors sought jail sentence of 10 years and fines totalling €18m for Cameroonian, accused of failing to pay €3.9m in taxes during time at Barcelona from 2004 to 2009.
Radamel Falcao Colombian striker Falcao suspected of failing to correctly declare €7.4m of income earned from image rights between 2012 and 2013 while at Atletico Madrid. He has since paid €8.2m to Spanish tax authorities, a sum that includes interest on the original amount.
Jorge Mendes Portuguese super-agent put under official investigation last month by Spanish court investigating alleged tax evasion by Falcao, a client of his. He defended himself, telling closed-door hearing he "never" advised players in tax matters.
Day 1, Abu Dhabi Test: At a glance
Moment of the day Dimuth Karunaratne had batted with plenty of pluck, and no little skill, in getting to within seven runs of a first-day century. Then, while he ran what he thought was a comfortable single to mid-on, his batting partner Dinesh Chandimal opted to stay at home. The opener was run out by the length of the pitch.
Stat of the day - 1 One six was hit on Day 1. The boundary was only breached 18 times in total over the course of the 90 overs. When it did arrive, the lone six was a thing of beauty, as Niroshan Dickwella effortlessly clipped Mohammed Amir over the square-leg boundary.
The verdict Three wickets down at lunch, on a featherbed wicket having won the toss, and Sri Lanka’s fragile confidence must have been waning. Then Karunaratne and Chandimal's alliance of precisely 100 gave them a foothold in the match. Dickwella’s free-spirited strokeplay meant the Sri Lankans were handily placed at 227 for four at the close.
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