Edge Of The Plank

Ringer Season 1 Episode 11 Recap

2012-02-01T13:57:00.000Z

RINGER IS BACK!! And Siobhan is back in New York. Bridget-Siobhan goes to dinner with an old friend who witnessed her affair with Henry and tries to make things right between them by helping her with a fundraiser.

Siobhan runs into Henry and discovers they're no longer together but she wants to rekindle the relationship. She asks him to meet him later on.

Siobhan tries to hack into Andrew's computer at work but could not get the password, and tries at home, running into Andrew and Bridget-Siobhan's intimate moment and subsequently stealing her ring. The delay meant that she couldn't meat with Henry.

Juliet finally tells Bridget-Siobhan at the fundraiser about what happened between her and Mr Carpenter and Bridget-Siobhan punches him and asks him to leave. Henry confronts Bridget-Siobhan about the other day which confuses her. Siobhan's old friend tells Bridget about what happened in the past and tells her about a hotel, which is likely to be the one Siobhan was staying at in Paris.

Siobhan goes to Henry's house and he is conflicted, realising that the person he met with yesterday was not the same one now, asking who she really is. And it cuts! I have a feeling she might pretend to be Bridget, as I doubt she'd reveal her sister's true identity just yet... but we'll see.

Jane by Design Season 1 Episode 5 (The Lookbook) Recap

2012-02-01T11:59:00.000Z

Amidst rumours that Gray is about to lose her job, Jane is asked to look after the Donovan Decker lookbook and take it to Gray who is in Paris immediately. Lacking an excuse, Jane tells Ben that she is sleeping over at Lulu's, and asks Billy to convince Lulu to cover for her.

Jane, not wanting to take her eyes off the look book, sits out dodgeball and share a moment with Nick, comfirming that he was on a date with Ashley, whilst she clarified that hers was strictly a work dinner.

Ben speaks to Rita and she raises suspicions about Jane and Lulu's sleepover. Despite risking her social status, Lulu covers for Jane.

With a few hours left to go until Paris, Jane gets her things ready, only to discover the one thing missing was her look book. Panicking, she phones Billy who sacrifices a week of detention in order to help her look: at school, at the taxi depot... and they share an intimate moment.

Returning to Donovan Decker with no hope, India brings her the look book stating that not even this could save Gray's job, and hers.

Flying to Paris and handing over the book to Gray, Gray tells her that she has just been promoted to creative director and great things lie ahead for the both of them. With the remaining time in Paris, Jane enjoys a boat tour and the beauty of the Eiffel Tower, whilst on the phone to Billy.

Also in this episode we are introduced to Billy's brother who tries to get him on another job but Billy is reluctant.

I really think that the Billy and Jane friendship is being blown to too great a proportion- he would drop everything and go to Jane's rescue, but is hesitant at Lulu. I think Lulu also is making a great sacrifice and she could easily have just blown Jane's cover, but for love she would do it. Ben and Rita are also a likely couple, and I'm starting to really like Rita- she is so funny haha...

And I need this Nick and Jane awkwardness to just be over- you know they both like each other!!

NEXT WEEK: Jane's cover is blown. India finds her at her school...!! WHAT WILL HAPPEN!!?!??!! I have a feeling India may try to blackmail Jane to scheme for her. We will see!!!

Allison Harvard by Malan Breton

2012-01-31T15:26:00.000Z

In these latest shots of Allison Harvard, she epitomises a beautiful mermaid in this shoot by Malan Breton. Breathtaking face, breathtaking eyes... simply beautiful! I'm so glad we're seeing so many test shots and shoots from Allison! She will be walking in New York Fashion Week which will be very cool and can't wait to see shots from the runway and backstage!

Check out more images below:

Casa dos Cubos by EMBAIXADA Architects

2012-01-30T10:00:00.000Z

As an interior project from preserved exterior shell, the Casa dos Cubos by EMBAIXADA architects is based in Tomar, Portugal. Featuring "a public area for exhibitions, meetings and cafeteria and a private area consisting of Lecture rooms and accommodation for invited artists", it is a beautiful display of how an interior space can be so beautifully modernized.

The use of concrete is inspiring and the way it interacts with the light and the incorporation of glass makes it truly stunning through the orthogonal and linear forms.

Check out more images below:

Skyphos Chandelier by Katerina Smolikova

2012-01-28T13:00:00.000Z

These are aliens nor not deep sea life. These are stunning glass chandeliers by Katerina Smolikova. Lined with LEDs, the chandelier glows and reflects light with tremendous qualities and becomes a landmark sculpture of a room.

Check out more images below:

'Mockingjay' by Suzanne Collins Book Review

2012-01-27T11:11:00.000Z

The third and final book in 'The Hunger Games' trilogy, 'Mockingjay' concludes the

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Katniss is taken to District 13 and is prepped to become the 'Mockingjay', the symbol of the rebellion. Within this district with rules arguably stricter than the Capitol and led by the suspicious Coin, Katniss is made to film 'propos' (propaganda footage) to rally the districts to allegiance.

But when the Capitol retaliates with their own footage of Peeta calling for a ceasefire, will Katniss allow his torture to continue? Or does it break her beyond repair?

Similar to 'Catching Fire', the last book offers a lot of filling the gaps and backstory. Unfortunately, it doesn't follow a simple flow like the first book where there is a reaping, the prep, the games and then the end. The plot of this one goes everywhere, from a bit of prep to filming a propos, to a battle scene, to arguing in district 13 to training, to plotting... and so on. For about 2/3 of the book.

Once we finally understand what is going to happen, the last third is beautiful- the battlefront mirroring the Hunger Games and this was the most intense section which I've been waiting the whole book for. Unfortunately, just as it got to the climax, Katniss gets incapacitated and is whisked to safety. Just like at the end of the last book.

I really disliked it when Collins did this. I wanted to see Katniss in the thick of the action. It was too convenient for her to just be 'safe' whilst she gets filled in on what happens. I didn't like it in the last one (though it made more sense then), but now it just seems far too 'convenient' and 'dull'.

That said, the ending offered lots of twists, turns and shocks. I won't spoil anything, but one event leads me to think that everything has been done in vain (not sure if this was the author's intention) and that no matter what happens, humanity will be the same.

Regarding the characters, it doesn't deal with them in much depth at all. It kind of feels a little unfinished and rushed. However, the question on everybody's minds must be how Collins deals with the Gale or Peeta love triangle. I personally had a favourite between the two and was very happy to discover that Katniss ends up with him, but I was disappointed with the way the other guy was dealt with or lack thereof. Does she just not speak to him ever again? Surely not. But the explanation for her choice was reasonable.

~~~OVERALL~~~

'The Hunger Games' is definitely one of the best trilogies of late. Despite the gradual loss of structure as the books went on, if read from cover of book 1 to the end of book 3, it flows better. Whilst Collins' writing was solid, and addictive throughout, the plotlines waver here and there but ends appropriately, if a bit rushed and characters not dealt with properly.

Nonetheless, this book and the trilogy is a must read, is simply unputdownable and I can't wait to see the movies.

'Catching Fire' by Suzanne Collins Book Review

2012-01-26T11:24:00.000Z

Another three days later and I finished the sequel to 'The Hunger Games'. I was so eager to find out what happens to Katniss and Peeta that I just couldn't wait and whizzed through this one- and again, left wanting more!

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Back in District 12, Katniss and Peeta get ready for their victory tour around all the districts. Having defied the Capitol with her rebellious action during the games, she gets a visit from President Snow to warn her that uprisings may occur if she portrays herself in the wrong way. Confused about her feelings towards Gale/Peeta, she puts off dealing with it and during the tour returns to her role as the star-crossed lover of district 12.

But it is not enough. As several districts are already in uprising, President Snow manipulates this year's Quarter Quell (every 25th Hunger games) and all the districts have to send in a boy and a girl from the victor's pool. Peeta and Katniss once again enters the games they so despise, but this time, their competition, all being victors, ensures certain death.

The first third of the book was rather slow and I found Katniss really annoying as she is so conflicted between Gale and Peeta. Despite all the information, hints and descriptions the book truly starts and hits up a notch when they reenter the games for a second time.

From here on, I just could not put down the book. The dynamic between Katniss and President Snow seems to be the focus and I very much enjoyed her rebellious actions during training, her interview- it was all just so beautiful and perfect.

The characters were also not very much developed. Katniss the same conflicted girl who really does not deserve Peeta and the other tributes die too quickly for us to really care.

The games themselves were however very rushed. I found Katniss to be clever just like the last book in weighing everything out and thinking of others' intentions but felt she was rather slow on the uptake. It was obvious that her allies in the games have a unified goal, which she just doesn't seem to every pick up on.

The arena in 'Catching Fire' is fantastic and is genius. I just wished they'd spent longer investigating and avoiding the perils it awaits. As the book climaxes, you're left with very few pages and I found myself quite confused at what exactly is happening and have to reread a few paragraphs again to pick up.

Whilst the sequel introduces a lot of different ideas, such as the existence of district 13, the uprisings, the potential rebellion, it doesn't develop it at all and is left as an idea, a loose end, waiting to be tied up in the third book. In this way, 'Catching Fire' is not quite complete, yet seems to bridge the gap between the first and last book.

As I said, a third of the book could've really been part of the first book as a cathartic ending but would've left it less of a cliffhanger, and this one could've ideally started with the announcement of the Quarter Quell rule of re-entering the Victors.

However, the book retains its allure with a very sharp ending which leave you desperate for more.

~~~OVERALL~~~

Unfortunately, 'Catching Fire' doesn't feel entirely complete, but bridges the gap between 'The Hunger Games' and 'Mockingjay'. It is still beautifully written and highly addictive as the first book, but too many loose ends leaves it neither here nor there but I'm sure the third book will tie them all up. In this way, perhaps this trilogy should be seen as a continuous story- which would then be perfect.

Roxanne Emery 'Tug of War' EP album preview

2012-01-25T14:31:00.000Z

Roxanne Emery has just revealed the name to her upcoming EP to be released in March, titled 'Tug of War' and promises a music video in February. She also recently tweeted a list of songs she was writing which could all very well be on the upcoming release as 'Tug of War' is listed.

Unconfirmed Tracklist:

1.Kalmer

2. Little Bird

3. Tug of War

4. Paint the Sky

5. Rough Roads

6. Can we be friends?

7. Last thing on your mind

8. Time to let go

9. Man of Honour

10. I will Dance

11. Love is a Star

She will also be touring with Matt Cardle in February and March. ~~I wonder if she will start performing new tracks as the tour will finish at the end of March, so the EP could very well be released by then!~~ Roxanne will be performing one or two new tracks! :D

I cannot wait- check out her last EP 'An Introduction to Roxanne Emery'.

Jane by Design Season 1 Episode 4 (The Finger Bowl) Recap

2012-01-25T12:31:00.002Z

Stunned by the relationship of Billy and Lulu, Jane freezes him out. Billy and Lulu flaunt themselves around the school, but Lulu hasn't told her father yet and her friend warns her about it.

Still quizzed by why Nick hasn't spoken to her since the dance, Jane's brother Ben who coaches Nick tells her to go find him at the baseball grounds. Jane apologises for leaving the dance and tells him that she did come back, but he was gone. She promises to make it up to him and he agrees.

At Donovan Decker, the task of impressing Miyoko Sato, editor of 'Modern Empress' magazine is of the utmost importance. With Gray's job at stake, Jane is asked to ensure they obtain that cover, as they have never managed to in the past.

Despite the initial repulse, Miyoko gives Jeremy another chance after Jane speaks to her by arranging a formal dinner. Jane breaks so many dining etiquette rules (drinking out of the finger bowl lol) that it actually reminds Miyoko of her younger self. Impressed by Jane's honesty, Jane takes her to a more 'relaxed' environment and treat her to a large burger, which she enjoys, and thus securing the deal.

At the restaurant, Jane bumps into Nick who is dining with another girl and there is an awkward moment between them both. Aww the look on her face!! Did he lie about 'practice' to meet this girl? Hmm... I dearly hope it's his cousin or something.

Ben also seems to be falling for Rita and vice versa.

Back at home, Billy waits for Jane and they make up.

The Oscars 2012 Nominations (and My Predictions)

2012-01-24T12:57:00.002Z

Following the 2012 Golden Globes, Jennifer Lawrence helped reveal the nominations for this year's Academy Awards. Here is a list of the 2012 Oscar Nominations:

Best Actor
Demian Bichir, A Better Life
George Clooney, The Descendants
Jean Dujardin, The Artist *
Gary Oldman, Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy
Brad Pitt, The Tree of Life

Best Actress
Glenn Close, Albert Nobbs
Viola Davis, The Tree of Life
Rooney Mara, The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo
Meryl Streep, The Iron Lady*
Michelle Williams, My Week with Marilyn

Best Supporting Actor
Kenneth Branagh, My Week with Marilyn

Johan Hill, Moneyball

Nick Nolte, Warrior

Christopher Plummer, Beginners

Max von Sydow, Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close*

Best Supporting Actress
Berenice Bejo, The Artist
Jessica Chastian, The Help
Melissa McCarthy, Bridesmaids
Janet McTeer, Albert Nobbs
Octavia Spencer, The Help *

Best Director
Michel Hazanavicius, The Artist
Alexander Payne, The Descendants
Martin Scorsese, Hugo
Woody Allen, Midnight in Paris*
Terrence Malick, The Tree of Life

Best Animated Film
A Cat in Paris
Chico and Rita
Kung Fu Panda 2*
Puss In Boots
Rango

Best Feature Film
War Horse
The Artist
Moneyball
The Descendants
The Tree Of Life
Midnight In Paris*
The Help, Hugo
Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close*

Best Original Screenplay
The Artist
Midnight in Paris*
Bridesmaids
Margin Call
A Separation

Best Adapted Screenplay
The Descendants
Hugo
The Ides of March*
Moneyball
Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy

*My prediction/want to win

What are YOUR predictions??

Hugo lands a total of 11 nominations, beating out hot favourite The Artist with 10, with Moneyball and The Descendants following with 6 and 5 respectively.

I'm surprised Drive didn't get any nominations (apart from sound) nor did Shame. Also Michael Fassbender and Charlize Theron did not get nominated. I don't know what half of those films are doing there but then again I haven't seen half of them!!

Ryan Gosling who has been in 'The Ides of March', 'Drive' and 'Crazy, Stupid, Love' missed out on any categories, with Tilda Swinton losing out for her dramatic role in 'We Need to Talk about Kevin'.

This years Oscars seem a bit of a letdown, but I'll try to watch some before the awards like 'The Help' or 'The Artist'. The Oscars for 2013 should be amazing though given the number of great films coming out this year!

The Oscars will be held on February 26th.

The rest of the nominations after the jump

FOREIGN LANGUAGE FILM
“Bullhead” Belgium
“Footnote” Israel
“In Darkness” Poland
“Monsieur Lazhar” Canada
“A Separation” Iran

DOCUMENTARY (FEATURE)
“Hell and Back Again” Danfung Dennis and Mike Lerner”
“If a Tree Falls: A Story of the Earth Liberation Front” Marshall Curry and Sam Cullman
“Paradise Lost 3: Purgatory” Charles Ferguson and Audrey Marrs
“Pina” Wim Wenders and Gian-Piero Ringel
“Undefeated” TJ Martin, Dan Lindsay and Richard Middlemas

DOCUMENTARY (SHORT SUBJECT)
“The Barber of Birmingham: Foot Soldier of the Civil Rights Movement” Robin Fryday and Gail Dolgin
“God Is the Bigger Elvis” Rebecca Cammisa and Julie Anderson
“Incident in New Baghdad”James Spione
“Saving Face” Daniel Junge and Sharmeen Obaid-Chinoy
“The Tsunami and the Cherry Blossom” Lucy Walker and Kira Carstensen

SHORT FILM (ANIMATED)
“Dimanche/Sunday” Patrick Doyon
“The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore” William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg
“La Luna” Enrico Casarosa
“A Morning Stroll” Grant Orchard and Sue Goffe
“Wild Life” Amanda Forbis and Wendy Tilby

SHORT FILM (LIVE ACTION)
“Pentecost” Peter McDonald and Eimear O’Kane
“Raju” Max Zähle and Stefan Gieren
“The Shore” Terry George and Oorlagh George
“Time Freak” Andrew Bowler and Gigi Causey
“Tuba Atlantic” Hallvar Witzø

ART DIRECTION
“The Artist” Production Design: Laurence Bennett; Set Decoration: Robert Gould
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” Production Design: Stuart Craig; Set Decoration: Stephenie McMillan
“Hugo” Production Design: Dante Ferretti; Set Decoration: Francesca Lo Schiavo
“Midnight in Paris” Production Design: Anne Seibel; Set Decoration: Hélène Dubreuil
“War Horse” Production Design: Rick Carter; Set Decoration: Lee Sandales

CINEMATOGRAPHY
Guillaume Schiffman, “The Artist”
Jeff Cronenweth, “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo”
Robert Richardson, “Hugo”
Emmanuel Lubezki, “The Tree of Life”
Janusz Kaminski, “War Horse”

COSTUME DESIGN
Lisy Christl, “Anonymous”
Mark Bridges, “The Artist”
Sandy Powell, “Hugo”
Michael O’Connor, “Jane Eyre”
Arianne Phillips, “W.E”

FILM EDITING
“The Artist” Anne-Sophie Bion and Michel Hazanavicius
“The Descendants” Kevin Tent
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Kirk Baxter and Angus Wall
“Hugo” Thelma Schoonmaker
“Moneyball” Christopher Tellefsen

MAKEUP
“Albert Nobbs” Martial Corneville, Lynn Johnston and Matthew W. Mungle
“Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows Part 2” Edouard F. Henriques, Gregory Funk and Yolanda Toussieng
“The Iron Lady” Mark Coulier and J. Roy Helland

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SCORE)
“The Adventures of Tintin” John Williams
“The Artist” Ludovic Bource
“Hugo” Howard Shore
“Tinker Tailor Soldier Spy” Alberto Iglesias
“War Horse” John Williams

MUSIC (ORIGINAL SONG)
“Man or Muppet” from “The Muppets” Music and Lyric by Bret McKenzie
“Real in Rio” from “Rio” Music by Sergio Mendes and Carlinhos Brown Lyric by Siedah Garrett

SOUND EDITING
“Drive” Lon Bender and Victor Ray Ennis
“The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” Ren Klyce
“Hugo” Philip Stockton and Eugene Gearty
“Transformers: Dark of the Moon” Ethan Van der Ryn and Erik Aadahl
“War Horse” Richard Hymns and Gary Rydstrom

'The Hunger Games' by Suzanne Collins Book Review

2012-01-23T13:00:00.000Z

I have just finished 'The Hunger Games' in three days- probably the shortest time I have ever finished a book and found it such a struggle to put down- and now on the hunt for the next book, Catching Fire.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Every year, during the 'reaping', two tributes, a boy and a girl from each of the twelve districts is chosen to compete in 'The Hunger Games', where only one of the twenty four can survive. When Primrose Everdeen gets picked, her sister Katniss offers to take her place as tribute.

Whilst she is a good hunter, Katniss knows she cannot win the games, even with the suspicious help of Peeta, the boy chosen from her district. But she must try, for her sister and mother's sake.

From the start of the book, the pace has been immense and I just couldn't put it down. This is partly due to the way it is written. Whilst most books end each chapter with some sort of closure, this book leads each chapter onto the next seamlessly.

The way the characters develop is also super strong. We get a real sense of who Katniss is and what she is thinking and she is a clever one. A lot of books force the character to think one way, but here Katniss is almost as clever as the reader, weighing out all the options, the questions we ask about the motives of the other tributes, she asks too.

Apart from the likeable main character, we are also immersed into a world not so disimilar to our own, but yet feels fantastical and abstract. The modern themes and attitudes towards beauty, science, appearance, entertainment and so on are all reflected in the ways things work in the 'Capitol', and through the subtle descriptions, we reflect on our own world and attitudes.

Despite the description of the novel being somewhat scary, thrillerish or even grotesque (as my sister thought when she read the synopsis), this book is not at all like that. Whilst it does deal with murder, death, killing, the description is not overly explicit or gory.

And the way the deaths occur are clever, calculated and masterful. Every little detail, object, deed may be useful and revisited later. The beauty of the way the book flows and the way 'history' encapsulates the present and we receive so much back story subtly placed into it, it is as if we've read several books about these characters already.

I found that it got a bit predictable towards the end. This is not a criticism. As I kept guessing at what will happen and how the book will resolve, I knew there would be a trick up their sleeve and some of the elements of the final 'battle' scene was just how I'd predicted (I thought the hostage situation would've occured sooner to be quite honest)!

The author manages to keep us guessing right up till the end, especially with Peeta and Katniss' relationship. Is he her friend? Will he betray her? Could Katniss really trust and love him or is it all just an act? It really could've worked out both ways and it'd be justifiable. And it is this key ingredient which leaves you wanting more when you read the final lines of the book.

Much like the way the chapters worked as I discussed earlier, the ending of the book feels unfinished- like it is leading onto a next chapter which isn't there. As it ends so abruptly with no mention of Katniss and her family's reunion, it definitely doesn't offer the catharsis you expect. But thankfully, there is a second book.

And I will hopefully get the answers as I read the second book, starting RIGHT NOW!

~~~OVERALL~~~

Beautifully written, suspenseful and original, 'The Hunger Games' is seriously one un-put-down-able book. The themes, relationships and the near-future world is gripping and engrossing. Get your copy now and read it because the film will be out soon and I cannot wait to see it. (WATCH THE TRAILER HERE)

SIDE NOTE (mildly spoilerish): I really want Peeta and Katniss to be together. It is clear he loves her and they have so much history, and after the games, so much more. Whilst Katniss feels so close to Gale because of their hunting, he has never declared his love for her and I feel like she should at least give Peeta some sort of hope and tell him she wasn't just faking it... hopefully it will pan out in the upcoming books :P

La Rioja by Frank Gehry

2012-01-22T12:24:00.000Z

The stunning design by Frank Gehry of a vineyard in Spain called La Rioja reflects the architect's unique style and materiality. With his signiture use of sheet metal and elegant organic curves, he adds a subtle hint of colour, like the flow of red wine.

Arguably outlandish in such an area, it is a statement and a landmark.

Check out more images below:

'Faces in the Crowd' Film Review

2012-01-21T22:24:00.000Z

Randomly stumbled upon the trailer of this movie and it looked very interesting. Despite mediocre reviews, I still gave it a go and thought it was enjoyable, but not strong.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Anna (Milla Jovovich) witnesses the murder of a girl by the famed serial killer tearjerk Jack as she crosses a bridge home. Upon struggling with the killer, she falls off the bridge and hits her head. Upon waking up, she is diagnosed with face blindness, where she cannot recognise faces of her lover Bryce (Michael Shanks), her family, friends, even her own face.

Being the only survivor of the serial killer, she is distressed that he is after her. He could be right next to her and she wouldn't be able to recognise him. When one of her best friends gets killed by tearjerk Jack, Anna is adamant on uncovering his face from her memory.

The setup was quick and the pace of the film was sharp to begin with. There was even a few jumps in the first third of the movie, but a large part of the middle was very watered down- and more suited to a physchological drama than a thriller.

I loved the fact that they changed the faces as she sees them- they used six 4 different Annas in the mirror and 8 different Bryces... which really added to the confusion. I was confused at times which was the 'true' face but of course it is all perception as we almost see the other characters from Anna's perspective.

It was unfortunate that the focus was placed too much on her condition opposed to the hunt for the killer or rather the killer's hunt for Anna. His pursuit of Anna could've been a stronger emphasis, opposed to watching Anna socialise with her friends and admire the backsides of men.

However, the pace did pick up towards the end and it was a tense buildup to a climax- however, I was pretty sure on who the killer was the moment this character was introduced and when they revealed it at the end, I just knew it. That said, the ending was beautiful and so was the catharsis- somewhat too beautiful for a thriller.

With films like this, there is usually a cliffhanger- I almost expected the body of the killer to vanish and for his reappearance during the cathartic part- but this never happened.

~~~CAST~~~

Milla Jovovich- Anna

Julian McMahon- Sam

Michael Shanks- Bryce

Milla Jovovich was great as a distressed Anna- the scene where she rubs her face in the mirror was beautiful and I thought she was really likeable and you sympathise with her throughout. The other cast members were good but no standouts.

~~~OVERALL~~~

As a thriller, this is only average. Whilst there are a few jumpy bits and the beginning and end are great, a large portion of the middle is slightly too watered down and dramatic, insignificant even. This confused mix of concentrating on her getting better and trying to find the killer makes this movie neither a solid drama or thriller. Despite it being enjoyable overall, it could've easily been much better, which is a shame. However, it is not as bad as some of the reviews I've read of it and it is definitely very watchable.

Taranta Studios by Taranta Creations

2012-01-20T17:14:00.000Z

The Taranta studios by Taranta Creations is a beautiful mix of modern design and innovative architecture. Renovated from an old metal factory, it retains some of its former elements but is refreshed with its organic, womblike structures, especially the vibrant red staircase and the cosy workstations.

I think the design is wonderful and also love the interior furnishings! Would love to work somewhere like this!

Check out more images below:

'The Ides of March' Film Review

2012-01-19T11:00:00.001Z

Nominated for four Golden Globes, 'The Ides of March' is certain to obtain some Oscar buzz. As I've not heard of or seen many of the films nominated this year, I thought I'd watch this having just seen 'Midnight in Paris'.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Junior campaign manager Stephen Meyers (Ryan Gosling) is helping governor Mike Morris (George Clooney) run his campaign as he believes in the man's integrity and his policy. Campaigning in Ohio, his opponent, Pullman has no chance if they win the delegates, but this would soon become a struggle as they find out the senator (Jeffrey Wright) is considering an endorsement from Pullman.

When he discovers incriminating information about Mike, will Stephen succumb to the dirty politics at hand to get what he wants?

I didn't have much idea on what this film was about- the trailer was confusing and didn't give much away which was good for a trailer but not great for me. Not familiar with US politics, I also found it quite difficult to grasp all the elements of the movie, but understood what was going on eventually.

After his meeting with opponent's campaign manager Duffy (Paul Giamatti), the conflict going on in Stephen's mind, his choices, his loyalty and his intentions are all very interesting and this character becomes the focus of the movie. I found it extremely interesting how he is developed and the film succeeds in exploring how a man is shaped by the events that occur.

The pace of the movie is somewhat slow at times, though certainly picks up towards the end, and I felt it ended somewhat too abruptly, though for artistic reasons, works well, and in essence, bookends the movie. It follows a tragic progression, and this is a beautiful way for the movie to end.

~~~CAST~~~

Ryan Gosling- Stephen Meyers

George Clooney- Governor Mike Morris

Philip Seymour Hoffman- Paul Zara

Paul Giamatti- Tom Duffy
Evan Rachel Wood- Ida

Also stars Jeffrey Wright and Marisa Tomei.

Ryan Gosling has been hot property in the past year with several feature films all on the awards circuit (Drive, Stupid Crazy Love and this movie) so he will certainly be up for many nominations. I thought he played the role well especially in the scene where he is sitting in his car in the rain- beautiful.

The rest of the cast is also strong, though no standouts- the focus is solely on Ryan Gosling.

~~~OVERALL~~~

For someone who doesn't get politics, this movie was still enjoyable and thrilling towards the end. The artistic potential of this movie was reached and the ending was beautiful. Ryan Gosling was also a great choice to star in the lead role and has every chance of winning the awards this season!

'Red Riding Hood' Film Review

2012-01-19T11:00:00.000Z

For the past few years and the following year, fairytale remakes/reboots/adaptations/modernisations have been very popular in film, and with 'Red Riding Hood', this was one of those rare opportunities to really create something beautiful.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Valerie (Amanda Seyfried) have always been a bit of a rebel. Running around in the woods with lover Peter (Shiloh Fernandez), killing rabbits, resisting her impending arranged marriage to Henry (Max Irons)... but when her sister gets killed by the werewolf, and is told by famed werewolf killer Solomon (Gary Oldman) that it is someone from their village, suspicions arise as to who it is.

As the blood moon rises, the werewolf approaches Valerie and tells her it wants her. Will she give herself up to save the village? Who could it be? Her mysterious grandmother? Her dark lover Peter? Her fiance she doesn't love? The hunt begins...

This intriguing game of cat and mouse and of mystery is the background to this potentially superb movie. From the trailer, it is also shot beautifully- the colours, the direction... and this is reflected in the movie. I loved the snow scenes and the exaggerated red tones- the cinematography is beautiful.

Some of you may recognise this art direction as being very similar to the Twilight films as it is by the same director. Similarly, the complex love triangle and the confused girl in the middle is also reminiscent of the popular franchise.

However, perhaps that is where this film goes wrong. Instead of being an artistic yet thrilling movie, it aims too low as a teen flick- the not so impressive script, the tacky special effects (seriously, that werewolf was disturbingly fake) and the teen romance. Not here for that!

The film could've thrived on suspense- not revealing the appearance of the wolf at all perhaps, just hints, here and there... which the film sort of started to do with it pointing the finger at many of the characters, but not enough; the focus was drawn far too much on the romance and not so much on the mystery.

That said, I was very intrigued to find out who the wolf actually was and the ending was half a pleasant one. It was a good ending in terms of resolving the problems at hand, yet also creating a dilema (which I love) in a cliffhanger, romantic, sad sort of way, but what I was displeased with was the execution of this. It could've been melachonic, yet it (due to being made for a teen audience) became again slightly wasted and made much less cinematic.

~~~CAST~~~

Amanda Seyfried- Valerie/ Red

Gary Oldman- Soloman

Shiloh Fernandez- Peter

Max Irons- Henry

Also stars Billy Burke, Lukas Haas and Julie Christie.

Amanda Seyfried was a brilliant choice to play as Red- the pale skin, the red lips, the big eyes... and she looked phenomenal in that red cape. Male leads Shiloh Fernandez and Max Irons were clearly cast as the Twilight parallels- one dark, broody, the other sensible, handsome. They do nothing to showcase their acting talents, but they do have a pretty face.

Gary Oldman was disturbingly annoying- and I just wanted him gone from the moment he set foot in the village.

~~~OVERALL~~~

Simply put, 'Red Riding Hood' was a wasted opportunity. Despite the beautiful imagery of the film, the plot, the style, the script lacks depth and focus. Whilst it could've been an artistic yet dark thriller (much like what 'Hansel and Gretel Witch Hunters will be when it is released in 2013), this fails even as a teen flick. That said, Twilight fans might like this. Perhaps.

Jane By Design Season 1 Episode 3 Recap

2012-01-18T13:34:00.000Z

For her good work last episode for the preview line, Gray gives Jane a birkin, as a 'bag is supposed to reflect who you are'. With it, a list of things to do before she gets back from an auction- including breaking up with Brad.

India gets jealous of Jane and despite trying to be honest to Gray, Gray tells her 'you're no Jane', causing her rage and sabotage Jane, sending an invite to a party at Gray's house, where the trunk show is being held.

At school, Jane's brother Ben starts his first day at work, Jane is tied for top student with none other than Lulu and Nick has not spoken to her since the dance. And to top it off, she has a test tomorrow which will likely influence who gets top pupil.

With Billy's help, Jane gets all the tasks on the list done, except one- break up with Brad.

At Gray's house for a trunk show, everything is going according to plan until Brad shows up. As she is leading Brad to Gray's bedroom, the partygoers arrive and trash her house. Jane calls Billy for help and together, they clean the house just before Gray arrives.

But she forgot about Brad. Gray enters her bedroom to discover Brad naked on her bed with rose petals. The next day, Gray is disappointed in Jane and takes back the Birkin.

Lulu flunks the test and declares to Billy that she wants to be with him regardless of her dad or her friends knowing. The show ends with Billy saying: 'I have to tell Jane'. We'll see how that goes!!

No Matt Atkinson this week but he'll be back next episode and perhaps this clip from the preview will be in next episode! Can't wait. :)

Taylor Swift in Vogue US (Feb 2012)

2012-01-17T15:04:00.002Z

Taylor Swift covers the February issue of US vogue. In the magazine, she says that her next album, the follow up to the hugely successful 'Spreak Now' will be about break-up. Given her most recent romance has been with Jake Gyllenhaal, all guesses are on him and their relationship being the target of her songwriting.

Swift will be performing at the Grammy's this year, most likely her latest single 'Ours', or even 'Safe and Sound' her song for highly anticipated film 'The Hunger Games'. Her fourth album will be out later this year and the issue of Vogue can be picked up on Jan 24.

Check out more images from the spread below:

'Midnight in Paris' Film Review

2012-01-17T09:44:00.000Z

I'll admit that what drew me to this movie was ultimately Rachel McAdams, but I've always enjoyed Woody Allen's films- there's a quirk about them which is lovable, so this was sure to be good. And it won Best Original Screenplay at the Golden Globes!

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Writer Gil (Owen Wilson) goes on a trip to Paris with fiancee Inez (Rachel McAdams) whom he has nothing much in common with. He has always wanted to live in Paris in the 20's. One night during a walk alone at midnight, Gil gets picked up by a vintage car, and is taken to the 20's. There he meets Picasso, Hemingway, Dali and many great minds, but amongst the famed, he also meets Adriana (Marion Cotillard), a beautiful woman who he really connects with.

Through his adventures in the 20's, Gil develops as a writer, learns how to truly love and what he is searching for in the present, in reality.

Being unfamiliar with France in the 20's, I was probably one of those who got a bit lost amongst the characters of this alternate universe, though thankfully there were some renowned characters: Dali and Picasso, of which I knew well.

The immediate thing to notice is the beauty of the cinematography- Paris is shown through beautiful eyes. The three minute opening sequence showcasing Paris from day to night was wonderful. Even if you hate the movie, you'll fall in love with Paris. And not just Paris, Paris in the 20's.

The pacing of the film was good though it could've gone faster. However, there was great attention to detail which makes this a lovely artistic film. There was great suspense towards the climax of the film when 'the message' hits you, and the film ends with a brilliant catharsis.

Whilst the happenings of the film could just be complete fantasy, the delusions of a drunk, to dwell on technicality would be missing the point of the movie- the exploration of fearing the modern day, the yearning to escape to the past to the 'golden age' and dealing with it are just some of the themes found in this movie.

~~~CAST~~~

Owen Wilson- Gil

Rachel McAdams- Inez

Kathy Bates- Gertrude Stein

Marion Cotillard- Adriana

Also stars Michael Sheen, Carla Bruni and Adrien Brody.

I've never liked Owen Wilson, even in his comedic roles, and to be honest, found him rather annoying in this movie. To me, he is very much like a Woody Allen when Allen acts- and it just bugs me. Rachel McAdams plays the uninterested insensitive selfish fiancee well and I'd love to see her in more comedic roles and perhaps even being a villain!

There are also some great guest stars here as the 20s famous figures.

~~~OVERALL~~~

'Midnight in Paris' was a surprising commercial success. Beautifully shot, with an intriguing story and message, this is definitely one of Woody Allen's better films of late. Whilst it was a bit slow to start, the pace picks up and you will be absorbed into the movie. The ending is also brilliant! Fall in love with Paris with this movie!

Will be rooting for this one at the Oscars.

BONUS GIFS FOR YOU:

The Golden Globes 2012 Awards Red Carpet

2012-01-15T22:19:00.000Z

Last Night's Golden Globes were certainly a bit disappointing, both in terms of awards and fashion. Firstly, I have hardly heard of most of the films nominated, let alone seen them, though I'm starting to watch them now, ready for the Oscars. Secondly, the fashion was all a bit flat- compared to last year anyway.

However, there were a few highlights. Firstly BEST DRESSED goes to Charlize Theron in a beautiful Dior gown- no wonder she's the face of the brand! I also really liked Sarah Michelle Gellar's dress, though many disliked it- and Tilda Swinton looked edgy as did Rooney Mara (though hated her hair).

Lea Michele also looked wonderful in Marchesa, in a gown very similar to what Rachel McAdams wore to her Midnight in Paris premiere at Cannes. And I'm very much on the fence with new hit comedy 'New Girl' star Zooey Deschanel- it's different, it's cute, but I just don't like it?

Natalie Portman shows off her post-baby body, though here is where they start to get boring- as did Mila Kunis, they both looked so much better during last year's awards, probably because they were acually nominated forsomething :/ but still...

On the men's front, they all looked pretty similar in tux but the stand out of the evening had to be Joseph Gordon Levitt's 'out-there' bow tie (love love love) and Leonardo DiCaprio looked suave.

Check out the list of winners below as well as my ramblings during the red carpet live stream.

Golden Globe Winners

Best Drama

The Descendants

Best Comedy/Musical

The Artist

Best Animated Film

The Adventures Of Tintin

Best Foreign Language Film

A Separation

Best Actor – Drama

The Descendants, George Clooney

Best Actor – Comedy/Musical

The Artist, Jean Dujardin

Best Supporting Actor In A Motion Picture

Beginners, Christopher Plummer

Best Actress In A Drama

The Iron Lady, Meryl Streep

Best Actress In A Comedy/Musical

My Week With Marilyn, Michelle Williams

Best Supporting Actress In A Motion Picture

The Help, Octavia Spencer

Best Director

Hugo, Martin Scorsese

Best Screenplay For A Motion Picture

Midnight In Paris, Woody Allen

Best Original Score In A Motion Picture

The Artist, Ludovic Bource

Best Original Song In A Motion Picture

W.E., ‘Masterpiece’ by Madonna

Last Night's Red carpet live stream blogging thoughts:

Not here for Kelly Osbourne.

Claire Danes... Amanda Peet... are you kidding?

Someone relevant please...

chris colfer... not here for glee cast... maybe Lea michele but that's it

LOL noone knows who this woman is they had to ask... she's someone from "SAW 5". irrelevant...

I hear cheering! This better be good...

Nicole Richie... great.. = =

Ricky Gervais looked moody...

Don't know who this Ariel girl is but she's cute...

yawning...

Finally someone relevant- the cast of New Girl... and Max Greenfield.. Where is Zooey!?

Why is there a dog on the red carpet- he's cute though

and we see George Clooney move swiftly by

and Ewan McGregor.. finally more relevant people

and George Clooney is back.. and gone

Octavia Spencer from The Help (though I'll remember her from Ugly Betty )

and Ricky Gervais is back...now more smiley

Sarah Michelle Gellar looks stunning in Monique Lhuillier- can't wait for all new Ringer!

Paula Patton looks cute in lemon

Unknown singer Mika Newton looked cute too

Andie McDowell is on the red carpet

George Clooney is back again...

Ben Kingsley.. how do I manage to recall all these names? gosh im sad.

Viggo Mortensen has arrived...hope he wins for 'A Dangerous Method'.

Elle Macpherson has arrived too - her dress is stunning

Rooney Mara has arrived looking edgy in black.. her hair however...

Is that Zooey Deschanel?

Viola Davis from The Help... where is Emma Stone?

OK that WAS Zooey Deschanel- love her hair don't like her dress (prada)

Jane Lynch looks scary

Seth Rogen. Meh

Michael Fassbender... keep them coming

OK Brangelina are on their way...

Charlize Theron- love the headgear... j'adore the Dior and the Cartier!

Salma Hayek is here

I see Clive Owen but what has he been in in 2011?

and Julianne Moore...

ANGELINA JOLIE LOOKS AMAZING. Brad not so much.

Heidi Klum is here too... but why?

Tilda Swinton looks amazing

Matt Le Blanc... he ages so well.. *sarcasm*

Harrison Ford has arrived...

Channing Tatum- can't wait to see THE VOW

and Kate Winslet . good the star power is increasing

Mila Kunis looks good but not as good as last year (in Dior)

Natalie Portman looks great post- baby (in Lanvin)

Meryl Streep is here to win

Nicole Kidman and Keith Urban is here

Reese Witherspoon is here and looking great in red Zac Posen

Diana Agron looks beautiful. the top half anyway

OK Lea Michele looks STUNNING in Marchesa

Colin Firth.. reminds me of last year

Emma Stone has arrived but where is Andrew..?

Leonardo DiCaprio is on his way in Armani

loving Joseph Gordon LEvitt's Bow Tie

Leonardo DiCaprio looks good on the red carpet

Jessica Alba looks beautifulin Gucci

TIME TO SLEEP.

'What's Your Number' Film Review

2012-01-15T09:44:00.000Z

It's always nice to find a mindless comedy to watch and 'What's Your Number' is just that.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Ally (Anna Faris) is a woman who has been sleeping around and upon reading in a magazine that a woman who has had more than 20 partners will fail to have a healthy relationship, she seeks out her exes in hope of rekindling a lasting relationship without going over that number.

With the help of her almost-always-naked neighbour Colin (Chris Evans, showing off his body from recent Captain America), in exchange for bailing him out of a one night stand with women who stay too long, they find her exes only to discover that true love might be closer than they thought.

OK. so its a very typical storyline and you can predict the outcome from the beginning- even in the trailer it pretty much tells you. But the process is worth the watching.

I found that the setup was immensely quick and the pacing was great- never did you feel bored or checked to see when it was over. Whilst there were a few cringy jokes/scenes, it didn't detract from the whole plot. One of my favourite scenes would be when she was faking a British accent to one of her exes.

As with all rom-coms, the 'fall-out' in this film was really stupid and somewhat forced. Neither character REALLY wants to fight, but they had to for formula's sake, making the finale 'declaration of love' slightly watered down. There was nothing really big to have to forgive anyway- so I guess they can easily forget.

~~~CAST~~~

Anna Faris- Ally Darling

Chris Evans- Colin Shea

Also stars Ari Graynor, Blythe Danner, Zachary Quinto and Dave Annable.

Anna Faris is great in comedic roles and here she is no different. Believable, funny and likeable, you are really on her side- though to believe she is the 'older' sister is a bit farfetched. Chris Evans takes a leap from his recent Superhero flicks 'Captain America' and 'The Avengers' into a more comedic role, in which he holds his own.

~~~OVERALL 3.5/5~~~

'What's Your Number' is a funny film and it was mindless entertainment. With modern films, there seems to be a strange need to put nudity in it and I felt that the nudity in this film was a bit excessive and unecessary. Did one of Colin's girls really need to be topless? NO. Did Colin himself need to be naked for 50% of the movie? NO. I hate that films nowadays rely on such methods to draw audiences when the film itself (script/directing/cast) themselves should do it. This was one of those films that would've still been good without the nudity. Shame.

'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close' Film Trailer Preview

2012-01-14T22:32:00.000Z

Sandra Bullock's latest film since her Oscar winning performance in 'The Blind Side' is upcoming film 'Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close'.

Based on the best selling book of the same name, the film tells of a young boy Oskar (Thomas Horn) who is given a key by his father (Tom Hanks), who died in the 9/11 attacks. He searches New York for the lock that fits this key.

Branded as Oscar bait, Sandra Bullock plays Oskar's mother in yet another emotionally powerful role. The film is out in February. Check out the trailer below:

'Winter Air' by Annasay

2012-01-14T09:35:00.000Z

Got hooked to this song which was played during the end sequence of 'Jane by Design' Ep 2. Just love the catchy music and the lyrics are great too--- and fit perfectly with the plot of JBD...

I've never heard of Annasay before, but this is an amazing track and it is from their self titled EP.

Check out the song below; lyrics are after the jump.

The snow is falling down
I pull you near
The city sounds fade and disappear
City lights blur behind your ears
Your lips are warm
Even in winter air
Even in winter air

As I hold your hand
We walk familiar streets
Made brand new
Now that you're here with me
I see your eyes
You look so happy now
As the white snow flakes
Land on your dark eyebrows
Land on your dark eyebrows

There is so much I want
I want to say to you
Do you feel alive
When I'm next to you?
Do you think that love
Can exist so soon?
I'm hoping that
You feel the way I do
You feel the way I do

We walk up the steps
To your house front porch
We say goodbye
Under the midnight sky
I'm leaving you
Looking in your eyes
I see your smile
It says your heart is mine
It says your heart is mine

Your heart is...

I think that I might
Be falling for you
I love who you are
And every little thing you do
There's a certain something
When it's me and you
I'm hoping that
You feel the way I do!
I do!

Only time will tell
If this is something true
If it's a passing stage
Cause everything we have is new
This all seems too good
Too good to be true
But I'm glad I get
I get to be with you!
With you!
With you!
With you!
I get to be with you....

The snow is falling down
I pull you near
The city sounds fade and disappear
City lights blur behind your ears
Your lips are warm
Even in winter air....

Disney's 'Tangled Ever After' Short Film Review

2012-01-13T13:12:00.001Z

[CHECK OUT GIFS FROM THE TEASER HERE]

So Beauty and the Beast 3D has finally been released which means people can now go see the 'Tangled Ever After' short that runs before it- probably the reason many will go see Beauty and the Beast!

'Tangled Ever After' tells of Rapunzel and Eugene's wedding day- a beautiful spectacle of an event... but something goes wrong. Maximus loses the rings! Pascal and Maximus hunt the rings through the Kingdom and get in a bit of trouble... so will it be happy ever after for Rapunzel? Read on.

The short film was a hilarious little treat seeing Pascal and Maximus at their best- who knew chasing rings could be so hard!? If it isn't being chased by a man with a knife, it's being catapulted by an ice sculpture, being hit on the head with frying pans and running away from a wine flood... and that's not even half of it!

Poor Pascul and Maximus eventually save the day by returning the rings on time... even if they were a bit messy! A beautiful Happy Ever After for Rapunzel... now... where did that cake go?

Side Note: Was it just me or did anyone else want the two rings to float in by lantern?

Allison Harvard in Gemma Kahng by Zachary Chick

2012-01-12T21:09:00.000Z

More shots of fan favourite Allison has appeared! Shot by boyfriend Zachary Chick and wearing designs by Korean Designer Gemma Kahng, Allison looks super cute in one of her most beautiful series of test shots ever imo. Take THAT Lisa! She is also said to appear in New York Fashion Week.

Check out her Cycle 12 and ALL STAR Portfolios!

Check out more images below:

'Easy A' Film Review

2012-01-12T07:00:00.000Z

Though I shoved this aside previously, I have heard good things about this movie since it's release and finally got to watch it and had to say enjoyed it.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

Olive (Emma Stone) is a high school nobody who, after one made up rendezvous with a college guy, became known as a whore. Helping a friend Brandon, they fake having sex to make him popular and to maintain her reputation.

As gossip spreads quicker than wildfire around her school, she starts accepting her predicament, lives up to her reputation and decidedly cashes in on it by accepting payments for lying about having sex with any guy. How far will she go before things get out of hand?

Easy A is a tell-all from Olive's perspective as she reveals the truth behind the rumours. I have to admit that it seemed a little stupid at first to go along with the rumours but her teen struggles were believable and really what some people go through today.

As her fake sexual activity escalates, it was also quick to see where the film was going, through it's 'The Scarlet Letter' parallel- but it could've gone both ways- for her to face up to reality or otherwise, live with the consequences.

I felt that this film went pretty far in terms of pushing the rumour mill and some of the things that were made up about her (which were entirely false, I mean everything was) was hilarious- and reflects how our society today perhaps is living in a fantasy we choose to believe in.

Regardless, the climax of the film and the pacing worked extremely well to round off her story without rushing it nor pushing it, and in this way, brought it back to an appropriate close. I liked that it didn't return back to how it was before- there WERE consequences to her actions and whilst she can make amends, the reality of the scars this film chooses to reveal keeps it genuine.

~~~CAST~~~

Emma Stone- Olive

Amanda Bynes- Marianne

Penn Badgley- Todd

Also stars Stanley Tucci, Dan Byrd, Patricia Clarkson, Cam Gigandet, Lisa Kudrow, Thomas Haden Church...

This is the first film I've seen Emma Stone in, and if I didn't know any better, she plays 'bitch/whore' pretty well, but her more emotional scenes do give her more leeway to becoming a serious actress. I'm interested in the fact that she will be playing the female lead Gwen Stacy in the upcoming Spider Man reboot alongside Andrew Garfield. I didn't love her in this movie but I don't hate her either... so hopefully she will be phenomenal in that film because Kirsten Dunst was so lovable as Mary Jane :P

Stanley Tucci and Patricia Clarkson were hilarious parents, whilst Lisa Kudrow does her usual 'Phoebe' role which she carries to her hilarious new show 'Web Therapy'. Penn Badgley was very much the 'Dan' he plays in Gossip Girl.

~~~OVERALL~~~

'Easy A' was an easy to watch and easy to like mindless teen film which is entertaining and verging on deep if you really want to read between the lines. It believably reflects the trends and reality of what some highschoolers may be experiencing and an exaggerated consequence of the rumour mill. Despite being rated highly by critics, this film is not for everyone, though I'm sure teens and young adults will like it.

Jane by Design Episode 2 (The Runway) Recap

2012-01-11T11:34:00.003Z

OK hit me on the head or whatever you want to do but I watched the second ep of Jane by Design... and liked it. *cowers and hides*.

Episode 2 sees Jane take charge of Gray's preview line ready for the preview party on Saturday, which is on the same night as their school's Winter formal. Taking some ill advice from India results in Gray being disappointed by her styling, but she gives Jane another chance.

Despite avoiding Jeremy after seeing him with India, she accepts his help in styling the line and the two share a moment where Jeremy declares his relationship with India is 'over'. Back at school, heartthrob Nick asks Jane to the dance and she couldn't say no, despite not being able to make both events.

With best friend Billy at hand, she decides to go to both events given they are across the road and should be able to make it with a quick change in the bathroom. Altering her mother's prom dress, Jane fashions it into something truly sublime and looked wonderful in it.

At first, Jane manages to tackle both events at once, but as the fashion show nears, she accidentally goes back to the preview party wearing her pink dress... and coincidentally one of the gowns in the line 'breaks', so predictably, Jane's mesmerising gown is used as the finale dress and WOWS everyone.

Gray is impressed with her daring-ness and finally gets her name right. With everything seemingly going fantastically, Jane returns to her school dance, but finds that it's over- the scene with the balloons on the floor and her all alone was so sad- was it just me or did anyone else want Nick to just pop out and they can have a moment alone together? but nope... noone's there. As she walks out, there Billy is waiting with the car, ready to take her home. Aww. What are friends for?

Whilst super predictable, Jane still manages to woo audiences with her quirk. What is beginning to become evident is Jane's desire to become a designer and with her design becoming such an success so early on, how will they drag out the show in making her 'assistant' for longer?

Another thing is her love life. Whilst it is apparent Nick and Jeremy like her, I can't help but think she will end up with her best friend Billy- they are most intimate and he is always there for her which is sweet but they should just stay friends imo. I'm on team Nick and Jane :P

Rhianna Atwood by Ivan Aguirre

2012-01-10T09:58:00.000Z

A new shoot by Ivan Aguirre of Rhianna Atwood was just released- and she looks sublime. Eliminated early on Top Model, her potential was not at all truly realised- and as you acn see here, she models through the distracting if not show-stealing clothing.

I think she definitely would've given Ann a run for her money on cycle 15. Tyra probably saw this and eliminated her. Oh well. Go Rhianna!

Check out more images below:

Virtua Tennis 3 PC Games Review

2012-01-09T11:29:00.000Z

I've owned this game for the computer for many years but only recently completed it due to having upgraded my laptop to be compatible with it (you have no idea how it pains me not to be able to play a game due to system requirements)!

But now after a few days of playing it, I have completed the game, with a play time of less than 10 hours, I got my custom character to World No 1 in the Championship mode, which sees you train and compete in championships to obtain that accolade.

Apart from the main game mode, there is also free play which includes Exhibition, tournaments and also multiplayer. Exhibition gives you the freedom to setup the game you want and against any player you want- which is perhaps the best of the free play options for that extra longevity of the game.

Mini-games you play to progress your player's stats (running away from fruit, serving bowling game, volley bingo etc) can also be played in free mode, but why you would want to do that I have no idea, if it isn't enough of a chore as it is in the main game!

For the computer, multiplayer is a tad of a lie- as you need an additional joystick for this to work. You cannot simply play with another person using one keyboard. This is a bit annoying as it reduces game time for those without a joystick and I don't understand why they can't just customise keyboard controls for it.

Nonetheless, the game is enjoyable, colourful (updated graphics from previous games) and a good light and easy game to master. Speaking of graphics, the courts are beautifully rendered and the textures and movements are smooth and seamless. I experienced no lag or bugs with the game which I was extremely happy with.

Well known tennis players you can choose to play as or against include Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Tim Henman, Andy Roddick, Venus Williams, Maria Sharapova, Amelie Mauresmo... mostly recognisable in their sprites.

Playing this now, I can't help but miss the top players of today - world No 1 Novak Djokovic and Brit favourite Andy Murray... but thankfully they're featured in the sequel to this game, Virtua Tennis 4.

Saoirse Ronan in Vogue US (December 2011)

2012-01-08T14:24:00.000Z

Shot by Steven Meisel, the spread, titled 'The Cult of Beauty' sees young Irish actress Saoirse Ronan (Atonement, Hanna) in couture gowns (Oscar de la Renta, Balenciaga, Valentino, Chanel)and looking ethereal.

Ronan is currently filming vampire flick Byzantium alongside Gemma Arterton, and will also be seen in an upcoming adaptation of Stephanie Meyer's 'The Host'.

Check out more images below:

Jane by Design Episode 1 (Pilot) Thoughts

2012-01-07T07:30:00.000Z

OK, I'll admit to have watched the pilot ABC's new show 'Jane by Design'. Maybe it's my 'Ugly Betty' withdrawal, or the fact that ANTM crowned the wrong winner and this is my comfort food. Regardless, I watched it.

That is surprising, given I watched the trailer beforehand and threw so much shade at it. The high school/work double life just didn't seem believable and the 'Devil wears Prada' / 'Ugly Betty' resemblances just made me sick, but... and it's a big BUT, but having actually watched it, it doesn't completely suck.

First off, Jane (note she looks a tad bit like Anne Hathaway, no?), played by Erica Dasher is cute and instantly likeable. Whilst not ugly at all, and not even the 'plain' as the military jacket she wore in the opening scenes would suggest, Jane manages to exude some sort of 'sympathy vibe' due to her predicament.

Raised by her jobless brother (their father died and their mother left), living in a house they're about to be evicted from and having her [presumably only] so-called-best-friend who's secretly sleeping with her enemy- life could not get much harder.

So when an opportunity came for a fashion internship, Jane took it, escaping high school life (for half the day) and embarking on the beginning of her dream. And when an opportunity truly came when such opportunity became a mistake and she was offered an assistant position to Darcy (an unimpressive Andie McDowell), Jane made no hesitation to take it.

The pilot was a quick glimpse of Jane's life juggling school and work, engaging with the supposed enemy India, who is like a young Wilhelmina Slater and co-worker crush Jeremy is basically the 'Simon Baker' of Devil Wears Prada.

Whilst not the most impressive cast in the world, Jane by design offers some eye candy in the form of India de Beaufort and Matthew Atkinson.

Now I'm not saying it's better than Betty, hell no. I'd rather sit and watch the box sets over and over but it does have some potential in being an entertaining comedy despite the 'seen it all before' plot that's scribbled all over this show.

'ATM' Film Trailer Preview

2012-01-06T15:56:00.000Z

The trailer for an upcoming thriller/horror titled ATM has just been released.

"On a late night visit to an ATM, three coworkers end up in a desperate fight for their lives when they become trapped by an unknown man." via IMDB. This unknown man not only kills a pedestrian, but a policeman.

He is then seen to trap them in the booth by driving their car into the door and sets boobytraps like flooding the booth... interesting. The trailer reminds me of another little gem of a film called 'EXAM'.

The film stars Alice Eve, Josh Peck and Brian Geraghty. Check out the trailer below:

'Tangled Ever After' Short Film Preview

2012-01-05T20:18:00.002Z

Disney Has released a bonus clip of short film 'Tangled Ever After', titled 'Missing Rings' featuring Rapunzel and Eugene's wedding, where Maximus loses the rings. Pascal and Maximus goes on a mad hunt through the city to retrieve the rings.

The preview is beautiful and the wedding is exquisite. I love her veil and the fact that it's length mirrors her old length of hair. The full short will be played in cinemas before Beauty and the Beast 3D released next Friday (13th Jan).

Check out more pics after the jump:

Song Hye Kyo in Vogue Korea (Dec 2011)

2012-01-05T15:37:00.002Z

Song Hye Kyo was featured in December's issue of Vogue Korea, her second cover. Shot by Paolo Roversi in their second collaboration, Song Hye Kyo radiated femine beauty and mystery. The Korean actress/model is sublime in the spread and is on the breach of international stardom.

She is starring in an upcoming John Woo film 'Love and let live' as well as starring alongside Zhang Ziyi and Tony Leung in 'The Grandmasters'.

Check out more images below:

Nicole Fox by Michael Bank

2012-01-04T10:00:00.000Z

We never cease to see regular work from Nicole Fox and here she is shot my Michael Bank in a beautiful series of black and white images that could be for art, could be for fashion. Still a Covergirl, Nicole is doing phenomenally well coming off ANTM, and hopefully we'll see her in high fashion!

Check out more images below:

Hannah Jones in Jamie McCarty Spring 2012 Collection by Brandon Oursler

2012-01-03T10:02:00.000Z

Hannah Jones models for Jamie McCarthy in these recently released images for her spring collection. Shot by Brandon Oursler, Hannah looks cute with straight hair and gives variety in her poses.

Some of the colours are beautiful and goes extremely well with the location, though I still feel she can go even more high fashion but glad she's getting work!

Check out more images below:

Inflatable Spaces by Penique Productions

2012-01-02T08:30:00.000Z

Penique Productions re-creates wonderful architectural spaces by covering it with inflated plastic. I love the idea and how wonderful it would be to walk through a familiar space which has been distorted in this way. The shape and form of the building would remain, but would it still be the same place? Hmm...

“The projects include the creation of color inflatable completely occupy spaces erected by others, giving them a new identity. A simplification of the space that unifies the shapes and textures, creating a different atmosphere. The balloons are constructed from regular patterns and adjust to the specific characteristics of each location. It works the relationship between fullness and emptiness, creating a dialogue with the space it inhabits temporarily. Limits are modified and adapted to, the audience experiences from within this new space ephemeral. By swelling the lines of the building used to acquire their shape and color varies according to context. New forms are drawn through the folds and volume.” - Penique productions.

Check out more images below:

2012: A Year of Film

2012-01-01T00:44:00.000Z

HAPPY NEW YEAR!! 2011 has seen some pretty mediocre films pass by (apart from Sherlock Holmes 2 which was just released) but 2012 is here to make amends with some of the BIGGEST films coming out this year. Check out the list of films TO WATCH this year, and some of the ones I'll be looking out for:

SPRING:
-Haywire (Jan)

-This Means War- (Feb)

-A Dangerous Method- (Feb)

-The Vow- (Feb)
-Man on a Ledge (Feb)
-Big Miracle (Feb)

-Extremely Loud and Incredibly Close (Feb)

-Gone- (March)

-We Bought a Zoo- (March)

-The Hunger Games- (March)

-Mirror Mirror- (March)

-Battleship- (April)

-The Avengers- (May)

SUMMER:
-Snow White and the Huntsman- (June)
-The Dark Knight Rises- (July)
-The Amazing Spider Man- (July)
-Disney Pixar's BRAVE- (Aug)

-Anna Karenina- (Aug)

-The Bourne Legacy- (Aug)
-Seeking A Friend for the end of the World (Aug)

FALL:

-Gravity- (Nov)

-Skyfall - (Nov)
-Les Miserables (Dec)
-Life of Pi (Dec)

WINTER:

-The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey -(Dec)

-The Great Gatsby (Dec)

Unconfirmed 2012:

-Byzantium
-Under The Skin

DELAYED:
-Hansel and Gretel: Witch Hunters (March 2012 to Jan 2013)

NOTE: Those with links contain trailers for the films mentioned. This list will be updated with trailers, previews and release dates throughout 2012! Keep watching!

My 2011 in Pictures

2011-12-31T21:19:00.001Z

'Haywire' Film Trailer Preview

2011-12-31T16:30:00.000Z

'Haywire' is a film about a CIA operative (Gina Carano) who was betrayed and seeks revenge.

The trailer just makes me think of Angelina Jolie's Salt, which I can't wait for a sequel for. Nonetheless, 'Haywire' seems like it could be a good film- can't get tired of action heroines.

It also has an all star cast including Channing Tatum, Michael Fassbender (he's EVERYWHERE 2011/2012 isn't he!), Michael Douglas, Ewan McGregor and Antonio Bandaras.

Check out the trailer below:

'Big Miracle' Film Trailer Preview

2011-12-31T14:53:00.000Z

Just watched the trailer for the upcoming super heart-warming film, inspired by a true story.

'Big Miracle' tells the story of "a news reporter who recruits his ex-girlfriend - a Greenpeace volunteer - on a campaign to save a family of gray whales trapped by rapidly forming ice in the Arctic Circle." (via imdb).

The music in the trailer works immensely well and makes a big impact. Looks like a very good movie- can't wait to see it! The film stars Drew Barrymore, Kristen Bell, Dermot Mulroney and John Krasinski.

The film will be out February 2012. Check out the trailer below:

'Man on a Ledge' Film Trailer Preview

2011-12-31T11:01:00.000Z

Just checked out the trailer for 'Man on a Ledge' and it actually looks pretty exciting!

The film is about a man (Sam Worthington) who is an ex-con, about to jump off the top of a Manhattan hotel. As he is being talked down by a police psychologist (Elizabeth Banks), the biggest diamond heist is in motion. Via imdb.

Is he innocent? Is he guilty? is what plays through your mind during the trailer. Is it all a set up? We will find out February 2012 when this film is out in the UK.

Check out the trailer below:

Wellington Airport Passenger Terminal by Studio Pacific and Warren and Mahoney Architects

2011-12-30T10:13:00.000Z

The Wellington Airport passenger terminal was redeveloped by Studio Pacific and Warren and Mahoney architects to optimise space and function as well as creating a visual landmark.

Inspired by the curved indentations of airplane docks as well as the areas geological past, the terminal is beautifully designed and succeeds in their goal to create a sense of place.

I love the use of materials and the way light interacts with the space.

Check out more images below:

'The King's Speech' Film Review

2011-12-29T22:43:00.000Z

Just watched 'The King's Speech' and was amazed at how good it was!

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

'The King's Speech' "tells the story of the man who became King George VI, the father of Queen Elizabeth II. After his brother abdicates, George ('Bertie') reluctantly assumes the throne. Plagued by a dreaded stammer and considered unfit to be king, Bertie engages the help of an unorthodox speech therapist named Lionel Logue. Through a set of unexpected techniques, and as a result of an unlikely friendship, Bertie is able to find his voice and boldly lead the country through war." Via imdb.

The film started slow, as would expected, and had a mellow pace, which picked up as soon as Bertie became King. Whilst the focus is on the characters, the beauty of the pace, the colour, the movement is all very subtle and is part of the movie to be experienced, enjoyed.

The relationship of Bertie and Lionel is fragile and aggressive yet strong. Their fears and ambitions are exposed to one another and this is portrayed wonderfully. Their hidden yearning for each other's support, their insecurities and the way they confide in each other, makes their characters very human- especially Bertie's.

As the need for Bertie to speak publicly draws near, their relationship is tested and in prevailing, King George VI delivers a predictably beautiful speech, and the closing scenes are phenomenal.

~~~CAST~~~

Colin Firth- King George VI / Bertie

Helena Bonham Carter- Queen Elizabeth

Geoffrey Rush- Lionel Logue

Colin Firth deserves his Oscar for portraying Bertie in the role of his career. As THE English Actor (probably the first one you think of when asked), he plays the part very well, supported by the sublime Helena Bonham Carter.

~~~OVERALL~~~

At first I thought that a film about a speech impediment would be utterly boring, but gave this a go due to it's success and found it simple, refreshing and beautifully made, with Oscar worthy performances from the lead trio. A perfect film to watch at Christmas.

#Won 4 Oscars, 7 Baftas and a Golden Globe.

~~~AN AFTER THOUGHT~~~
And having seen this, Colin Firth's Oscar acceptance speech now becomes so relevant and beautiful. And my friend keeps saying this film goes well with 'Black Swan' as Natalie Portman has the queen role that year- glad she won her Oscar too.

Amazing book sculptures by Guy Laramee

2011-12-29T08:44:00.000Z

Guy Laramee creates some fantastic book sculptures by carving into a stack of books, primarily of landscape as he has a fascination with knowledge and erosion, "from the very idea that ultimate knowledge could very well be an erosion instead of an accumulation".

I really like these sculptures and think they work amazingly well- the texture and appearance of paper lends itself well to the sedimentary rock and the look that erosion would give to it. Not only are they visually stunning but also have meaning behind it = great art!

Check out more images below:

Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol Film Review

2011-12-28T21:35:00.000Z

I went to see Mission Impossible 4 today and having seen the previous three films at some point in my life, yet completely forgetting their plot and characters, I was going into this completely blank.

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

A mission involving the infiltration of the Kremlin results in the landmark being blown up to smithereens. With international relations being super sensitive, IMF shuts down, forcing agent Ethan Hunt (Tom Cruise) and his crew Benji (Simon Pegg), Jane (Paula Patton) and Brandt (Jeremy Renner) to go rogue in order to 'save the world' from nuclear war and clear their organisation's name.

It was somewhat unclear at the beginning what was going on, why Ethan Hunt was in jail (which he gets broken out of) in the opening scenes, but the plot of the fourth instalment of the MI series quickly goes underway. Without much back story apart from the loss of Ethan's wife being a central thread brought forward to 'ghost protocol'.

Despite following a typical action storyline with scenes which lend themselves to Bond movies (the banquet in India in which Jane is required to seduce some playboy- that car-BMW i8- was divine) and Bourne movies, MI:Ghost Protocol offered some impriessive action sequences and comedic use of gadgets.

I was most impressed by the invisibility wall/cloak as well as the action sequence in the car factory. Those two scenes stood out to me as I was most focussed and on the edge of my seat. At times I found myself wondering what was going on and feeling somewhat bored.

This movie, like other action films of today, moved from place to place, featuring Russia, India, Dubai, Manhattan... did I miss any out? Beautifully shot, especially the Dubai hotel shots- stunning. That was another integral segment of the movie which perhaps raised the tension bar up high.

Ghost Protocol climaxed several times and dragged on a bit- I felt it could've been much more concise and 'snappy'. The things the team kept doing didn't seem to accomplish much and the solution they definitely could've done without all the trouble they went through.

The ending was satisfying and the catharsis offered closure yet sparked the beginning and reboot of the MI series.

~~~CAST~~~

Tom Cruise- Ethan Hunt

Jeremy Renner- Brandt

Simon Pegg- Benji

Paula Patton- Jane

Michelle Monaghan- Julia

Tom Cruise returns as Ethan Hunt. His age shows and definitely not as attractive to watch as he was five or even ten years ago. The film was great but I felt at times I just didn't care for him as a character very much.

Simon Pegg was hilarious as techie Benji and Paula Patton held her own though at times was a bit annoying with her emotional distractions.

Newcomer to the series Jeremy Renner fit right into the film and his 'backstory' gave his character presence and integrity- surely an asset to the team in any sequels.

~~~OVERALL~~~

Whilst I made no recollection of the contents of the previous Mission Impossible films, this latest release was still enjoyable and full of action, even if a bit long.

Ghost Protocol currently holds the highest rating of all four films on imdb. Perhaps this will respark the franchise and make some sort of impression on the action film genre world.

Shin Megami Tensei: Devil Survivor 2 DS Games Preview

2011-12-27T11:06:00.000Z

I just discovered that there is a sequel to the hugely amazing Nintendo DS game Devil Survivor which was released in Japan earlier in the year and the English version will be out in February 2012- EXCITING!

Similar to the first, Devil Survivor 2 brings a group of friends together who make a pact which allows them so summon demons in order to protect themselves and save 'the world'?

New features include the ability to travel all over Japan, a 'double extra' combo, an 'enishi' system similar to the social link of Persona 4. It also appears the graphics have been refined and it looks beautiful!

I can't wait for this to be released! Check out more screenshots below:

Jeremy Renner in DETAILS Magazine (Jan 2012)

2011-12-26T10:18:00.000Z

Despite being in the film industry for over 10 years, Jeremy Renner has only recently broken through to star status. With mostly supporting roles in his early career, his breakthrough came with film 'The Hurt Locker' which opened up a window of opportunities after numerous award nominations including an Academy Award nomination.

He has most recently starred in 'The Town' and can now be seen in the latest 'Mission Impossible 4: Ghost Protocol' alongside Tom Cruise, with films 'The Avengers' (with Scarlet Johansson), 'Hansel and Gretel:Witch Hunters' (with Gemma Arterton) and 'The Bourne Legacy' to be released in 2012.

Renner is definitely now a sought after actor and we'll be seeing him A LOT on our screens next year.

Check out more photos below:

Merry Christmas 2011!

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000Z

Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas from Edge of the Plank.

The Heathrow Christmas Card 2011 by Rob Ryan

2011-12-24T10:02:00.000Z

It's Christmas TOMORROW! And I'm going to share with you this beautiful Christmas card created by Rob Ryan for Heathrow.

The card is made by stencil and spraypaint and reads: “Days became hours until hours eventually became minutes and then finally it was merely seconds until all of the time that i had been away from you had dissolved and i was back safe with you again.”

This is stunning and so sweet :3

Rihanna 'You Da One' Official Music Video

2011-12-23T14:50:00.001Z

I wasn't even going to bother with blogging about this because I didn't really like the song, but I just watched the video and it is beautiful. There are elements which are very similar to 'Rude Boy' but definitely prefer this to that.

In black and white, unsaturated tones and hints of colour, there is just something so attractive about it. The lyrics flashing everywhere makes it like a very well done lyrics video. Annoyingly, the video is off sync to the song which is irritating.

Hopefully she releases 'Farewell' as a single and have an amazing video for it because the album 'Talk that Talk' is lacklustre and the only thing to make it better are good videos imo.

Check out the music video below:

'The Hunger Games' Film Trailer Preview

2011-12-23T09:39:00.001Z

I have heard so much hype about this movie, but I have no idea what it's about. Now that Taylor Swift has revealed her song for the movie soundtrack, 'Safe and Sound', it seems like I can't avoid looking this up!

Based on the book of the same name, 'The Hunger Games' is "set in a future where the Capitol selects a boy and girl from the twelve districts to fight to the death on live television, Katniss Everdeen volunteers to take her younger sister's place for the latest match." Via imdb.

The film stars Liam Hemsworth, Jennifer Lawrence, Stanley Tucci and will be out March 2012.

Check out the trailer below:

'Safe and Sound' by Taylor Swift (The Hunger Games Soundtrack)

2011-12-23T09:24:00.000Z

Today Taylor Swift has revealed her Christmas surprise which is that her is featured on 'The Hunger Games' movie soundtrack with a new song titled 'Safe and Sound'.

A melancholic ballad, Safe and Sound's lyrics include "Just close your eyes, The sun is going down, You’ll be all right, No one can hurt you, In the morning light, You and I’ll be safe and sound".

The film comes out March next year. Check out the song below:

Carey Mulligan in W Magazine (Jan 2012)

2011-12-22T10:09:00.000Z

Carey Mulligan graces the cover of 'W' magazine in their January 2012 issue. Despite looking very sexy on the cover, the spread itself is far more chic, with one shot inevitably being a tribute to Twiggy (above).

In the magazine, she talks about her 2011 film roles 'Drive' and 'Shame', both of which are intense movies, a departure from her previously 'safer' ingenue roles.

She is currently filming for 'The Great Gatsby' alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey McGuire.

Check out more images below:

'Sherlock Holmes 2: A Game of Shadows' Film Review

2011-12-21T21:07:00.000Z

Just went to see Sherlock Holmes 2 at the cinema and wow...

~~~THOUGHTS ON PLOT~~~

After a rather truncated opening scene with Holmes (Robert Downey Jr) and Adler (Rachel McAdams) being their usual playful way, much to my delight, as it links the first film to this superbly, it ends in her rather abrupt death by poisoning which I was distraught by.

With the early departure of McAdams from the film, I hated Moriarty (Jared Harris) even more, though I had no idea what he was up to...

So it is the eve of Watson (Jude Law)'s singlehood and Holmes takes him out on a 'stag do' whilst continuing his investigation which leads him to gypsy girl Simza (Noomi Rapace) who is supposedly key to Moriarty's plan.

We still have no idea what his plan is, just that he's evil and clever.

After a while later, Holmes and Watson travel to Paris to find Simza, then the three go to Germany and then to Switzerland in hope of stopping and revealing Moriarty's evil plan.

It sounds like my plot summary is a bit of a mess but that is just what I was thinking watching it- stuck. lost. I didn't have much clue on what they were doing, just that they were doing it and followed it.

In between, there was a very humourous train scene full of action too which to me was perhaps the highlight of the film in terms of entertainment.

I also really loved the way Guy Richie upped the cinematography from the previous film: the forest scene was spectacular and the consistency in style that this movie is shot is to be praised.

Whilst the film did drag on before things started to become clear, once it got towards the end, it was made known what Moriarty was up to and the reveal at the end was as expected, very satisfying. It's just a shame it took a while to get there and was a bit obscure to begin with.

I also loved the ending in which it bookended the film nicely, ended with a lighthearted and humourous scene and with a very clever and quirky few seconds which beckons us to question if a third movie will be made. I'll say YES to that!

~~~CAST~~~

Robert Downey Jr- Sherlock Holmes

Jude Law- John Watson

Noomi Rapace- Simza

Rachel McAdams- Irene Adler

Jared Harris- Moriarty

Also stars Stephen Fry (unfortunately unclothed for one scene- gross) and Kelly Reill.

Robert Downey Jr does a great job resuming his role as Holmes; the humour is great and he definitely has more to deal with this time around in terms of acting and he stepped up to it. Noomi Rapace played the gypsy girl well but I didn't feel her role was that integral and she could've been a stronger character.

I am again sad to accept that Rachel McAdams' character Irene Adler is dead- I would never have thought they'd just kill her off like that. I knew she wouldn't be in this film much but 5 mins and never again? D: They better find a good female lead for the next one or somehow revive Irene. SERIOUSLY. In the short few minutes that she was in, she did look absolutely PERFECT. :3

I also liked that Moriarty had a brain that matched Sherlock's in a sense in that final fight scene where they're both mentally outwitting the other- that was VERY interesting.

~~~OVERALL~~~

Sherlock Holmes 2 managed to raise the bar in terms of cinematography, style and even action, but the plot was a bit fuzzy for most of the film and lacked the symbolic mystery the first one had that kept us at the edge of our seats.

Nonetheless, this was a solid movie with great action sequences, super cast (McAdams will be dearly missed) and a great ending.

Whilst it does hint at a third film, nothing led on from this that would've suggested what it might be about, which is a shame as the last one did so well at keeping the suspense and the identity of Moriarty and his scheme.

'The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey' Film Trailer Preview

2011-12-21T09:50:00.000Z

The first trailer to the upcoming 'The Hobbit' film has come out. I previously stated that I thought this whole thing was milking the LOTR genre (given the second part, 'There and Back Again', will probably be released the Summer after), and from the trailer, whilst it still captures the essence of the other films, I still feel it lacks something...

That said, it does look well made and I'm sure it will satisfy all the LOTR fans out there who are bored re-watching the trilogy a gazillion times.

The film stars Cate Blanchett, Elijah Wood, Andy Serkis, Orlando Bloom, Ian McKellen, Lee Pace...

I think I will wait for the second part to be released and watch them together because this seems like a 'set up' movie and wouldn't have a lot of action.

What do you think?

The film will be out NEXT Christmas (A long wait!) Check out the trailer below:

'Christmas Must Be Something More' by Taylor Swift

2011-12-20T10:00:00.000Z

It's 5 days till Christmas and I'll share with you this song by Taylor Swift which she wrote for her Christmas Album ' Sounds of the Season', titled 'Christmas Must be Something More'.

In a typical Swift musical style, she sings about the true meaning behind Christmas, behind the gifts, the presents, the superficiality of the festival... the gift of Jesus to us. May we all ponder on the reason we celebrate Christmas!

Check out the song below:

Check out the lyrics below the jump.

"Christmas Must Be Something More"

What if ribbons and bows didn't mean a thing
Would the song still survive without five golden rings
Would you still wanna kiss without misletoe
What would happen if God never let it snow
What would happen if Christmas carols told a lie
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

What if angels did not pay attention to
All the things that we wished they would always do
What if happiness came in a cardboard box
Then I think there is something we all forgot
What would happen if presents all went away
Tell me what would you find

You'd see that today holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to the birthday boy who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
So here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something more

We get so caught up in all of it
Business and relationships
Hundred mile an hour lives
And it's this time of year
And everybody's here
It seems the last thing on your mind

Is that the day holds something special
Something holy, not superficial
So here's to Jesus Christ who saved our lives
It's something we all try to ignore
And put a wreath up on your door
But here's something you should know that is for sure
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something
Christmas must be something more

There's gotta be more
There's gotta be more

'The Dark Knight Rises' Official Film Trailer and Preview

2011-12-18T23:39:00.000Z

Both the official trailer and the prologue (Bane) for the upcoming film 'The Dark Knight Rises' has leaked.

In the trailer we see a LOT of action scenes, new batmobiles, Catwoman, new characters John Blake and Miranda Tate played by Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon Levitt respectively... the trilogy is coming to an end!

The prologue featuring Bane was also a bit shocking. I couldn't make out what Bane was saying but it seemed like he was quite a force to be reckoned with!

Directed by Christopher Nolan (Inception), the film stars Christian Bale as he reprises his role as Batman, joined by Anne Hathaway as Catwoman, Tom Hardy as Bane and supporting cast Marion Cotillard and Joseph Gordon Levitt. Michael Caine, Morgan Freeman and Gary Oldman returns.

I am really excited for this. The Dark Knight was a PHENOMENAL movie and I'm expecting great things from this- given it's the last one, hopefully it'll finish with a BANG.

I can't wait till Summer 2012 (also when THE AVENGERS comes out). Check out the trailer below IN HD:

Allison Harvard Misc Photos (Dec 2011)

2011-12-18T17:11:00.001Z

Despite Tyra stupidly crowned Lisa instead of Allison on America's Next Top Model All Stars, I'm very happy to see some shots of Allison surfacing. She looks ABSOLUTELY stunning in the shots above which could be featured in any high fashion magazine (Italian Vogue worthy).

Hopefully they will be used someone as they are great beauty shots and perhaps we will see more modelling work from Allison soon! :D

Check out her ALL STAR Portfolio HERE and see more images below:

'Late' by Roxanne Emery

2011-12-17T16:17:00.000Z

Have been listening to this song by Roxanne Emery for a while now and just wanted to share it with you all. It has made the same impact as 'Cold Heart' did, which was the song that I first heard of hers.

'Late' went viral on Youtube when it was released and topped the most popular /viewed that week and has received highly positive feedback.

She is currently writing for an upcoming album following her EP 'An Introduction to Roxanne Emery' which is phenomenal and you just have to listen for yourself!

I can't wait for the new record! Check out her song 'Late':

Lyrics after the jump:

The eighties baby

You'll find her by the window waving

She's always on time

She always gets the questions right and,

The Nineties girl

With her saucer eyes

And her chocolate curls

But don't be fooled

She'll never love you cause' she's to damn cool

And,do you hear,hear the children scream

How do we learn,now that our teacher is gone?

Do you see,see that little girl

How do I learn,now that my role model's gone?

The noughties girl

You'll,you'll find her in the backrow laughing

She's never on time

But you know if she fails,

Then she's gonna cry

And the naughty girl,oh

She's set to learn

The black mark how does it feel

By your name it's like a scar that won't heal

Do you hear,hear the children scream

How do we learn,now that our teacher is gone.

Do you see,see that little girl,

How do I learn now that my role model's gone.

And,I know you,get the best holidays

You've been gone for so long, lets count the days

So stop this,cause' I've had enough

Come home,where I'm gonna love you so much

Do you hear,

Hear the closing bell

See the smoke oh

And whats that smell

Do you see,see that I don't cry

I can't feel without you,so how can I

So stop this cause' I've had enough

My last words to you were

'I'm gonna miss you so much'

And the one lesson,please don't cry

You never taught was how to say goodbye

Goodbye,Goodbye does it come in time

Goodbye,Goodbye hope it comes in time

'Proteigon' Stop Motion Video by Steven Briand

2011-12-16T15:55:00.003Z

Steven Briand has created a beautiful little stop motion animation titled 'Proteigon' in which a headless person is seen to command and master over paper. Well executed, the music goes phenomenally with the film and just really inspiring and lovely to watch!

Check out this AWESOME Video below:

V&A Christmas Tree by Studio Roso

2011-12-15T19:05:00.001Z

10 DAYS TILL CHRISTMAS!!! I usually plan out a series of posts over Christmas but been immensely busy so the 10 days till Christmas time seems opportune to post something Christmas related.

Studio Roso designed the tree which is created using elastic cord and suspended shapes which are ornaments resembling snowflakes and icicles. Despite being such a fluid material, the form of the tree appears extremely rigid and structural. Imagine being there when this was 'stretched' and secured, almost like a 3D pop up book coming to life... :W

Hope to see this over Christmas at the V&A!

Check out more images below:

Taylor Swift at the Nashville Symphony Ball 2011

2011-12-15T15:43:00.000Z

Taylor Swift received the Harmony Award at the Nashville Symphony Ball, for 'exemplifying the unique harmony between the many worlds of music that exist in Nashville, and her significant contributions to the development and appreciation of musical culture'.

Wearing a blue tinged oyster Reem Acra gown with Jimmy Choos, Swift looked phenomenal.

I can't wait for new music to come out. Bring on 2012!

Kelly Clarkson 'Stronger' Official Music Video

2011-12-14T18:36:00.001Z

The video to Kelly Clarkson's latest single 'Stronger' (What Doesn't Kill You) has been released.

In the video, Kelly sings with her band as footage of fans' flash mob dance is shown. Kelly looks stunning in the video and the colours are beautiful; I feel the fans' footage really ruined the video due to the poor video quality and the unimpressive dancing.

Not to say Kelly dancing to the routine herself was much better as the dance itself was a bit weird...

The videos to her singles off 'Stronger' have lacked narrative despite her songs being otherwise, so I hope her next one has more of a storyline!

Check out the music video below:

Scarlett Johansson at the 'We Bought a Zoo' New York Film Premiere

2011-12-14T15:07:00.002Z

Scarlett Johansson attended the world premiere of her latest film, 'We Bought a Zoo' and looked stunning wearing a black Dolce & Gabbana dress with Jimmy Choos.

The premiere was also attended by co-stars Matt Damon (not sure about his haircut) and Elle Fanning. The film will be released next week. Check out the trailer for it HERE.

Prisma 1666 by Wonwei

2011-12-13T12:30:00.000Z

"The installation focuses on the light refraction properties of a prism, allowing the user to experience these properties by interacting with various colors, angles, and shapes being projected onto a group of prisms."

"In 1666, Sir Isaac Newton conducted a famous experiment that has been widely considered as a landmark discovery in the study of optics and color theory. Inspired by this discovery, PRISMA 1666 is an interactive light installation consisting of 15 triangular crystal blocks distributed randomly on a clean white surface. The projection of colorful graphics is refracted and dispersed by these crystal blocks, creating a fascinating visual experience and ambiance. The installation enables interaction with the projected colors, angles, and shapes through a touch interface, creating an opportunity to experiment with these elements like Isaac Newton did so many years before us." -Wonwei.

The way the light gets distorted is amazing though it would be far more interesting if numerous people had control over it and it becomes competitive, chaotic and almost war-like.

Check out more images below and check out the video!

PRISMA 1666 - Interactive Installation from Wonwei on Vimeo.

Topographic Projections and Implied Geometries Series by Jim Sanborn

2011-12-12T12:06:00.000Z

"These images were produced by direct, large format, light projection. The projector, powered by a mobile generator, was moved from site to site. All of the pieces were photographed at night using long exposures. On moonless nights, the landscape was lit with searchlights. The landforms themselves are quite large, requiring the projector and camera to be, on average, 1/2 mile away from the subject landscape."-Jim Sanborn.

I think it is extremely interesting how the light projections are distorted by the topography and despite the pattern being controlled, it becomes unpredictable and the beauty of these shots come from that spontaneous chaos factor.

Check out more images below: