Costumes for Your Fantasy World Getaway

Escaping into a fantasy world is a great way to get whisked away from the worries and concerns of living in the 21st century. For many folks, delving into a good book or watching a completely absorbing movie is the perfect way to spend a few hours in an alternate reality. You can take your passion for the pretend one step further by dressing up as a character from your unreal utopia. In February, 2011, Vanity Fair magazine asked readers which fantasy world they'd most like to visit. Below are the top results with our extra commentary with great costume ideas for each.
Narnia: The largest number of respondents wished to visit Narnia, the make- believe world in C.S. Lewis' series of books including "The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe." Dress up in one of several Narnia costumes including the White Witch whose ethereal and quite beautiful gown masks her evil intentions. Or, you could dress as young Peter in his knight costume with sword and shield as he dashes off to protect the kingdom.
Neverland: The fictional world of A.J. Barrie, Neverland is home to Peter Pan, Tinkerbelle and the Lost Boys. A perfect escape for the person who really doesn't want to grow up! Popularized by Disney, you can easily find Peter Pan costumes and Tinkerbelle costume for every shape and size. Of course, the villain from this story is the dastardly Captain Hook who tries in vain to do away with Peter Pan.
Hogwarts: Go back to school at Hogwarts, the famous yet fictional academic institution for wizarding boys and girls. Donning a Harry Potter costume may be the most obvious choice of all, you can also cast spells dressed as Ron, Hermione, Dumbledore, Hagrid or one of the many interesting characters in this series created by author, J.K. Rowling.
Middle Earth: Long before Hogwarts, wizards, hobbits and fairies roamed through Middle Earth in an epic adventure with evil pitted against good. Some of the most famous characters and costumes from this fantasy series written by J.R.R. Tolkien include the hobbits Frodo, Sam and Pippn, Aragon, the elf Legolas, the wizard Gandolf and of course, the fallen and hideous hobbit, Gollum.
Wonderland: Jump down a rabbit hole with Alice in this long-loved tale originally written by Lewis Carroll but adapted many times, most famously in cartoon by Disney and on the big screen by Tim Burton. Fantasy costumes from this wild ride of a tale include the crazy  with eclectic clothing and a wild shock of red hair, a severe-looking Queen of Hearts costume, and the sweet and innocent Alice costume with her signature blue dress.

Legend of Sidney Lumet - First Amongst Equals

While his name isn't the first that pop up when you think of the impact on American cinema but Sidney Lumet is almost like the first amongst equals. In a career spanning over five decades and forty films Lumet has helmed some of the greatest works of cinema like Dog Day Afternoon, Network, The Verdict and many more. Known to extract skillful performances from his actors Lumet has directed 18 Oscar nominated performances and one look at his repertoire and you know Lumet is the greatest filmmaker that perhaps no one talks of as much as they should.
Starting during the golden era of cinema Lumet is the first generation of filmmakers who graduated to directing film from years of experience in live television rather than making the usual stops under the studio system. By the time Lumet made his feature film debut with 12 Angry Men (1957) he had directed more 150 episodes of television drama. Lumet's debut got the Golden Bear at the Berlin Film Festival and established beyond doubt the arrival of a very important filmmaker. Gritty, thought-provoking and completely real 12 Angry Men was shot in one room where twelve jurors argue their verdict. Like in the case of 12 Angry Men location will go on to play the most important role in every Lumet film.
Sydney Lumet Films
The next decade saw Lumet deliver one artistic gem after another in quick succession. The Fugitive Kind (1960) with Marlon Brando, View from the Bridge (1962), Long Day's Journey Into Night (1962) with towering performances by Katherine Hepburn and Jason Robards were all very different from each other. In 1964 Lumet made a masterpiece in the form of Fail-Safe. Featuring Henry Fonda as the American president at the height of Cold War, this tense drama where the USSR and the USA could very well end up triggering a nuclear war was doomed thanks to the success of Stanley Kubrick's satire on the same subject Dr. Strangelove or: How I Learned to Stop Worrying and Love the Bomb which came out the same year. In the next three years Lumet's made a film on Holocaust survivor haunted by the past (The Pawnbroker, 1964); a prison camp drama with Sean Connery (The Hill, 1965); a tale of eight young upper class society women in a private school (The Group, 1966) and a spy thriller based on a John Le Carre novel (The Deadly Affair, 1966). Lumet bought his television training traits of rehearsing well and shooting fast and most importantly keeping it under budget.
The 1970's were Sidney Lumet's best years and the films that he would direct would not only be career defining but would also end up becoming the definitive films of genres. He reunited with Sean Connery for The Anderson Tape (1971), a successful caper film but it was his first outing with Al Pacino in Serpico (1973) that would really kick off the decade for him. Based on true incidents described in Peter Maas' novel of the same name, Serpico was the tale of an honest cop who decides to clean the rotting system but ends up being a victim of his fellow officers' wrath. Serpico is where the birth of the character driven films of the 1970's took place and with Pacino, one of the finest method actors, guided by Lumet and his penchant for realism (Lumet shot the film across 140 locations in New York City), the end result is nothing less than a master-class in filmmaking. Lumet then directed The Murder on the Orient Express featuring a great ensemble cast (Lauren Bacall, Albert Finney, Ingrid Bergman, Sean Connery, Anthony Perkins, Vanessa Redgrave, Richard Widmark and John Gielgud) and an excellent production design which made it one of the better Agatha Christie adaptations.
The two films that Lumet would be remembered forever happened in quick succession. If there was ever an actor whose career's significant best was robbed of an Academy Award it would've be Al Pacino and his work in Dog Day Afternoon (1975). Inspired by a real incident Dog Day Afternoon had Pacino playing a gay bank robber who gets stuck in the middle of media frenzy when he robs a Manhattan bank for his lover's sex change operation. All through his life Lumet was known to take his actors to a place where others directors could only imagine and this isn't something that actors took lightly. Pacino had originally passed on the film due to exhaustion after finishing The Godfather 2 but when he heard that Lumet was considering Dustin Hoffman, Pacino jumped right back in! Besides Pacino the late John Cazale as Sal too makes for a very realistic portrayal.
Many people wonder how could Robert De Niro not get an Oscar for his Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver (1976) and the answer lies in Sidney Lumet's Network (1976). An old time news anchor has had it with just about everything and loses it on air when he's fired thanks to low ratings. Howard Beale, (Peter Finch in his Academy Award winning role) vents his anger while on air and suddenly the masses start tuning in to the channel. His rant- I'M AS MAD AS HELL, AND I'M NOT GOING TO TAKE THIS ANYMORE--becomes the line of the nation and his network decides to keep him only to let everything fall to pieces. Lumet's Network is as relevant today as it was 35 years ago and no matter how many times you watch this masterpiece you can never tire of it.
The 1980's saw Lumet do what he best--bless us with great characters. In 1981 he went back to Serpico territory with The Prince of the City where a narcotics cop is charmed by an investigating agency to come clean on his partners and in The Verdict (1982) he directed Paul Newman in what would become one his supreme roles ever. Lumet never rested and all through the 1980's and the 1990's directed films. He never had a problem in going back to directing TV movies or even episodes because for him it was all about telling a story.
Sidney Lumet's Golden Rule
There are films and then there are Sidney Lumet films. There are books on filmmaking and then there is Making Movies, Sidney Lumet's autobiography. Nothing short of a work of art, the book gives an insight into Lumet and shows how he was all about cinema. He always kept it simple and it was all about making the film; nothing more, nothing less. Lumet once famously commented that legends like Akira Kurosawa never affected him directly in terms of his own movie-making because he never would have presumed that he was capable of that perception and that vision. It's this hands-on simplistic genius that separates Sidney Lumet from all.

Movie Review: Kill the Irishman (2011)

It's based on a true story, which immediately notifies the audience that creative liberties will be generously taken. A rather impressive collaboration of regular gangster actors show up for Kill the Irishman, including Christopher Walken, Robert Davi, Vinnie Jones, Paul Sorvino, Mike Starr, and Steve Schirripa. Many of them give the movie a decidedly authentic feel, paired with a believable assortment of props and costumes. The problem with having so many convincing mobsters is that when actors unaccustomed to playing a hood step onscreen, they're painfully obvious.
In Cleveland in the 1960s, Danny Greene (Ray Stevenson, delivering a largely expressionless, monotonic performance) is on the rise to become a powerful man amidst organized crime. He's a workingman, and gains the respect of his comrades of the longshoreman's union, enabling him to oust the previous boss Jerry Merke (Bob Gunton), governed by the mafia, to become the president himself. He does this with very little effort, throwing around a few insults and slapping or fist fighting those in his way. Oddly, few put up a struggle - when he battles Merke's hulking bodyguard, the man goes down without delivering a single punch. Some of the major problems with the film involve the great lengths traveled to make Greene seem tough, warrior-like or godly - he's shown as a "Godfather" character who can rack up favors and connections, but also physically beat his opponents. In addition, he's a gangster with a heart.
"I never do this," implausibly whispers Greene's new girlfriend Joan Madigan (Linda Cardellini), a bartender, as they make love in the back of a car the first night they meet. Soon they're married, have two children, and the towering Irishman is arrested for extortion, racketeering and other methods of corruption. He's released when he agrees to give information regularly to Joe Manditski (Val Kilmer, looking as bloated and heavy as Orson Welles), a docks detective who keeps popping up just to narrate the tale. Kilmer rarely interacts in a crucial way with Greene, instead just offering up bits of voiceover narration to fill in gaps in details.
Eventually, Greene is forced to look for work with Shondor Birns (Christopher Walken), a loan shark in need of new debt collectors. Throughout the 1970s, Greene regains his standing as a man not to be messed with, while also battling his morals and his desire to break free from the shady business he's immersed in. When a large loan set up by Shondor is seized by the cops, Greene upsets the mob and becomes the target of a $25,000 cash hit. Eight or so attempts are made on his life, but he's seemingly invincible, and fights back with a gang war that sees 36 bomb detonations in Cleveland in 1976 alone, continually leveling the playing field and the thugs working for each faction of crime.
While Kill the Irishman is clearly trying to be the next Goodfellas, what with its subtle humor, use of violence to mend all situations, light narration, catchy music at all the right spots, plenty of montages and initial glamorization of the mafia, it fails with the storytelling and the cast. More supporting actors are believable over the leads, (the most offensive overacting and underacting comes from Vincent D'Onofrio, Tony Lo Bianco and Laura Ramsey) and the action, suspense and tone of the movie are as flat as Stevenson's inflectionless dialogue.

Movie Review: Turning 30 Steps Away

The good thing about a film like Turning 30, is that not only did it get made but also got a proper plot. Now the sad part about such a film is that it promotes a kind of mindset that is downright scary. Alankrita Shrivastava's bittersweet take on a woman's life spiraling out of control just around her 30th birthday meanders from being stupid to even nonsensical and is an inglorious tribute to Sex and the City.
Turning 30 Plot
Naina (Gul Panag) has everything going for her but like most young people she doesn't 'value' it enough. Ungrateful and thankless as she is, Naina scoffs when her textbook boyfriend, Rishab (Sid Makkar), tells her to look lovingly at children as they browse through groceries in a supermarket; mocks him when he cooks for her, kicks him off the bed when he's late for work- you get the picture? On the night when she thinks the boy is going to pop the question he dumps her for a close family friend's foreign returned daughter. To make matters worse her advertising career goes for a toss. Her gay boss gives in to the whims of his partner, a copywriter who took all the credit for Naina's award winning campaign, and her strange super boss with an even stranger stubble only mouths irrelevant one-liners. Thus starts Naina's journey of discovering her true self which entails kicking off with an ex-flame, Jai (Purab Kohli), who simply walked out on her and now four years later just wants to marry her. Her two close gal pals try to make things better but then Rukhsana's (Jeneva Talwar) bag of woes is always full- her philandering husband doesn't change his ways even after she delivers a baby that she though would set things right and Malini's (Tillotama Shome) dealing with her own girlfriend issues. Naina ends up penning her thoughts as an outlet and lo and behold Malini gets it published. Suddenly at 31 everything falls into place for Naina.
Even though it's doomed with a plot that has been done to death and marred by a screenplay that is as predictable as boiling an egg, Turning 30 could have been a sweetish film that would have made for a passable watch. Instead Naina's journey of finding herself is so fraught with utter absurdity that one wonders whatever made seemingly intelligent women like Gul Panag and Tillotama Shome agree to something like this?
First and foremost since when was turning 30 such a dreaded thing? You lost me at hello! When things are nothing going her way Naina tries to find some catharsis by devoting herself to a project called 'Post 30 Club', a place for which she is designing an advertising campaign. Now this club celebrates 'aging with grace' but pray tell me why were we subjected to septuagenarian women singing its praises? The whole stress on turning 30 and just about everyone telling Naina their way of dealing with 'aging'- new haircut, lingerie, massages and ahem...special toys; the whole thing seems so off the radar. And Naina's tedious Sex and the City inspired narration makes it worse for she makes it sound like reading some boring school essay.
Gul Panag fits the bill but Naina is a strange woman and while Panag tries hard to make her believable, the unbelievable silliness surrounding the character doesn't help. Shome shines in a few scenes and her 30 seconds of kicking her lover away makes up big time. Purab Kohli plays an artist which pretty much explains why he looks like a curtain rod with colorful scarves draped around his neck; Makkar plays a banker and dresses like one. The acting's very staged maybe because they all speak in English; thankfully they don't look at the camera for approval but still wait for cues like a appalling school play.
Final Words About Turning 30
There isn't anything wrong with such travesty being siphoned off as cinema and we have, in the past, been subjected to much worse but the miserable part is that for a film that is directed by a woman, Turning 30 is really insensitive towards the gender. Naina and Malini smoke in front of their pregnant friend, Rukhsana's husband is cheating on her but she doesn't mind it for she has a baby and the baby needs her father so she will live with it and many such things in the film make you shake your head in disbelief.
The real issue with the film is that Naina's reasons for losing it aren't explored at all; she desperately wants to get Rishab back but neither she nor anyone else knows whatever for. All we get as a parting gift is Naina's rather Fortune Cookie like one-liners where she signs off by saying 'all the answers are in my book.'
Turning 30 Cast: Gul Panag, Purab Kohli, Sid Makkar, Jeneva Talwar and Tillotama Shome.

Clinching That Documentary Deal Worth Millions!

How to "make" your own tv "fly on the wall" documentary that will earn you, its creator, not just thousands of pounds but millions of pounds?! Easy. Create the concept yourself! Locate a suitable environment and set it all up yourself.
Easy?! Most recently on Channel 4 in the United Kingdom a rare insight into the lives of "Travellers" (most folk would rather name them Gypsies) and their weddings. Due to their group being incredibly tight knit and closed to outsiders, a TV documentary detailing their weddings and the lead up to the day has totally upped the viewing figures to the highest that Channel 4 has ever received. How much did Channel 4 pay for this second documentary?! For a "fly on the wall" documentary which would have cost no more than a few thousand pounds to film? Yup, who'd have guessed that Channel 4 paid just over £8 million. Yes! Eight Million Pounds! But one has to consider the fact that the young filmmaker who came up with the concept personally befriended the dressmaker to the travellers and gained their confidence to the point that they granted her access to their most intimate of events, their wedding!
The young documentary maker not only filmed her first series but started work on her second series before such was even commissioned. So she knew she'd been paid for the first "fly on the wall" series but was already thinking way ahead to gaining that much more valuable second commission. The first series was viewing gold (industry speak for huge viewing figures and massive press interest). The deal negotiated for the second series was clear from the outset and it translated into an £8 million pound payoff for the creator and her company.
By looking at everyday events and items which could translate into a possible documentary and then investing the time and effort in filming a short clip, the documentary maker is creating an opportunity for future projects which could arise as a direct result of the initial concept.
It's about keeping an open mind and considering what could indeed translate into viewing gold. Who would have thought that a documentary about Big Fat Gypsy Weddings could ever earn its maker just over £8 million pounds? Well, it did! Will your TV documentary idea be the next ratings winner? Remember that absolutely any item, fad or event is an opportunity just waiting to be filmed by an intrepid Television Documentary Maker.

My job at ExposureTV is to sift through the many great ideas communicated to us by those intrepid filmmakers who come up with a concept and decide to film it.

Paranormal Reality Shows

Recently, within the last season or so, Comedy Central's show South Park featured a 'guest appearance' by Jason Hawes and Grant Wilson. These are the two creative minds behind SyFy's smash hit reality show, Ghost Hunters. While the show managed to portray them as scared, and a bit illogical during their investigation (and I believe kept hinting at the show as the most-boring show on), South Park unofficially did one other thing far more important.
South Park is our cultural waste-basket. Anything the creators think that Americans need to laugh at, they put in their show, to be dissected in whatever manner they find best. However, unintentionally, their show is also a meter of profusion and acceptability within the American palette. After all, it wasn't Paranormal State that made it onto their show, it wasn't Discovery Channel's 'The Colony', or anything else. It was Ghost Hunters.
This points out the fact that, like it or not, Ghost Hunters, and the burgeoning Paranormal Reality genre, has gained some support and massive appeal. This new genre is important enough to poke fun at, if it wasn't, the creators would've never noticed it in the first place. Thus, taking the show's comments in stride isn't just about maintaining good PR; in actuality, it is a small award. Ghost Hunters made it onto South Park...Ghost Hunters was important enough to make it on South Park.
Ghost Hunters is, without much doubt, the most important and well-known show of the new Paranormal Reality Genre. But there are many more, across many different channels, with many different formats. SyFy channel is currently leading the proverbial band-wagon, as it has Ghost Hunters, Ghost Hunters International, Ghost Hunters Academy, Destination Truth, and Fact or Faked: Paranormal Files. However, History Channel, Discovery, Biography, and A&E have also followed suit with similar shows.
The genre has its roots in various shows detailing Urban Legends from the 80s and 90s. These shows in turn, drew inspiration directly from the base they would be serving. Probably the most successful, and one of the earliest pioneers, of this new genre was the show Unsolved Mysteries. It enjoyed several very successful seasons, and drew inspiration from equal parts Twilight Zone and stories told around late-night campfires.
In the late 90s, another show came out that revolutionized the genre. Fact or Fiction: Beyond Belief, was the first serial-variety show that featured tales that were almost 100% paranormal in nature. They added a unique format twist, that was more interactive than anything at the time, and had good viewer-ship. However, it ended in 2002.
Finally, in 2004, Ghost Hunters came out, with a very simple, yet significant premise. Paranormal investigators travelling from one case to another, to historically significant locations where activity is supposed to be somewhat frequent. As the show has gone on, you can see a definite increase in the production quality, everything from the vehicles and gear employed during an investigation has improved, to the nature of the venues being investigated. All a testament to its growing viewer base.

Tyler Perry and Blaxploitation

African American director Tyler Perry has the same problems 'blaxploitation' had in the '70's. Stereotypes abound in his films, especially of women, just like black movies in the '70's, but at least they are not super women but real women with real problems and heavy women as human beings. Have you noticed when black actors do a romantic comedy or comedy in general, they play characters who are successful, middle class or upper middle class, but as soon as they do a drama they are poor as hell!! Message delivered---"real" blacks are always poor.
The critics of his movies are not the people who go to see his movies. Critics of blaxploitation said the same thing about those films, yet they made money. But Tyler Perry can mature, unlike blaxplotiation. He directed "For Colored Girls" and he was attacked for showing black men in the worst light. He is just one man but he is very influential, but still he is one person. He isn't trying to have a social, political conscious but to entertain. Spike Lee and Tyler Perry are at odds with each other. Lee is tired of blacks being lowered to silly stereotypes while Lee thinks Perry is making a mint off the images he hates.
In the '70's black audiences loved blaxploitation, to see people who looked like them attacking The Man and sleeping with his women, and being the hero. But every movie was like that and soon the public got tired of it. It has been said blaxploitation was so huge at one point that NAACP wanted to monitor the medium. Maybe they should have, the images of blacks might have gotten better. Black films even saved one studio---MGM!!
Black people long to see better images of them than what they see in movies and TV. The cable audience has three channels, BET, Centric and TV One, and yet there has not been an original drama on any of the networks. African Americans are the best consumers advertisers can have, and yet they don't use them to full potential to launch shows they will support. Blacks need to complain, but shouldn't go to the presidents of this network, but to the mega company that pays their checks. The major companies who own these networks have money for other channels, so why not these?
At one time NAACP was going to boycott movies and television, for they were tired of the stereotypes being seen. They didn't do it then, but soon I believe they will. The public may still laugh at and enjoy some stereotypes, but there is so much more to African Americans than what they see.

Looking Forward: The Man of Steel

There are five huge comic book movies next year... And I'm most excited about the one coming last.
Superman: Man of Steel
Directed by Zack Synder (300/Watchmen) and starring Henry Cavill (The Tudors) as Superman, this movie sounds like it could finally restore Kal-EL to the top of the comic book movie world. Not since watching Christopher Reeve don the Superman suit have I been so excited about the prospect of another film staring the Man of Steel. I'm not dismissing Superman Returns, it just didn't really work for me. For starters, Superman should not have a child, but that's only one thing this Superman film needs to make sure of. Here is how I would direct The Man of Steel.
1) Get him in the suit quickly. People have little patience these days. Aside from the destruction of his home planet Krypton, Superman's origin isn't really that exciting. Whilst his origin should definitely not be ignored, it should be dealt with at a quick pace. With Russell Crowe announced as Superman's father Jor-El however, things might move along a bit slower than expected.
2) The movie should go dark, but to a certain extent. They need to draw upon how Superman is an outsider, and will always be a loner because of that. Superman is not Batman. He isn't trying to avenge the death of his parents by installing fear in his enemies. He's just trying to help a world in need. Warner Bros need to remember that. Don't have Superman moping after Lois in a depressing love deprived fashion (Superman Returns). Instead they should have him refrain from a relationship because of the fact that he is incapable of living a normal life. Superman has often been criticised for being un-relatable. The fact that he is an outsider trying to help people is what makes him more relatable than people think. He can't have normal relationships with human beings and Man of Steel needs to showcase this.
3) Superman needs someone to fight. Now Michael Shannon has been cast as General Zod, the film needs to make sure they create some impressive fight scenes. For all their might, comic book movies never seem to pack epic boss fights. General Zod has proven to be an incredible villain on screen and I can't wait to hear the famous line: KNEEL BEFORE ZOD!
4) CGI Suit. Yes, I know that risks infuriating fan boys across the globe, but if Man of Steel is going to have any hope of succeeding it needs to move away from the nostalgic classic suit. Plus using CGI may actually give us a suit that looks like something an alien would wear. This also means there would be no more Clark Kent ripping his shirt open to reveal the S logo.
5) A new role for Clark Kent. Surely working as a journalist would allow no time to be Superman? What decent newspaper would allow one of their staff to keep running off in this day and age? If Man of Steel is going to draw from reality, it needs to bring the tough job climate into account. Whist Clark should still work in a newspaper firm in some capacity; he should definitely not be a reporter. I would go the Peter Parker route and have Clark as a free-lance photographer, with his powers enabling him to capture pictures from all over the world quickly.
6) The movie needs a new sound score. Throw out the John Williams score for if this Superman film is to succeed, it needs to establish a new identity and move away from the nostalgia vest that plagued Returns. Much like what Batman Begins did with the score by Hans Zimmer. In fact, a Hans Zimmer score would work perfectly well for this film. It would be dark when necessary but it will add some real gravitas to proceedings.
Finally... The movie needs to set up a sequel. It needs to get people excited at the prospect of seeing Superman again. I think they should set up Lex Luthor for the sequel. Luthor should not be seen however, instead they should just hint at him. (Similar to what was done with the Joker card in Batman Begins). Audiences now want superhero franchises with consistency that delivers every time. Warner Bros are no strangers to creating on going franchises, so Superman should be marketed heavily.

Reviewed: Something Borrowed [2011]

Something Borrowed follows Rachel (Ginnifer Goodwin) as she meets Dex (Colin Egglesfield) at university where they become best friends with feelings clearly developing but neither of them acting on said feelings. So when Rachel's best friend the selfish and obnoxious Darcy (Kate Hudson) shows up and asks Dex out, Rachel gives her blessing, Dex says yes and several years later they are engaged to be married.
This leaves Rachel distraught for letting Dex slip through her fingers and with the cowardly and wimpish Dex (I'm sure just what ladies look for in a man) still conflicted as to what to do next. After Rachel's birthday celebrations though, she and Dex end up sleeping together and supposed hilarity ensues as they try yet again ignore the chemistry between them and just let life run its course.
Thank god for Ethan (John Krasinski) Rachel's friend who gave a voice of reason to proceedings by at least attempting to beat some sense into the main characters who seemed to be oblivious to everything around them. I think my main fault with the movie was the storyline and the way we are supposed to feel for Rachel despite the fact that she didn't make a go of it with Dex, everything that happened to her was self inflicted and she has slept with her best friend's fiancé; and given that Darcy isn't a very nice person to say the least that either of them hung around with her in the first place.
The supporting cast outside the four main characters didn't add to the film in any way shape or form. With some movies you get the token celebrities who show up for 10 seconds, say a line and then leave again and this is how the rest of the cast felt to me for the entire movie. They were just written in for one line and then would disappear never to be seen or heard from again.
Apart from a few witty remarks here and a bit of slapstick, there was not much comedy in the film with the overall feel of it leaning more towards a drama with a bit of comedy rather than the other way around which I feel is the better mix for this genre. There was nothing wrong with the acting with Goodwin and Egglesfield doing their jobs and creating some chemistry but it was merely a minor consolation which can't cover up the rest of the issues highlighted.
As romcom's go this was one of the worse that I've seen so much so that even if your an avid fan of this type of movie you'll have a hard time getting any pleasure out of watching it. Time to forget about this and move onto another one.

Movie Review: Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011)

Adults might have to stretch their patience to accommodate the level of absurdity inherent with the improbability and impracticality of a New York businessman raising six penguins in his apartment, but Mr. Popper's Penguins isn't really meant for the discerning viewer. Children who find bumbling, chubby creatures entertaining won't have any complaints, and the parallel of a familial bond with the unity of a waddle of penguins isn't the worst moral message one could offer young kids. Yet there are those of us who feel that Jim Carrey, while not entirely insufferable as a father of two children and six flightless birds, could be doing grander things.
While Tom Popper (Jim Carrey) pushes for a promotion at his property purchasing partnership, he finds himself further parted from his ex-wife Amanda (Carla Gugino) and his children Billy (Maxwell Perry Cotton) and Janie (Madeline Carroll). When he unexpectedly procures six penguins from his estranged pop's possessions, and Billy mistakes the pesky pets for his birthday present, Popper determines to protect his plumaged companions. As he struggles to balance providing for his new patrons with the pressures of his persistent employers, Popper must also attempt to reconnect with his family while parrying the pernicious plotting of a pushy zoo proprietor (Clark Gregg) intent on poaching the penguins for his own prehensile purposes.
The biggest problem with Mr. Popper's Penguins is the lack of realism. Although it is clearly fantasy, and targeting a youthful audience, the complete disregard for repercussions and consequences is ludicrous, especially given that the police and a dutiful, nemesis zookeeper are included specifically for the purpose of control and reasoning. "We had fun, but it's time to get back to reality," says Popper, when the authorities step in and the penguins are momentarily treated like real animals in need of professional care. The whole movie might have worked more believably if it were animated. It's bad enough that the CG penguins are completely visually distinguishable from their live action trained counterparts.
Jim Carrey is right at home in the role of a nonsensical, overacting, idiosyncratic man desperately struggling to mend his shattered romantic relationship and separation from his kids - the same kind of character he's been playing his entire career, and most likely nothing like the popular source material (the filmmakers probably tried in vain to reel him in). With gags such as a woman who sputters extreme alliteration, the typical soccer ball to the groin, the tuxedo-suited waddlers strolling through the Guggenheim and a crowded New York street unnoticed, and penguin excrement squirted in the face, Mr. Popper's Penguins is unfathomably awkward, bland, unoriginal, uninspired, and largely pointless. The dialogue and situations are pitiful and the supporting characters provide little relief from Carrey's obnoxiousness. If it weren't for a few brief clips from some of Chaplin's films, the entire event would have been agonizing.

Secrets of the Fine Art of Murano Glass Jewelry

More than two millennia ago, the Roman Empire first gave the world the innovative technology of glassmaking, which enabled the manufacturing of various sized, one-piece vases, vessels and containers. Although still in primitive form, glass would evolve over the ages into a multifunctional and versatile material, capable of embodying both exquisite works of art and practical designs, built exclusively for utilitarian purposes. However, it would take many centuries for the craft of glass to become a form of art in its own right and people everywhere to enjoy the beauty of jewelry as Murano glass necklaces, beads, rings, earrings and pendants.
Glassmaking suffered a short-lived decline after the fall of the Roman Empire, but thanks to the dedication and passion of Murano and Venetian master glassmakers, the craft of glassmaking was pushed onto the highest peaks of glory. Glassmaking became an accredited craft by the beginning of the 12th century, and another century later, it had a strict set of laws and regulations. Starting with 1292, Italian glassmaking would begin a new era, marked by great achievements and triumph, but also by the harshness of the measures put into effect to contain and control it. Banished by government authorities under ambiguous pretexts, within a few years all Venetian glassmakers saw themselves forced to leave the peninsula and relocate onto the Island of Murano, where they soon became a unified community of elite glass artisans.
While life was getting increasingly rougher on the island for the exiled tamers of the glass, and they could do nothing but witness how they were being deprived by many of their rights and liberties, Venice and all of Italy were thriving and for a while, they were even getting all the credit for these people's hard work. However, without any influences from the outside and having the right working conditions on the Island of Murano, glassmakers here focused entirely onto the craft of the glass and became famous for innovative techniques such as cristallo and lattimo, which are still being used in modern day to produce Murano glass necklaces and other handmade jewelry.
Cristallo glass refers to a perfectly clear assortment of glass that is easily shapeable when hot, but also renowned for cooling very quickly, which trait enables artisans to work it into very delicate designs. Also known as milk glass, lattimo on the other hand is a completely opaque type of glass that is often used for creating decorative pieces in combination with the Cristallo technique.
Nowadays as much as ever, the frontline technique in Murano glassmaking is Lampworking, and when employing it, most artisans favor Italian glass rods over tools of other provenience. Manufactured in the Italian factory of Effetre, Millefiori glass rods are recognized as some of the best means of doing touch up work and adding fine and intricate details to handmade jewelry.
At present, the infamous Isle of Murano still acts as Italy's main production centre for handcrafted Murano glass jewelry and an important source of tradition and ancient history for the country. For these reasons, the small Murano region attracts thousands of tourists each year, seduced by the chance to visit the ancient glass workshops on the island and to assist at live glassmaking demonstrations.

Secrets of the Fine Art of Murano Glass Jewelry

More than two millennia ago, the Roman Empire first gave the world the innovative technology of glassmaking, which enabled the manufacturing of various sized, one-piece vases, vessels and containers. Although still in primitive form, glass would evolve over the ages into a multifunctional and versatile material, capable of embodying both exquisite works of art and practical designs, built exclusively for utilitarian purposes. However, it would take many centuries for the craft of glass to become a form of art in its own right and people everywhere to enjoy the beauty of jewelry as Murano glass necklaces, beads, rings, earrings and pendants.
Glassmaking suffered a short-lived decline after the fall of the Roman Empire, but thanks to the dedication and passion of Murano and Venetian master glassmakers, the craft of glassmaking was pushed onto the highest peaks of glory. Glassmaking became an accredited craft by the beginning of the 12th century, and another century later, it had a strict set of laws and regulations. Starting with 1292, Italian glassmaking would begin a new era, marked by great achievements and triumph, but also by the harshness of the measures put into effect to contain and control it. Banished by government authorities under ambiguous pretexts, within a few years all Venetian glassmakers saw themselves forced to leave the peninsula and relocate onto the Island of Murano, where they soon became a unified community of elite glass artisans.
While life was getting increasingly rougher on the island for the exiled tamers of the glass, and they could do nothing but witness how they were being deprived by many of their rights and liberties, Venice and all of Italy were thriving and for a while, they were even getting all the credit for these people's hard work. However, without any influences from the outside and having the right working conditions on the Island of Murano, glassmakers here focused entirely onto the craft of the glass and became famous for innovative techniques such as cristallo and lattimo, which are still being used in modern day to produce Murano glass necklaces and other handmade jewelry.
Cristallo glass refers to a perfectly clear assortment of glass that is easily shapeable when hot, but also renowned for cooling very quickly, which trait enables artisans to work it into very delicate designs. Also known as milk glass, lattimo on the other hand is a completely opaque type of glass that is often used for creating decorative pieces in combination with the Cristallo technique.
Nowadays as much as ever, the frontline technique in Murano glassmaking is Lampworking, and when employing it, most artisans favor Italian glass rods over tools of other provenience. Manufactured in the Italian factory of Effetre, Millefiori glass rods are recognized as some of the best means of doing touch up work and adding fine and intricate details to handmade jewelry.
At present, the infamous Isle of Murano still acts as Italy's main production centre for handcrafted Murano glass jewelry and an important source of tradition and ancient history for the country. For these reasons, the small Murano region attracts thousands of tourists each year, seduced by the chance to visit the ancient glass workshops on the island and to assist at live glassmaking demonstrations.

Keeping Focused in the Creative, Entertainment and Media Industry

Being successful in the creative, entertainment and media industry is no longer as simple as getting a job and climbing the career ladder of your choice.
As an actor, a musician, a writer, a producer, a director, an editor, a cameraman, a designer, a make up or costume designer, a production manager, a programme maker or an administrator or a manager, you now have to think outside the box and be flexible and open to opportunities.
It now requires more than just the professional skills and qualifications you've acquired, and even those need updating regularly as technology progresses at a rapid rate. You have to manage your own mindset, stay focused, network, build and maintain contacts and chase work - you have to be a business and do your own PR and marketing. At times, this can be frustrating, disheartening, stressful and exhausting.
Tips for keeping focused when you're looking for work

• Maintain a routine from Monday to Friday


• Get up at the same time each day - it doesn't have to be the crack of dawn! And go to bed at the same time each day.


• Set yourself tasks for the day - job search on websites, sending emails to contacts, sending out CVs, applying for jobs and phone calls. Make a list or a chart and tick off when they're done.


• Use a time management tool - something as simple as a list or a chart. Use a grid to help you prioritize what you need to do - eg: what's important/not important and urgent/not urgent.


• Keep a day book - on one page write out what you have to do and on the opposite page make notes, so you easily go back and check what the outcome of a call or email was.


• Keep a list of who you've contacted and when to follow up. Note in your diary or set an alert on your phone for when to follow them up.


• Use social media - Facebook, Twitter and Linked In - to find out what's going on and who's doing what.


• Give yourself a treat when you've finished your tasks- maybe go to the gym, go for a swim, watch a movie, bake a cake, paint your nails, have a soak in the bath or phone your best friend.


• Exercise is a great way to help you remain positive as exercising releases positive endorphins. Why not train for a 5k or 10k race, so you have something else to focus on not just your job hunting.


• Learn something new while you're not working. It will keep your brain active, give you something else to think about and help you stay positive. And, you may learn something new which could become another skill which can help you to earn money.

Keeping Focused in the Creative, Entertainment and Media Industry

Being successful in the creative, entertainment and media industry is no longer as simple as getting a job and climbing the career ladder of your choice.
As an actor, a musician, a writer, a producer, a director, an editor, a cameraman, a designer, a make up or costume designer, a production manager, a programme maker or an administrator or a manager, you now have to think outside the box and be flexible and open to opportunities.
It now requires more than just the professional skills and qualifications you've acquired, and even those need updating regularly as technology progresses at a rapid rate. You have to manage your own mindset, stay focused, network, build and maintain contacts and chase work - you have to be a business and do your own PR and marketing. At times, this can be frustrating, disheartening, stressful and exhausting.
Tips for keeping focused when you're looking for work

• Maintain a routine from Monday to Friday


• Get up at the same time each day - it doesn't have to be the crack of dawn! And go to bed at the same time each day.


• Set yourself tasks for the day - job search on websites, sending emails to contacts, sending out CVs, applying for jobs and phone calls. Make a list or a chart and tick off when they're done.


• Use a time management tool - something as simple as a list or a chart. Use a grid to help you prioritize what you need to do - eg: what's important/not important and urgent/not urgent.


• Keep a day book - on one page write out what you have to do and on the opposite page make notes, so you easily go back and check what the outcome of a call or email was.


• Keep a list of who you've contacted and when to follow up. Note in your diary or set an alert on your phone for when to follow them up.


• Use social media - Facebook, Twitter and Linked In - to find out what's going on and who's doing what.


• Give yourself a treat when you've finished your tasks- maybe go to the gym, go for a swim, watch a movie, bake a cake, paint your nails, have a soak in the bath or phone your best friend.


• Exercise is a great way to help you remain positive as exercising releases positive endorphins. Why not train for a 5k or 10k race, so you have something else to focus on not just your job hunting.


• Learn something new while you're not working. It will keep your brain active, give you something else to think about and help you stay positive. And, you may learn something new which could become another skill which can help you to earn money.

How To Find Open Auditions On Disney

Year in year out, countless children aspire to land themselves on Disney. This is not surprising considering the big names in the entertainment scene who have tread this path a few. Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Fergie are just some of the names that have evolved from there. With almost everything becoming a gamble these days, you can never regret if you let your child be the best in entertainment. The rewards are more than you can reap, and the fame can't be compared to anything else. However, like many good things, getting there is not an easy task.
Finding Auditions For Disney
The mystery begins early for many prospective actors. Many do not know how they can find open auditions for Disney channel and showcase their talent. They are ignorant of the fact that unlike many pearls, these are actually not so hard to come by, provided you follow the below simple steps:
1. Find a good agent who can help you locate where the next trial performances would be conducted. Most of these agents will require that you undertake preliminary test with them so that they can appreciate the talent they will be representing. Their work will be to help you climb the showbiz ladder in exchange for a percentage of your proceeds. Well established agents such as Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency are always the better option.
2. Create an account with any one of the many talent resource websites in the internet. These websites usually display long lists of upcoming auditions such as these ones. However, ensure you inform your agent before believing anything you see so that you aren't duped by con websites.
3. Make regular visits to websites that promote open casting for extra and many other roles in Disney productions. Through this websites, you can mail you resume and photos and perhaps land trials for movies or shows. In using this method, always ensure your photos really stand out. This is a small way to start but with the auditions to be on Disney channels, you just might land a bigger role in future.
With one or two of the above methods, your chance to tread in stardom might not be so far away. However, the most important thing is that you do your part. With a channel as big as this, good might just not be good enough. Make the most of the slightest opportunity you get with nothing but a memorable performance.

How To Find Open Auditions On Disney

Year in year out, countless children aspire to land themselves on Disney. This is not surprising considering the big names in the entertainment scene who have tread this path a few. Christina Aguilera, Britney Spears, Justin Timberlake and Fergie are just some of the names that have evolved from there. With almost everything becoming a gamble these days, you can never regret if you let your child be the best in entertainment. The rewards are more than you can reap, and the fame can't be compared to anything else. However, like many good things, getting there is not an easy task.
Finding Auditions For Disney
The mystery begins early for many prospective actors. Many do not know how they can find open auditions for Disney channel and showcase their talent. They are ignorant of the fact that unlike many pearls, these are actually not so hard to come by, provided you follow the below simple steps:
1. Find a good agent who can help you locate where the next trial performances would be conducted. Most of these agents will require that you undertake preliminary test with them so that they can appreciate the talent they will be representing. Their work will be to help you climb the showbiz ladder in exchange for a percentage of your proceeds. Well established agents such as Creative Artists Agency and United Talent Agency are always the better option.
2. Create an account with any one of the many talent resource websites in the internet. These websites usually display long lists of upcoming auditions such as these ones. However, ensure you inform your agent before believing anything you see so that you aren't duped by con websites.
3. Make regular visits to websites that promote open casting for extra and many other roles in Disney productions. Through this websites, you can mail you resume and photos and perhaps land trials for movies or shows. In using this method, always ensure your photos really stand out. This is a small way to start but with the auditions to be on Disney channels, you just might land a bigger role in future.
With one or two of the above methods, your chance to tread in stardom might not be so far away. However, the most important thing is that you do your part. With a channel as big as this, good might just not be good enough. Make the most of the slightest opportunity you get with nothing but a memorable performance.

8 Fun Things to Do This Weekend

Have a Harry Potter Marathon and then go watch the last one in the theater. What's more fun than a movie marathon and then a night out on the town? A movie marathon and night out on the town AND Harry Potter. Get caught up on all of the HP movies and then brave the crazy fans with lightning bolts drawn and their foreheads to see the final movie in the theater.

Plan a barbeque in the park. Enjoy the summer weather with your friends and plan a get together in the park. Bring your bocce ball set, hot dogs and hamburgers, a juicy watermelon and chocolate chip cookies and you'll have the perfect afternoon!

Go garage sale hopping. With nice weather in full swing, people are holding garage sales left and right. Get up early (early bird gets the worm!) and find some treasures! Check your local newspaper for garage sale listings, although keep your eye out for others as not everyone posts their garage sale in the paper.

Speaking of garage sales, have one! It's the perfect excuse to go through your closets, attic, garage and cupboards to clean out and get rid of things you don't use anymore. If you don't have enough for a full-blown sale, have your neighbors join in on the fun and hold a joint garage sale! You'll clean out your house and maybe make a little money too!

Buy a new outfit. Nothing says a great weekend like a new outfit. If you're in need of something new and don't want to bust your budget hit up your local Goodwill, thrift shops and consignment stores for some great finds for cheap!

Go antique shopping. Whether or not you are looking for something in particular, browsing your local antique shops is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Who knows, you may find something you just can't live without!

8 Fun Things to Do This Weekend

Have a Harry Potter Marathon and then go watch the last one in the theater. What's more fun than a movie marathon and then a night out on the town? A movie marathon and night out on the town AND Harry Potter. Get caught up on all of the HP movies and then brave the crazy fans with lightning bolts drawn and their foreheads to see the final movie in the theater.

Plan a barbeque in the park. Enjoy the summer weather with your friends and plan a get together in the park. Bring your bocce ball set, hot dogs and hamburgers, a juicy watermelon and chocolate chip cookies and you'll have the perfect afternoon!

Go garage sale hopping. With nice weather in full swing, people are holding garage sales left and right. Get up early (early bird gets the worm!) and find some treasures! Check your local newspaper for garage sale listings, although keep your eye out for others as not everyone posts their garage sale in the paper.

Speaking of garage sales, have one! It's the perfect excuse to go through your closets, attic, garage and cupboards to clean out and get rid of things you don't use anymore. If you don't have enough for a full-blown sale, have your neighbors join in on the fun and hold a joint garage sale! You'll clean out your house and maybe make a little money too!

Buy a new outfit. Nothing says a great weekend like a new outfit. If you're in need of something new and don't want to bust your budget hit up your local Goodwill, thrift shops and consignment stores for some great finds for cheap!

Go antique shopping. Whether or not you are looking for something in particular, browsing your local antique shops is a fun way to spend a Saturday afternoon. Who knows, you may find something you just can't live without!

What Are the Most Suitable Art Materials For You?

Whether you paint for a pastime or you're a skilled sketcher, you will need the most appropriate art materials for your level of ability.
Finding the right art materials for your skill set can be difficult as more experienced artists will benefit from premium supplies which need consistent care whereas beginners will be best off with less expensive products.
Aspiring artists should avoid spending too much on materials if they are just content to develop their skills through experimentation without actually creating a piece of work that they want to exhibit.
If you are experimenting with a specific type of paint or medium for the first time, then it is wise to chose discounted materials because this will allow you to let loose without worrying about potential costs.
Artists of all levels should not hold back from investing in materials that are not simple consumables like easels because these are essential to the creation of paintings and should stand the test of time.
Consumables such as paints can prove costly if you are likely to constantly use them so if you are not a professional painter, then you should look at getting the best price possible.
It is always advisable to choose a name brand product that is popular among professional painters and amateurs alike instead of an unfamiliar product which is not popular in the art industry because you can usually rely on reputation.
Quality branded paint from manufacturers such as Winsor & Newton and Daler Rowney can be found at reduced prices if you know where to look and the best place to find these discounts is usually online.
Online art materials retailers can often afford to offer their products at lower than usual prices because they do not have the same overheads as high street shops that have to pay rent on their premises.
It is always worth shopping around to compare prices and sometimes it can be handy to contact the retailer by email to see whether they will offer you a discount on certain products.
If you are buying art materials in bulk, then it is definitely worth applying for a discount because big orders often qualify for reduced prices because retailers are happy to sell large amounts of supplies in order to improve their turnover.
Once you have committed yourself to buying art materials on the internet, then you should check that they have built a reputation for delivering their products on time as this will help you plan your painting schedule.

What Are the Most Suitable Art Materials For You?

Whether you paint for a pastime or you're a skilled sketcher, you will need the most appropriate art materials for your level of ability.
Finding the right art materials for your skill set can be difficult as more experienced artists will benefit from premium supplies which need consistent care whereas beginners will be best off with less expensive products.
Aspiring artists should avoid spending too much on materials if they are just content to develop their skills through experimentation without actually creating a piece of work that they want to exhibit.
If you are experimenting with a specific type of paint or medium for the first time, then it is wise to chose discounted materials because this will allow you to let loose without worrying about potential costs.
Artists of all levels should not hold back from investing in materials that are not simple consumables like easels because these are essential to the creation of paintings and should stand the test of time.
Consumables such as paints can prove costly if you are likely to constantly use them so if you are not a professional painter, then you should look at getting the best price possible.
It is always advisable to choose a name brand product that is popular among professional painters and amateurs alike instead of an unfamiliar product which is not popular in the art industry because you can usually rely on reputation.
Quality branded paint from manufacturers such as Winsor & Newton and Daler Rowney can be found at reduced prices if you know where to look and the best place to find these discounts is usually online.
Online art materials retailers can often afford to offer their products at lower than usual prices because they do not have the same overheads as high street shops that have to pay rent on their premises.
It is always worth shopping around to compare prices and sometimes it can be handy to contact the retailer by email to see whether they will offer you a discount on certain products.
If you are buying art materials in bulk, then it is definitely worth applying for a discount because big orders often qualify for reduced prices because retailers are happy to sell large amounts of supplies in order to improve their turnover.
Once you have committed yourself to buying art materials on the internet, then you should check that they have built a reputation for delivering their products on time as this will help you plan your painting schedule.