Baby Sydney Bristow

Aww, good news! Jeniffer Garner aka Sidney Bristow gave birth to a healthy baby girl a couple of days ago. Congrats Jennifer :)

This is Jennifer and Ben Affleck's second daughter and they've chosen a rather, well, peculiar name for her: Seraphina Rose Elizabeth Affleck. Seraphina?! Hmm.... cute! Anyway, wishing the best for the happy couple!

In world exclusive (and thanks to me being so close to the Garner-Affleck family) I've got a video of the Jennifer Garner giving birth - such a special moment to share with the world!

Haha, only on ALIAS you would the main character giving birth in the middle of a gunfight, holding a gun to her own mother! Sounds silly, but actually it was such a great moment for fans of the show, so touching (I cried....).

Scream again

Looks like my 2nd favourite Sydney (#1 here!) might be back soon(ish)! I had no idea there were plans for another Scream, until I saw rather exciting news today. I love the Scream films, with the first two being 2 of my favourites films.

The original Scream was a clever, exciting and scary movie that certainly deconstructed the slasher genre for laughs, but also managed at the same time to deliver the jump-outta-your-seat spooks and guess-the-killer fun that the audience expects.

Scream 2 was about the best sequel you could make. It was impossible to make a sequel that was going to be fresh and original. Nevertheless, it's still one of my favourites and has some great scary/tense scenes in it.

Scream 3... well, Scream 3 was about the best second sequel you could make given that the whole thing had already been done... twice. And let's leave it at that :)

Here's what we know (source: Major update on Scream 4! )

"While SCREAM 4 is still very much in the early stages of development, we have a few exclusive facts to kick start the hype.

Fact #1: Kevin Williamson (writer of two of the SCREAM films (character credit on third)) is going to start writing a draft, although it may or may not become the shooting script (which is typical).

Fact #2: Wes Craven may or may not direct, but there is a very good possibility that he will return.

Fact #3: They are making financial offers to David Arquette, Courtney Cox Arquette and Neve Campbell to play cameos.

Fact #4: This will be a younger version of the SCREAM movies.Watch for more soon as we'll been staying close to this highly anticipated project."

I also found a comment from someone who suggested Scream 4 should be like Craven's New Nightmare, where the film stars all the original cast playing themselves. Some Scream-fan, dressed in the costume would be hunting down all the original cast from the first Scream, including Drew Barrymore. That actually sound like a great idea, and another way to play with all the scary movie cliches. The one thing I ask is that they don't go all "porn-gore" a la Hostel/Saw, otherwise I won't be able to watch it (at least without fainting...)

Blood at the Golden Globes!

The movie awards season is here in full force, with seemingly every little association and group handing out awards. Yesterday one of the biggies of the movie industry took place in LA, the Golden Globes. You've probably seen all the headlines: The big awards for Slumdog Millionaire, the 2 (!!) GGs for Kate Winslet (good, I really like her even though she appears to be naked on every movie) and obviously, the well deserved recognition of Heath Ledger's brilliant performance in the Dark Knight (click here for the full list of /nominees/winners).

Hidden under all the eye-catching headlines are a few awards that made me really happy: the Golden Globes for 30 Rock and it's star and writer Tina Fey - my favourite comedy show of the moment and one that I discussed here - and the best actress in a TV Drama award for Anna Paquin, for her performance in True Blood (also nominated for Best TV Drama Series).

You might remember Anna Paquin for the same roles I do: The little girl in The Piano (for which she won an Oscar) and she also had the honour of playing one of my favourites comic book characters, Rogue, in the X-Men films. Now she's playing Sookie Stackhouse in the new TV Drama True Blood, which coincidentally I started watching yesterday.

Left to right: The Piano, X-Men and True Blood

I couldn't help to do something I never do: watch 2 episodes in a row. But something in True Blood had drawn me in although I cannot point my finger at what exactly.

At first sight the show has everything to work: Vampires, sex and it's written by the creator of one of my favourite tv shows that I never followed - Six Feet Under. And fortunately it does. First of all, this is not a typical vampire show by any stretch of the imagination. The pilot introduces us to a host of characters living on the outskirts of Louisiana, US. At some point, vampires were discovered to be real, and a synthetic blood developed by the Japanese and marketed as "True Blood," provides vampires with all the nutrients they need so as not to need to drink from living humans. Now, vampires are trying to be integrated into human society. Sure, it's a metaphor for prejudice and discrimination (vampires are the new gays!) – but it's handled well. Vampires and humans living together, but also not living together. There's still fear and insecurity on both sides and that's what makes True Blood really interesting for me.

The main character is Sookie Stackhouse (Anna Paquin), a waitress at a diner in a small Louisiana town. She's a good Christian southern lady who also happens to be psychic. Are you getting an idea of how this isn't like other shows? Paquin is terrific (hence the Golden Globe she just won) as Sookie, a girl who is almost too positive and sunny, despite the burden of hearing everyone else's thoughts all the time. This particular bit reminded me of Phoenix/Jean Grey, from the X-Men and the way she hears the voices in her head. We’re also introduced to a variety of characters including Sookie’s best friend, boss and (really cute) brother. All of the characters in the pilot were interesting to varying degrees, and I didn’t dislike any of them (other than the ones I was supposed to.)

The show finally starts moving when a vampire named Bill (yeah, it's a funny name for a vampire and Sookie laughs too) shows up at the diner. Sookie is the only person there who isn’t afraid to talk to him, and does so with all of the southern hospitality she can muster. The rest I won't spoil for you.

The rest of the episode sets up a murder mystery involving a local “fangbanger”, a sort of groupie for vampires who allows them to drink their blood during a sexual encounter. When one in found dead, the evidence points to Sookie’s brother, but the town is convinced that Bill had something to do with it. Nothing is resolved, so I’m assuming that it will be a multi-episode arc, possibly spanning the whole first season, but I’m not certain.

Overall, I think the pilot does a great job of introducing the world of True Blood. Having watched this, and enjoying it so much, I had to ask myself what was different about this series? What makes it better than any of the other recent shows and compelled me to watch 2 episodes in a row? To be honest, I don't have an answer for that, but I'm really looking forward for my next time with "Sookie and the Vampires". Was it the best pilot I’ve ever seen? No, not remotely. But it was strong regardless, and I urge you all to give the series a shot.

Wolverine looking good (and the movie too)

A while ago I did a bit of a feature of all that was known about the X-Men Origins: Wolverine movie that is coming out next May. Well since then, not a lot more is known about the movie, except for a new trailer thas was released last month.

It's a relatively short trailer, doesn't give too much away in terms of plot, but it's looking rather good in my opinion. To be honest, me being a big fan of the X-Men, it would have to be pretty terrible for me not to like it. However, even stepping out of my fanboyism, still seems like a solid trailer, showing just about enough of the new characters to keep us waiting for more.

My complain goes to some of the character choices (The Blob??) although the one I had the biggest expectations - Gambit - is looking pretty faithful to the comics. Still don't how what he has to do with Wolverine's story, but to be honest I don't really care, I'm just glad he is in the movie. His action scenes from the trailer look awesome.

Anyway, I'd better shut up now and let you watch it:

There are already several shot-by-shot analysis and breakdown of the Wolverine trailer on the web so I'm not gonna do one here. But here are a few bits from the trailer that surprised or excited me:

Deadpool is featured in this trailer, although we can only assume that the shot above is from before he becomes Deadpool and gets his face disfigured. That or the studio decided it would be a shame to have the very visually appealing Ryan Reynolds behind a mask :)

And who might this be? Hint: Look at the ET fingertips...

Can you hear all the fanboys screaming of joy (and complaining he doesn't have the red eyes)? It's the Cajun himself, Gambit! Still a bit disappointed it's not Sawyer from Lost, but judging from the trailer, he's looking pretty good.

And we get a glimpse of Gambit in action - notice his staff and the purple lights!

Even though I had no idea she'd be in the movie, this is without a doubt Emma Frost aka. The White Queen in her diamond form. I've always wanted to see Emma adapted to the big screen, so I guess this is pretty cool, although not as much as it could have been - early rumors for X-Men 3 indicate that Bryan Singer (director of X1 and X2) wanted the White Queen to be played by Sigourney Weaver. Now that would have been awesome! Unfortunately we all know that Brian went on to direct Superman Returns and Brett Rattner ended up doing X3 (which was a bit of a mess... at least compared to the previous 2 films).

This is intriguing, seems like a young Storm, but how will this fit into the main plot - a flashback perhaps? There was a storyline years ago in the comics where Storm was made a child again by a villain called The Nanny and the when she met Gambit. I think this kind of stuff is a bit to out-of-this-world for the film, though.

OK, so this is not in the trailer... but I don't need any reasons for posting a pic of Hugh Jackman shirtless :P

From the ashes...

I'm back... again... I think... Well, the truth is that I think I want to return to the blogging world, but I might think differently in a couple of weeks (days??). Just saying this so you'll be prepared, one day you might read about one of the Golden Girls dying and then don't hear from me for a few months.

So, good to be back, I've missed you, bla bla bla...

Oh, and where are my manners? HAPPY NEW YEAR! :)

Farewell Sophia

Sad news yesterday... Estelle Getty, the actress who played Sophia Petrillo on the classic TV show The Golden Girls passed away at the age of 84. She had endured a long battle with Lewy Body Dementia, a disease exhibiting symptoms similar to Alzheimer's Disease and Parkinson's, which unfortunately meant she suffered from memory loss.
Well, to me she'll always live on as Sophia and be remembered by her wise cracks and brazen remarks, often commenting on her daughter's Dorothy's lack of love life, Blanche's promiscuity and Rose's stupidity.

The Golden Girls is definitely one of my favourite shows of all-time and the funniest sitcom ever. It really was ahead of it's time - it's not everyday that you see 4 elderly ladies discussing their first orgasm, homosexuality, abortion and countless other topics, 20 years ago and always with such humour.

I'm sure that everyone who is at least more than 25 years old will remember The Golden Girls and have watched it at some point. But really, watching this when you're an adult is so different than when you were 10 years-old just for amount of sarcasm or sexually-oriented joke that you would miss. Anyway, let's remember Sophia and the rest of the girls for what they did best: making us laugh. I've chosen 2 clips to post here: the first one "Lesbian Lovers of Miami" is set when Rose (the dumb one) somehow takes Blanche and Dorothy on a TV show she's working on as a lesions couple - how she makes this mistake is hilarious! The second one is a best of some of Dorothy's best moments - her sarcasm never gets old! Sit back, relax and prepare to LOL (a lot!)

My 2 favourite moments on this next one:
@2:00 - Rose: I call him Scotty (PUM!) Dorothy: Now you can call him Garbage...
@6:40 - Dorothy: Hum, excuse me Rose, may I see that? Spaff! Thank you.

No luck with Lady Luck

I'm no good with the ladies... My "experiment" yesterday with the scratch cards, how did it turn out? I LOST £15!!!! I spent £20, and ended getting 3 winning cards - £1 and 2x £2. You don't need to be a mathematical genius to realize that it results in a loss of £15...




Things I could've bought with £15:

- At least 2 DVDs
- 4 Vodka Red Bull and one beer
- A bargain or second-hand Wii game
- A t-shirt from this very cool American Site ( SnorgTees )
- A nice meal out
- 15 lines at the lottery
- ...

And the list goes on and on. No more scratch cards for me, the only thing scratching I'll do now is scratching my head, thinking how stupid I was. Well, at least I tried, and it did bring some excitement and to the office as everyone here was very curious at how this would turn out. 15 pounds.... What a waste :(

Lady Luck

Now there's one lady I wouldn't mind getting a lot closer to today! You see, I'm about to do something either extremely clever or incredibly silly. Allow me to elaborate: I keep this glass bowl thing to where I empty my pocket change at the end of the day. It's not like a piggy bank, just a handy place to keep my coins. Anyway, I decided it was time to change them for real money and before I counted it, I told myself that I would spend what I had in coins smaller then 20p I'd spend on scratch cards.

Turns out I had just in 1p, 2p, 5p and 10p coins around £20! Well, never one to back off on my decisions, I'm going to buy now £20 worth of scratch cards - at £1 each, so 20 chances of winning!

On the back of those cards it does say that there's a 1 in 4 chance of winning, so I'm going to buy 20 of the same kind, in a row. In terms of just probability, I could get 5 prizes, but of course this doesn't really mean anything. Time to be optimistic then and hope for the best. I'll post the exciting outcome of this here later today or tomorrow (unless I'm busy burning away all the money I won, eheh!).

Answers

Oops, how clumsy of me, I forgot to post the answers to those two Prof. Layton's puzzles I posted before going on holidays! So, without further ado, here they are:

Q: There are 15 people stranded on a tourist boat which will sink in 20 minutes. Using the one lifeboat, which can carry a maximum of 5 people, move the people to the nearby island. The surrounding sea is full of man-eating sharks, so swimming is out of the question. If it the round trip from the ship to the island and back takes 9 minutes, how many passengers can be saved?

A:You can make 3 round trips in 20 minutes. But you can only save 4 people at a time as one person has to be the driver, therefore 12 people plus the driver survive, so the answer is 13.

Q: There are 10 jars each with 50 pieces of candy in them. These have been divided randomly into half, just by eyeball estimation, and then placed in separate bags. This made 20 bags. What is the probability that the average number of candies in one bag is 25?"

A: 100%. You have 10x50=500 pieces of candy and 20 bags. 500/20=25 pieces per bag on average.

Guess who's back

I'm back! Actually, I've been back for a couple of days already, lack of time prevented me from posting here (blame Mario Kart Wii and the stupid cheating AI - I hate blue shells!!). Here's a quick recap of my holidays in Porto:


The baby:
I arrived on the 28th of June, and my sister was planning a half-a-birthday party for my niece, which was meant to be a surprise for me. Well, in a fortunate turn of events, I accidently booked an earlier flight (6.30 am!!) so I arrived much earlier than expected and so the surprise was on her! The party was lovely and fun, and even though little Bia had a bit of a fever, she was as nice as ever! Here's how she usually looks, happy and smiling:

So happy in her Bumbo™

Fortunately she got better really quickly and I managed to spend a lot of time with them both (mother and daughter). It's amazing how the difference 3 months make in a baby's life. She was so much more aware and playful and already showing signs of a strong personality. See you again in 2,5 months! :)


The wedding:
And what a woderful wedding it was, such a happy day for the lovely couple. Everything was just great - the weather, lots of food, lots of drinking (although not for me as I was driving...) and lots of people! Besides my closest friends, also got a chance to see some old friends - some that I hadn't seen in quite a few years - and it's funny how when we're back together everything still feels the same as before. The jokes are still the same, the making fun of me (in a positive way) is still the same and the gossiping still the same too! And how much fun was commenting on some of the awful outifts on display there...

Anyway, the newlyweds are now on their honeymoon, enjoying themselves (in many ways, I would say) but once again to congratulations to them and all the best!

Where's Waldo...

While showing the photo above around the office, one of the girls asked me if the bride (who looked absolutely amazing btw) had a bird stuck on her dress... I was like "huh??" but then noticed it too... Can you see that "thing" below her waist??

I dont' think it's part of her dress, and if it was, who's holding that? You can clearly see where her arms are, not holding anything... Any ideas? Could it be the Spiritual Dove of Love? :)


The Fitness:

Quite a few people asked me if I'd been going to the gym or told that I looked a bit more muscular. I guess that, in a nice way, this validates what I wrote about my experience with Wii Fit :) So, here's to another 50 days! My sister did a few exercises on it and she had sore legs for the next couple of days! It's safe to assume it works then.

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Just another quick tidbit: I did drive along the beach blasting "I'll Be Lovin' U Long Time". As I told you before, to me this song has such as fresh, 'summery' feel, and it felt really good driving along the seaside, gorgeous weather, not a care in the world - just driving. And during that same week, Mariah released to video for it, and guess what? It has a summer/beach theme :) I knew it! Here it is for your viewing pleasure ( I guess the amount of pleasure may vary... if you're a straight man enjoy it, eheh!)