Film: Tintin

When I was fifteen I became obsessed with the Tintin comic books. I went to the library every week and borrowed  a new title until I had read them all. I loved the colourful and funny characters from Snowy the dog to Captain Haddock and the detectives Thomson and Thompson. In my mind Tintin was a man/boy. He had the adventures of an adult but the face of a teenager. I even tried to imagine his dialogue in a french accent as I read the strips. It was so enjoyable that even in the 1990s I could enjoy storylines set between the 1930s and 1970s. It started my love affair with french comics so after Tintin came Astrix and Obelix.

I was excited to discover that Steven Speilberg had decided to bring Tinitin and Snowy and the cast of characters together on the big screen in The Adventures of Tintin: The Secret of the Unicorn. The first trailer has arrived and has promised a HD and 3D experience. My first impression? The animation does seem to bring the comic to life but the French voice I have always imagined has been replaced by an English one. I will forgive that detail until I see the full movie. It honestly can not be as bad as the special effects on 1999′s Asterix and Obelix Take on Caesar!

It opens in UK cinemas in October. See the trailer below:

Life: Tiffany and Co & JD Sports

For the last few weeks these two campaigns have been putting a smile on my face. On the bus stop obliquely opposite my work place I get to see these two images every day. The stack of trainers in the JD Sports ad makes me want to abandon my budget and splash out on a pair of high tops. I love trainers. Ideally pure white in any brand makes me excited. I sincerely believe there is a trainer for every occasion.

Now I know that the main objective of the Tiffany and Co ad is to make me focus on the exquisite rings but it is the last thing I notice. The couple’s clasped hands and her gentle touch of his arm reminds me that love can at times be that secure and gentle and so very sweet.

Two completely different stores who are arguably appealing to opposing groups but they both get my undivided attention everyday. They remind me of the carefree tomboy me and the other part that is a hopeless romantic. It is amazing what journeys an image can take you on…

Life: Met Gala 2011

Every year when I see the pictures from the Met Gala I try to imagine what it must be like to be there. The pictures always present hive of activity. It is one ‘red carpet’ that is just heaving with people. Celebrities and designers side by side all the way up that wide staircase. You can people spot like mad in every photo. From what I have seen so far McQueen designs dominated. I was suprised to see so many Tommy Hilfiger wearers though because, call me naive, I didnt know people still wore his stuff! Has Tommy changed in his style even a little  in the last decade?

Here are my picks from the carpet (you can see all the others on huffingtonpost)

Best Dresses:

Freida Pinto. Gorgeous!

Sarah Burton. Simple yet wonderfully constructed.

 Solange Knowles. Please ignore the hair, this dress is amazing (Dries Van Noten)

Worst Dresses:

Naomi Campbell

Christina Hendricks

Worst Male:

Andre Leon Talley. And yes I know he wear this design at every event but I really need him to stop!

Best Male:

Bradley Cooper

Would have loved it if It wasn’t for the….

…Hat! Tut tut Serena

…Shoes and colour. I still love you Leighton for consistently being a red carpet risk taker

Life: Osama and Wills and Kate

Who would have imagined that this Bank Holiday weekend would be punctuated by such contrasting events? I was unashamedly moved to tears by the Royal wedding on Friday. The dress was perfection and the obvious affection between the couple was heartwarming to witness. I understood that feeling of jubilation and British-ness that the crowds that lined the street felt. Now on the last day of this long weekend we’re greeted by the news that Osama Bin Laden, number one on the most wanted list, has been found and killed. Full details are still to be given but with President Obama confirming the news, the vivid memories of 9/11 come to mind. As I type there are celebratations happening outside the White House and where the twin towers once stood.

I could not have fathomed then that it would take 10 years to find the world’s number one terrorist. Thousands of deaths, deployments, battles, security alerts, negotiations and intelligence manuevers later this day has arrived leaving mixed feelings. Questions like – what would it been like if he had been captured and tried in a court of law? – are the ones that I ponder. And has President Obama just inadvertently won the upcoming election??

So in the space of four days the world finds itself glued to its TV screens and internet for two starkly different events. A marriage and death. Both unforgettable moments in history but come tomorrow the reality for most of us is that nothing has really changed. That is the real circle of life eh?

TV: The Cosby Show

My favourite TV family (followed closely the Keatons and the Seavers) received the Impact Award at the TV Land Awards on Sunday night. It was so exciting to see ‘the Cosbys’ all in the same place together (well except Denise (Lisa Bonet) but she has been missing from family for a while). Despite my own great family, I still loved this TV concoction. The beautiful brownstone they lived in, two professional parents, the culture they exuded and the hours of laughter they gave me . They were my ideal for an African-American family and was so much more relatable than the poorer versions of black families that tended to be the norm on TV. I believe in balance and this show proved that black folk come in all forms and could be as normal as my other TV families.

Don’t they all look gorgeous? Aging so well in and out of Hollywood. It put a smile on my face so I simply had to share :)

Film: The Best Man – a dozen ‘n’ counting

Anyone who has been reading this blog for a while knows that The Best Man is one of my favourites. Any film that I can watch multiple times and still love after each viewing is a keeper for me. Granted I have not seen it for a while (Gigi and Pride and Prejudice are always in my DVD player of late) I know that next time I bring it out will still leave me grinning. So imagine how excited I was when Young, Black and Fabulous dedicated a post to them. Seeing all these beautiful, still working, faces made my evening. They all looked gorgeous:

Ybf’s Natasha even spoke about her fantasy of a sequel. Honestly I think about it whenever the credits go up after a viewing but I have decided that I would prefer the film to stand alone. That era of African American film (Love Jones, Love and Basketball, etc) can not be recaptured. Yes a modern version could be created but this particular tale needs to stay where it began. The story was tied up a beautiful bow and a sequel would just try to unravel it all, create drama then put it back together again. In other words mess up a good thing. Morris Chestnut could never recreate that restuarant scene or Terrance Howard become as sexy as he did at the end. So though it was amazing seeing them  together again,  if director Malcolm D Lee wants to work with this cast I suggest a new story. Recreate that magic with new characters that suit their ages and the era. That is a film I will wholeheartedly spend my money on!

Film/TV/Life: SAG Awards

The Screen Actors Guild held their awards ceremony last night and they seem to have jumped onto my movie bandwagon and embraced The King’s Speech. If you haven’t seen it already, please, I urge you, do. Colin Firth, Geoffrey Rush, Helena Bonham Carter, the rest of the talented supporting cast, the gorgeous cinematography and dialogue are well worth the price of a cinema ticket. From what I have seen from the Social Network  it does not give you that big movie feel. A story that sucks you in and doesnt let go until the credits. Those are the types that deserve the accolades in my humble opinion.

Also making my night were winners Modern Family, Boardwalk Empire and The Good Wife. Please tell me I have encouraged at least one person to check these shows out by now! All on a UK channel near you

The Fashion stakes also improved last night. Yes the pale colour trend is not for everyone (I’m looking at you Hilary Swank!) but last night’s red carpet felt more glamorous than the previous few weeks.

Best Dressed Women:

Annette Bening  - Gorgeous! This Tony Ward dress shimmered. I could not find a picture that really captured its beauty.

Sophia Vergara vavavoom in Cavalli!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rosario Dawson – I have been loving all her red carpet looks of late!

Best Dress Man:

Justin Timberlake. So far I am not convinced by Justin the actor but he does look good in a suit!

Honourable Mentions:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Amber Riley - Loved everything but the hair

Helena Bonham Carter has appeared on all the worst dressed lists today but I have to disagree. Compared to her usual style I think this the best she has looked this season

Film/TV/Life : Golden Globes 2011

From the press alone it seems that the highlights from the show were Ricky Gervais’s jokes (I think thw Scientology one was the funniest -

“Referring to the film I Love You Phillip Morris, Gervais said it was about “two heterosexual actors pretending to be gay – so the complete opposite of some famous Scientologists, then.”

“My lawyers helped me with the wording of that joke,” he added as the audience gasped.”)

… and the fact that The King’s Speech did not win all seven of its nominations. Apart from that Natalie Portman, Colin Firth and Christian Bale are arguably on their way to the Oscars ceremony next month.

The surprises for me were:

1. How well the Social Network did. Really, best picture? Their campaign really is paying off.

2. Glee’s Chris Colfer winning best supporting role in a TV series. Very happy for him but still wasn’t expecting it.

3. Katey Seagal’s best actress win. My brothers are constantly raving about Sons Of Anarchy. Yes it’s time for me to jump on the bandwagon!

4. Not really a surprise but still a big YAY for Boardwalk Empire and Steve Buscemi’s wins.

You can view the full list of winners here

Now fashion wise…can I be honest? I was completely underwhelmed. It was a blah night for dresses. Though I am huge fan of the colour, the emerald green theme just was not beautiful. I struggled to find a best dress but eventually settled on these two:

Kyra Sedgwick

Sophia Vegara in Vera Wang

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

With Amber Riley getting a special mention. I think she looked hot!

Worst Dressed? Well there were many to choose from but this dress made me gag immediately. It just seemed to trivial and lazy for a big award night:

Halle Berry

And Yes Helena Bonham Carter looked a mess but she is eccentric and never fails to reflect this in her clothing. So why waste a post on that?

And finally Best Dressed Male. I always admire the man who comes in anything other that a black tuxedo. So last night’s winner was:

Robert Downey Jr

Some are arguing he should replace Gervais next year as host. Thunbs up from me as I find  RDJ is equally as funny as he is charming

TV: Tika Sumpter invades Gossip Girl

Gossip has got a new face. Why is this interesting? She is African-American and she will get to speak. In full sentences… with other major characters!

Don’t laugh.

Apart from Blair’s Asian and Black minions in seasons one and two, Gossip Girl is very much like Friends – based in New York City yet void of minorities.

Tika Sumpter is a gorgeous girl. I last saw her the American soap opera One Life to Live but her resume does not include much more in terms of major acting roles (and no Stomp the Yard 2 does not count, lol). I am happy she got a spot in a prime time gig like GG and hopefully her character will expand from being recurring.

So the only questions remaining are:

• Why does Chace Crawford get to kiss all the new girls?
• Will she be enough to make me watch  the show regularly again? Because right now only my love of Blair and Chuck and the fashion porn is keeping my attention!

Blog Pause: VMAs Fashion

My Funny VMAs story: It was 2003 and my cousin J was in NYC visiting and I was showing her around the city. We decided to join the crowds waiting outside of Radio City Music Hall for the MTV Video Music Awards arrivals. It took us almost two hours of standing on the sidewalks to realise that all we were going to see were the non celeb arrivals. Yep we were waiting at the night’s back entrance. The red carpet had been placed on the other side. Well we had a good laugh about it. A great example of being so close yet so very far!

Now for 2010: The truth is even if I could have watched the VMAs live I probably would not have. Like the Grammys it can be long and boring and I have regretted watching it in the past. It was much more fun reading the Twitter feeds this year. Seriously hilarious. Maybe I will look up the performances on YouTube later but for now who wore what is much more entertaining. And with a white carpet (great idea) the fashion stood out even more. My picks:

Best Dress 1 – Lady Gaga

Normally I ignore her simply because I have seen it all before. I grew up in the Madonna era. That shock value stuff has been done better. But last night I loved this Alexander McQueen dress from his last collection. I wish he had decided to live and make more like it. Please ignore the head dress and ugly hair. Its all about the dress and its dramatic artsy opulence.

Best Dress 2: Rosario Dawson

I loved the blue dress, green heels combo

Worst dressed Female 1 – Rihanna

I don’t like the red hair on her. The short cut yes, the bright red no. Now this long wig monstrousity? The entire look was lazy and felt like a bad version of a Halloween Madonna costume. Kesha is expected to wear, this not Rihanna. She and her stylist have set the bar for her style in the last year. They both got it terribly wrong last night. Sorry I could not find a picture showing the combat boots.

Worst Dressed Female 2: Robyn

I am such a fan of her voice so I feel bad criticising her, period, but this was just not a good look. I expect quirky from her yes and I knew she would not be wearing a dress but still… No.

Best Dressed Male: Ne-Yo

Apart from the tinted shades I liked it. Usher, Drake, that Justin Beiber ‘chile’ and weirdo Will I Am all kept it boring in black. I appreciate any man who switches up his suit style and wears another colour on the carpet.