Tá bom, vou falar a verdade.

O título do post é pegadinha, poque dormir só emagrece porque a gente fica com a boca ocupada em roncar e/ou babar (menos eu). Porém o emagrecimento noturno é rapidamente recompensado no café da manhã, quando a gente desce a lenha no pãozinho com manteiga.

Só que tem coisas incríveis que podem acontecer durante a noite.

Pelo menos é o que diz a Seda, no que eu acredito piamente!

Tem um tal Hidratante noturno, da linha S.O.S. Reconstrução Estrutural (adoro nomes Dramahhh) que a gente aplica antes de dormir e de manhã acorda linda, leve e loura.

Não. Só linda, vai.

Não. Só com o cabelo lindo, pode ser?

Eu sei que o negócio é barato e mal não faz. Então tô usando e tô amando!

WEDNESDAY

Schoolies planning with Liz, Neha and Jenny. Figured out  food plans. =) Went to a food place, ordered some food then camped out there for several hours cos they had TABLES. xD Later, went to the poster shop in Newtown. It’s so cool – giant posters everywhere!

So, came home and was suddenly extremely tired. You see, for quite a few days, I’ve had afternoon naps at like 5/6pm till 10/11pm or something. Such bad sleeping habits! D= So instead, turned on the computer cos the bright glary screen always makes me less tired for some reason.

Later, RAN to Jane’s house and back again to fetch my belongings. Thanks Kate and Jane. Haha, twas the first time I excersiced in months.

Cannot believe I won’t be staying until Sunday afternoon with the rest of you spiddle-crew. Have fun without me! Do not miss my presence too much.

Ok. That is all.

Btw, Kate, WHY do you have SO MANY photos of me looking/doing weird things?! =O

Veja os cartazes do novo filme da série ‘Crepúsculo’

‘Lua nova’, de Chris Weitz, tem estreia marcada para 20 de novembro.
Longa é baseado no segundo livro da série criada por Stephenie Meyer.

29/09/09 – 17h37 – Atualizado em 29/09/09 – 17h56

A produtora Summit Entertainment divulgou nesta terça-feira (29) os cartazes do filme ‘Lua nova’, que tem estreia marcada para o dia 20 de novembro. Um deles traz em destaque o casal Kristen Stewart e Robert Pattinson, que vivem os protagonistas Bella e Edward. O outro coloca em evidência o ator Taylor Lautner, que interpreta o personagem Jacob Black. Baseado no segundo livro da série ‘Crepúsculo’, de Stephenie Meyer, ‘Lua nova’ tem direção de Chris Weitz (de ‘American pie’). (Foto: AP)

O terceiro pôster do novo filme traz em destaque Dakota Fanning, que interpreta a personagem Jane. (Foto: AP)

http://g1.globo.com/Noticias/Cinema/0,,MUL1322967-7086,00-VEJA+OS+CARTAZES+DO+NOVO+FILME+DA+SERIE+CREPUSCULO.html

Antenados, tem uma coisa bem legal que tá rolando nessa net de meu Deus e se chama TED, já viram?

Ted não é um cowboy e nem o nome de cachorro de quem gosta de americanices.

TED é uma pequena conferência de cerca de 17 minutos com pessoas que têm idéias que podem mudar o mundo e que merecem ser espalhadas (marrmeno isso).

Muito legal, vale muito a pena ver. Tem legenda em vários idiomas, além infinitos temas !

Serve para informar sobre coisas legais e, de quebra, pra testar se todos valeu a pena estudar inglês desde o berçário !

A minha palestra favorita é a do Gordon Brown, vejam se num é bem legal. Ele fala que Estamos em um momento único na história e podemos usar a capacidade de interconexão de hoje para desenvolver nossa ética global compartilhada e trabalhar em conjunto para enfrentar os desafios da pobreza, segurança, as alterações climáticas e a economia.

New Moon, the meandering new entry in the Twilight series directed by Chris Weitz, continues the same theme of melodramatic teen passion/symbolism for abstinence. This time, however, we get more than two hours of it, and the basic “plot” of lonely Bella meets a hot guy who it turns out is secretly a monster while other dangerous vampires put her in danger just seems like a re-hash this time around. The budget is bigger and the effects far more lavish, but the dialogue is also more laughable and the logic behind events harder to understand. While trying to place emphasis on a Twilight sequel is ignoring the fact that the overwhelming majority of the audience is only going to fantasize about rubbing Taylor Lautner’s abs, I couldn’t help but notice the lion’s share of folks sitting with me laughing at every attempt at earnest passionate dialogue. Could this be the first hit film that people know going in is going to be bad?

We pick up where we left off… in Forks, Washington, with Bella (Kristen Stewart) and Edward (Robert Pattinson) deeply in love and talking about it often. Bella wants Edward to bite her and make her a vampire, so she can be close to him forever. However, Edward thinks to do that would be to take away her precious soul. (Soul is the symbolic word for virginity in these films.) When an accident causes one of the Cullen clan to attack Bella, Edward decides in order to protect her, he must leave her forever. Enter Jacob (Taylor Lautner), who is the prototype of the “best male friend,” except that he’s a total hunk– and he’s a werewolf. It takes Bella way longer to figure this out than it takes us in the audience. She’s let in on the secret surprisingly easily, and then the natural conflict is clear. Will Edward come back for Bella? Will Bella ever give Jacob a chance? Who will win in the epic werewolf-vampire fight? And will Jacob ever wear a shirt again?

Please don’t leave me hateful comments for my snide remarks regarding the quality of this sequel– as I stated in my Twilight essay, I thought that the first film was decent enough, and that it gets a rawl deal in terms of the thrashing it receives at the hands of those who hate the series, or Pattinson, or Stewart, or all of the above. This film does have some noteworthy improvements over the first. The effects are vastly superior… not even in the same ballpark, really. When Jacob jumps into the air and phases into a werewolf in mid-jump, it immediately destroys even the best effects in the last film. The film is also shot with more confidence; while it loses the right-in-the-thick-of-it indie feel that Catherine Hardwicke gave the first film, Chris Weitz shoots this film like an epic action romance, the way it wants to be shot. The score is dramatic, the music indie and emo, and the color palette far more fleshed out.

Also, this film gives opportunities for a few actors to shine. Taylor Lautner is a charming young actor who gives a usually gloomy series some much-needed warmth. He is also in possession of ten to twelve abdominal muscles that would merit a Best Supporting Actor nomination if anyone from this film would. Michael Welch provides humor as Mike, the goofball average joe friend at school who crushes on Bella and clearly stands zero chance (forget Team Edward and Team Jacob– I’m firmly on Team Mike). Billy Burke gets several warm moments as Charlie, Bella’s father, who doesn’t understand Bella but at least tries hard. Ashley Greene is peppy as Edward’s psychic sister Alice, and she provides necessary eye candy for any guy dragged by his girlfriend to see these films. Dakota Fanning appears in a “what is she doing here?” cameo as a powerful vampire who has the ability to torture people… or something– her intensity seems far less forced than many of the other vampiric actors. Finally, there’s Michael Sheen, who chews scenery (and necks) with great gusto as Aro, the leader of the Volturi, a group of ancient vampires in Italy who… well, who they are isn’t really important, just know that they put Edward and Bella in danger. His hammy performance showed me what kind of film this might have been with more capable actors, one where the intensity is fun to watch and the actors seem to be enjoying themselves and the great powerful passion they throw themselves headfirst into.

Unfortunately, many of the problems from the first film linger into the second. Pattinson’s intensity as Edward seems put on and bordering on self-indulgent. He takes his part so seriously that it forces teen girls to stifle giggles at the wooden dialogue he is forced to deliver. Stewart shows a little more life this time around, but she is now stuck with a great dilemma– the audience will clearly find Jacob the more reasonable choice of mate, yet she doesn’t give him the time of the day. In fact, she refuses to even give him one shot. Why? I know, I know, Team Edward followers will tell me how deep their love is, and that’s the reason why she can never be with anyone else. The problem is that the clunky script doesn’t give them any real connection of love, other than moany angsty one-liners. Jacob makes her smile, makes her laugh, and gets her out of the house. Edward never does those things and threatens to take her eternal soul. If Edward was portrayed by a more charming, less moody actor, perhaps this duel would seem more even-handed. Also, the plot mopes along like a raincloud. Aside from Bella experiencing adrenalin rushes to see Edward (in a misty cloud effect that also provokes chuckles nearly every time), there’s very little true action to speak of for a very long stretch of film. When the format is essentially the same as the first, repetition of the first film’s structure is not a good thing at all.

Of course, the set up for the sequel is a doozy. *SLIGHT SPOILER AHEAD* Edward says he’ll only bite her if she agrees to marry him. (Still think the pro-abstinence, bloodlust-as-real-lust metaphor is hokum?) And Edward and Jacob have the beginnings of what I pray will be an epic showdown. Yet cruel tease that the film is (and the one before it), it saves the most fascinating moments for the last five minutes. Naturally, with this movie making serious bank, it comes as no surprise that this film should be seen if only to keep your fingers on the pulse of popular culture. However, and forgive me since I haven’t read the books, if the plot doesn’t pick up for the third film, it will be increasingly difficult for me to motivate myself to donate another two plus hours of my life solely for the purpose of keeping up with the times. On the plus side, it won’t take very much for it to eclipse this entry.

Dando sequência ao sucesso absoluto de “Crepúsculo”, Stephenie Meyer lançou “Lua Nova”. Se os leitores que se apaixonaram pelo lindo casal Edward e Bella esperavam ver os dois juntinhos protagonizando mais momentos românticos, se decepcionaram, a princípio. Neste volume os leitores são testemunhas do dolorido afastamento deles. Cada livro ganha um título e uma imagem que possuem um significado por trás da história. Como o próprio título sugere, “Lua Nova”, é a fase considerada mais obscura do astro, representando o momento mais sombrio da vida de Bella, a perda do seu verdadeiro amor.

A protagonista está prestes a completar 18 anos e a família de Edward prepara uma festa especial para ela na mansão em que moram. Tímida e desastrada, ao abrir um dos presentes, Bella machuca o dedo em uma farpa de papel e acaba sangrando. O que termina provocando uma grande confusão. Jasper, por ser o mais novo transformado e “vegetariano” da família, ao sentir o cheiro do sangue de Bella se descontrola e fica sedento. Transtornado com a situação e por ter achado que estava colocando a garota constantemente em perigo, Edward toma a decisão de mudar-se com a família, abandonando Bella.

Achando que seria mais fácil abandonar a menina, tornar mais fácil a partida, e para que ela pudesse tocar a vida adiante com mais facilidade, ele resolve revelar a ela que não a ama. Mas o que aconteceu foi justamente o contrário, Bella fica desolada e não consegue seguir adiante, chegando até mesmo a perder o contato com os amigos.

Quatro meses se passaram desde a partida de Edward. Vendo que a filha não conseguia ter a vida normal de volta e cansado de ver a menina tão apática, Charlie, que desde a perseguição de James, já estava irritado com Edward achando que ele estava fazendo a filha sofre, ameaça a filha de mandá-la para Jacksonville para viver com a mãe, Rene. Ao se dar conta do efeito que a ameaça de Charlie faria para a sua vida, Bella reage tendo um acesso de fúria. Emocionado, por acreditar que a filha realmente está gostando de morar com ele a em Forks, Charlie repensa a sua decisão e permite que a filha continue lá, mas com uma condição: desde que ela volte a sair com os amigos.

Esforçando-se para mostrar uma reação de melhora, Bella vai ao cinema na companhia da colega de classe Jessica. Ao sair do cinema, Bella vê um grupo de homens que a chamam para perto de um bar. Relembrando o que viveu no primeiro livro na cidade Port Angeles, Bella vai de encontro ao perigo, mas a voz de Edward em sua cabeça a repreende veementemente. Ela fica confusa com isso e acaba desistindo da idéia.

Na ausência de Edward, Bella procura conforto na companhia do amigo de infância, Jacob Black. Compra duas motos velhas e Jacob, como tinha habilidade para mecânica, as conserta. A garota então passa as tardes com ele em La Push e ele promete ensinar ela a pilotar. Após as motos ficarem prontas, os dois as levam para à praia. No caminho eles observam Sam Uley pular do penhasco com alguns amigos. Bela fica surpresa e ao mesmo tempo empolgada com o que viu. Jacob promete levá-la para pular o penhasco um dia, apesar de não entender direito o súbito interesse da amiga em esportes radicais. Jacob confessa que acredita que Sam faça parte de alguma quadrilha.

Mike convida Bella para ir ao cinema e ela leva junto Jacob. Mike estava com alguma virose e acaba transmitindo-a para a garota. Jacob acaba tendo reações estranhas no seu corpo, achou que também estivesse ficando doente. Mas o seu pai, Billy, sabe o que está acontecendo. Ao transformar-se em um lobisomem, ele precisa manter isso em segredo, até mesmo de Bella que não entende o afastamento do amigo. Jacob informa a Bella que contraiu mononucleose, o que a deixa completamente pirada, pois o período de recuperação da doença é longo, de um mês e ela via no amigo o suporte para continuar seguindo em frente.

Sentindo-se sozinha e entediada com a distância de Jacob, Bella decide ir para a clareira onde esteve com Edward em “Crepúsculo” e acaba deparando-se com Laurent que no primeiro livro demonstrou-se tão solícito, revelou estar com pensamentos muito escusos. Sedento e sabendo que os Cullen não estão por perto, Laurent decide acabar com a vida de Bella. No entanto, aparecem alguns lobos gigantes que o perseguem, levando-o a morte e salvando a garota.

Duas semanas se passaram desde que Jacob havia dito a Bella que estava doente. Ela continuava ligando para a casa dele atrás de notícias e também para ver se conseguia falar com ele, mas Billy sempre dizia para ela que o filho não podia falar. Um dia, então, Bella resolve ir visitá-lo e o vê andando com o grupo de Sam Uley. Inconformada com o pouco caso que ele faz da saudade dela, ela o enfrenta e cobra explicações. Eles acabam se desentendendo e brigam. Jacob tenta fazer as pazes e dá indiretas a Bella sobre o seu segredo. A garota então descobre que Jacob é um lobisomem e ele revela que no dia em que Laurent tentou matá-la, ele defendeu-a e agora estão caçando uma outra vampira ruiva. Bella fica desesperada ao descobrir que a vampira é, na verdade, bastante conhecida, Victoria, a parceira de James que inconformada com a sua perda, quer vingança e o seu alvo é a garota. Para fazer com que Edward sinta na pele o que ela sentiu e ainda sente, a perda do seu verdadeiro amor, já que ele foi o assassino de James. Bella então junta as peças do quebra-cabeça e entende que não era Laurent que estava a sua procura, mas sim Victoria, que de um jeito ou de outro, consegue sempre escapar dos lobos.

As férias de primavera chegam e enquanto os lobisomens estão a procura de Victoria, Bella mais uma vez sentindo-se sozinha e abandonada, agora não apenas por Edward, mas também por Jacob, decide pular do penhasco. Ela quase se afora em uma forte corrente de água, mas Jacob, mais uma vez, a salva.

Paralelo a isso, Alice tem uma visão de que Bella se joga de um penhasco e não consegue sair da água. Desesperada com a situação que a amiga estava passando, voa para Forks. Quando chega lá, descobre que Jacob conseguiu salvá-la. O que a deixa aliviada e ao mesmo tempo frustrada, pois em suas visões ela não viu a presença dos lobisomens.

Rosale, confiando cegamente nas visões de Alice, que sempre foram meticulosas, revela a Edward que Bella morreu. Desesperado, ele liga para a casa dos Swan para confirmar a informação. Neste momento, estão na casa, a garota, Jacob e Alice (escondida de Jacob). Ele atende o telefone e Edward, disfarçado se identifica como Carlisle e pergunta por Charlie. Jacob então responde que o policial está no enterro.

Edward sem saber que Charlie estava no enterro de Harry, um amigo que morreu de parada cardíaca, está convicto de que a sua amada morreu, então decide que não quer continuar vivo e vai até Volterra, na Itália procurar pelos Volturi, para se suicidar provocando os temidos vampiros.

Alice entra na sala, para espanto de Jacob e pergunta o que Edward disse ao telefone. Jacob conta e Alice disse que ele mentiu, que não era Carlisle. Diz a Bella que Rosálie havia revelado a Edward sobre a visão incompleta que ela teve, que ele estava crente que Bella morreu e, com isso, partiu para a Itália para se matar. A garota fica complemente transtornada porque sabe da reputação dos Volturi e não consegue acreditar que Edward conseguirá sair vivo dessa.

Alice e Bella não pensam duas vezes, partem para a Itália para tentar salvar Edward, chegando a tempo antes de acontecer o pior. Após enfrentarem a incrivelmente poderosa vampira Jane, os três juntos tiveram que conversar com Aro, um dos Volturi, que fica fascinado com o poder tanto de Alice quanto de Edward e quer a todo custo que os dois juntem-se ao grupo de vampiros dos deles. Porém, nenhum deles aceita.

Quando retornam para Forks, um impasse é travado: Jacob exige que Bella tome um partido: fica ao lado dos vampiros ou dos lobos. Edward confessa para Bella que sempre a amou e sentiu na obrigação de mentir para poder preservá-la e fazer com ela seguisse a sua vida normalmente sem correr nenhum tipo de risco.

Bella perdoa o seu amado e ele promete que nunca mais partirá e nem deixará ela sozinha. Ela então comenta que sem ele corre ainda mais riscos. Edward a pede em casamento, mas Bela não aceita, pois sente-se ainda muito nova para um casamento.

Bella não deixa de pedir a Edward que a transforme em vampira também, mas ele, como sempre, rejeita a proposta. Mas ao final do livro há uma votação entre os Cullen para decidirem se ela deverá ou não ser transformada, haja vista que os Volturi fizeram uma ameaça sobre a humana ter muito conhecimento sobre a sua espécie.

“Lua Nova” deixou um gostinho de quero mais e um suspense no ar, nos prometendo um bocado de emoção que acontecerão em “Eclipse”.

Confesso que em alguns momentos achei o livro muito parado, muito descritivo e até mesmo cansativo, por outro lado tem muitas revelações e agitos, principalmente nos confrontos entre os lobisomens e os vampiros e com a chegada dos Cullen à Itália. As vezes comparo “Lua Nova” a um monitor de batimentos cardíacos, cheio de altos e baixos. Uma calmaria… em seguida um pico… uma calmaria… em seguida outro pico. Mas como um todo, o livro é muito bom.

Tenho uma amiga que amou “Crepúsculo”, mas não gostou tanto assim de “Lua Nova”, segundo ela, porque idealizou o amor de Edward e Bella e, como Jacob se aproxima muito da garota, deixando claro, para bom entendedor, que os seus sentimentos não são apenas de amizade, ela passou a odiar Jacob. Mas eu, particularmente, adoro Jacob.  Acho, inclusive, que gosto mais dele até mesmo em detrimento do “meloso” e “perfeitinho” Edward. Para mim, o jovem lobisomem é muito mais interessante e mais próximo do “real”, apesar do jovem vampiro ser um fofo. Além de tudo, um triangulo amoroso apimenta qualquer romance, seja ele de ficção ou baseado em fatos reais. Haja vista que Bella é humana e seus sentimentos se afloram com muito mais naturalidade que os seres sobrenaturais.

No dia 20 deste mês estréia a adaptação para o cinema do livro “Lua Nova”. Vem sendo muito esperado pelos fãs e promete ser mais um sucesso de público e críticas. Vamos aguardar para ver!

Meet Jane Beckenham, author of fabulous romances.

Tell us the title of your book and where we can buy it?

Well I’m really excited because my ebook, Desperately Seeking Santa is going into print for Christmas…and you know that’s only 13 weeks away – scary thought!

What is your book about? What genre is it and will you be writing another one in that same field?

It’s a holiday romance, contemporary. My heroine, Mandy Brookes who works as assistant manager of an upmarket store, is required to dress as Mrs Santa for the store’s Santa Grotto. Trouble is the normal 90year old Santa is drunk, so there’s a replacement. Then, they get locked in the store, and Santa isn’t who he appears to be, but the man she dumped at the altar five years earlier.

What inspired you to write your book?

I love holiday stories, and I wanted to write something fun and flirty, and Desperately Seeking Santa is the result.

How long did it take you to write it?

I normally take about 2-3 months, depending on what other writing stuff is going on, edits etc, for my other books.

How much time do you spend editing and what is your method?

I write a really quick first draft, and then do at least five full read throughs, editing, editing and more editing. I also have two great critique partners who will read chapters for me.

Do you belong to a critique group? What is your opinion of critique groups?

Yes, as I mentioned above I have two partners, we swap a chapter a week mostly, but more if required when we’re in deadline mode. I like having crit partners, but I must say that you have to have the right ones that work for you. And I personally believe that I need to have partners who are aiming at the same line as myself, or at least have a very very clear understanding of the that line.

How do you market your book?

I mostly do yahoo groups, a little bit of advertising, but do public appearances, libraries etc. And I’ve been asked to speak quite a few times at different writers’ groups, so that’s nice. I’m in New Zealand, so it’s a small market and very difficult. All my books are in ebook format first, then print, but NZs for the most part don’t even know what an ebook is, so that does make it harder on the home front.

Do you have an agent? Was the process you went through to gain an agent difficult?

No agent at the moment, but I am trying. I recently pitched to Melissa Jeglinski of the Knight Agency and she requested a partial – that went off yesterday actually, so fingers crossed.

Who are some of your favorite authors? Do you believe reading is important for writers?

Love Sandra Hill, Sophia James. Yes, I think writers must keep reading, but that said, I’m struggling to keep up with that at the moment.

Do you have any advice geared toward the writing, or publishing of a book for our members?

Only that try and remember when you’re deep in edits, and it’s midnight, why you do this. It’s because you love it. Because you have to. It’s kinda funny, because this morning I just finished edits for my book Hiring Cupid – Samhain – and I sent them back then found myself sitting at the computer, thinking, what now? I feel lost without a writing project on the go.

Thought I’d give you a small teaser for Desperately Seeking Santa

DESPERATELY
SEEKING SANTA

Jane Beckenham

Mainstream
Holiday/ Contemporary
ISBN: 978-1-60435-249-8

Santa leaned against a railing of silky teddies and thongs, all pink fluff and feathers along with black lace and faux fur. Mandy blinked several times. The guy didn’t move. The look on his face, humor and downright daring indicate he knew exactly what he leaned against. But still he stayed there. His arms crossed his chest, pulling the red suit across his broad shoulders. The fabric stretched and Mandy’s eyes widened. This was no weasely old man Santa and she wondered for the first time, what lay beneath all that fake Santa stuff?
“The phone lines are down,” he said, suddenly breaking into her heated thoughts.
Mandy shook her head, tendrils falling loose across her face. It tickled and she roughly brushed it away, tucking it behind her ears.
“Don’t do that.”
Her hand stalled, a strand of hair still between her thumb and forefinger. “Pardon?” Had she heard right, the guys voice was kinda muffled beneath all those whiskers.
“I liked it like that.”
Her brows puckered. Liked? Mandy snapped her thoughts closed. “The phone,” she prompted.
“The phone lines are out. Must have hit the mobile phone tower too, because can’t get a signal on my phone. The storm has struck so it looks like we’ll have to stay the night.”
“You want to what?” Shocked, Mandy gaped at Santa. “Sleep here?” She took a quick inventory. Not a bed in sight. “You’ve got to be joking. Besides, it’s Christmas Eve.”
“Got anywhere else to go?”
Mandy’s jaw dropped, but no words came out while a stain of heat scalded her cheeks. She didn’t have anywhere else to go No family. No life. Christmas as far as she was concerned was a non-event. But she wasn’t about to admit that. She tucked her suddenly fidgeting hands behind her. “Don’t you?” she questioned as a counter-defense.
“Nope.”
Desperation hiked up ten-fold. “But we’re locked in, everyone’s gone home. What’ll we do?”
“Told you. Sleep.”
Mandy stared into the dimness all around them, expecting, praying a security guard would walk out of the increasing darkness. “”You can’t sleep here. This is a department store.”
“Sure I can. There’s a bed, isn’t there?” he said pointing towards the Santa grotto.
“That’s Santa’s sleigh!”
“Bed, sleigh, what’s the difference?” He shrugged and his bushy white brows wiggled. “You’re a mite picky for someone stuck in a department store, don’t ya think?” He strode towards the sleigh and without thinking she found herself following him. Santa was in full force tossing out presents…well boxes of various sizes and colors intended to grant every child’s desire, as she side-stepped the elve’s mushroom stand.
“Which side do you want?”

Happy reading everyone and many thanks to Kim.
Jane Beckenham
http://www.janebeckenham.com

Cast for New Moon

Robert Pattinson as Edward Cullen. Quite frankly I was kinda taken aback when his name was announced to depict the dreamy Edward Cullen. Most likely because the accompanying picture wasn’t the most flattering. I was resolved on not watching the movie in the cinemas. However after the DVD came out, a friend thought it a good idea to check it out, so 3 of us girls were crouched around the TV watching this and were completely taken by surprise when Rob seemed to fit so snugly into portraying this ‘good-vampire’. All ill-formed misconceptions vanished upon watching the movie. Although his acting skills were a bit raw, I thought it suited the character really well. As Edward was supposed to be born in 1901 it was only natural that his speech would differ from normal 21st century humans. All in all a very good pick.

Kristen Stewart as Bella Swan. Kristen’s depiction of Bella was also really good. The awkward silences in between were so characteristic of Bella. I really wasn’t put out by the selection of Kristen maybe because the only character that I really cared about was Edward’s. Sorry Kristen but true nonetheless. The stuttering incomprehensible freaked out Bella was neatly done.

Taylor Lautner as Jacob Black. This was a tough one. I wasn’t really that intent on news about the movies until about a month ago. I was really surprised to see Taylor buffed up. I didn’t think he would continue to portray Jacob Black. Shocked was an understatement. From seeing his boyish frame in Twilight to the jaw-dropping physique he currently possesses it was quite a transformation to behold. I can’t even begin to imagine the amount of determination and hard work put in to achieve that. It definitely helps that he is still 17 and growing. Fact is he definitely held his own in this movie being one of the main characters. Kudos mate. And most importantly the fan base he has garnered in such a short span of time is definitely astounding.

I will go through a couple of characters which seem interesting to me, and I might add more later.

Peter Facinelli as Dr. Carlisle Cullen. He really looks really awesome. And so does not look like he is 35 and has 3 kids. Okay sorry, got derailed a little bit there. But I do think that his depiction of Carlisle was good in Twilight and I would say the same for New Moon. His representation of the gentle care giving Carlisle was perfect. Soothing words coming from his mouth were that of a father talking to a son. Nicely done. However, the one thing I didn’t like was the “Voting” scene where his collar wasn’t neatly tucked and he looked a bit buff in that scene. Oh still, he’s still cute. Although I like him better with dark hair.

Billy Burke as Charlie Swan. Billy was perfect for the role of Charlie. His loving affection for his daughter shone through although they shared a liking for quiet cohabitation. It’s what most dad’s do. It just made Charlie that much more believable. In New Moon Charlie acted as a lever to lighten up the tense atmosphere constantly hovering over Bella. His twitch of intuition sparked a lot of laughter in the cinema. It was a nice change.

Alex Meraz as Paul of the wolf pack. He was the only one in the movie that mirrored the Paul in my head. His volatile short temperedness was awesome. The part where he got angry and burst into a werewolf was really well done. There was even spittle flying through his gritted teeth. Applaud-able effort.

Michael Sheen as Aro. I really really like Michael Sheen. Out of the Volturi only two were cut-and-paste-copies of the mental image I painted while reading the books. And one of them was Sheen. His approach was mind blowing. The way his eyes glint in anticipation, his thoughts were utterly transparent through those scary red eyes. Actors who transpose emotions through their eyes are the true masters. He was delightfully scary.

Dakota Fanning as Jane. Dakota has definitely upped her game in this movie. All along she has been playing this young child star with a cute smile, but Jane was a huge change. Again her eyes told the story. The demeanor in which she held herself was baffling. Her angelic smile so beautiful, and yet her eyes told of the menace brewing in within her. How does a 15 year old learn the tricks of the trade? Awe is the word.

Ashley Greene as Alice Cullen. Ashley was also a controversial choice mainly due to her height as Stephenie Meyer depicts Alice as a pixie-like character. However I really love the Alice Ashley played. I put this in because I think Ashley is drop dead gorgeous. Beautiful beautiful. Although her Italy-trip-attire in New Moon was a bit under par. But still, elegant nonetheless.

Yaaa I know, the book is better. But with most movies isn’t that always the case. For people who have never read the book this movie will be a little hard to follow and seem a little unblievable. There needs to be a little more character development on the Jacob character and the Volturi for things to really make sense and seem believble. For someone like me who has read all the books the first movie was so dissappinting, and after watching it I decided that it had nothig to do with the book. New moon will definitely feel like a step up for people who have read the book and for those who have just watched the movies. For starters the acting doesn’t feel so strained. This movie picks up where the other one left off and doesn’t really go into much detail about what has hapened previously. So before seeing this you might want to refresh your memory by skimming through the book or rewatching Twilight. Over all I do believe this was a better attempt to try to capture what Stephanie Meyer has written in the books, but I also be believe there is still a ways to go. Maybe by the fourth movie they will get it right.

I was looking up Edward Cullen on Wikipedia and I saw that it said that Edward was a Byronic hero. Because of that, I clicked on the link that explained what a Byronic hero was. Anyway, as I was reading the characteristics, it did sounds like Edward As I continued down the website, it mentioned that Lestat from the Vampire Chronicles and the Phantom from the Phantom of the Opera were Byronic heros as well, but I digress with the Phantom. That made me think about how much Lestat and Edward were alike in the sense that they are both Byronic heros. I think that’s the reason why I don’t like either character. I mean, it’s not that I hate them, but it’s just that they’re not my favorites characters from their respective series. Anyway, I think that’s the reason why I don’t like Lestat and Edward is the fact that they’re Byronic heros.

In my search for any Lestat vs. Edward stuff, I found quite a few pictures that made fun of Edward and the Twilight series or making fun of the fact the Twilight series “outshines” the Vampire Chronicles. The one that I found to be the most funny was the one where it showed Edward and Bella together in the first box, and the following three boxes showing Louis, Lestat, and Armand telling their opinions on the series. I found that Lestat’s and Armand’s reactions to be the most funny. Their reactions were classic Lestat and Armand. Anyway, the next one that I thought was funny was the one where Lestat as picking on Edward. I just found those funny. By the way, you can find the originals at this site.

Na quarta-feira fui à 25 de março comprar um monte de brinquedos, tanto para as crianças que fazem aniver em dezembro (ô mesinho que nasce gente, hein meu povo) quanto os presentes de Natal.  E aí fui numa única loja, a Camicado, e matei todos os coelhos numa paulada só.

Depois disso, fui reinar na 25.

Lá tem muita coisa legal, muita loja de bijoux, onde comprei mimos pra tudoqué cunhada, agregados familiares, amigas. Só que já estou experimentando os presentes delas e pensando seriamente em surrupiar alguns pra mim … eles combinam bem mais com meu jeito sexy de ser. Não tinham tantos camelôs quanto de costume, porque o rapa (Garda Mtropolitana) resolveu mostrar serviço. Mas nas bancas existentes, tinha colar de “pérola” por 8 reais, chapinhas por 15, bolsas sintéticas ou de tecido, lenços e uma infinidade de traquitana que ninguém pode negar que a gente fica amando muito.

Agora no Shopping 25 só tem produto falsificado. E eu não estou falando somente de meia duzia de modelos de bolsas, não. Existem falsificações de todas as marcas, tem Chanel, Gucci, Colcci, Kipling, Victor Hugo, Marc Jacobs e todas as outras marcas pheenas que a gente viu na TV, com uma variedade incrível de modelos, cores e tamanhos. E o mais notável é que não são feias nem baratas.

Por exemplo, as Colcci falsas são super legais, grandes, em cores da moda, mas tem uma placona metálica na frente com o nome da marca. Aí não dá, né? Eu até perguntei pra vendedora se não tinha uma sem a marca, e ela disse que não, isso sem contar que deve ter me achado um ET de Varginha.

Eu confesso que comprei uma necessaire Chanel “genérica”, mas não pela marca, e sim pelo modelo. Confesso ainda que tenho até vergona daquele C na frente da minha bolsinha, porque quem me vê e me conhece logo saca que eu não tenho pinta de quem tem uma necessaire Chanel.

Aí é que está o meu problema. Se eu ralar, fizer um carnê, der umas parceladas, eu até poderia ter uma bolsa daquelas chiques no úrtimo. Mas quem me vir, vai sempre ter uma dúvida no coração se é falsa ou verdadeira. Então, prefiro ficar com coisas que eu posso pagar sem comprometer o leite ninho das criança e que, na verdade, façam o mesmo efeito. 

Com isso concluí que uma Victor Hugo, uma Kippling, uma Colcci até rolaria se eu desejasse muito. Agora certas marcas não são pra mim, não combinam comigo e eu não quero. De verdade.

Weekendul trecut a fost unul foarte fericit pentru umoristul Jim Carrey, fiica sa Jane s-a maritat cu muzicianul Alex Santana.

“A fost o zi minunata. Simpla si dulce” spune actorul.”Le doresc tot ce dragostea ne-a dat noua.”

Carrey si-a impartasit vestea fericita si cu fanii pe Twitter. Este foarte mandru de fiica sa si se bucura imens pentru noul cuplu, mai ales ca in primavara vor fi si parinti. Cat de norocos poate fi acel copil, cine nu si-ar dori sa-l aiba pe Jim Carrey, Grinch ca bunic?

Aceptémoslo, los remakes están de moda. Si hasta están preparando uno de Los Ángeles de Charlie. Últimamente, estos pequeños pedazos de pasado son el refugio perfecto para algunas viejas glorias de la televisión de los 90. El mejor lo hemos vivido esta semana con el esperado regreso de la malvada Amanda a Melrose Place. Y no es la primera que se deja caer por los apartamentos más famosos de América, muchos antiguos inquilinos ya se han dejado caer por allí. Pero a los que la Melrose original nos pilló algo jóvenes no acabamos de enterarnos de quien en esta gente, así que vamos a hacer un pequeño repaso a sus interesantes vidas.

¿Quién es quien en la nueva Melrose?

Sydney Andrews (Laura Leighton)

No se la conoce mucho, pero era casi tan mala como Amanda. A Sydney la conocimos cuando se zumbó al marido de su hermana, el doctor Michael Mancini. Con esa carta de presentación, se pasó la serie haciéndole la vida imposible a medio vecindario (especialmente a la mujer por la que Michael la abandonó, Kimberly, una doctora a quien interpretaba cierta pelirroja desesperada) hasta que un coche se la llevó por delante el día de su boda. Pero (¡sorpresa!) no murió, sólo fingió su muerte y reapareció años después con una hija secreta bajo el brazo para acabar flotando boca abajo en una piscina. Una pena…

Jane Andrews-Mancini (Josie Bisset)

Una de las cornudas oficiales del edificio: su marido Michael se acostó a sus espaldas con su mejor amiga y con su hermana. Ella, ni corta ni perezosa, echó a Sydney de casa y se divorció de Michael. Pero como la cabra siempre tira al monte, volvió con él, lo dejó de nuevo, se embarazó de él, y todo esto con un importante fraude fiscal por medio. Tras su marcha de Melrose, reaparece en la nueva versión como heredera del edificio cuando muere su hermana, pero después de putear un poco a Ella, desaparece del mapa.

Michael Mancicni (Thomas Calabro)

Una joya de hombre. Se acostó con medio vecindario (incluso llegó a casarse con la madre de S.), pero sin duda su gran tira y afloja amoroso fue con Sydney. Tanto duró esa extraña relación, que sobrevivió al fin de la serie y fue retomada en la nueva Melrose, eso sí, con chantaje, asesinato y una nueva familia de por medio. Y con hijo secreto y todo.

Jo Reynolds (Daphne Zúñiga)

La única persona normal de esta lista, todo hay que decirlo. Fotógrafa y con un par de ex maridos, es infinitamente recordada por disparara a un hombre en una lancha (un noviete que intentó violarla), y por ser la única habitante de los apartamentos en quedarse embarazada y tener el hijo. Reaparece en 2009 al servicio de Ella Simms.

Amanda Woodward (Heather Locklear)

Bueno, bueno… Qué decir de ella que no sepamos ya. Amanda apareció en el edificio cuando la serie era una bonita versión ventiañera de La Casa de la Pradera. Ella fue la que le dió caña a la serie y la salvó de su cancelación. Entre sus azañas podemos decir que chantajeó a prácticamente todo el edificio, se acostó con medio vecindario, se casó con la otra mitad (con sus posteriores divorcios), despidió a media plantilla de la agencia de publicidad en la que trabajaba… En fin, una joya de mujer, que sólo lleva unas horas en la nueva Melrose y ya lo ha puesto todo patas arriba. Desde luego, con nuestra rubia favorita de vuelta, esta nueva Melrose promete.

Sigue Melrose Place los martes a las 9/8c en The CW.