Monthly Archives: December 2011

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter Poster

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter sees Timur Bekmambetov return to the big screen with a supernatural thriller – which has the potential to be one of the must see movies of next summer.

I know that we have seen plenty of vampire movies over the last couple of year but there is a new twist on the tale this time around.

President Lincoln’s mother is killed by a supernatural creature, which fuels his passion to crush vampires and their slave-owning helpers.

Benjamin Walker plays Lincoln in what could be his breakthrough role and he is joined by Mary Elizabeth Winstead, Dominic Cooper and Anthony Mackie.

Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter is released 2nd August. Take a look at the new poster for the movie:

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Diet food could increase weight gain

If we’re starting a diet, the first thing we think about heading for is the low calorie, low fat food options in the supermarket.

But, according to new research doing this is, in fact, could lead us to actually put on more weight.

Researchers at America’s Purdue University have found that a person’s body prepares itself to receive a large number of calories even when it tastes a diet version of a food. So when it only gets a low calorie hit, it confuses the body and actually makes you eat more.

Susan Swithers, professor of pschological science at the university, says: “Substituting a part of the diet with a similar tasting item that has fewer calories sounds like a common sense approach to lose weight, but there are other psychological functions at work.

“Tastes normally alert the body to expect calories.

“When those calories aren’t present, we believe the systems become confused and one of the body’s mechanisms to control food inake can become ineffective.”

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21 Jump Street Trailer & Poster

Channing Tatum is back on the big screen in the new year as he teams up with funnyman Jonah Hill for a remake of hit TV show 21 Jump Street.

The movie is directed by Phil Lord and it really does look very funny as Hill & Tatum are perhaps not the best cops that have ever joined the force.

Schmidt and Jenko are more than ready to leave their adolescent problems behind.

Joining the police force and the secret Jump Street unit, they use their youthful appearances to go undercover in a local high school.

As they trade in their guns and badges for backpacks, Schmidt and Jenko risk their lives to investigate a violent and dangerous drug ring.

But they find that high school is nothing like they left it just a few years earlier – and neither expects that they will have to confront the terror and anxiety of being a teenager again and all the issues they thought they had left behind.

21 Jump Street is set for release 16th March

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New treatment to overcome pet allergies

Are you allergic to your pet?

A new tiny nasal spray which works faster than other treatments can help relieve your symptoms.

Rhinolast Allergy, available over the counter as a 5ml nasal spray, starts working faster than many other anti-allergic therapies, relieving symptoms just 10-15 minutes after application. It costs £3.99.

Animal allergens are one of the most frequent causes of allergic reactions. The allergen that triggers allergic responses to animals is found in their saliva, skin and urine. When the animal grooms, the allergen coats the skin, fur or feathers and is spread by shed skin cells as well as licking. Cat allergen may be found on walls and ceilings many months, or even years, after the animal has left the house.

Animal allergens can trigger an allergic reaction that attacks the eyes and the airways, like hay fever, and can result in asthmatic symptoms including red, swollen and itchy eyes, a blocked or runny nose, sneezing and nasal itching.

It is often difficult to avoid the allergens that can come from other people’s pets or have been transported by people who have been in contact with animals. It is most common for allergies to be triggered by cats and dogs, but rabbits, mice, hamsters, pet birds, horses, cows and poultry can also be a problem.

Unlike other treatments, Rhinolast Allergy is effective even after the symptoms have appeared, avoiding the need to plan ahead of an expected allergen exposure.
Rhinolast Allergy targets the symptoms of red, swollen and itchy eyes, runny nose and sneezing within minutes and can even be used by children from the age of five for up to four weeks without a doctor’s intervention.

It is a non-steroid treatment and contains the active ingredient azelastine which is more than
just a simple anti-histamine. It is the only anti-histamine with a triple mode of action, thus treating the disease and not just the symptoms.
Tips for people with a pet allergy
• Fur-bearing animals such as dogs and cats are the most common cause of animal allergens.
• Allergic reactions to pets are primarily caused by dried flakes of shed skin, saliva and urine. To reduce this, cats should be washed once a week with plain water or a mild, veterinary shampoo.
• Short-haired pets are just as likely to cause allergic problems as long-haired animals. However, a long-haired animal can collect other allergens such as pollen, dust and mould.
• Bird, gerbil, hamster and mouse droppings can also trigger allergic symptoms.
• Keep pets outside or limit them to a few rooms to reduce exposure to pet allergens. Pets should always be kept out of bedrooms.

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The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey Image

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is one of the most anticipated movies of 2012 as Oscar winning director Peter Jackson takes us back to Middle Earth for the first of two movies.

Yes The Hobbit has been split into two so for the next two years we can enjoy some Hobbit fun on the big screen.

Martin Freeman takes over the role of Bilbo Baggins from Ian Holm in the movie as he set out on a great adventure to the Lonely Mountain.

He is accompanied by a group of dwarves to reclaim a treasure taken from them by the dragon Smaug.

An all star cast line up alongside Freeman that includes Ian McKellan and Andy Serkis as they reprise their roles as Gandalf and Gollum.

Luke Evans, Elijah Wood, Cate Blanchett. Richard Armitage, Orlando Bloom, Lee Pace and Stephen Fry are all also set to appear.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is released 14th December. Take a look at this new image:

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Cosmopolis Poster

I have to admit that I cannot wait for all this Twilight Saga drivel to be over so the likes of Robert Pattinson and Kristen Stewart can show us what they are really made of.

And that is exactly what Pattinson is going to do in 2012 with his new movie Cosmopolis.

The movie sees him team up with filmmaker David Cronenberg as well as an all star cast that includes Paul Giamatti, Jay Baruchel, Juliette Binoche and Samantha Morton.

The movie is an adaptation of the Don DeLillo book and follows a multimillionaire on a 24 hour odyssey across Manhattan – synopsis courtesy of IMDB.

And we have a poster for the movie for you to take a look at.

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Cutting down on Carbs the easy way

If you’re on a diet, well most diets, Carbs are a naughty word. They should be avoided most of the time, especially late at night. And even more so, if you’re not going to encourage them to be worked off by doing some exercise.

Throughout the year, it’s hard to avoid carbohydrate heavy foods such as bread, pasta and cakes, but the festive season pushes us to eat even more, mince pies, Christmas pudding and roast potatoes. Sometimes the temptation is just too much.

CarboSlow is a new weight management product specifically designed by GL diet expert, Patrick Holford, to slow the body’s calorie absorption from carbohydrate-heavy foods, thus easing guilt.

CarboSlow’s key active ingredient is glucomannan, a highly absorbent plant fibre. It helps to prevent hunger by filling the stomach to give a feeling of satiety and when taken orally, studies have shown a reduction in weight in both obese children and adults.

Glucomannan has also been shown to significantly regulate and control blood sugar as fibre in the diet lowers the glycemic load (GL) of a meal, slowing the release of energy to the system, which assists with appetite control and weight loss.

Carboslow costs (£18.55 for 180 capsules) and is also available in powder form (£16.95 for 200g). Available from Holland & Barrett and all good health food stores nationwide.

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The happiest point on Christmas day…

The happiest point of Christmas Day is 1.55pm, it has been revealed.

A study into our happiness levels on one of the biggest days of the year shows most people are so worried about things running smoothly they don’t truly enjoy themselves until early afternoon.

People are only 100 per cent happy once the presents have been opened, dinner has been cooked and served, and the children have excitedly opened their stockings.

Other factors which contribute to an afternoon and evening of fun and festivity include realising everyone is happy with what they have been given for Christmas, and having that first tipple of the day.

The report shows the initial stress is more than worth it – as over half of those polled say Christmas Day is their favourite holiday and a third say it’s the happiest day of the year.

A spokesman for Three Barrels Brandy, which commissioned the study of 2,000 people, said:

“A lot of thought and effort goes into each and every Christmas, and people work hard to make it special and create memories that will last a lifetime.

“Christmas morning tends to be a rush in most households – mums are struggling with the dinner, children are unwrapping presents, and dads are finding batteries to go in the toys.

“It’s important to try and enjoy those more hectic moments as well, as these often make the funniest Christmas memoires and will be told at Christmas’ for years to come.”

Understandably, three quarters of those polled claim the Christmas dinner is largely responsible for any stress endured on the morning of the 25th.

Ensuring all foods are cooked and ready at the same time provides endless worry for mums and dads up and down the country.

But once dinner is on the table, 56 per cent of people reach their happiest point of the day. But when it comes to being even happier at Christmas, 36 per cent say they would feel more relaxed and content if they were able to celebrate with just their immediate family.

A further third would prefer it if someone else could cater for them on the 25th December, while 27 per cent relish the thought of being able to put their feet up all day long.

Other items on the Christmas happiness ‘wish list’ were having a personal shopper to get all the presents, ditching the Christmas roast for an easier option and naturally getting more presents. One in five said Christmas would be better if only the children would just sleep in a bit longer.

But despite a lack of sleep it seems family time is what counts on Christmas Day – a staggering 71 per cent said that’s what it’s all about for them.

The spokesman for Three Barrels Brandy added “It’s sometimes easy to get carried away with the planning and worry that comes with arranging Christmas, and before you know it it’s been and gone.

“On Christmas Day, most adults are more concerned about creating a happy day for everyone else, but it is important that people can enjoy the holiday for themselves as well.”

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New The Hunger Games Poster

The Hunger Games is one of the early movies of 2012 that I am really looking forward to as Jennifer Lawrence’s success continues.

In a not-too-distant future, the United States of America has collapsed, weakened by drought, fire, famine, and war, to be replaced by Panem, a country divided into the Capitol and 12 districts.

Each year, two young representatives from each district are selected by lottery to participate in The Hunger Games.

Part entertainment, part brutal intimidation of the subjugated districts, the televised games are broadcasted throughout Panem as the 24 participants are forced to eliminate their competitors, literally, with all citizens required to watch.

When 16-year-old Katniss’ young sister, Prim, is selected as the mining district’s female representative, Katniss volunteers to take her place.

She and her male counterpart, Peeta, the son of the town baker who seems to have all the fighting skills of a lump of bread dough, will be pitted against bigger, stronger representatives who have trained for this their whole lives.

The Hunger Games is released March 23rd

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W.E. Poster

Madonna’s W.E. is a beautifully crafted, passionate tale about the search for true love in the modern world, viewed through the prism of one of history’s most fabled romances.

The year is 1998, and Manhattan is abuzz with anticipation about the upcoming auction of the estate of the Duke and Duchess of Windsor.

But the auction is far more than a diversion for Wally Winthrop (Abbie Cornish), a transplanted Southerner trapped in an unhappy and abusive marriage.

Transfixed by the exquisite artifacts of the Windsors’ lives, Wally becomes obsessed with the love story of Wallis Simpson (Andrea Riseborough), the chic, charismatic American who captured the heart of King Edward VIII (James D’Arcy).

As she learns more about the sacrifices Wallis made in choosing to be with Edward, Wally finds the courage to follow her own heart and create her own happiness.

W.E. is released 20th January

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